Company leaders have warned they will fight Biden Administration moves to raise corporate taxes and tighten regulation, and earnings reports show that big US banks had a strong end to 2020 thanks to trading. Plus, the FT’s Javier Espinoza continues his conversation with the European Commission’s competition and digital policy chief, Margrethe Vestager, about the future of big tech regulation. Business to Biden: prepare for a fight over tax and minimum wagehttps://www.ft.com/content/7027014e-9478-4320-97ee-a1c8144b4638Vestager warns Big Tech to cooperate or face patchwork of laws across EUft.com/content/2bd619a2-dee0-492a-b397-73a0ba00e369?Morgan Stanley posts record profit as trading boomshttps://www.ft.com/content/0f44d1b7-d79f-4c2a-b45e-d4c2d0ce4637  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

FT News Briefing

Business sends Biden a message, Vestager warns against patchwork tech regulation across Europe

Joe Biden faces a long list of challenges after he is sworn in as the 46th US president today, Mr Biden’s nominee to serve as Treasury secretary, Janet Yellen, told Congress to “go big” on stimulus during her Senate confirmation hearing on Tuesday, and a US court has struck down the pro-coal power sector rules set by the outgoing president, Donald Trump. Plus, the FT’s Javier Espinoza speaks with Margrethe Vestager, the EU’s executive vice-president in charge of digital policy, about the future of tech regulation. Joe Biden’s challenge: big, early victories in a toxic political climate https://www.ft.com/content/fa01bc64-a80c-4c32-abad-f8eb778c4fe6US court strikes down Trump’s pro-coal power sector ruleshttps://www.ft.com/content/fed06dac-7c84-47be-a137-0480518a9e98Vestager warns Big Tech to cooperate or face patchwork of laws across EUhttps://www.ft.com/content/2bd619a2-dee0-492a-b397-73a0ba00e369Netflix signals stock buybacks to come as subscribers hit 200mhttps://www.ft.com/content/ae6f0ad5-a685-4eab-86f5-a65e8c7021ef  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Biden inauguration, Yellen urges Congress to ‘act big’ on stimulus, top EU official on tech regulation goals

The cost of shipping goods from China to Europe has more than tripled in the past eight weeks as the pandemic disrupts global trade, Russian opposition activist Alexei Navalny has been sent to prison just a day after returning to his home country despite international demands to release him, and Italian prime minister Guissepe Conte faces a crunch confidence vote by lawmakers today. Plus, the FT’s US investment editor, Michael MacKenzie, explains why the chief executive of Brookfield Asset management thinks the markets have undervalued real estate.   Tripling of China-Europe shipping costs threatens to hit goods supply ft.com/content/ad5e1a80-cecf-4b18-9035-ee50be9adfc6?Russia jails opposition activist Alexei Navalny for 30 dayshttps://www.ft.com/content/9c42f190-5ec2-4ad7-8bc6-f9e449200a9fItalian coalition parties back PM Conte after resignationshttps://www.ft.com/content/4cf07e94-d7ad-408c-bf08-1093318c8b48Markets are underestimating the lure of the office, says Brookfield chief https://www.ft.com/content/0316678b-664a-42f8-900a-5c5b5076e29e?  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

China-Europe shipping costs, Navalny jailed, Brookfield chief says real estate is undervalued

Thousands of National Guard troops are being deployed to Washington to safeguard the capital for the inauguration of Joe Biden. The president-elect is already planning which executive orders he will sign, but there is still time for President Trump’s secretary of state to leave his mark on foreign policy. Germany’s ruling party, the Christian Democratic Union, has a new leader to replace Angela Merkel. Plus, the FT’s Tim Bradshaw reports that the pandemic tech boom is leaving cities with better logistics networks.  Washington fortified for Biden’s inauguration amid fears of more violencehttps://www.ft.com/content/94db9b9b-243b-4ce8-9e10-452fadc523ecPompeo tries to pin Biden down with parting foreign policy blitzhttps://www.ft.com/content/2b4e9369-8da5-4d12-b720-59b68a2136e6Angela Merkel’s heir apparent: Armin Laschet’s rise to the summit of German politicshttps://www.ft.com/content/371d6d1b-d95e-4d69-a3b3-b89ae71c03d7The pandemic tech boom is reshaping our cities  https://www.ft.com/content/40c3a928-6faf-4746-903d-3a114aac3878Indonesia deploys social media influencers in vaccine drivehttps://www.ft.com/content/adb9d6c6-ab89-4fe4-aae9-4b226e5f879f  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Pompeo’s policy blitz, Merkel’s heir apparent, tech boom reshapes cities

