FT News Briefing

UK prime minister Boris Johnson threatens to call an October 14 general election if rebel Tory MPs join forces with Labour today, Germany’s export-dependent economy is suffering from a Brexit shock as a potential recession looms and the long-running merger talks between Allen & Overy and O’Melveny & Myers collapse. Plus, the FT’s Hannah Kuchler goes into the history of Verily, the health organisation spun out of Google’s secretive research facility.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a Labor Day special episode, as Philip Morris International enters into merger talks with Altria, we take a look at the evolution of the tobacco industry.  Plus, the World Bank estimates that in 2019, some 270m migrants globally will send a combined $689bn back home. We take a look at remittances and the way they are affecting economies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

US companies are unlikely to heed Donald Trump’s call to ditch their investments in China, Argentina’s request for more time to pay $101bn of debts meets a cool reception from the country’s creditors, and UK prime minister Boris Johnson is sending his chief Brexit negotiator to meet with EU counterparts to hammer out a revised exit deal. Plus, the FT’s James Politi walks us through the legacy Christine Lagarde leaves at the IMF and what it might say about her future as the incoming president of the European Central Bank. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Italy appears to be heading towards a new government after the far-right is sidelined and two parties say they have reached a tentative coalition deal, Apple apologises for listening to the audio of recorded Siri conversations and Japan’s biggest internet auction site has banned trading in ivory. Plus, the FT’s Jim Pickard explains UK prime minister Boris Johnson’s move to suspend parliament and what happens next.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Opioid maker Purdue Pharma and members of the controlling Sackler family have offered to settle thousands of lawsuits against the company for $10bn-$12bn, Phillip Morris International is in talks to merge with Altria in a deal that would create the world’s largest tobacco group, UK opposition parties agree to pursue legislation to prevent a no-deal Brexit, the Federal Reserve is forced to re-assert that “political considerations play absolutely no role” in policymaking and Amazon and Microsoft go unchallenged in a $10bn Pentagon cloud computing contract. Plus, the FT’s global finance correspondent Robin Wigglesworth explains why investors are concerned that the world economy is succumbing to “Japanification”. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Drugmakers could decide to settle thousands of claims against them over the opioid crisis after a $572m court order against Johnson & Johnson, President Trump says China is seeking talks on a deal to end the ongoing trade war between the two countries and New York-based hedge fund manager, Autonomy Capital, saw its fund lose more than 16 per cent in the first two weeks of August as a result of Argentina’s financial market meltdown. Plus, the FT’s Brazil bureau chief Bryan Harris talks about a backlash against Brazilian business over the Amazon rainforest fires. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a Summer Bank Holiday special episode, we look at Wall Street’s pressure on private prisons and why some of the top global cities are shrinking.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A harbinger of a recession, the yield on the two-year Treasury bill rose above that of the benchmark 10-year note again on Thursday as the world’s central bankers convened in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Plus, intensifying regulatory scrutiny of Facebook’s Libra digital currency has spooked some of the project’s early backers, and Brazil’s environment minister says the solution to illegal logging in the Amazon is to “monetise” it. Then, the FT’s Victor Mallet previews what might come out of this weekend’s G7 summit. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

European Commission officials tell the FT they are planning news rules that will give EU citizens explicit rights over the use of their facial recognition data, the IMF backs the scrapping of a longstanding age restriction, clearing the way for Kristalina Georgieva to take the top spot, President Emmanuel Macron of France scraps the tradition of a joint final communiqué at the G7 summit and minutes from the Federal Reserve’s July meeting reveal a split among officials over the July interest rate cut. Plus, the FT’s US economics editor, Brendan Greeley, tells us what the world’s monetary policymakers will be discussing in Jackson Hole, Wyoming this weekend. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

