A hostile takeover looms in European banking

The Federal Trade Commission is preparing to launch an investigation into anti-competitive practices at Microsoft’s cloud computing business, and the FT’s Katie Martin explains why the post-election excitement around crypto comes down to vibes and vision. Plus, Disney’s earnings jumped 39 per cent, and Berkshire Hathaway has investors asking questions after filling its coffers by unwinding its most profitable trade.Mentioned in this podcast:FTC to investigate Microsoft over cloud dominanceBitcoin’s big bang moment is impossible to ignore ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ drives earnings revival at Disney Warren Buffett’s Apple share sales and cash pile spark intrigue over motives  The Onion to acquire Infowars out of bankruptcyThe FT News Briefing is produced by Niamh Rowe, Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Mischa Frankl-Duval, Breen Turner, Sam Giovinco, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Our engineer is Joseph Salcedo. 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.

Republican John Thune will be the next leader of the Senate, and the president-elect gets to work filling out his cabinet. Plus, US inflation rose to 2.6 per cent in October, as the Federal Reserve debates whether to cut interest rates next month. Plus, activist investor Effissimo Capital Management has taken a stake in struggling carmaker Nissan.  Mentioned in this podcast:John Thune elected to Senate leadership in rebuke to Trump allies Donald Trump picks Matt Gaetz as attorney-generalDonald Trump taps Fox News host Pete Hegseth for defence secretary  US inflation rises to 2.6% Nissan shares jump after activist investor takes stake The FT News Briefing is produced by Niamh Rowe, Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Breen Turner, Sam Giovinco, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Our engineer is Joseph Salcedo. 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’s ‘hush money’ case has been paused, Ukraine has been building on its ‘victory plan’ for his incoming administration and SoftBank reported that it is profitable again. Plus, Wall Street has loaned billions of dollars to a niche group of tech companies based on their possession of Nvidia’s artificial intelligence chips.Mentioned in this podcast:New York judge delays decision on Donald Trump’s ‘hush money’ sentencingUkraine seeks to win over Trump with natural resources and troop proposalsSoftBank returns to profit as Indian IPOs boost Vision Fund gainsWall Street frenzy creates $11bn debt market for AI groups buying Nvidia chipsThe FT News Briefing is produced by Niamh Rowe, Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Breen Turner, Sam Giovinco, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Our engineer is Joseph Salcedo. 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.

Calendar year inflows in to exchange traded funds surpassed their previous full-year record at the end of October, and we look at how Donald Trump’s win ushers in a new era for Elon Musk. Plus, rival groups of bondholders are vying to extend loans to the troubled UK utility Thames Water. Mentioned in this podcast:Elon Musk’s gamble on Donald Trump pays offHow Thames Water became a battleground for hedge fundsETF flows smash full year recordThe FT News Briefing is produced by Niamh Rowe, Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Mischa Frankl-Duval, Breen Turner, Sam Giovinco, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Our engineer is Joseph Salcedo. 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’s election victory has sent shockwaves across the renewable energy industry, and China has announced fiscal stimulus to bail out local governments. Bitcoin hit $80,000 for the first time as cryptocurrency investors anticipate looser regulations under Trump, and Argentina’s legal battles could complicate President Javier Milei’s attempts to fix the country’s struggling economy.  Mentioned in this podcast:Trump election victory deals blow to US clean energy industry  China unveils $1.4tn package to shore up economy Bitcoin hits high as Trump records clean sweep of seven swing states Litigation ‘tsunami’ breaks over Argentina’s President Javier Milei Credit: MARAThe FT News Briefing is produced by Niamh Rowe, Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Breen Turner, Sam Giovinco, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Our engineer is Joseph Salcedo. 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 Republicans swept to power in Tuesday’s election, winning the White House, the Senate, and probably the House of Representatives. Voter dissatisfaction with the economy played a big part in their success. The FT’s Washington bureau chief James Politi and global business columnist Rana Foroohar join this election week episode of Swamp Notes to explain why Democrats failed to deliver a convincing economic message, and what Donald Trump’s disruptive agenda could mean for the US economy. Mentioned in this podcast:Wall Street rejoices as the bell tolls for Biden-era regulationEconomists warn Trump’s policies will trigger inflationBitcoin hits record above $75,000 as crypto industry celebrates Trump winSign up for the FT’s Swamp Notes newsletter hereSwamp Notes is produced by Ethan Plotkin, Sonja Hutson, Lauren Fedor and Marc Filippino. 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.

US stocks rallied after Donald Trump’s election victory, but the euphoria could be short-lived if his policies drive up inflation. Plus, German opposition leader Friedrich Merz has called for snap elections as early as January following the collapse of Olaf Scholz’s government, and Trump’s victory is set to cast a pall over the UN COP29 summit next week.Mentioned in this podcast:Risk assets rally but bond market views Donald Trump’s victory with cautionFederal Reserve cuts interest rates for second consecutive meeting German opposition leader Friedrich Merz calls for snap elections Trump victory seen as blow to climate action ahead of COP summit The FT News Briefing is produced by Niamh Rowe, Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Breen Turner, Sam Giovinco, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Our engineer is Joseph Salcedo. 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.

Wall Street stocks hit a record high but investors dumped bonds after Donald Trump’s historic US election victory, and the FT’s Lauren Fedor explains what to expect from his agenda. In Europe, leaders have vowed to preserve a united front and work with Trump, and export-reliant economies across the world brace for his promised tariff increases. Mentioned in this podcast:US stocks hit record high after Donald Trump clinches victory Donald Trump elected US president in historic comeback Donald Trump unleashed: what a second term will bring European leaders vow to work with Donald Trump despite fearsGlobal economy prepares for the Trump ‘macro shock’   Trump’s tariff obsession is worse than before The FT News Briefing is produced by Niamh Rowe, Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Breen Turner, Sam Giovinco, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Our engineer is Joseph Salcedo. 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.

A divided US electorate made their choice at the polls yesterday, after candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump spent a combined $3.5bn in their race for the White House. Plus, Germany’s government is in talks on next year’s budget amid fears the coalition could collapse.  Mentioned in this podcast:US election 2024 live results: US voters make their choice in historically tight electionDonald Trump and Kamala Harris spend $3.5bn in most expensive presidential electionGerman vice-chancellor extends olive branch to avert coalition collapseThe FT News Briefing is produced by Niamh Rowe, Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Breen Turner, Sam Giovinco, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Our engineer is Joseph Salcedo. 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 dollar weakened on Monday as global markets reined in their bets on a victory for Donald Trump in the US presidential election, and the Financial Times’ James Politi explains what to look out for as results trickle in. Plus, Spain’s prime minister is facing political backlash over the country’s historic flooding and the Nigeria-based fintech Moniepoint has gained “unicorn” status.Mentioned in this podcast:Dollar weakens as investors rein in bets on Trump victory Spain’s political leaders turn on each other over flood catastrophe US election 2024: a comprehensive guide to the presidential race  Nigeria-based fintech Moniepoint gains ‘unicorn’ statusCredit: AFPThe FT News Briefing is produced by Niamh Rowe, Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Breen Turner, Sam Giovinco, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Our engineer is Joseph Salcedo. 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.