FT News Briefing

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.

Boris Jonson’s tax cut proposals could cost as much as £20bn a year, according to a new report; Instagram’s Adam Mosseri tells the FT that “window-shopping” will become a core part of the photo-sharing app’s future; and US President Donald Trump signs an executive order to hit Iran with new sanctions.  Plus, the FT’s Turkey correspondent, Laura Pitel, explains what’s next for Turkey and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan following the opposition’s triumph in Istanbul’s repeat mayoral election. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Washington plans to impose fresh sanctions on Tehran and warns that Iran should not mistake US “prudence for weakness”, Ericsson’s head of US business says the UK’s plan to shut Huawei out of parts of its 5G network makes little technical sense and the US Federal Reserve quizzes Deutsche Bank over its “bad bank” plans. Plus, the FT’s clean energy and environment correspondent, Leslie Hook, explains why the world’s top 500 companies are set to miss the climate goals outlined in the 2015 Paris agreement. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

President Donald Trump played down the significance of Iran shooting down a US drone over the Gulf, saying he found it “hard to believe” the move was intentional; Slack lands on Wall Street with a $20bn valuation and Boris Johnson will face Jeremy Hunt in the UK Conservative party leadership race. Plus, Judith Evans, the FT’s property correspondent, explains why the global real estate boom could be drawing to a close. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pressure mounts on the US and China to ease trade tensions at next week’s G20 summit, Deutsche Bank is under criminal investigation in the US in connection with alleged failures to comply with anti-money laundering laws and Nissan agrees on a truce with Renault in their governance dispute ahead of the Japanese carmaker’s pivotal shareholder meeting next week. Plus, the Federal Reserve held US interest rates steady, but put investors on notice for a future cut. The FT’s US markets editor, Robin Wigglesworth, explains.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Facebook’s plan to launch a new global digital currency raises questions from banks and regulators, the FT reports that several of Renault and Nissan’s joint business functions are being quietly unwound and the latest round of voting by Conservative MPs trims the UK party’s leadership race down to five candidates. Plus, the FT’s West Coast Editor Richard Waters explains what Slack has in store for investors as the cloud-based communications platform prepares to go public on Thursday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund is looking to ramp up its investment plans in North America and Asia, the biggest European private equity groups are rushing to raise new mega funds and Pfizer agrees to pay $11.4bn for Array BioPharma in an effort to boost its cancer treatment portfolio. Plus, the FT’s Washington bureau chief Demetri Sevastopulo explains what Iran’s threat to breach nuclear deal terms means for its relationship with the US, as President Donald Trump orders 1,000 more troops to the Middle East. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sources tell the FT that Deutsche Bank is preparing a deep overhaul of its trading operations as it shifts away from investment banking, the US Chamber of Commerce calls for the Trump administration to end its trade war with China and Hong Kong protesters demand the resignation of chief executive Carrie Lam over a controversial extradition bill. Plus, the FT’s Robin Wigglesworth explains how some hedge funds are using artificial intelligence to copy the best parts of human traders with none of the frailties. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Crude oil prices surge as tensions rise in the Middle East, Brussels says Russian sources mounted a “sustained” disinformation effort to influence last month’s EU parliament elections and the focus in the UK leadership stakes moves to the second round after Boris Johnson emerged well ahead in the first party vote in the contest to become Britain’s next prime minister. Plus, the FT’s Siona Jenkins explains why 2019 will be a pivotal year for women’s football. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hong Kong’s chief executive has vowed to push ahead with an extradition bill that has sparked violence in the territory, UK party leadership frontrunner Boris Johnson says Britain would only leave the EU without a deal as “a last resort” and US President Donald Trump says Poland will build a facility to host 1,000 American troops. Plus, FT capital markets reporter Joe Rennison explains why US homeowners are rushing to refinance their mortgages. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Elon Musk predicts a “record quarter” for Tesla, Royal Dutch Shell scales back its ride-hailing plans in London and the British government is eyeing new powers to enable it to block companies from listing on the London Stock Exchange on national security grounds. Plus, the FT’s retail correspondent Jonathan Eley explains the rift between Arcadia and its creditors, and how today’s meeting between them might play out. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New powers given to Europe’s banking watchdog to fight the flow of dirty money are falling short, talks to create the US’s first national data privacy law have ground to a halt and Nissan’s CEO wants to make peace with its French partner, Renault. Plus, the FT’s natural resources reporter Gregory Meyer explains how the unprecedented amounts of rain are affecting the US farming industry.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

United Technologies and Raytheon agree to an all-share merger to create a $120bn aerospace and defence giant, French carmaker Renault tells Japanese partner Nissan that it will block its plan to change its corporate governance and Deutsche Bank finds “serious” failings in payments screening. Plus, FT UK political correspondent Laura Hughes talks about the 11 candidates vying for 10 Downing St now that Theresa May has stepped down as Conservative party leader. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Beyond Meat expects sales to double in 2019, Mexico and the US continue talks over tariffs that Donald Trump indicated could start next week, and Mario Draghi prepares to cut rates and embark on a fresh round of bond purchases before he leaves the European Central Bank in October. Plus, we take a look at the business of broadcast news. At the FT’s Future of News conference in New York, our news editor Matt Garrahan talks to Susan Zirinsky, president of CBS News, Noah Oppenheim, president of NBC News, and James Goldston, president of ABC News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fiat Chrysler has withdrawn its proposal for a €33bn merger with Renault, International Monetary Fund chief Chrstine Lagarde warns that the rising tariffs between the US and China are “self-inflicted wounds” on the global recovery, and YouTube bans supremacist content from its website as it steps up its crackdown on hate speech. Plus, FT reporter Camilla Hodgson talks about people-finding websites and why information on them keeps reappearing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donald Trump’s pick for the World Bank’s new president, David Malpass, laments the global trade slowdown, Donald Trump predicts that US tariffs against Mexico will go ahead next week and the board of French car company Renault stalls a decision regarding a €33bn merger with Fiat Chrysler. Plus, the FT’s US economics editor Sam Fleming explains why the Federal Reserve is considering the need for a rate cut. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.