The Italian lender UniCredit has amassed a 9 per cent stake in Commerzbank, and US inflation fell to 2.5 per cent in August. Plus, Argentines are declaring hundreds of millions of dollars of previously hidden savings in a tax amnesty and Mexico’s Senate approved a radical plan to have voters elect all its judges. Mentioned in this podcast: US infla…

Both the Federal Reserve and the Bank of England are set to announce interest rate decisions this week. In China, venture capital finance has dried up amid political and economic pressures. Plus, Indonesian palm oil producers warn of global supply chain disruption if the EU bans imported commodities linked to deforestation. Mentioned in this podcas…

On this week’s special episode of Swamp Notes, four FT journalists discuss the historic first debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, and answer all your most-pressing questions about the US presidential race. The FT’s US managing editor, Peter Spiegel, moderates the discussion alongside deputy Washington bureau chief, Lauren Fedor, global b…

Investors snapped up consumer staples such as Coca-Cola and Colgate-Palmolive amid concerns over a potential slowdown in the US economy. Abu Dhabi’s oil company Adnoc could offer €14.4bn for German chemical group Covestro, and the European Central Bank cut interest rates to 3.5 per cent. Plus, people in Los Angeles are encouraged to park their car …

The EU’s top court orders Apple to pay €13bn in back taxes, and the Federal Reserve halves its proposed capital requirement increase for the largest US banks. Plus, we talk to the FT’s Benjamin Parkin about the Taliban’s warming relations with a growing number of regional powers. Mentioned in this podcast: Top EU court rules Apple must pay €13bn in…

Apple launches the iPhone 16 with generative AI features, and France’s new PM needs more time to submit the country’s debt plans. Kamala Harris is under pressure to perform in tonight’s debate against Donald Trump. Plus, Intel’s plunging share price and manufacturing troubles shatter its hopes for a turnaround. Mentioned in this podcast: Apple laun…

Enthusiasm about artificial intelligence masks a recession in the technology sector, and a new exchange traded fund looks specifically for ‘reject’ stocks. Plus, Google heads back to court over fresh antitrust allegations, and Chinese car buyers ditch Tesla for local alternatives. Mentioned in this podcast: AI exuberance masks broad weakness in tec…

Democrats and Republicans have taken a protectionist turn on trade policy over the past few years. They say it’s to protect national security, but that argument doesn’t always hold up. Just look at this week’s announcement from vice-president Kamala Harris that she doesn’t support the purchase of US Steel by Japan’s Nippon Steel. The FT’s economics…

President Emmanuel Macron has named the EU’s former Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier as France’s next prime minister. Plus, Europe’s sustainable investment funds double down on defence stocks, and Ukraine ​President Volodymyr Zelenskyy carries out his biggest wartime cabinet reshuffle yet. Mentioned in this podcast: Europe’s ESG funds more than dou…

Volkswagen calls for drastic measures to bolster profits, and President Joe Biden wants to block a Japanese company’s acquisition of US Steel. Plus, damning findings about the Grenfell Tower fire surface, and Egypt’s journey from gas bonanza to power blackouts Mentioned in this podcast: Joe Biden set to block Nippon Steel’s takeover of US Steel Vol…

Big tech groups including Nvidia led a broad US stock market sell-off on Tuesday, and Huawei’s AI chips are dealing with some bugs. Plus, US homebuilders are facing their biggest credit crunch in more than a decade, and foreign investors are backing out of Indian equities. Mentioned in this podcast: US homebuilders face credit crunch as banks cut l…

The UK blocks some arms shipments to Israel, audit firms are fighting against new oversight rules in the US, and the same technology that brought us Covid-19 vaccines could also be used to fight cancer. Plus, the Oasis revival tour is so popular it triggered a UK investigation into Ticketmaster. Mentioned in this podcast: UK to halt exports of some…

