FT News Briefing

US consumer prices rose more than forecast in June, hitting an annual pace of 9.1 per cent, and investors are shunning 20-year US government bonds. Plus, a clash of cultures and geostrategic interests sank a German-Chinese joint venture competing in the new space race. This episode states Canada raised its interest rates by a 'full basis point' when we mean 'full percentage point'. We regret...

US president Joe Biden is set to meet with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the biggest US banks report earnings this week and are expected to show bumper profits from lending, and EU officials fear criminal groups are smuggling weapons out of Ukraine and on to Europe’s black markets.  Mentioned in this podcast: US banks set for lending earnings boost as Fed lifts rates Joe Biden seeks...

Former UK chancellor Rishi Sunak and foreign secretary Liz Truss have emerged as the favourites to replace prime minister Boris Johnson, and more details have been revealed in the murder of Japan’s former prime minister, Shinzo Abe. Plus, Nikkei Asia’s Marwaan Macan-Markar explains how Sri Lanka’s economic and political crises could foreshadow similar issues in other debt-ridden countries. &n...

Twitter is mounting legal action against Elon Musk as he tries to terminate the deal to buy the social media company, black Americans’ higher exposure to cryptocurrencies has left them more vulnerable to the financial downturn, Cairo’s storied houseboats have been removed as part of bigger changes that many fear will destroy heritage and green space in the Egyptian capital. Mentioned in this podca...

This week is our summer books and films spectacular, full of recommendations of things to read and watch. First, Lilah is joined by literary editors Fred Studemann and Laura Battle to explore the FT's Summer Books special. They suggest a range of light summer reads, sharp non-fiction, deep dives, thrillers and classics to take on your summer holiday, and talk trends in book publishing. Then, deput...

The FT’s UK chief political commentator Robert Shrimsley and FT columnist Stephen Bush discuss what’s next for the country after Boris Johnson’s resignation. Plus, as the fears of recession grow, commodity prices are falling.  Subscribe to the FT News Briefing on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Mentioned in this podcast: Boris Johnson bows to pressure and quits after days of turmoil Twitter Space:...

Pressure mounts on UK prime minister Boris Johnson to resign, but the pound holds steady. Plus the Chinese government is pushing for more students to study Marxism.  Subscribe to the FT News Briefing on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Mentioned in this podcast: Cabinet ministers call on Boris Johnson to quit as UK prime minister Pound traders look past UK political turmoil Supreme Court ruling cast...

Two high-profile UK ministers resigned on Tuesday, oil prices had its biggest one-day drop since March, and a Chinese electric car company outsold Tesla in the first half of the year. Plus, Chinese electric vehicle battery companies are on a fundraising blitz.  Subscribe to the FT News Briefing on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Mentioned in this podcast: Boris Johnson on the brink after chancellor...

European power prices hit record high as Russia curtails gas supplies, foreign investors have dumped a record $33bn of Indian shares since October, and the FT’s chief economics commentator Martin Wolf discusses the global economy. Subscribe to the FT News Briefing on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Mentioned in this podcast: European power prices hit record high as Russia curtail gas supplies Foreign in...

This week, we return to one of our favourite episodes, to ask the question: what does it mean to defy death? Rock climber Leo Houlding tells us about his terrifying family holidays, scaling vertical cliff-faces with his two young kids. We also explore radical life extension with science writer Anjana Ahuja. How close are we scientifically to extending the human lifespan to 150 or 200? What are the...

The US Supreme Court cut back the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions, US stocks lost $9 trillion in the first half of 2022, and frustration with China’s zero-Covid policy is pushing its middle class to try to leave the country.  Subscribe to the FT News Briefing on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Mentioned in this podcast: US Supreme Court curbs EPA’s pow...

Chinese stocks are set for their largest monthly rise since 2020, Meta frustrates app developers by charging for VR apps, and Revlon’s bankruptcy filing sheds light on what it takes to stay relevant in the beauty industry.  Subscribe to the FT News Briefing on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Mentioned in this podcast: Chinese stocks set for largest monthly rise since 2020 Meta sparks anger by charg...

A former White House aide testified that former President Donald Trump tried to commandeer his limousine on January 6, an independent report advises the UK to suspend use of live facial recognition over privacy concerns, and environmentalists are concerned about the impact of global timber trade disruption. Plus, access to mail-order abortion pills is shaping up to be the next legal battleground.&...