US president Donald Trump considers tax cuts to stimulate the economy and Italian prime minister Giuseppe Conte resigns. Also, US regulators rewrite the Volcker rule, Facebook launches a new privacy tool pilot and Walmart sues Tesla over solar panel fires. Plus, the FT’s Seb Payne unpacks the stand-off between Boris Johnson and European Council president Donald Tusk over Britain’s withdrawal agreement from the EU. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apple commits more than $6bn for original shows and movies ahead of the launch of its new video streaming service and UK prime minister Boris Johnson intensifies his efforts to jettison the Irish border backstop from the Brexit withdrawal agreement. Also, Facebook and Twitter move to curb Chinese state-backed disinformation campaigns that target pro-democracy Hong Kong protesters, the Trump administration gives Huawei a temporary reprieve, the US trade commission head says it would be difficult to break up Facebook and court papers reveal that Jeffrey Epstein signed a will two days before he died. Plus, the FT’s Richard Henderson explains why the group of top US executives comprising the Business Roundtable are ditching “shareholder primacy”. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A body advising the European Central Bank warns that European banks and other financial institutions need to speed up their preparations for the phasing out of a key interest rate benchmark, top White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow says there is no recession coming, Donald Trump casts doubt on any Huawei reprieve and Hong Kong protesters rally in defiance of Beijing. Plus, the FT’s Madhumita Murgia explains how facial recognition software is creeping into security cameras in parts of London. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gibraltar releases an Iranian tanker after a court sets aside a last-minute legal bid from the US to seize the vessel and Walmart raises its outlook for the US market while government data show unexpectedly strong retail sales for July in the country. Plus, the yield on 30-year US government bonds falls below 2 per cent for the first time on Thursday, China’s paramilitary police converge in a stadium near the Hong Kong border and Israel bars two US congresswomen from entering the country. Also, the FT’s Patrick McGee tests out the Apple Card, which will be rolled out to US users later this month. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

US equities fell 3 per cent on Wednesday on fears of slowing global growth, while bond markets signalled the chances of a mounting recession and WeWork unveiled its prospectus for a $3bn-$4bn initial public offering. Plus, UK Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn sets out a proposal for a temporary government that would help delay Brexit, Canada’s ethics watchdog says Justin Trudeau violated conflict-of-interest law and PayPal targets growing demand from India’s mobile users. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

US stocks and China’s currency rallied sharply on Tuesday after Washington announced a delay to some additional tariffs on Chinese imports, hundreds of flights out of Hong Kong are cancelled for the second day in a row after protesters clash with police, CBS and Viacom agree on an all-stock merger and Facebook has halted the “human review” of recorded voice messages. Plus, the FT’s Tim Bradshaw explains plans that SoftBank’s Masayoshi Son has in store for the group’s second Vision Fund. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Investors see the odds of an Argentine debt default soaring after opposition candidate Alberto Fernández’s victory in primary elections, the US yield curve flattened to levels not seen since before the financial crisis and consulting group KPMG ousted the head of its UK financial services unit after an investigation into his conduct involving messages sent on WhatsApp. Plus, the FT’s senior energy correspondent, Anjli Raval, unpacks Saudi Aramco’s first-ever earnings call in the lead up to its expected initial public offering. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Global investment banks are shedding almost 30,000 jobs as the outlook for the sector deteriorates, BlackRock buys an $870m stake in Authentic Brands, which owns the brand rights to Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley and British workers travelling to the EU will be unable to carry out even basic business tasks after a no-deal Brexit unless they navigate a complex web of work permits. Plus, money manager and accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein was found dead in a New York jail cell on Saturday. The FT’s Kadhim Shubber explains what this might mean for the alleged victims. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Uber posts a $5.2 billion loss as costs from its initial public offering hit earnings, Italy’s prime minister Giuseppe Conte asks for parliament to be recalled so he can hold a vote of confidence and US stocks notched their biggest jump in two months on Thursday after upbeat Chinese data soothed investors’ nerves. Also, Broadcom agrees a deal to acquire Symantec’s enterprise security business for $10.7bn, Kraft Heinz takes another $1.2bn in writedowns, UK prime minister Boris Johnson eyes an election in the days after Brexit and sources tell the FT that at least nine senior figures have been removed from their posts at Turkey’s central bank. Plus, the FT’s US mergers and acquisitions correspondent, Eric Platt, tells us about WeWork’s corporate structure revamp as it prepares to go public. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