Germany's far-right makes significant inroads in state elections, and Israel’s largest union calls for a general strike. Plus, so-called ‘greedlation’ becomes a campaign issue for the Democrats, and Hong Kong wants workers to smile more. Mentioned in this podcast: Alternative for Germany wins its first regional election Hostage deaths build pressur…

Kamala Harris and Donald Trump have different approaches to the media: Trump talks a lot, and Harris talks a little. But the candidates share one thing in common: they’re both sceptical of mainstream outlets. The FT’s US managing editor, Peter Spiegel, and Los Angeles bureau chief, Christopher Grimes, join this week’s Swamp Notes to explain why. Me…

Turkey’s stock rally hits reverse as juicy interest rates lure savers out of the market, and the FT’s Polina Ivanova explains how Telegram is a lifeline for both Russian and Ukrainian troops and civilians. Plus, Cornell University’s Eswar Prasad says Thailand could open a window into how central bank digital currencies might be used in future. Ment…

Nvidia’s record-breaking earnings still somehow disappointed investors, China’s use of the renminbi in cross-border trading is at a record high, and Berkshire Hathaway becomes the first publicly traded US company outside of tech to be valued at $1tn. Plus, Ford’s big plans to boost profits continue to fall short. Mentioned in this podcast: Nvidia r…

The Japanese operator of 7-Eleven is discussing ways to defend itself against a takeover bid by Canada’s Alimentation Couche-Tard, Chinese export controls on crucial semiconductor materials are starting to hit supply chains, and the fintech company Klarna plans to axe almost half of its staff in favour of artificial intelligence. Plus, Nasa is turn…

French authorities detain Telegram’s chief executive as part of a content moderation investigation, which has reignited the debate about free speech online. Plus, oil prices reached a two-week high as Libya says it is shutting down oil production, and Grenada triggers a first-of-its-kind ‘hurricane clause’ to pause its debt repayments. Mentioned in…

Israel’s military launched a wave of air strikes in southern Lebanon on Sunday, small-dollar donations surged to Kamala Harris’s campaign after she replaced Joe Biden on the Democratic ticket, and the world’s largest aerospace and defence companies are set to rake in record levels of cash over the next three years. Plus, computer programming might …

Democrats from across the US gathered in Chicago for their presidential convention this week, promising to move past the Donald Trump-era of American politics. But if their newly-minted nominee, vice-president Kamala Harris, wins November’s election, she’ll have her work cut out to keep her party together. The FT’s deputy Washington bureau chief, L…

Kamala Harris made a bid for national unity at a rapturous Democratic National Convention. Plus, all eyes are on Jackson Hole today, where the Fed will reveal how it will lower US interest rates without triggering a recession. Meanwhile, investors are hedging their bets on these cuts coming soon, sending gold soaring. Mentioned in this podcast: Kam…

PwC faces a six-month business ban in China, and Mexico’s Supreme Court judges go on strike. Plus, a potential takeover of 7-Eleven may set the tone for a new era of Japanese acquisitions. Mentioned in this podcast: PwC expects six-month ban in China over Evergrande audit Mexico’s judges to strike over López Obrador’s plan to fire them After 7-Elev…

China’s flagship fund to buy up unsold housing is off to a limp start, and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund is to prioritise domestic spending. Plus, a growing number of Americans are suffering from tip fatigue. Mentioned in this podcast: China’s landmark property rescue plan limps off the starting line The US tipping system is teetering Saudi…

The US dollar sinks to its lowest level since the start of the year and Democrats are rushing to defend vice-president Kamala Harris’s economic road map. Plus, rising US-China tensions could threaten a decades-old science and technology pact. Mentioned in this podcast: Dollar hits 8-month low as US stocks start week higher Democrats on defensive af…

Start-ups, legacy groups and policymakers are working out how to operate in areas of rising weather risks, and start-up failures shot up 60% in the past year. Plus, top international fashion brands are shifting orders away from Bangladesh because of recent political turmoil. Mentioned in this podcast: FT series: the Uninsurable World Global fashion…

