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.<hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

FT News Briefing

Traders and analysts are warning oil prices could soon hit $100 a barrel again, Germany is becoming a magnet for international defence groups, and Canada has announced retaliatory tariffs of up to 50 per cent on US imports. Plus, Wall Street is stretching itself to finance massive investment in data centres, and European heatwaves have prompted the continent to look to the Gulf for air-conditioning inspiration. 

Mentioned in this podcast:
Oil crunch threatens to send prices back above $100 a barrel, investors say
The multiplying risks of investing in data centres
Canada announces $20bn retaliatory tariffs as US trade war escalates
Berlin’s defence push draws global groups to set up shop in Germany
Gulf’s outdoor air-con catches eye of Europeans

Want to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.com

Note: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts 

The FT News Briefing is produced by Victoria Craig, Sonja Hutson, and Saffeya Ahmed. Our show is mixed by Sam Giovinco and Alex Higgins. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello, Peter Barber and David da Silva. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Flo Phillips is the FT’s global head of audio. The show’s theme music is by Metaphor Music. 

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com


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The risks of investing $7tn in AI data centres

Scott Bessent said the US would expand the scope of secondary sanctions on Iran, and JPMorgan Chase is relaxing its approach to lending money against shares in companies that have recently gone public. Plus, US private equity growth funds raised a record amount of capital in the first half of this year, and Pakistan’s focus on securing US financing is a big shift after years of relying on state loans from China.

Mentioned in this podcast:
Scott Bessent threatens more US sanctions on Iran’s economic partners
JPMorgan eases approach on lending against shares to court AI’s new wealth
Private equity growth funds attract record first-half inflows as sector rebounds
Pakistan seeks US funding in shift from reliance on China
Credit: NBC News

Want to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.com

Note: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts 

The FT News Briefing is produced by Victoria Craig, Sonja Hutson, and Saffeya Ahmed. Our show is mixed by Sam Giovinco and Alex Higgins. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello, Peter Barber and David da Silva. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Flo Phillips is the FT’s global head of audio. The show’s theme music is by Metaphor Music.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

US threatens Iran’s economic partners

US Federal Reserve chair Kevin Warsh will seek to soothe investors’ nerves at this week’s Jackson Hole symposium, Andy Burnham is headed to Ukraine for his first overseas trip as Britain’s prime minister, and Saudi Arabia held talks with London brokers for a state-backed war insurance scheme. Plus, we take a deep dive into an investment giant that’s slowly unravelling, and Canada’s prime minister says the country is “at war” with the US over trade. 

Mentioned in this podcast:
Warsh seeks to soothe investors’ nerves as signs of economic strain mount
Burnham to pledge support for long-range missile construction in Ukraine
Mark Walter’s unravelling empire tests the insurance trade behind private credit’s rise
Mark Carney says Canada ‘at war’ with US over trade

Want to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.com

Note: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts 

The FT News Briefing is produced by Victoria Craig, Sonja Hutson, Saffeya Ahmed, and Katya Kumkova. Our editor is Marc Filippino. Our show is mixed by Sam Giovinco and Alex Higgins. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello, Peter Barber and David da Silva. Support this week from Kelly Garry. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Flo Phillips is the FT’s global head of audio. The show’s theme music is by Metaphor Music. 

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Warsh heads to Jackson Hole as economic worries mount

Investors have warned that Treasury secretary Scott Bessent’s attempts to slash long-term US borrowing costs are doomed to fail, and European oil refinery capacity is set to shrink by a fifth over the next decade. Plus, Shanghai’s answer to the Nasdaq index is benefiting from an investor frenzy for Chinese technology stocks, and a Chinese court has sentenced Evergrande founder Hui Ka Yan to life in prison.

Mentioned in this podcast:
Scott Bessent takes on the bond vigilantes
Western oil refinery closures set to continue despite war shock
Shanghai’s answer to Nasdaq outstrips Hong Kong amid Chinese tech frenzy
Founder of collapsed Chinese property giant given life sentence
Credit: CNBC 

Want to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.com

Note: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts 

The FT News Briefing is produced by Victoria Craig, Sonja Hutson, Saffeya Ahmed, and Katya Kumkova. Our editor is Marc Filippino. Our show is mixed by Sam Giovinco and Alex Higgins. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello, Peter Barber and David da Silva. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Flo Phillips is the FT’s global head of audio. The show’s theme music is by Metaphor Music.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why the energy crisis won’t save western oil refineries

Shares in vaccine-maker Moderna lept after it reported successful trial results for an experimental cancer vaccine, and the US Treasury department will at least double the size of its buyback of long-term government debt. Plus, top US legal firms are sparking controversy for hiring students in their first few months of law school and Irish pubs are disappearing. 

Mentioned in this podcast:
US Treasury to double buybacks of long-term government debt
Moderna shares double on melanoma vaccine trial success
Top US law firms hit by backlash over ‘crazy’ hiring of first-year students
Death stalks the Irish pub

Want to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.com

Note: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts 

The FT News Briefing is produced by Victoria Craig, Sonja Hutson, Saffeya Ahmed, and Katya Kumkova. Our editor is Marc Filippino. Our show is mixed by Sam Giovinco and Alex Higgins. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello, Peter Barber and David da Silva. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Flo Phillips is the FT’s global head of audio. The show’s theme music is by Metaphor Music.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com


 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

US Treasury tries to soothe the bond market 

Iran has weighed attacking US military targets in Europe should Donald Trump escalate the war, according to people close to the regime. Long-term borrowing costs across major economies hit multi-decade highs, and Revolut has proposed increasing the amount chief executive Nik Storonsky can borrow against his stake in the fintech fivefold. Plus, US President Donald Trump is presiding over an unlikely clean energy boom. 