US stocks closed in positive territory on Wednesday as investors pushed back against deepening concerns over global growth, and the Trump administration is cracking down on Huawei and other Chinese companies seen as security threats. Plus, Broadcom revives talks with Symantec, Russia’s state-owned oil company becomes the last major supplier of petrol to Venezuela, US secretary of state Mike Pompeo said America would be ready to sign a new trade deal with the UK after it leaves the EU and Lyft raises its 2019 financial forecasts. Also, the FT’s Richard Waters tells us about the San Francisco-based research group pursuing the Holy Grail of artificial intelligence. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Disney shares fall as the company misses earnings estimates in its most recent quarter, Facebook sues two app developers for advertising fraud and Match Group raises earnings guidance for 2019 after a strong boost to Tinder subscribers in the second quarter. Plus, the FT’s US economics editor, Brendan Greely, explains why the Trump administration has few tools to weaken the dollar. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

US Treasury labels China a currency manipulator, Hong Kong’s first general strike in more than 50 years brings the city to a standstill, US president Donald Trump condemns white supremacy after two separate mass shootings and luxury department store chain Barneys New York prepares to file for bankruptcy.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At least 29 people were killed in two separate shootings in the US over the weekend, Washington identifies Chinese tankers carrying Iranian oil and US retailers warn that new tariffs threaten to accelerate lay-offs across the industry. Plus, the FT’s Michael Stott explains the political standoff fuelling an economic collapse in Venezuela. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

US President Donald Trump says the US will place a 10 per cent tariff on $300bn of additional Chinese goods, growth in corporate share buybacks starts to cool, Pinterest shares surge after the social media network raises its full year forecasts and Bank of England forecasts show a one-in-three chance that the UK economy will shrink at the start of next year.  Plus, George Parker recaps Boris Johnson’s first week as Prime Minister of the UK and the possibility of a no-deal Brexit. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Federal Reserve cuts US interest rates by a quarter point, the Trump administration imposes sanctions on Iran’s foreign minister, UniCredit and Ford launch investigations into whether their data were caught up in the Capital One security breach and Qualcomm warns of “continued weakness in China”. Plus, Mexico narrowly avoided a recession in the second quarter. The FT’s Jude Webber explains what it means for the country’s president Andrés Manuel López Obrador and his promise to spur growth.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Federal Reserve is expected to announce the first cut in US interest rates since the global financial crisis, Apple delivers upbeat guidance for the rest of 2019 despite shrinking iPhone sales and new data shows that investors have flooded into Saudi stocks this year. Plus, Chris Giles, the FT’s economics editor, explains how Russia is using technology to record and tax real-time transactions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Uber eliminates 400 marketing jobs in a corporate reorganisation, Citigroup plans to axe hundreds of jobs in its global markets division and new data reveal more than 2,000 Chinese-made security cameras deemed a threat to national security remain in place in US government buildings. Plus, Pfizer reaches a deal to combine its Upjohn unit with generics drugmaker Mylan, Beyond Meat announces a stock sale and Sterling tumbles to its lowest level in two and a half years on Monday as market fears of a no-deal Brexit grow. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The UK chancellor of the exchequer, Sajid Javid, plans to announce more than £1bn in increased funding for a no-deal Brexit, Deutsche Bank investigates whether confidential client data was compromised after it failed to deactivate dozens of accounts of fired staff, US President Donald Trump moves to replace Dan Coats as US director of national intelligence and some foreign car manufacturers in China are operating at a fraction of their potential output. Plus, the FT’s Arash Massoudi explains what the London Stock Exchange is looking to achieve with a potential takeover of financial market data provider Refinitiv. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A rebound in Google’s advertising business propels revenues higher, Amazon’s move to one-day shipping reinvigorated revenue growth in the second quarter while costs increased, the European Union's chief Brexit negotiator calls UK prime minister Boris Johnson’s terms for talks on Brexit “unacceptable” and the European Central Bank signals that it will cut rates and embark on a fresh round of asset purchases. Plus, the FT’s Jude Webber explains why Latin America’s missing middle economy is affecting its contribution to global growth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former special counsel Robert Mueller warns of Russian interference in the 2020 US election during a day of hearings in Washington, Facebook reveals that the US Federal Trade Commission has launched a formal antitrust investigation into the company, Tesla posts deeper than expected losses as its profit margins fall and UK prime minister Boris Johnson vows to deliver Brexit in 99 days.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Boris Johnson wins the UK Conservative party leadership race to become prime minister, the US Department of Justice announces a broad investigation into Big Tech’s market power, American officials are preparing a trip to China before the end of July in a bid to reignite trade talks, Snapchat’s parent company exceeds revenue estimates and boosts user numbers in the second quarter and WeWork aims to publicly list its shares as early as September. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The White House and Democratic leaders reach an agreement to raise the US’s $22tn borrowing limit which takes it beyond the next election, Donald Trump promises major US technology companies that his administration will process their application to supply Huawei quickly, Washington issues sanctions against one of China’s largest state-backed oil companies for transporting Iranian crude oil and Starbucks takes a stake in Eatsa, a San Francisco-based restaurant tech company. Plus, Boris Johnson is widely expected to become the leader of the UK Conservative party on Tuesday. The FT’s political editor George Parker previews what is ahead for Britain with Boris Johnson as prime minister. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hong Kong protesters escalate demonstrations by targeting Chinese government offices,  UK defence minister Tobias Ellwood rejects claims that the government could have stopped Iranian forces from capturing a British-flagged tanker, early exit polls indicate that Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky’s party of neophyte politicians have won Sunday’s snap parliamentary election and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s ruling coalition wins a clear majority in Japan’s upper house. Plus, the FT’s Gideon Long explains how Colombia is positioning itself as a major producer of cannabis as medical marijuana becomes more popular. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

