Berkshire after Buffett

OpenAI will remain under the control of the group’s non-profit arm, US stocks have wiped out the steep losses that followed US President Donald Trump’s tariff announcement, and the Bank of England is expected to cut interest rates on Tuesday. Plus, Meta’s AI ambitions face a legal test in one of the first trials over copyright infringement.Mentioned in this podcast:OpenAI ditches plan to convert to for-profit businessMeta lawsuit poses first big test of AI copyright battleBank of England expected to cut rates as US trade war hits growthUS stocks wipe out steep losses that followed Trump’s ‘liberation day’The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian, Ethan Plotkin, Lulu Smyth, and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Michela Tindera, Katie McMurran, Breen Turner, Sam Giovinco, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. The show’s theme song 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’s most famous investor says he plans to step down after six decades leading Berkshire Hathaway, and Chinese exporters are turning to third countries to get around 145 per cent US tariffs. Plus, local Nigerian oil companies are starting to replace foreign majors, and Israel calls up reservists to support its expanded operations in Gaza. Mentioned in this podcast:Warren Buffett to step down from Berkshire Hathaway after six decadesChinese exporters ‘wash’ products in third countries to avoid Donald Trump’s tariffsIsrael vows to hit back against Iran and Houthis after airport attackCredit: CNBCThe FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian, Ethan Plotkin, Lulu Smyth, and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Katie McMurran, Breen Turner, Sam Giovinco, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. The show’s theme song 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 garnered a lot of criticism since he enacted his trade war. But there are people who still defend the tariffs, including Oren Cass, chief economist of the conservative thinktank American Compass. Cass is a contributor to the FT’s opinion pages, and he joins the FT’s US national editor and columnist Edward Luce to discuss why some conservatives still find value in tariffs. Mentioned in this podcast:Trump has no idea what he has unleashedEurope must choose between America and ChinaSign up for the FT’s Swamp Notes newsletter hereSwamp Notes is produced by Katya Kumkova. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Amazon warned of the impact of Donald Trump’s global trade war and issued weaker-than-expected guidance for the second quarter, and Australians head to the polls this weekend caught in the crossfire of the US-China trade war. Plus, European banks had a great first quarter thanks to global market volatility. Mentioned in this podcast:Amazon falls after profit forecast misses expectationsAustralia: caught between a slowing China and a chaotic USUBS, Barclays and SocGen reap trading windfall from market turmoilThe FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian, Ethan Plotkin, Lulu Smyth, and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Michela Tindera, Josh Gabert-Doyon, Persis Love Katie McMurran, Breen Turner, Sam Giovinco, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Microsoft posted better than expected quarterly earnings on Wednesday, Spain is trying to figure out what caused a massive power outage, and the Conservatives are bracing for heavy losses in local England elections. Plus, the FT’s Claire Jones explains what we can take away from the latest US GDP reading. Mentioned in this podcast:US and Ukraine sign natural resources dealMicrosoft shares jump after software giant’s earnings top forecastsUS economy contracts at 0.3% rate as Trump tariffs prompt import surgeLocal elections: Tories braced for losses as England votes in five-party raceHow did Spain’s electricity grid collapse?The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian, Ethan Plotkin, Lulu Smyth, and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Michela Tindera, Katie McMurran, Breen Turner, Sam Giovinco, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donald Trump unveiled more tariff relief for some carmakers, and shares in a number of companies surged in Tokyo after a plan for carmaker Toyota Motor to take one of its subsidiaries private. Plus, Wall Street economists forecast that US GDP shrank in the first quarter, and contrary to some stereotypes, Generation Z is leading the charge back to the office. Mentioned in this podcast:Wall Street banks predict GDP contraction after US trade deficit hits recordDonald Trump set to announce new car tariff climbdown in MichiganJapan shares surge after Toyota spurs hopes for wider corporate shake-upGen Z is leading the charge back to the officeThe FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian, Ethan Plotkin, Lulu Smyth, and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Katie McMurran, Breen Turner, Sam Giovinco, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The oil industry is bracing for its worst year since the pandemic, and Spain and Portugal are reeling from a massive power outage. Plus, the FT’s Emily Herbert explains why the flight into the Swiss franc is causing a headache for the country’s central bank. Mentioned in this podcast:Big Oil braced for worst year since pandemic as bumper profits recedeSpain declares state of emergency in the wake of huge power outageSwiss franc surge sparks bets on return to negative interest ratesThe FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian, Ethan Plotkin, Lulu Smyth, and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Flo Phillips, Katie McMurran, Breen Turner, Sam Giovinco, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Canadians will head to the polls Monday to pick a prime minister, and a new US proposal to end the War in Ukraine would allow Russia to keep some of the territory it’s conquered. Plus, Hungary’s government may be funneling money to friendly news outlets, and major American companies are starting to speak up about Donald Trump’s trade war. Mentioned in this podcast:Canadians head to the polls to elect new prime ministerPutin and Trump envoy hold ‘constructive’ meeting, Russian official saysTrump and Zelenskyy hold ‘productive’ discussion at Pope’s funeralHungary accused of illegal subsidies for pro-government mediaConsumer giants ring warning bells over Donald Trump’s trade warThe FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian, Ethan Plotkin, Lulu Smyth, and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Katie McMurran, Breen Turner, Sam Giovinco, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Just a few weeks ago, US President Donald Trump was ready to levy tariffs on basically every nation. Today, many of those tariffs have been paused or tempered. Additionally, this week he promised he will not be firing Federal Reserve chair Jay Powell, despite his earlier criticism. Should we expect more backstepping from Trump in the face of economic data? And what do the voters think of it all? FT economics editor Sam Fleming joins alongside Jon McHenry, vice-president of the conservative pollster North Star Opinion Research. Mentioned in this podcast:Trump claims to have received call from Xi Jinping and to have cut ‘200 deals’ on tradeDonald Trump says he has ‘no intention’ of firing Jay PowellSign up for the FT’s Swamp Notes newsletter hereSwamp Notes is produced by Katya Kumkova. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apple plans to shift the assembly of all US-sold iPhones to India as soon as next year, factories in China have begun slowing production and furloughing some workers in the aftermath of US tariffs, and Alphabet shares rose after it reported first-quarter profit surged 46 per cent. Plus, the Trump administration wants to stamp out one of America’s enduring financial pastimes: writing paper cheques.Mentioned in this podcast:Alphabet shares jump as Google search boosts profitsApple aims to source all US iPhones from India in pivot from ChinaA crucial earnings seasonIs Trump’s drive to kill the paper cheque a ‘no brainer’?Chinese factories slow production and send workers home as US tariffs biteThe FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian, Ethan Plotkin, Lulu Smyth, and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Katie McMurran, Breen Turner, Sam Giovinco, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.