Joe Biden plans to ask Congress for a $1.9tn economic rescue package, Federal Reserve chairman Jay Powell assures markets that asset purchases will continue, four big US banks report quarterly earnings, and far-right groups find alternative internet platforms to rally for further unrest. Plus, the FT’s Guy Chazan on who is vying to replace Angela Merkel as leader of Germany’s ruling party. Biden to push $1.9tn stimulus for pandemic-battered US economyhttps://www.ft.com/content/05e07e0d-1f2a-45da-bafb-367f4100c26aPowell moves to stamp out market fear of exit from loose policyhttps://www.ft.com/content/21d89f6d-be8f-48dc-9085-1e9baabcbdbeTop US banks set for $10bn round of buybackshttps://www.ft.com/content/c2b155a3-8901-4011-be32-fde3f4bad740Far-right turns to alternative platforms to stoke further unresthttps://www.ft.com/content/f5c4679b-20c5-4b68-bb6d-958f17385183?After Merkel: the battle for the soul of the Christian Democratic Unionhttps://www.ft.com/content/ce034f34-cbc6-4ea9-8c16-41fc939fc0fe  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Biden’s economic rescue plan, US banks report earnings, and the election for Merkel’s successor

Donald Trump has become the first US president in history to be impeached twice, New York City cuts business ties with the Trump Organization, and the City of London has a post-pandemic recovery plan. Plus, the FT’s Beijing bureau chief, Tom Mitchell, explains what the clash between Jack Ma and Beijing means for China’s private sector. Donald Trump is impeached for second timehttps://www.ft.com/content/fc81c3df-f6c0-47c2-8efc-5a14d511f7e7New York City is latest to cut ties with Trump businesseshttps://www.ft.com/content/11b92247-b405-4e03-808d-2b802c63ff38Jack Ma vs Xi Jinping: the future of private business in Chinahttps://www.ft.com/content/751c2500-f50d-47c9-8f04-a28ad62285fd?segmentId=6bf9295a-189d-71c6-18fb-d469f27d3523City of London sets out five year post-pandemic recovery planft.com/content/91c887fc-29ef-472f-8e3f-22cb7d21573a?  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

US House impeaches Trump again, Jack Ma vs Xi Jinping, NYC cuts ties with the Trump Organization

Facebook-owned WhatsApp is scrambling to stave off privacy concerns following a recent update to its terms of service; greenhouse gas emissions in the US rose less in 2020 than in any year since the second world war; China’s fast-growing tech industry is in the spotlight for harsh working conditions. Plus, the FT’s Richard Waters reports on the growth of Microsoft Teams and what it could mean for the future of online work.What’sApp fights back as users flee to Signal and Telegram https://www.ft.com/content/ee1b716d-4ed2-4b26-8da1-40c98db7b9b6?US emissions rise the least since second world war during pandemic ﻿ft.com/content/1b1dfaf0-4dfb-4788-9270-f880242b2a56?Pinduoduo hit by new allegations over working practiceshttps://www.ft.com/content/cc7aa0f0-ca28-4bf1-a3a1-823cc5e6fad1Microsoft looks to make 2021 the year of Teamshttps://www.ft.com/content/1bbe1b15-dde6-4a3b-9728-8991818b6c92  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

