Foreign central banks have slashed their holdings of Treasuries at the New York Federal Reserve to the lowest level since 2012, and a preliminary estimate showed that Eurozone inflation jumped to 2.5 per cent in March. Plus, we hear from two small US business owners about how they have navigated a year of President Donald Trump’s tariffs. 

Mentioned in this podcast:

Foreign central banks sell US Treasuries in wake of Iran war

The ECB’s three-pronged monetary strategy

Trump tariff tracker: US trade, markets and the economy

Listen to the FT News Briefing’s tariffs series here

Chris Giles on Central Banks

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

Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted and edited by Marc Filippino, and produced by Fiona Symon, Victoria Craig, Saffeya Ahmed, and Sonja Hutson. Our show was mixed by Kent Militzer. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann and David da Silva. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Cheryl Brumley 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.

Swiss lawmakers have assured senior UBS executives that they will water down stringent new rules and the Trump administration took its first step in opening the more than $10tn US retirement marketplace to private markets. Plus, as part of our series marking one year since so-called Liberation Day, the FT’s Stefania Palma explains the rocky legal future of US tariffs. 

Mentioned in this podcast:

Swiss lawmakers signal compromise on $22bn UBS capital plan

Trump to take first steps in opening retirement funds to private markets

The Supreme Court sends tariffs on a turbulent descent

Listen to the FT News Briefing’s tariffs series here

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

Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted and edited by Marc Filippino, and produced by Saffeya Ahmed, Victoria Craig, and Sonja Hutson. Our show was mixed by Kelly Garry. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann and David da Silva. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Cheryl Brumley 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 President Donald Trump has said he wants to ‘take the oil in Iran’ and could seize the export hub of Kharg Island. Uncertainty about what happens next in the war is sending nervousness through global markets. Plus, this week marks one year since President Trump’s so-called Liberation Day announcement. How has the global trade landscape changed since then?

Mentioned in this podcast:

Donald Trump says US could ‘take the oil in Iran’

Global markets recoil as Marco Rubio warns war in Iran could stretch for weeks

US bond market shows signs of strain as Iran war sparks Treasury tumult

How has the global economy changed since ‘liberation day’?

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

Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted by Victoria Craig and produced by Nisha Patel and Marc Filippino. Our show was mixed by Alex Higgins. Additional help from Peter Barber. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Cheryl Brumley 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.

Untold host Antonia Cundy uncovers the cultural and political influence of a controversial Catholic organisation in America. Opus Dei exists to help people get closer to God, but some members say they found other agendas – and unexpected harm – entangled in that spiritual mission.

We meet Sarah – a young girl drawn to Opus Dei’s message that professional work can be a path to holiness. At 18, Sarah says goodbye to her family and moves into an Opus Dei centre to learn how to make her work an offering to God. But what she experiences there feels different to the organisation she thought she knew. Sarah chafes at unexpected rules, unquestioning obedience and dehumanising treatment.

Subscribe and listen on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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

The United Arab Emirates has told allies that it would participate in a multinational maritime task force intended to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and Hong Kong is weighing tax cuts for asset managers. Plus, London has embraced a controversial form of energy production: burning rubbish. 

Mentioned in this podcast:

UAE pushes for international force to reopen Hormuz

Hong Kong weighs ‘big bang’ tax cuts for asset managers

‘It’s good business’: how London became an ‘energy from waste’ capital

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

Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted and edited by Marc Filippino, and produced by Fiona Symon, Mischa Frankl-Duval, Victoria Craig, and Sonja Hutson. Our show was mixed by Kelly Garry. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello and David da Silva. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Cheryl Brumley 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.

Iran’s top military leadership dismissed Donald Trump’s claims that the Islamic republic was ready to make a deal, the US president appears to make abrupt policy pivots based on swings in oil prices, and the EU’s trade commissioner says time is running out to stop the World Trade Organization from fading into irrelevance. Plus, how worried should investors be about the caps on redemptions at private credit funds?