Mentioned in this podcast:
Iran eyes targets in Europe if US escalates war, insiders say
Government borrowing costs hit multi-decade highs
Revolut to let Nik Storonsky borrow up to $250mn against his stake 
Trump’s renewables boom
Venomous sea creatures plague Europe’s warming beaches

Want to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.com

Note: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts 

The FT News Briefing is produced by Victoria Craig, Sonja Hutson, and Saffeya Ahmed. Our show is mixed by Sam Giovinco and Alex Higgins. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello, Peter Barber and David da Silva. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Flo Phillips is the FT’s global head of audio. The show’s theme music is by Metaphor Music.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com


 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Borrowing costs hit multi-decade highs

Airlines are locked in a “stand-off” over whether to cut ticket prices, and Mark Carney is making a last ditch bid to avert Donald Trump’s latest tariff threat. Plus, the Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo has become the deadliest in the country’s history and Malaysia has been an unassuming AI winner.

Mentioned in this podcast:
Mark Carney in last-ditch effort to avoid Donald Trump’s latest tariffs
Airlines in ‘stand-off’ over price cuts as jet fuel costs ease
Ebola outbreak becomes DR Congo’s deadliest
Malaysia profits from data centre boom

Want to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.com

Note: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts 

The FT News Briefing is produced by Victoria Craig, Sonja Hutson, and Saffeya Ahmed. Our show is mixed by Sam Giovinco and Alex Higgins. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello, Peter Barber and David da Silva. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Flo Phillips is the FT’s global head of audio. The show’s theme music is by Metaphor Music.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Airlines in stand-off over cutting ticket prices

Private credit is under strain as troubled loans swell, JPMorgan boss Jamie Dimon warned Britain’s chancellor against higher bank taxes, and the cost of shipping through many global maritime chokepoints are hitting record highs. Plus, the US is sitting on a mountain of debt – can anyone fix it? 

Mentioned in this podcast:
Private credit under strain as troubled loans swell
Jamie Dimon warns UK chancellor against higher bank taxes
War and climate change drive surge in cost of shipping through global chokepoints
US sells 30-year bonds at highest borrowing costs since 2001
How Ralph Lauren won the workwear wars as America returned to the office
The mother of all professional wardrobes 
Style war: inside Wall Street’s battle to revive J Crew 

Want to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.com

Note: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts 

The FT News Briefing is produced by Victoria Craig, Sonja Hutson, Saffeya Ahmed, and Katya Kumkova. Our editor is Marc Filippino. Our show is mixed by Sam Giovinco and Alex Higgins. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello, Peter Barber and David da Silva. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Flo Phillips is the FT’s global head of audio. The show’s theme music is by Metaphor Music. 

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Private credit’s woes continue 

Leading US AI labs are releasing cheaper models to compete with cut-price alternatives from Chinese rivals. Venezuela’s government and opposition unite to demand $4bn in gold reserves back from the Bank of England. A flood of foreign currency bond issuance by Big Tech groups is shaking up the world’s smaller credit markets. Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema is running for a second term amid growing discontent that citizens aren’t seeing the results of the country’s economic rebound. 

Mentioned in this podcast:
OpenAI and Anthropic in price war as Chinese AI rivals gain ground
Venezuela and its opposition want gold back from Bank of England
Hyperscaler AI borrowing binge shakes up foreign credit markets
Zambia’s election becomes battle over copper windfall

Want to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.com

FT subscription finder: https://find-your-subscription.ft.com/?segmentId=288f5dc5-4a4b-0745-84da-8f07c7202cd4   

Note: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts 

The FT News Briefing is produced by Victoria Craig, Sonja Hutson, Saffeya Ahmed, and Katya Kumkova. Our editor is Marc Filippino. Our show is mixed by Sam Giovinco and Alex Higgins. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello, Peter Barber and David da Silva. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Flo Phillips is the FT’s global head of audio. The show’s theme music is by Metaphor Music.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Venezuela demands its gold back from the UK 

Anthropic investors expect the AI start-up to be the largest ever initial public offering, and US inflation edged lower to 3.4 per cent in July as petrol prices declined. Plus, Iranian businesses are increasingly resorting to “buy now, pay later” schemes as the cost of living spirals out of control.

Note: This episode of the FT News Briefing has been updated. A segment was removed. 

Mentioned in this podcast:
Anthropic investors bet on $2tn valuation in record IPO
US inflation falls to 3.4% in July
Iranians opt to ‘buy now, pay later’ as cost of living spirals

Want to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.com

FT subscription finder: https://find-your-subscription.ft.com/?segmentId=288f5dc5-4a4b-0745-84da-8f07c7202cd4   

Note: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts.

The FT News Briefing is produced by Victoria Craig, Sonja Hutson, and Saffeya Ahmed. Our show is mixed by Sam Giovinco and Alex Higgins. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello, Peter Barber and David da Silva. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Flo Phillips is the FT’s global head of audio. The show’s theme music is by Metaphor Music.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.