FT News Briefing

HSBC is reviewing its retail banking operations outside the UK and Hong Kong, and the European Central Bank cut interest rates by a quarter-point to 3 per cent. The FT’s markets columnist Katie Martin provides a few insights for investing in 2025. Plus, human referees are set to be increasingly phased out as machines become more efficient at making critical decisions in sport.  Mentioned in this podcast:HSBC reviews retail banking outside UK and Hong KongDonald Trump election win sparks trading surge for banks and brokers​​ECB lowers rates to 3% and paves way for more cutsIn sport, the race is on to let technology decide who winsSend us your questions for Swamp Notes! Write to ethan.plotkin@ft.com.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

European Nato members are holding talks about increasing the alliance’s target for defence spending, Microsoft’s artificial intelligence head Mustafa Suleyman is building a team focused on consumer health, and US inflation ticked up to 2.7 per cent last month. Plus, new regulations on human rights are forcing global companies to address concerns about modern slavery and tackle problems in their supply chains.Mentioned in this podcast:Nato’s European members discuss 3% target for defence spending Microsoft’s Suleyman hires ex-DeepMind staff for AI health unitUS inflation rose to 2.7% in NovemberNew rules sharpen investment focus on modern slavery Fifa set to confirm Saudi Arabia as host of 2034 World Cup    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

Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund prepares for a petrodollar windfall, while oil majors scale back their $18bn power generation push. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu begins testifying in a corruption trial, and public pension schemes and sovereign wealth funds plan to pour more money into private markets over the coming year. Mentioned in this podcast:Qatar’s $500bn wealth fund targets bigger deals as LNG windfall looms BP and Shell rein in electricity ambitions to escape ‘valley of death’ Benjamin Netanyahu arrives in court to testify in corruption trialPublic pension plans and wealth funds to invest more in private markets   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

Hiring has fallen more sharply in the UK than in other big economies over the past year, Vanguard will break its advisory business into a separate unit, and Israel has taken more Syrian territory. Plus, we take a look inside Japan’s audacious bid to become a semiconductor superpower. Mentioned in this podcast:Hiring falling more sharply in UK than in other major economies Israel draws furious reaction from Egypt after taking more Syrian territory Vanguard to accelerate wealth management drive in restructuring Japan’s audacious bid to become a semiconductor superpower Christie’s has brought the dinosaur auction show to London The FT News Briefing is produced by Niamh Rowe, Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Josh Gabert-Doyon, 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

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has resigned and fled the country and South Korean prosecutors have opened an investigation into the country’s president, Yoon Suk Yeol, on charges of treason and abuse of power. The EU and four South American countries have struck a blockbuster trade deal, and a US appeals court upheld a law requiring TikTok’s owner ByteDance to sell the platform or face a ban next year. Mentioned in this podcast:Assad flees Syria as rebels seize Damascus Syrian rebels seize Damascus and topple Assad dynastySouth Korean president to be investigated for treason after failed coupEU strikes blockbuster trade deal with Mercosur   TikTok fails to halt law that could lead to US ban Credit: AP, ReutersThe 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

The next superpower will be a tech superpower, and to be that superpower you need to have some control over the semiconductor industry which is driving the AI revolution. But almost all advanced semiconductors are made in Taiwan — and it is under constant threat of a Chinese invasion. President Joe Biden’s Chips Act promises lavish subsidies to companies working to bring semiconductor manufacturing back to US soil. Will those subsidies survive once Donald Trump, the president-elect, is in the White House? In a new season of Tech Tonic the FT’s James Kynge, is in Phoenix, Arizona, the former heartland of American chip manufacturing. He speaks to those trying to revive the US chipmaking industry.Presented by James Kynge. Edwin Lane is the senior producer. The producer is Josh Gabert-Doyon. Executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design by Breen Turner and Samantha Giovinco, with original music from Metaphor Music. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Special thanks to Tim Bradshaw.

Donald Trump once called cryptocurrencies a “scam”. He’s long since changed his tune, and now, crypto enthusiasts are hoping he’ll catapult the industry into the financial mainstream. The FT’s digital markets correspondent Nikou Asgari and US legal and enforcement correspondent Stefania Palma join this week’s Swamp Notes to discuss what the industry could look like under a second Trump administration. Mentioned in this podcast:Crypto advocate Paul Atkins picked as SEC chair by Donald TrumpBitcoin hits $100,000 as Trump era hopes growTrump picks Musk ally David Sacks as crypto and AI tsarThe grim ghost of crypto futureSign 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. CREDIT: Washington Post, Bitcoin MagazineRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Large companies rushed to assess whether top employees have sufficient protection after the murder of a US insurance executive, investors have pumped almost $140bn into US equity funds since last month’s election, and oil producer group Opec+ significantly scaled back its plans for production in 2025. In Mexico, new president Claudia Sheinbaum is doubling down on a radical agenda in the face of tough US tariffs. Plus, Notre-Dame reopens this weekend.Mentioned in this podcast:Shooting of United Health executive a ‘wake up call’ on corporate securityMichel Barnier resigns as French prime minister Investors pour $140bn into US stock funds after Trump election victory Opec+ extends oil production cuts in bid to support prices Mexico’s new president digs in with radical ideas as Trump threat looms How Notre-Dame rose from the ashes Credit: Organ Media FoundationThe 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