Category: News

  • Economists trim Fed rate cut estimates on fear of Trump inflation surge

    Stay informed with free updates Simply sign up to the US inflation myFT Digest — delivered directly to your inbox. The Federal Reserve is set to take a more cautious approach to interest rate cuts on fears that the Trump administration’s policies will stoke higher inflation, according to academic economists polled by the Financial Times. …

  • London Stock Exchange suffers biggest exodus since financial crisis

    Unlock the Editor’s Digest for free Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter. The London Stock Exchange is on course for its worst year for departures since the financial crisis, as fears mount that more FTSE 100 businesses will quit the UK in favour of New York. A…

  • The race to make the greatest Christmas ad

    Every New Year’s Day, Emma Bisley starts asking herself the same question: who is going to win Christmas this year? Since 2023, the cherubic 34-year-old has been head of campaigns for Sainsbury’s, Britain’s second-largest supermarket chain. She thinks about winning Christmas the same way the Grinch thinks about stealing it, which is to say nearly…

  • South Korea president vows to ‘never give up’ after impeachment vote

    Unlock the Editor’s Digest for free Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter. South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol has been impeached by the National Assembly following his failed attempt to impose martial law last week. Opposition parties, which command a majority in the legislature, only needed the…

  • Labour’s push for growth hit by latest fall in UK output

    Chancellor Rachel Reeves came to office in July pledging to make stronger growth the number one mission of the new Labour government. Official figures on Friday underlined how far she is from achieving this ambition.  After gaining momentum since 2023, output slipped back in September and October. The figures confirm that businesses and households shied…

  • UK economy unexpectedly shrinks by 0.1%

    Unlock the Editor’s Digest for free Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter. The UK economy unexpectedly shrank 0.1 per cent in October, the second contraction in a row, in a blow to the Labour government’s economic agenda. The monthly change in GDP published on Friday by the…

  • HSBC reviews retail banking outside UK and Hong Kong

    Unlock the Editor’s Digest for free Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter. HSBC is reviewing its retail banking operations outside the UK and Hong Kong, a move that could see it substantially scale back operations in countries including Mexico, as it seeks further cost cuts. The bank…

  • Nato’s European members discuss 3% target for defence spending

    European Nato members are holding talks about increasing the alliance’s target for defence spending to 3 per cent of GDP at its annual summit next June partly in anticipation of Donald Trump’s return as US president. Four people involved in the preliminary talks told the Financial Times they were discussing the steep rise from 2…

  • Business leaders warn Reeves about the impact of her Budget tax rises

    Unlock the Editor’s Digest for free Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter. Business leaders have warned chancellor Rachel Reeves at a private meeting that the economic environment is “extremely challenging”, with companies facing major uncertainty due to her tax-raising Budget and the government’s planned package of employment…

  • Qatar’s $500bn wealth fund targets bigger deals as LNG windfall looms

    Qatar’s $500bn sovereign wealth fund is preparing to deploy its cash more aggressively ahead of a petrodollar windfall that could ultimately double its size. Mohammed Al-Sowaidi, the Qatar Investment Authority’s new chief executive, told the Financial Times the fund expected to “do bigger-ticket deals” and invest with “more frequency” as it embarks on a review…

  • UK public sector workers face fresh pay squeeze as Treasury takes tough stance

    Unlock the Editor’s Digest for free Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter. UK public sector workers face a fresh pay squeeze next year, after the Treasury said it would not raise taxes to fund more generous awards. The education and health departments said in evidence to independent…

  • Wall Street’s complex debt bonanza hits fastest pace since 2007

    Stay informed with free updates Simply sign up to the Financial services myFT Digest — delivered directly to your inbox. Investors’ “relentless” appetite for juicy returns has triggered the biggest boom on Wall Street in complex financial products since the lead-up to the global financial crisis in 2007. The global volume of structured finance transactions…

  • Assad flees Syria for Moscow as rebels seize Damascus

    Show video info Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has fled the country after a stunning offensive by rebels who seized the capital city of Damascus and toppled the dynasty that had ruled for 50 years. Amid scenes of jubilation on Sunday, the rebels proclaimed that “the city of Damascus is free from the tyrant Bashar al-Assad”…

  • Syrian rebels seize Damascus and topple Assad dynasty

    €69 per month Complete digital access to quality FT journalism with expert analysis from industry leaders. Pay a year upfront and save 20%. What’s included Global news & analysis Expert opinion FT App on Android & iOS FT Edit app FirstFT: the day’s biggest stories 20+ curated newsletters Follow topics & set alerts with myFT…

  • Syrian rebels push towards Damascus as Assad’s grip on power wanes

    Unlock the Editor’s Digest for free Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter. Syrian rebels say they are closing in on the strategic city of Homs as they push ahead with a lightning advance southwards towards President Bashar al-Assad’s remaining strongholds. “Our forces have liberated the last village…

  • Starmer to launch major government spending review

    €69 per month Complete digital access to quality FT journalism with expert analysis from industry leaders. Pay a year upfront and save 20%. What’s included Global news & analysis Expert opinion FT App on Android & iOS FT Edit app FirstFT: the day’s biggest stories 20+ curated newsletters Follow topics & set alerts with myFT…

  • Romania scraps presidential election after alleged Russian meddling

    Unlock the Editor’s Digest for free Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter. Romania’s constitutional court has annulled last month’s first round of presidential elections after evidence that the leading candidate benefited from Russian intervention. The unprecedented decision to strike down the vote, which was won by far-right candidate…

  • Europe races to set up €500bn defence fund

    Unlock the White House Watch newsletter for free Your guide to what the 2024 US election means for Washington and the world EU countries are discussing a €500bn joint fund for common defence projects and arms procurement, tapping bond markets to boost spending in anticipation of Donald Trump’s White House return. Trump’s threat to withdraw…

  • French parliament votes to oust Michel Barnier’s government

    Unlock the Editor’s Digest for free Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter. The French parliament on Wednesday voted to oust prime minister Michel Barnier over his proposed deficit-cutting budget, plunging the country into deeper political turmoil. A motion of no confidence was approved by 331 votes in…

  • UK uncovers vast crypto laundering scheme for gangsters and Russian spies

    A UK-led operation has uncovered a multibillion-dollar money laundering scheme run out of London, Moscow and Dubai that enabled Russian spies and European drug traffickers to evade sanctions using cryptocurrency. The UK’s National Crime Agency said on Wednesday that its “Operation Destabilise” investigation centred on two companies — Smart and TGR — that acted as…