FT News Briefing

US stocks dipped into bear market territory, two major cryptocurrency players blocked withdrawals, and British prime minister Boris Johnson published legislation to make sweeping changes to trading rules for Northern Ireland. Plus, hundreds of Japanese companies have left Tokyo for the countryside —  will it have a lasting effect? Note: We wanted to apologize to our listeners for not pub...

This week, we explore new scientific research behind: pigs! They have far more sentience and complexity than we give them credit for. Chief features writer Henry Mance joins to discuss how pigs and other animals think and feel, and the bigger questions around how we farm and eat them. Then, we look at a New York City architectural phenomenon: skinnyscrapers. Architecture critic Edwin Heathcote tel...

US consumer prices are set to have registered another large monthly advance, the European Central Bank has paved the way for a series of rate rises, and China is offering coronavirus vaccine insurance in an effort to win over sceptics and boost the vaccination rate.  Mentioned in this podcast: ECB plans quarter-percentage point rate rise in July as ultra-loose policy ends China offers Covid v...

The chair of the US Securities and Exchange Commission has outlined plans to overhaul what he described as an “uneven” and unfair US equity market; pain in the US municipal debt market has started to subside after the worst start to the year in four decades. Plus, the FT’s Patricia Nilsson chats with Marc about the new FT podcast she co-hosts with global media editor Alex Barker, called “Hot Money...

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said a stalemate in the war with Russia was ‘not an option’, and the London Metal Exchange has been hit by two lawsuits over the nickel short squeeze fiasco in March. Plus, the FT’s Rana Foroohar and Ed Luce talk about how Democrats and US president Joe Biden can change the narrative on the economy as midterm elections approach.  Mentioned in this podca...

Boris Johnson on Monday night survived a bruising no-confidence vote, and Elon Musk’s legal team has written to Twitter threatening to abort his $44bn acquisition. Plus, the FT’s Kiran Stacey reports on Big Techs’ big fight against an effort by US lawmakers to halt the practice of “self-preferencing”.  Mentioned in this podcast: Weakened Johnson scrapes through after damaging confidence vote...

ECB governing council members are expected to support a proposal to create a new bond-buying programme if needed to counter borrowing costs for member states spiralling out of control, and in the US more investors are rebelling against high executive pay at leading companies and some are targeting individual board directors, while rightwing populists and industry sceptics mount a backlash against...

Behind the Money, our in-depth business podcast, has just relaunched! We wanted to share one of our most recent episodes. Follow the show on  Apple Podcasts ,  Spotify ,  Stitcher  or  Acast . On this episode, we’re diving back into the world of stablecoins for part 2 of 2 in our miniseries on crypto. This time, it’s a story filled with troubled companies and a real life f...

This weekend, we're marking the Queen's Platinum Jubilee with a spirited discussion on what’s next for the Windsors. Tina Brown, author The Palace Papers , speaks with historian Simon Schama and HTSI editor Jo Ellison about the state of the royal family. As Britain celebrates 70 years of Elizabeth II on the crown, what will the royal family look like over the next decade? We bring you this convers...

Global investors are returning to China’s stock markets after a widespread sell-off earlier this year, and Opec and its allies on Thursday agreed to accelerate oil production in July and August. Plus, the FT’s David Pilling explains whether African countries can move away from fossil fuels and toward greener economies.  Subscribe to the FT News Briefing on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Mentioned...

Export controls placed on supply of chips and hardware over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine dent the prospects for Russia's economy, and the US will provide Kyiv with longer-range rocket systems. Subscribe to the FT News Briefing on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Mentioned in this podcast: ‘Everything is gone’: Russian business hit hard by tech sanctions What is America’s end-game for the war in Ukraine?...

The head of EY’s US business quit the Big Four accounting firm after a power struggle with its global boss, and German police raided DWS and Deutsche Bank offices over allegations DWS misrepresented green investments. Plus, Hungary’s autocratic prime minister is trying to build a superbank to increase his financial control over the country.  Subscribe to the FT News Briefing on Apple Podcasts...

US chipmaker Qualcomm wants to build a stake in Arm alongside rivals, and how does commodities trader Glencore rescue its reputation after pleading guilty to multiple counts of bribery and market manipulation? Plus, Federica Cocco explains whether businesses are sticking to their diversity promises two years after the police murder of George Floyd.  Mentioned in this podcast: Qualcomm eager t...