President Donald Trump says the US navy has shot down an Iranian drone after it threatened an American warship, Boeing says it will take a $4.9bn after-tax charge in the second quarter related to the grounding of the 737 Max jet and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York president stokes expectations of an aggressive half-point cut in US interest rates this month. Plus, WeWork founder Adam Neumann has sold his shares, Microsoft’s cloud business fuels growth as the software company tops earnings forecasts and 2019 is shaping to be a record-setting year for private equity deals. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Netflix falls short of its own forecasts for new subscribers, G7 finance ministers struggle to reach a compromise on how to tax Big Tech and US President Donald Trump expels Turkey from the US-led F-35 fighter jet programme. Plus, the FT’s Gregory Meyer explains how signs of a slowing US economy are starting to show up on the nation’s railways. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lower rates squeeze US bank lending margins, Ursula von der Leyen narrowly secures parliamentary backing for her appointment as European Commission president and United Airlines raises its outlook for the full year despite the financial impact of the grounding of the carrier’s 737 Max fleet. Plus, the FT’s Kiran Stacey reports on Big Tech’s day in Washington. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Democratic congresswomen call Donald Trump’s attacks a “distraction” after the US president doubles down on his statement, US Treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin says Facebook has “a lot of work to do” before the Trump administration will let it proceed with its planned cryptocurrency and money manager Jeffrey Epstein discloses his assets in a court filing after being charged with the sex trafficking of underage girls. Plus, the FT’s Ahmed Al Omran explains how Saudi Arabia is reviving its efforts to  draw dissidents home. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The acting IMF chief, David Lipton, backs new monetary stimulus by the world’s top central banks, Warner Music buys First Night Records and equity investors brace for the second successive drop in US quarterly profits. Plus, US banks are set to report second-quarter results this week. The FT’s Robert Armstrong explains what investors will be watching.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