Latino voters were once considered a reliable bet for Democrats. But with each passing election, Republicans are making more inroads with them. The FT’s Houston correspondent, Myles McCormick, and Republican political strategist, Mike Madrid, join this week’s Swamp Notes to unpack this shift. Mentioned in this podcast: The Latino swing voters who c…

A huge US-based oilfield services company is expanding its Russian business, investors are piling into US treasuries, and US retail sales saw their biggest jump in a year and a half in July. Plus, a decade-long dispute between Coca-Cola and federal tax authorities has escalated to the point that the company could owe $16bn in back payments. Mention…

Peace talks aimed at ending the war in Gaza start up again today, US inflation fell to 2.9 per cent in July, and Ukrainian forces are looking to hold on to newly-seized Russian territory. Plus, Germany’s chief prosecutor has issued an arrest warrant for a Ukrainian man suspected of blowing up the Nord Stream gas pipelines. Mentioned in this podcast…

US stocks and Treasuries rallied as traders assessed lower than expected wholesale inflation data, and investors hope that abundant electricity in northern Sweden can power a new wave of industrialisation. Meanwhile, the world’s biggest publicly listed coal producer is dropping plans to ditch the commodity. Mentioned in this podcast: US stocks clim…

Russia has trained its navy to hit European targets with nuclear-capable missiles, and 40 per cent of the biggest US manufacturing investments announced in the first year of Joe Biden’s flagship industrial and climate policies have been delayed or paused. Plus, we ask the FT’s Tom Hale if there could be a light at the end of the tunnel for China’s …

More Americans trust Kamala Harris to handle the US economy than Donald Trump, European traders this summer are using only a fraction of Ukraine’s vast natural gas storage, and boycotts of western food and drinks brands in Muslim countries are hitting the revenues of multinationals. Plus, we look into why mid-tier US accounting firms are under incr…

Kamala Harris has supercharged Democratic party voters’ enthusiasm in the weeks since President Joe Biden stepped down as the nominee. Can Tim Walz, a little-known Midwestern governor with an everyman appeal and a progressive agenda, help maintain that excitement as her vice-presidential pick? The FT’s global business columnist, Rana Foroohar, and …

The stock market sell-off earlier this week may have been a bit of an overreaction, and overall consumer spending has been struggling recently. Plus, the FT’s Christopher Miller explains what Ukraine’s surprise counteroffensive in Russia means. Mentioned in this podcast: Everyone calm down US consumer spending slowdown weighs on travel and leisure …

Google and Meta struck a secret ads deal to target teenagers, and the FT reports that the UK’s biggest private pension fund dumped £80mn of Israeli assets. Plus, the FT’s Benjamin Parkin updates us on the situation in Bangladesh. Mentioned in this podcast: Google and Meta struck secret ads deal to target teenagers UK’s biggest private pension fund …

Wall Street stocks rebounded yesterday as the markets stabilised from a global rout, Disney is raising its streaming prices and Chinese bonds are causing a lot of anxiety for the country’s lawmakers. Plus, the FT’s Sara Germano talks about the effort to make track and field more popular outside the Olympics. Mentioned in this podcast: Wall Street s…

Major stock indices were significantly down around the world yesterday. Plus, the FT’s Lucy Fisher explains why the far right is rioting in England and what the government is doing about it. Mentioned in this podcast: US stocks finish sharply lower to close out global market rout Why global investors find it so easy to sell Japan Why are the far ri…

UK chancellor Rachel Reeves begins a three-day visit to New York and Toronto on Monday in an attempt to sell Britain as “a stable place to do business,” asset managers fret as high-yield savings and caution over market volatility have left up to $1.5tn out of the market, commodity bulls’ dash for the exit sends prices tumbling. Mentioned in this po…