The FT podcast “Behind the Money” digs into whether the tide has really turned in cryptocurrencies, and whether crypto fans will have to deal with this new “vibe” for the long haul.  Mentioned in this podcast: Behind the Money: A crypto vibe shift?  The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson and Marc Filippino. The show’s editor is Jess Smith. Additional help by Peter...

In the 1930s, Alice Urbach wrote a beloved cookbook in Vienna. But during the Holocaust it was stolen: Aryanized, peppered with Nazi ideology and republished under someone else's name. The publisher refused to change it back for more than 85 years. Alice got her intellectual rights restored by her granddaughter Karina Urbach, a historian, who joins us to tell the story.  Afterwards, we bring...

China has offered “a few hundred million dollars” in lending to Sri Lanka to help alleviate a shortage of essential goods, Wall Street investors got spooked by an earnings warning from Snap, and the FT traced a massive European bank sell-off to one fund manager. Plus, Colombia looks ready to elect a former guerilla turned economist as its next president.  Mentioned in this podcast: China will...

Hedge funds are trying to reposition themselves in the middle of this year’s heavy tech stock sell-off, and the director of the UN’s World Food Programme, David Beasley, explains how the war in Ukraine is causing a global food shortage. Plus, the FT’s Christian Davies tells the wild story of the guy behind the Luna cryptocurrency and its incredible downfall.  Mentioned in this podcast: Gabe P...

Australia’s new prime minister met with world leaders to discuss climate change and Hungary’s prime minister declared an economic state of emergency. Plus, the FT’s Colby Smith visits the city of Atlanta to find how restaurant owners are managing to find staff in a red hot labour market. Mentioned in this podcast: Orbán declares state of emergency over crisis caused by Ukraine war Anthony Albanese...

Three decades of globalisation risks are going into reverse, according to company executives and investors as world leaders meet in Davos for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic began, and Toshiba set a deadline of May 30 for additional bidders in what could be Japan’s largest private equity deal.  Subscribe to the FT News Briefing on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Mentioned in this podc...

Saudi Arabia has signalled it will stand by Russia as a member of the Opec+ group of oil producers, the former head of Russia’s second-biggest oil group has warned that an EU ban on Moscow’s crude would be “the most negative scenario” for all parties. Plus, the FT’s Peggy Hollinger discusses Boeing’s decision to move its headquarters to be near the Pentagon and DC and why many stakeholde...

It’s about to become much harder to find safe abortion care in America, in a country where some states already make it almost impossible. This week, we make sense of what’s happening and how we got here. Lilah speaks with Rhiannon Hamam, a Texas public defender and host of the popular show 5-4 (“a podcast about how much the Supreme Court sucks”) to make sense of Roe vs Wade, the seminal law that i...

Canada is banning Chinese telecom giant Huawei from its 5G network, US plans to host the Summit of Americas are in disarray as Latin American heads of state refuse to attend. Plus, the California-based asset manager Pimco is trying to adapt to an era of rising interest rates and passive investing. Mentioned in this podcast: Canada to ban Chinese telecoms Huawei and ZTE from 5G networks US summit s...

Wall Street stocks fell hard on Wednesday after the retailer Target warned that inflation and supply chain disruptions would hit profit margins, and we explain why a tiny island in the Black Sea is so important in the war in Ukraine. Plus, the FT’s Jude Webber explains why the United Kingdom wants to alter the Northern Ireland protocol from its Brexit trade agreement.   Mentioned in this...

Cash holdings among global fund managers have risen to their highest level since 9/11, China’s economic data show how badly the country is suffering from its Covid lockdowns. Plus, the FT’s employment columnist Sarah O’Connor says inflation hurts some workers more than others and salary advancement schemes aimed at helping struggling workers may not be a panacea.  Mentioned in this podcast: B...

Elon Musk acknowledged on Monday that he would pay a lower price for Twitter, hedge fund Tiger Global has significantly cut back its shareholdings and dumped stakes in tech companies, wheat prices jumped after India banned exports, and McDonald’s will sell its business in Russia.  Mentioned in this podcast: Elon Musk says different price for Twitter deal ‘not out of the question’ Tiger Global...