Mentioned in this podcast:

Iran’s military leaders dismiss Donald Trump’s deal claims

Iran war tests Donald Trump’s tolerance for ‘pain’ in oil market

Meta and Google liable for social media harm to children’s mental health in landmark US case

WTO risks sliding into irrelevance, EU trade commissioner warns

Private credit’s game of footsie is getting riskier

Ares limits withdrawals from $10.7bn private credit fund

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

Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted and edited by Marc Filippino, and produced by Henry Larson, Victoria Craig and Sonja Hutson. Our show was mixed by Kelly Garry. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Cheryl Brumley 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.

Meta and OpenAI will be among the first customers of Arm’s long-awaited new AI processor, the haven asset gold hasn’t been looking like its usual self, and Volkswagen is in talks to switch production at one its factories from cars to missile defence for Israel. Plus, Lebanon is worried Israel will push further into its southern region and occupy it. 

Mentioned in this podcast:

Arm launches own AI chip in high-stakes strategy shift

Unhedged: Is gold an unsafe haven asset?

Listen to the Unhedged podcast here

VW to shift from cars to missile defence in deal with Israel’s Iron Dome maker

The sum of all fears for Lebanon

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

Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted and edited by Marc Filippino, and produced by Sonja Hutson. Our show was mixed by Kelly Garry. Additional help from David da Silva. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Cheryl Brumley 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.

Sources tell the FT that Pakistan is positioning itself as the lead mediator trying to broker an end to the US’s and Israel’s war against Iran, and the US ambassador to the EU says the bloc must implement its trade deal with the US or risk losing its “favourable” access to liquefied natural gas shipments from American exporters. Plus, carmakers are panic buying aluminium because of the Middle East conflict, and some Israeli opposition parties are being surprisingly hawkish on Iran.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Pakistan steps up as go-between in Trump’s Iran crisis

US warns EU to pass trade deal or risk losing ‘favourable’ access to LNG

Carmakers rush to secure aluminium as Middle East war hits supply

Benjamin Netanyahu’s rivals compete to outdo him over Iran

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

Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted and edited by Marc Filippino, and produced by Victoria Craig and Sonja Hutson. Our show was mixed by Kelly Garry. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Cheryl Brumley 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.

The World Food Project warns millions more could be pushed into acute hunger if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed. Plus, energy executives meet in Houston as war in Iran rages, and China pitches itself as a “harbour of stability” to global CEOs. And Trump escalates his rhetoric on Cuba, raising fears of U.S.-Cuba confrontation.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Piles of wheat and canned food stuck in transit as Iran war disrupts aid

Iran war is the greatest threat to global energy ‘in history’, warns IEA

Canada’s oil producers in line for C$90bn windfall from Iran war 

China touts itself as ‘harbour of stability’ amid Iran war 

Cuba hit by second nationwide power outage in a week

Credit: NBC

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

Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted by Victoria Craig, and produced by Julia Webster and Sonja Hutson. Our show was mixed by Alex Higgins. Additional help from Peter Barber. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Cheryl Brumley 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.

 Investors sounded the alarm on Thursday after a major Qatar gas facility took serious damage, and amateur traders are going wild for five-minute bets. 

Mentioned in this podcast:

‘Armageddon scenario’ for gas markets as Qatar hit by missiles

Five-minute bets are the new craze sweeping crypto markets

Stocks and bonds tumble as investors price in ‘protracted energy shock’

CERAWeek conference

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

Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted and edited by Marc Filippino, and produced by Fiona Symon, Victoria Craig, and Sonja Hutson. Our show was mixed by Kelly Garry. Additional help from Michael Lello. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Cheryl Brumley 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.

The US has relaxed sanctions on Venezuela’s state-owned oil group Petróleos de Venezuela and the Federal Reserve has stuck with plans to cut rates later this year. Plus, Walmart won patents to give algorithms more sway over prices and fears of an immediate escalation in the conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan have eased.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Federal Reserve chief Jay Powell says Iran oil crisis will worsen US inflation

Pakistan and Afghanistan pause hostilities after Kabul hospital attack

Walmart wins patents to give algorithms more sway over prices

US relaxes sanctions on Venezuela’s PDVSA amid global energy squeeze

Send us your tariff story: [email protected]

Credit: Federal Reserve

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

Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted by Sonja Hutson, and produced by Fiona Symon and Victoria Craig. Our show was mixed by Kelly Garry. Additional help from David da Silva. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Cheryl Brumley 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.