Only two political parties — the Republicans and the Democrats — have controlled the White House since 1853. However, candidates from other parties still run in presidential elections. The FT’s Washington reporter, Steff Chávez, and US business and politics correspondent, Alex Rogers, join this week’s Swamp Notes to explain how third-party candidat…

Investors were not happy with Amazon’s earnings report and Russia agreed to a historic prisoner swap with western countries. Plus, the FT’s Tommy Stubbington discusses how markets might react to a week of important central bank interest rate decisions. Mentioned in this podcast: Amazon earnings jump on cloud computing strength but margins narrow A …

An interest rate cut could be on the table for the Federal Reserve’s next meeting, conflict in the Middle East is intensifying, and the Nasdaq composite jumped 2.7% on Wednesday. Plus, the FT’s Barney Jopson explains the recent wave of backlash against tourists. Mentioned in this podcast: Powell says September rate cut ‘on the table’ after Fed note…

Microsoft’s AI-fuelled cloud growth fell slightly short of investors’ expectations, the cost of a luxury office space in Miami smashed records, and London’s stock market has fallen behind in mining company listings. Plus, the FT’s Humza Jilani explains how Pakistan’s banks are benefitting from mounting government debt. Mentioned in this podcast: Mi…

Britain’s new finance minister blamed the previous Conservative government for a £22bn fiscal hole, and Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro is facing international pressure to back up his claim of winning re-election. Plus, the FT’s Andy Bounds explains the EU’s trade strategy to deal with a potential second Trump presidency. Mentioned in this pod…

Losses in big tech stocks as investors punish companies over earning reports. The Bank of England may vote to reduce interest rates this week. Fallout after a Hizbollah attack on the Golan Heights. Mentioned in this podcast: US markets suffer worst day since 2022 as Tesla and AI stocks fall BoE rate decision hangs on a knife edge as divided policym…

If Kamala Harris wins the Democratic nomination next month, she would be only the second woman or person of colour that either major US party has ever nominated for president. On this week’s Swamp Notes, the FT’s US national columnist and editor, Edward Luce, and deputy Washington bureau chief, Lauren Fedor, explain why Harris probably won’t lean i…

Elon Musk is looking to inject $5bn into an AI start-up, and Venezuela’s election on Sunday will decide whether Nicolás Maduro will stay in office for more than a decade. Plus, the FT’s Simon Kuper explains how big infrastructure updates in Paris might shake up the cultural and political boundaries of the city. Mentioned in this podcast: Elon Musk …

Biden says it’s time to ‘pass on the torch’, China and the Philippines struck a deal to reduce tensions in the South China Sea, and the Nasdaq composite fell 3.6 per cent yesterday. Plus, the FT’s Chris Kay explains how young investors are gambling on Indian stocks. Mentioned in this podcast: The flashpoints that threaten a détente between China an…

Tesla’s net income fell by 45 per cent, investors think Donald Trump will be back in the White House, and the director of the US Secret Service resigned after an operational failure. Plus, the FT’s Jennifer Hughes talks about investors betting on politics in prediction markets. Mentioned in this podcast: Tesla misses profit estimates as electric ve…

The US Congress interrogated its Secret Service chief yesterday, and Kamala Harris is gearing up her prospective presidential campaign. Plus, the FT’s Christian Davies explains how Samsung’s labour crisis is complicating its efforts to capitalise on a booming market for semiconductors. Mentioned in this podcast: US Secret Service chief says Donald …

US President Joe Biden has abandoned his re-election bid following overwhelming pressure from fellow Democrats, and India’s prime minister Narendra Modi faces an early test to his third term in office. Plus, the UK’s new chancellor, Rachel Reeves, will present a fiscal statement to parliament later this month. Mentioned in this podcast: Joe Biden d…

Republicans gathered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for their convention this week, just days after their party leader was nearly assassinated. The presidential nominee, Donald Trump, started off with a message of unity. However, it’s unclear if that message will stick. The FT’s deputy Washington bureau chief Lauren Fedor and US political news editor Der…