Ft News

One of the biggest industry surveys has found that one in eight bankers said it was difficult to progress in their careers without "flexing" ethical standards. Caroline Binham discusses the findings with Dame Colette Bowe, chair of the BSB, which carried out the survey, and Martin Arnold, FT banking editor. Music by Kevin MacLeod.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Elections in Holland are shaping up to be among the most divisive in the country’s history. With 28 parties on the ballot, none are forecast to win more than 20 per cent of the vote. Now a diplomatic spat with Turkey is dominating the final days of the campaign, as the FT's Duncan Robinson tells John Murray Brown. Clips courtesy of Reuters. Image credit: AFP  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

After a turbulent week, support for François Fillon, France's Republican Party presidential candidate, is draining away. Harriet Agnew asks Michael Stothard, FT Paris correspondent, whether he can stage a recovery in time for the first round of the elections in April.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

WikiLeaks has published documents that appear to show that the CIA has an arsenal of malware it can use to break into widely used electronic gadgets. Madhumita Murgia discusses what the revelations tell us about state surveillance and the security of our smartphones with Richard Waters, FT West Coast editor, and Sam Jones, defence and security editor. Music by David Sappa.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Philip Hammond, UK chancellor, hit 2.5m Britons with a rise in national insurance contributions, as he announced a fiscally tight Budget in a bid to Brexit-proof the British economy. Vanessa Kortekaas asks Chris Giles, FT economics editor, Henry Mance, political correspondent, and Claer Barrett, personal finance editor, for their verdict.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Standard Life's acquisition of Aberdeen Asset Management will create one of the biggest asset managers in Europe. Patrick Jenkins, FT financial editor, discusses what the deal means for investors and the sector with Miles Johnson, global investment editor, Oliver Ralph, insurance correspondent, and Arash Massoudi, M&A correspondent.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

French presidential front-runner Emmanuel Macron has presented his long-awaited election manifesto, promising to cut payroll and corporation tax, and to promote investment in what he called the economy of the future. Michael Stothard discusses the proposals with the FT's Paris bureau chief Anne-Sylvaine Chassany  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Britain's economy is doing better than many people expected after the vote to leave the European Union. Barney Thompson asks Chris Giles, the FT's economics editor, which sectors are doing best and whether the momentum can be sustained.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Nick Ogden, the entrepreneur behind the online payment platform Worldpay has launched the UK's first new clearing bank in 200 years. He tells the FT's Patrick Jenkins and Emma Dunkley how Clear Bank came about. Music by Kevin MacLeod  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Europeans are worried about a new mood of trade protectionism in the US. What are the implications for world trade and how will Europe respond? John Murray Brown discusses the issue with Shawn Donnan, the FT's world trade editor, and Stefan Wagstyl, Berlin bureau chief. Music by David Sappa. Picture credit: Bloomberg  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The unexplained death of Kim Jong Nam, a member of North Korea’s ruling family, in Kuala Lumpur has caused a diplomatic rupture between Malaysia and North Korea. James Kynge asks Bryan Harris, FT correspondent in Seoul, what we know about the apparent murder and its likely repercussions.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Bill Gates has a new idea. He wants us to tax robots. The Microsoft co-founder made his unexpected suggestion in an interview with Quartz magazine. Sarah O'Connor asks the FT’s West Coast editor Richard Waters what he meant by this and the likely reaction of the tech industry. Photo credit: Getty  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Deutsche Bank has welcomed a big new shareholder - HNA from China. Patrick Jenkins discusses what we know about the Chinese investors and why they might have bought into the European bank, with Martin Arnold, FT banking editor, and Don Weinland, correspondent in Hong Kong. Music by Kevin MacLeod  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ecuador’s presidential poll is another big test for Latin America’s battered left. At stake is the legacy of Rafael Correa, a populist leader who has been in power for a decade. His protégé Lenín Boltaire Moreno has almost enough votes to avoid a run-off. But the full picture will not emerge for several days. Jonathan Wheatley discusses what happens next with Andres Schipani, the FT's Andes correspondent.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Snapchat owner begins its investor roadshow on Monday, with plans to price and list by early March. The FT's Sujeet Indap and Nicole Bullock discuss what investors are thinking about as Snap comes to market.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The FT's Arash Massoudi and Matthew Vincent dissect the proposed mega-merger that would combine the producers of Heinz Ketchup and Dove soap, including the charm offensive Kraft Heinz is expected to launch to win over the Anglo-Dutch consumer goods giant.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Greece is approaching a crunch point - again. Six years after its first bailout, the government in Athens is looking to its creditors, the International Monetary Fund and the European Commission, for fresh help. Mehreen Khan discusses the latest crisis and what's at stake for Europe with the FT's Brussels correspondent Jim Brunsden.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Switzerland's bid to align its corporate tax system with international norms has come unstuck with voters rejecting the reforms at the weekend. Where does that leave the Alpine country's business regime? James Wilson discusses the issues with Vanessa Holder in London and Ralph Atkins in Zurich.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

News that Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka was a trustee for a bloc of shares belonging to Rupert Murdoch’s two youngest daughters has underscored the closeness of ties between US president’s family and Fox News. David Bond discusses the implications with Matthew Garrahan, the FT's global media editor.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Revelations that dozens of wealthy Americans have taken New Zealand citizenship as a kind of hedge against the collapse of the capitalist system have shone a spotlight on the phenomenon of disaster planning by the super rich. Jennifer Thompson talks to Jamie Smyth, the FT's Australia and Pacific Islands correspondent, about New Zealand's appeal.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.