FT News Briefing
A rundown of the most important global business stories you need to know for the coming day, from the newsroom of the Financial Times. Available every weekday morning. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Amazon’s new AI spending blitz sent shares tumbling, chipmakers got swept up in a wider tech equities sell-off, Sir Keir Starmer has apologised to the victims of Jeffrey Epstein for appointing Peter Mandelson as Britain’s ambassador to the US, and American snack companies are lowering prices ahead of the Super Bowl. Plus, can Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi win this weekend’s election on star power alone?
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Google said it plans to spend at least $55bn more on capital expenditure this year than Wall Street had forecast, US tech stocks were hit by a fresh wave of selling on Wednesday, and the FT’s Chris Cook talks about the challenges of unpacking millions of documents on Jefferey Epstein. Plus, OpenAI senior staff are leaving because the company is prioritising ChatGPT.
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US tech stocks fell on Tuesday over AI concerns, Elon Musk is charting a new path for his “Muskverse” of companies, and the US military shot down an Iranian drone as Middle East tensions escalate. Plus, domestic energy companies in Argentina have benefitted from the country’s volatile economy, and Peter Mandelson is no longer a member of the House of Lords after Epstein scandal revelations.
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France has adopted a deficit-cutting budget for 2026 after months of political wrangling, and the FT’s Christopher Grimes tells us about the front runner to be Disney’s next CEO. Plus, US President Donald Trump said he had struck a trade deal with India, and Société Générale is European banking’s latest comeback kid.
Mentioned in this podcast:
France adopts budget after premier survives no-confidence vote
Europe’s largest oil companies are poised to curb share buybacks, and Kevin Warsh’s nomination to Fed chair could spark a rethink of how America’s central bank works. Plus, consumer giants deal with backlash over contaminated baby formula. And, a rollercoaster in precious metals prices triggers ‘pandemonium’ in New York’s Diamond District.
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Europe’s oil majors prepare to cut billions in shareholder payou...
Apple reported a blockbuster rise in revenue last quarter, and Blackstone is preparing to take a series of long-held investments public. Plus, Canada’s oil industry is thriving as it pushes into Asian markets. Plus, some US oil majors are reporting earnings, which could give us a window into whether they're preparing to invest in Venezuela.
Mentioned in this podcast:
Apple hails ‘remarkable’ $144bn quarter with best-ever iPhone s...
Tesla on Wednesday reported its first-ever fall in annual revenue, Donald Trump has warned Iran that “time is running out” to reach a deal to avert US military action, and the Federal Reserve kept interest rates on hold. Plus, the world’s biggest mining companies have added close to half a trillion dollars to their valuations this year, triggered by heightened geopolitical tensions.
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US health insurance stocks plunged yesterday, and New Delhi and Brussels have agreed a trade deal that will eliminate up to €4bn of tariffs on EU exports. Plus, Nato is increasing its military presence in the Arctic to counter Russia.
Mentioned in this podcast:
US health insurer stocks plummet on Trump Medicare spending plan
EU and India seal trade pact to slash €4bn of tariffs on bloc’s exports
The Trump administration has linked security guarantees for Ukraine to Kyiv ceding the Donbas region to Russia, and there’s speculation that the US and Japan could be working together to support the yen. Plus, Israel’s military announced it had retrieved the remains of the last hostage from the Gaza Strip, and Big Tech companies are on track to dominate borrowing in the US bond market.
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The Trump administration’s immigration enforcement agency faces growing backlash after federal agents fatally shot a second protester in two weeks, and Trump teases his pick for the US’s next Federal Reserve chair. Plus, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer goes on the charm offensive in Beijing, and why the US is investing in rare-earths companies.
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Trump faces growing backlash against immigration crackdown a...
Intel shares slide 12 per cent as supply constraints limit growth, and Trump’s “Board of Peace” is dividing the US’s allies. Plus, Iran’s government is seizing properties and businesses after protests rocked the country, and Victoria Craig unpacks next week’s meeting of the Federal Reserve.
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Intel shares slide 12 per cent as supply constraints limit growth
US President Donald Trump has dropped his tariff threat on Greenland, and the FT’s Derek Brower explains how Trump has navigated the World Economic Forum in Davos. Plus, EU lawmakers have postponed the ratification of a trade deal with the Mercosur group of South American economies, and US Supreme Court justices appeared sceptical of Donald Trump’s efforts to sack Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook.
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US equities and the dollar fell in response to transatlantic tension over Greenland, and the FT’s Robin Wigglesworth breaks down the idea of Europe leveraging its US Treasuries to influence President Donald Trump. Plus, Netflix said that the entertainment industry remains “intensely competitive”, and China is selling drone components to Russia and Ukraine.
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China has registered its lowest number of births since records began. European governments weigh up options to bring down the high cost of their state pensions? Saudi Arabian banks borrow at record pace. Plus, Chinese EV carmakers have their eyes on the UK.
Mentioned in this podcast:
China registers lowest number of births since records began
China’s GDP grows 5% in 2025 as exports offset weak domestic outlook
As Europe considers retaliation measures to US President Donald Trump’s tariff threat to NATO allies that oppose his Greenland-takeover bid, Denmark seeks to bolster its own relationship with the Arctic island. Plus, the US capture of Venezuela’s president has boosted demand for Latin America political risk cover. And, geopolitics is the topic du jour at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
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The EU is proposing a new way to allow Ukraine to join the bloc, and it was the best year for US investment banks since 2021. Plus, a look into the iron ore market and the role China is playing in it, and a preview of the World Economic Forum in Davos.
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EU ‘membership-lite’ plan for Ukraine spooks European capitals
Jamie Dimon warns Trump administration’s attacks on Fed could boost inflation
US President Donald Trump has not ruled out military action in Iran and Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi plans to call a snap general election. Plus, Donald Trump’s “unpredictable” policies have prompted bond giant Pimco to diversify away from US assets, and US banks push back against Trump’s credit card cap plans.
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Donald Trump says he has received assurances ‘killing in Iran is stopping’
Two former senior executives at the collapsed subprime car lender Tricolor Holdings pleaded not guilty to fraud and financial crime charges, and Microsoft is pledging to “pay its way” for its AI data centres. Plus, US inflation stayed at 2.7 per cent in December, and we’ll talk about what Balderton Capital’s early investment in Revolut can teach us about venture capital investment.
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UBS chief executive Sergio Ermotti is planning to step down in April 2027, and Paramount threatened a proxy fight in its latest move to force Warner Bros Discovery back to the negotiating table. Plus, the FT’s Robert Armstrong explains what could come next in US President Donald Trump’s crackdown on the Federal Reserve.
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US federal prosecutors opened a criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jay Powell, and civil unrest continues to threaten the Islamic regime in Iran. Plus, earnings season kicks off this week with the bank results.
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US prosecutors investigate Jay Powell over revamp of Fed headquarters
Iran warns US against intervention
Wall Street headed for best investment banking year since pandemic
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