FT News Briefing

Tesla’s profits rebounded from last year’s lows, Brent crude jumped back above $100 a barrel on Wednesday after Iran’s navy said it seized two commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, and China’s new trade rules have concerned businesses operating in the country. Plus, the FT’s John Burn-Murdoch unpacks a survey that finds the highest-earning workers are adopting AI in their jobs far faster than others and Switzerland hit UBS with a proposed $20bn capital increase.Mentioned in this podcast:Tesla shares rally as profits rebound from last year’s lowsTrump’s ‘dirty ceasefire’ tested as Iran hits shippingUS allies in Gulf and Asia have requested swap lines, Scott Bessent saysChina links tough new trade rules to Iran war and Panama port disputeHigh earners race ahead on AI as workplace divide widensSwitzerland hits UBS with proposed $20bn capital increaseCredit: ReutersNote: 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 and Fiona Symon. Our show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. 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

US President Donald Trump extended the ceasefire with Iran until talks conclude, and Federal Reserve chair nominee Kevin Warsh sidestepped accusations that he would succumb to pressure from Trump to cut interest rates. Plus, a sneak peek at a new FT podcast on the lessons to learn in the history of finance. Mentioned in this podcast:Can Trump finally make a nuclear deal with Iran?Kevin Warsh sidesteps questions over Donald Trump’s influence on Fed rate policyIntroducing: The Story of MoneyCredit: C-SPAN 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 and Sonja Hutson. Our show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann and Michael. 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

Tim Cook will step down as Apple’s chief executive in September, representatives for US President Donald Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ held discussions with DP World about managing supply chains in Gaza, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer fended off calls for him to quit over the Peter Mandelson vetting affair. Plus, wealth advisers at banks and independent brokerages generated billions of dollars in fees by steering individual investors into private market funds.Mentioned in this podcast:Tim Cook to step aside as Apple chief executive in SeptemberDonald Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ held talks with DP World over Gaza reconstructionKeir Starmer accused of scapegoating officials over Peter Mandelson scandalKeir Starmer was told to vet Peter Mandelson before appointing himWealth advisers made more than $2bn from private capital feesKevin Warsh: Trump’s next fall guy at the Fed?Credit: UK Parliament 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 and Sonja Hutson. Our show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. 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

US President Donald Trump said he’s sending senior officials to Pakistan for new negotiations with Iran, the European Commission will encourage remote working and public transport subsidies to cut fossil fuel use, and FTSE 100 companies boosted chief executives’ pay by almost a fifth in the past year. Plus, there’s a new craze hitting Wall Street: super-charged tax-loss harvesting. Mentioned in this podcast:Donald Trump to send US officials to Pakistan for fresh peace talks with IranBrussels pushes remote working to ease energy crisisFTSE bosses receive 18% pay bump this year in global fight for talentThe tax-focused hedge fund craze taking over Wall StreetNote: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted by Sonja Hutson, and produced by Saffeya Ahmed and Victoria Craig. 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

Global oil markets have faced historic disruption since the Iran war began in February. The FT’s Jamie Smyth speaks with shale pioneer Scott Sheffield and his son Bryan about energy security and why the crisis could reshape the future for oil and gas. Mentioned in this podcast:Trump administration urges US oil bosses to increase drillingFracking pioneers look overseas as US shale revolution goes global ‘As big as Saudi Arabia’: the Permian oilman who sold Pioneer to Exxon Note: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts This episode was hosted and produced by Michela Tindera. It was edited by Victoria Craig. Our show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. Additional help from Gavin Kallman. 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

President Donald Trump said Lebanon and Israel had agreed to a 10-day ceasefire, the US Treasury’s status as the world’s lowest-cost dollar borrower is facing a fresh challenge, and Netflix’s chair and founder is stepping down. Plus, Iran secretly acquired a Chinese spy satellite that has helped it target US military bases across the Middle East during the war, and shares in the world’s biggest chocolate maker aren’t looking so sweet.Mentioned in this podcast:Israel and Lebanon agree 10-day ceasefire, Trump saysUS’s status as lowest-cost dollar borrower challenged as investors shun Trump riskNetflix founder Reed Hastings to step down from boardIran used Chinese spy satellite to target US basesShares at world’s biggest chocolate maker Barry Callebaut plunge as cocoa prices collapseCredit: BBCNote: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted by Sonja Hutson, and produced by Saffeya Ahmed, Victoria Craig, and Fiona Symon. Our show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, David da Silva, and Michela Tindera. 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

Gulf monarchies raised almost $10bn in private sales of bonds this month, oil shortages are coming if the Strait of Hormuz stays closed, and US President Donald Trump has renewed his threat to fire Federal Reserve chair Jay Powell. Plus, a second China shock is hitting the global economy, and Allbirds is pivoting from wool sneakers to AI. Mentioned in this podcast:Gulf states turn to private deals in $10bn wartime borrowing spreeOil shortages are coming, and with them some difficult questionsTrump threatens to fire Jay Powell and refuses to halt criminal probeChina shock 2.0: the flood of high-tech goods that will change the worldAllbirds is turning into an AI compute provider, because of course it isNote: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted by Victoria Craig, and produced by Saffeya Ahmed, Fiona Simon and Sonja Hutson. Our show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. 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

Ships are altering course as the US Navy’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz continues into its third day, and PwC plans to overhaul its global consulting business. Plus, insurers are turning to catastrophe bonds to cover data centres, and AI chatbots aren’t a substitute for doctors when it comes to medical diagnoses. Mentioned in this podcast:Strait of Hormuz tankers stop or turn around amid US blockadeIran war could slow global growth to weakest since pandemic, IMF warnsUS pushing Iran to agree 20-year moratorium on nuclear activityPwC plans overhaul of global consulting businessInsurers turn to catastrophe bonds to offload data centre risksAI chatbots misdiagnose in over 80% of early medical cases, study findsNote: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted by Sonja Hutson, and produced by Saffeya Ahmed and Victoria Craig. Our show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann and 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

A key UK government official says Britain’s leaders have shown a “corrosive complacency” towards defence, OpenAI’s $852bn valuation is under increasing scrutiny from its own backers and fixed-income traders at Goldman Sachs suffered an unexpected drop in revenues at the start of 2026. Plus, the FT’s Raya Jalabi explains how Lebanon has become a sticking point in US-Iran negotiations.  Mentioned in this podcast:Starmer accused of ‘corrosive complacency’ on UK defence by former Nato chiefOpenAI investors question $852bn valuation as strategy shiftsGoldman bond traders take shine off bumper quarterThe 10 minutes that set Lebanon ablazeNote: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted by Sonja Hutson, and produced by Saffeya Ahmed. Our show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. 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