Anglo American’s crucial South African shareholders are open to a takeover offer from BHP, Nippon Steel has vowed to push ahead with its $14.9bn acquisition of US Steel, and China’s President Xi Jinping has hailed Hungary as one of Beijing’s most important strategic partners. Plus, most pandemic corporate winners have turned into post-pandemic losers.  Mentioned in this podcast: Anglo American’s South Africa investors open to improved BHP bid Nippon Steel predicts ‘calmer discussions’ with unions after US presidential election Xi Jinping upgrades China’s ties with Hungary to ‘all-weather ..read more

Shares in Arm drop after it reports lacklustre revenue projections, Singapore is studying proposals to shake up its struggling stock market, EU countries have agreed to use an estimated €3bn in profits from Russia’s frozen state assets to buy weapons for Ukraine, and a newly expanded pipeline in Canada breathes life into the oil industry. Plus, hedge fund manager Sir Paul Marshall has lost a legal battle with the South African government over shipwrecked treasure.  Mentioned in this podcast: Arm shares drop as revenue forecast falls short despite AI boom Singapore battles to revive strug ..read more

Reddit's first-quarter earnings as a listed company surpass expectations, Israel threatened to expand its military operation in Rafah, and TikTok filed a lawsuit against the US government to block a potential ban of the social media app. Plus, global trade growth is set to more than double this year as inflation eases and a booming US economy helps drive activity. Mentioned in this podcast: US revokes licences for supply of chips to China’s Huawei TikTok challenges divest-or-ban bill in US court Israel threatens to expand Rafah operation as US struggles to revive talks Global trade growth se ..read more

SoftBank is leading an investment of more than $1bn into a UK self-driving car start-up, and poppy and marijuana farming money is disappearing from rural areas as traffickers shift to synthetic drugs. Plus, the FT’s Anna Nicolaou explains the rival bids to buy Paramount.  Mentioned in this podcast: SoftBank leads $1bn funding for UK artificial intelligence group Wayve El Chapo’s opium heartland bereft as Mexico cartels embrace fentanyl Shari Redstone, a media scion weighing the future of her ravaged empire James Cameron and Ari Emanuel back Skydance bid for Paramount Brussels seeks to ba ..read more

Warren Buffett said Greg Abel should have the final decision on investments at Berkshire Hathaway, the US and Europe disagree on how to manage Russia’s frozen assets, and Chinese President Xi Jinping visits Europe. Plus, college students in the US are calling for their universities to divest from Israel, but it’s not that simple.  Mentioned in this podcast: Bonhomie and hardball: Xi Jinping visits Europe to avert trade war The clash over whether to commandeer Russia’s frozen assets Divestment is not as easy as it may seem Berkshire Hathaway’s cash pile hits record as Buffett cuts stake i ..read more

Student-led protests against Israel’s war in Gaza have spread across the US in recent weeks, with demonstrators building tent encampments on university grounds, and even storming university buildings. The FT’s Washington bureau chief, James Politi, and FT New York correspondent, Joshua Chaffin, join this week’s Swamp Notes to explain why the protests could hurt President Joe Biden’s re-election chances. Mentioned in this podcast: New York police storm Columbia University and arrest pro-Palestinian protesters Police raid UCLA protest camp as clashes over Gaza spread across US Sign up for the F ..read more

Apple’s revenue fell 4 per cent in the first three months of 2024, Japan apparently intervened several times this week to support the yen, and US regulators have accused the former boss of the largest US shale oil producer of trying to collude with the Opec cartel. Plus, Europe solved its Russian gas problems in the short term, but created long-term problems. Mentioned in this podcast: Apple’s revenue weighed down by falling China sales Japanese government spent $35bn to prop up yen, BoJ figures suggest Japan is haunted by a return to emerging-economy status FTC accuses ex-Pioneer boss of see ..read more

The Federal Reserve has signalled that US borrowing costs are likely to remain higher for longer, and cruise operator Viking Holdings rose on its market debut. Plus the FT’s Owen Walker explains what the exit of HSBC chief executive Noel Quinn means for the bank’s China strategy.  Mentioned in this podcast: Federal Reserve signals that interest rates will remain higher for longer Cruise line Viking rises after launching year’s second-largest US IPO What triggered Noel Quinn’s shock exit from HSBC The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian and Marc F ..read more

Humza Yousaf is resigning as Scotland’s first minister, and WeWork’s senior creditors are poised to take control of the reorganised co-working space provider. Plus, an Africa-focused venture capital firm has steered one of the region’s biggest fundraising efforts of the past five months.  Mentioned in this podcast: Humza Yousaf quits as Scotland’s first minister WeWork agrees restructuring deal that shuts out Adam Neumann’s comeback bid Africa-focused fund draws early investors to tech industry FT Life & Art podcast The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasi ..read more

Financial companies scramble to rework contracts after US Federal Trade Commission rule bans non-compete agreements, the largest western banks that remain in Russia paid the Kremlin hundreds of millions of euros in taxes last year, and Turkey is in talks with the US energy supermajor ExxonMobil over a multibillion-dollar deal to buy liquefied natural gas. Plus, the message from Big Tech companies to investors about when AI will be profitable: be patient.  Mentioned in this podcast: Ban on non-compete agreements sends shockwave across Wall Street Microsoft and Alphabet enjoy AI-powered ga ..read more