Swamp Notes: Trump ices Europe out of Ukraine peace plan

Investors are urging the EU to make sweeping reforms to its debt securitisation market, Walmart has staged a major comeback, and Chinese ecommerce giant Alibaba reported its fastest revenue growth in more than a year. Plus, the FT’s John Paul Rathbone explains how Europe could defend itself should Donald Trump pull US military assets.Mentioned in this podcast:Investors call for shake-up of Europe’s ‘failed’ securitisation marketHow Europe can defend itself without US helpHow a resurgent Walmart saw off the Amazon threatWalmart points to ‘uncertain time’ with warning of weaker sales growthAlibaba to ‘aggressively’ invest in AI over next three yearsSubscription promo: ft.com/briefingsaleThe FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian, Ethan Plotkin, Lulu Smyth, and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Michela Tindera, 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.

KKR has submitted a preliminary bid to take a majority stake in Thames Water, and HSBC set out its cost cuts in its annual earnings report yesterday. UK inflation hit a 10-month high. Plus, Germany has lost half a million manufacturing jobs since 2020. Mentioned in this podcast:German manufacturing job losses deepen fears over industrial declineUK inflation rises to 10-month high of 3% in JanuaryHSBC sets out scale of cost cuts under chief executive’s restructuring planKKR submits £4bn bid to take majority stake in Thames WaterSubscription promo: ft.com/briefingsaleThe FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian, Ethan Plotkin, Lulu Smyth, 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 US and Russia have agreed to ‘lay the groundwork for future co-operation’ on ending the Ukraine war, and US president Donald Trump has his eyes on Ukrainian mineral deposits. Plus, developers of small modular nuclear reactors have raised at least $1.5bn in funding over the past year thanks to AI data centers.Mentioned in this podcast:US and Russia agree to ‘lay the groundwork’ for ending Ukraine warThe Ukrainian mineral riches in Donald Trump’s sightsBig Tech’s AI ambitions deliver funding boost to nuclear reactor race   Subscription promo: ft.com/briefingsaleThe FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian, Ethan Plotkin, Lulu Smyth, 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.

Tesla risks being caught up in the China-US trade war, while US officials head to Saudi Arabia to start peace talks over Ukraine. Indonesia reaches “Opec status” as it dominates the global nickel trade. Plus, the US-India deal signals a bonanza for US gas imports. Mentioned in this podcast:Tesla braces for delay to China licence as Trump trade tensions mount The ‘Opec’ of nickel: Indonesia’s control of a critical metal European countries clash over sending troops to UkraineSubscription promo: ft.com/briefingsaleThis episode of the FT News Briefing was produced by Josh Gabert-Doyon, Fiona Symon, Lulu Smyth, 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.

French President Macron holds an emergency meeting in Paris with Ukraine’s allies, and a stock index featuring Europe’s largest banks is outpacing the United States’ Magnificent Seven tech giants. Plus, the activist hedge fund Elliot Management is on a mission to rejuvenate British Petroleum. Mentioned in this podcast:Europe scrambles to respond as US and Russia prepare for Ukraine peace talksHedge fund Elliott shakes BP from its strategic slumpMagnificent 7? Try the Magnificent 47 for sizeSubscription promo: ft.com/briefingsaleThe FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian, Ethan Plotkin, Lulu Smyth, 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.

Ukraine is dominating discussions at this year’s Munich Security Conference after a call between Donald Trump and Russia’s Vladimir Putin, which ended with the US president declaring that peace talks will start “immediately”. The FT’s Moscow bureau chief Max Seddon is on to discuss, alongside Keir Giles, author of the recent book Who Will Defend Europe?Mentioned in this podcast:Donald Trump opens the door to Vladimir Putin’s grandest ambitionsEU to ease fiscal rules to boost defense spendingHow will Europe defend itself?Sign up for the FT’s Swamp Notes newsletter hereSwamp Notes is produced by Marc Filippino and 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.

Arm plans to launch its own chip this year, and Shein’s IPO will likely be delayed after US President Donald Trump’s crackdown on tariff-free imports. Plus, Robinhood has evolved from an app that sprayed digital confetti when customers made their first trade to one that aims to serve as a broader financial services platform.Mentioned in this podcast:Arm secures Meta as first customer for ambitious new chip projectShein IPO plans hit by Trump’s low-cost parcels crackdownHas meme-stock kid Robinhood finally come of age?The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian, Ethan Plotkin, Lulu Smyth, 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.

European officials are worried about being cut out of a US-Russia peace deal on Ukraine, and US inflation ticked up in January. Plus, China’s leading producer of memory chips is rapidly gaining global market share at the expense of South Korean competitors. Mentioned in this podcast:Europe blindsided by Trump on Ukraine peace talks with RussiaUS inflation unexpectedly increases to 3% in JanuaryChinese chip champion’s ‘snowballing’ growth threatens Korean dominanceThe FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian, Ethan Plotkin, Lulu Smyth, 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.

Hong Kong tech stocks are flying high, Elon Musk’s nearly $100bn bid for OpenAI comes with a ton of baggage, and the EU says it will retaliate against US tariffs on European steel and aluminium exports. Plus, Sudan’s army is close to its biggest victory in a brutal two-year civil war. Mentioned in this podcast:China’s tech stocks enter bull market after DeepSeekWorld’s largest EV battery maker files for Hong Kong listingElon Musk gatecrashes OpenAI restructuringElon Musk-led consortium offers $100bn to take control of OpenAIEU to retaliate against US steel and aluminium tariffsSudan army nears biggest victory of civil war with assault on capitalThe FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian, Ethan Plotkin, Lulu Smyth, 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.

More than 60 partners have left PwC China after a ban over its audit of failed property developer Evergrande, the FT’s Andy Bounds explains what we can learn from Donald Trump’s 2018 steel tariffs, and Hamas said it is postponing the next release of hostages. Plus, Hizbollah is weaker than it’s ever been, and it needs the support of its constituency to rebuild.Mentioned in this podcast:PwC China loses 66 partners in wake of ban over Evergrande auditWhat happened when Donald Trump imposed steel tariffs in 2018Donald Trump to impose 25% tariffs on steel and aluminium importsHamas says it is postponing next hostage releaseHow Hizbollah is using cash and WhatsApp groups to shore up powerThe FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian, Ethan Plotkin, Lulu Smyth, 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.