President Donald Trump issues an executive order to collect all information in US government databases about who is an American citizen, Boeing says the head of its 737 programme will retire at the end of this year and we take a look at China’s economy ahead of the release of its second-quarter growth figures. Plus, Hannah Kuchler explains why some drugmakers are braced for an opioid crisis reckoning. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Trump administration launches an investigation into French plans to bring in a special tax targeting big tech companies and Amazon Music becomes the fastest-growing streaming service. Plus, Federal Reserve chairman Jay Powell cemented the case for an interest rate cut in his testimony to US Congress. The FT’s James Politi explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mexico’s finance minister, Carlos Urzúa, resigns over differences with President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, Levi Strauss shares slip after IPO costs weigh on its second quarter earnings and Boris Johnson dodges questions about Brexit and US relations in a UK Conservative party leadership debate. Plus, the FT’s Joe Rennison tells us about a new menace popping up in the leveraged loan market. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chinese venture capital investment in US biotech falls as Washington tightens scrutiny of funding from overseas, German chemicals group BASF cuts its full-year forecast and warns that second-quarter profits would almost halve and Deutsche Bank begins the culling of 18,000 jobs, with whole teams of equity traders being dismissed. Plus, the FT’s US legal and enforcement correspondent, Kadhim Shubber, explains the sex trafficking charges against money manager Jeffrey Epstein.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Iran says it will breach the curbs on uranium enrichment levels set under the 2015 nuclear agreement with major powers, Greece’s traditional centre-right party is set to regain power after a sweeping general election victory and a survey of fund managers shows that investors are buckling up for a global recession. Plus, Deutsche Bank has unveiled plans to overhaul the struggling German lender. The FT’s European banking correspondent, Stephen Morris, breaks down the details. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

British Marines and Gibraltar police seize a tanker suspected of carrying Iranian oil to Syria, the Womens’ World Cup reaches its finale, but will the expected winners take up their invitation to the White House? Who are the main contenders to replace Christine Lagarde as IMF chief? Plus, chief features writer Henry Mance on the pressure US space agency Nasa is under to put astronauts back on the moon by 2024 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

US stocks closed at record highs on Wednesday alongside a bond rally as investors anticipated looser monetary policies from central banks, Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei predicts the next battle with the US will be over the Chinese telecom company’s push into the internet of things and Boeing pledges to commit $100m to help address the needs of families affected by two deadly crashes of its 737 Max jet. Plus, the FT’s Frankfurt bureau chief, Claire Jones, explains what Christine Lagarde is set to inherit at the European Central Bank.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

European leaders agree to back Christine Lagarde as president of the European Central Bank and Ursula von der Leyen as president of the European Commission, Tesla reports record production and delivery figures for its latest quarter, the Trump administration abandons its efforts to include a citizenship question in the 2020 census and President Donald Trump says he will nominate Fed critic Judy Shelton and St Louis Fed official Christopher Waller to the board of the Federal Reserve. Plus, the FT’s Richard Henderson explains a radical shift taking place in capital markets.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam condemns protesters who stormed and occupied the Legislative Council, the US economic expansion becomes the longest in recent history and Iran’s oil minister warns that the future of Opec is in jeopardy from the growing influence of Russia and Saudi Arabia. Plus, some questions about office provider WeWork as it prepares to hit the public markets this year. The FT’s US business editor, Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, spoke with founder Adam Neumann about the group’s $47bn valuation and his plans for the company’s future.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

US president Donald Trump signals that nuclear talks with North Korea will resume, after meeting with Kim Jong Un on Sunday, the US and China ease trade tensions at the G20 summit, but commentators wonder how long the effects will last, Angela Merkel’s compromise plan to fill the EU’s top positions runs into a wall of opposition and HSBC launches a lobbying effort to convince the Chinese government that it is not responsible for the arrest of Huawei’s finance director.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Federal Reserve singles out Credit Suisse in its annual stress tests, Nike reports higher sales and profit margins in its latest quarter, designer Jony Ive will leave Apple at the end of this year and Russian president Vladimir Putin says liberalism has ‘become obsolete’. Plus, the FT’s US managing editor, Peter Spiegel, previews the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Boeing faces another setback in its attempt to get the 737 Max back in the air, activist investor Carl Icahn is preparing a campaign to oust four of Occidental Petroleum’s board members and private equity deal-making hits its highest level since the lead-up to the global financial crisis. Plus, the FT’s corporate finance and deals editor, Arash Massoudi, explains what led to AbbVie’s $63bn acquisition of Botox-maker Allergan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fed chairman Jay Powell warns that risks to global growth have increased in recent weeks, AbbVie investors give the US drugmaker a resounding thumbs down on its bid to buy Botox-maker Allergan and FedEx warns that a slower global economy and trade uncertainty will continue to drag on its business in 2020. Plus, the FT’s banking editor, David Crow, explains how a host of digital upstarts could challenge HSBC’s dominance in Hong Kong.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.