Russia is on course to default on its debt for the first time since 1998, and Credit Suisse has become the first domestic bank to be found guilty of a corporate crime after a court found the lender failed to stop the laundering of Bulgarian drug money. UK travel chaos could widen this summer as travel unions threaten strike activity.  Subscribe to the FT News Briefing on Apple Podcasts or Spo...

  Nato is to agree an overhaul of its battle plans to offer better protection to the alliance’s eastern flank, and there is some debate on how to soften the economic blow of the UK leaving the European Union. Plus, a listener wants to know: Is the UK justified in spending more on science and tech education and less on the arts?  Mentioned in this podcast: Nato to agree overhaul to bolste...

This week we speak with Michael R. Jackson, playwright of A Strange Loop , which just won the Tony award for Best Musical and Best Book. Jackson is a queer, black writer whose musical is about a queer, black writer writing a musical about a queer, black writer.. Hence the strange, but incredibly entertaining loop. Then, we learn about the dark side of Copenhagen's world-famous fine dining restaura...

The EU recognizes Ukraine as an official candidate for membership, Russian businessmen look to work with Iran to skirt US sanctions, and the FT’s Hot Money podcast reveals Visa and Mastercard are the secret regulators of the porn industry. Plus, the US bans Juul e-cigarettes from being sold.  Subscribe to the FT News Briefing on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Mentioned in this podcast: EU leaders...

  US stocks stay fairly flat after Fed Chair Jerome Powell testifies in Congress, a Ukrainian-made drone hits an oil refinery in Russia, and the International Energy Agency says investing $25 billion annually could lead to universal electricity access in Africa by the end of the decade.  Mentioned in this podcast: Jay Powell warns US recession is ‘certainly a possibility’ ‘Kamikaze’ dron...

  The S&P 500 rose by 2.4% on Tuesday, Russia is threatening Lithuania over enforcing EU sanctions, and the global food shortage reignites the debate on using crops for biofuel. Plus, Kellogg is Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com off into three separate companies.  Mentioned in this podcast:  S&P 500 bounces 2.4% after sharp weekly decline Russia warns Lithuania of...

China is the leader in initial public offering fundraising this year, Jeff Bezos’s superyacht ignites a debate about who cities are for, and New Zealand’s housing market could hold some clues for what to expect in countries starting to raise their interest rates.  Mentioned in this podcast: China IPO fundraising doubles US total to top global ranks Jeff Bezos vs the bridge: Rotterdam’s dilemm...

Passively managed index funds have overtaken actively managed funds’ ownership of the US stock market for the first time and Brazil is cracking down on fake news on social media sites in the run-up to this October’s election. Plus, the FT’s Patrick McGee interviewed the chief executive of Epic games about his ambitions for the metaverse.  Mentioned in this podcast: Passive fund ownership of U...

Last month, Andy Warhol's "Shot Sage Blue Marilyn" sold for $195mn, making it the second most expensive piece of art to sell at auction, ever. And as prices keep going up, the art market — auction houses, gallerists, dealers, collectors — want to keep it that way. On the heels of a ‘stonking’ art season, we invite two heavy hitters into the studio to walk us through it: arts editor Jan Dalley and...

Stocks fall following rate rises in the US, UK and Switzerland and Russia restricts gas flow to Germany, and Covid hospitalisations are up in Europe.   Subscribe to the FT News Briefing on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Mentioned in this podcast: Wall Street stocks tumble as UK and Switzerland follow Fed with rate rises Germans told to conserve energy as Russia cuts gas flows to Europe Covid...

The Federal Reserve raised its benchmark policy rate by 0.75 percentage points for the first time since November 1994, and the European Central Bank says it will speed up work on a new policy tool to counter surging borrowing costs. Plus, billionaire investor Ray Dalio talks about the connections he's found between the rise and fall of markets and the rise and fall of nations. Subscribe to the FT...

The World Trade Organization is facing a credibility crisis during its first meeting since 2017, the increased value of the US dollar is hurting American companies, and Ukraine lays out a weapons shopping list ahead of its meeting with western defence ministers today. Subscribe to the FT News Briefing on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Mentioned in this podcast: The WTO’s lonely struggle to defend globa...