WhatsApp battles privacy concerns, China tech worker concerns, Microsoft Teams

U-S corporations are reviewing their political donations after the attack on the Capitol building, and research has found the huge global cyber espionage campaign discovered last month was carried out using tools similar to those developed by known Russian hacking group, Turla. Plus, the FT’s Turkey correspondent, Laura Pitel, explains how Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s aggressive foreign policy moves have left Ankara isolated from the west. Corporate American pulls political donations after assault on Capitol https://www.ft.com/content/be344816-3fab-42e2-99ed-38309d06a435SolarWinds cyber attack linked to tools used by Russian hacking grouphttps://www.ft.com/content/e1b247d5-ef53-4e82-afc3-9e3c2d7c5e2cErdogan’s great game: Soldiers, spies and Turkey’s quest for powerhttps://www.ft.com/content/8052b8aa-62b9-40c9-a40c-d7187d5cd98a?  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

US businesses pull political donations, SolarWinds hack developments, Turkey’s quest for power

Technology companies are blocking President Donald Trump from their platforms, renters fleeing U-S cities are straining the market for  mortgage-backed securities, and Europe tries to enforce its investment deal with China. Plus, the Consumer Electronics Show kicks off, virtually.Twitter vs Trump: has Big Tech gone too far?ft.com/content/6df12c33-e7a3-482b-92da-8c3549789a6b?Fading allure of urban life leaves dent on US mortgage bonds ft.com/content/67cb87c0-ef93-410f-90bc-60ffaf42af5e?EU and China agree new investment treatyhttps://www.ft.com/content/6a429460-4bfb-42d4-9191-73ba97dde130CES enters the pandemic era, taking a turn for the practicalhttps://www.ft.com/content/5c6b159c-da65-439f-8831-708cc0930aae  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Big Tech blocks Trump, urban renter exodus worries some MBS investors, CES goes virtual

President Trump concedes power for the first time and calls for an orderly transition: the FT’s US managing editor Peter Spiegel looks at how Joe Biden can unite a divided nation; global markets have continued rising despite the chaos in Washington; Boeing agrees to pay $2.5bn to resolve a criminal charge stemming from the 737 Max crashes; and counter-culture icon Neil Young cashes in on the music streaming boom. Democratic leaders call on Pence to force Trump from White House https://www.ft.com/content/cecab0e3-ddb6-40fa-a78b-1d98fb3f7759Boeing to pay $2.5bn to resolve criminal case over 737 Max crashes https://www.ft.com/content/1e64a9ea-4659-4513-b82f-0a4b5e7cae1cBlue sweep of Congress will add pressure to weak dollar, analysts sayft.com/content/9e58d2fb-37c5-432e-b4c6-dcf862d43b7dNeil Young joins music rights gold rush after striking Hipgnosis dealhttps://www.ft.com/content/dd67a2ab-d6e1-4334-ae45-ef1bf65f1e82Review clip: Silver Fiddle Music, Hipgnosis  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Trump concedes election, stock markets ignore political chaos, Boeing’s 737 Max settlement

Congressional leaders reconvened on Wednesday night to certify Joe Biden’s victory in November’s presidential election, defying pro-Trump rioters who attempted to scupper the process by storming the Capitol earlier in the day. The FT’s US managing editor, Peter Spiegel, reports on a frantic day in Washington. Further reading:Angry mobs of Trump supporters interrupt transfer of powerhttps://www.ft.com/content/9a37c259-f7c8-4cca-9a00-83e7e5b9287d‘Blue wave’ trade back on after Georgia Senate pollhttps://www.ft.com/content/15c8d75b-07dd-4382-8b98-bcc8fa0c900aNew York Stock Exchange reverse course again on China delistingshttps://www.ft.com/content/83cd59a9-05ba-4639-8ee4-2cb6c04e89e2  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

How a mob of Trump supporters interrupted the transfer of power

Saudi Arabia pledged to cut an extra 1m barrels a day of oil output in February and March, and also has agreed to end its dispute with Qatar. Plus, the FT’s US business editor, Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, explains why businesses are making their voices heard when it comes to the Republican rebellion against the outcome of the presidential election. Saudis pledge to cut oil output despite Russian increasesft.com/content/c5468924-5383-4717-81c8-5d0658748f31?Saudi Arabia and allies to restore ties with Qatarhttps://www.ft.com/content/ad2eb477-b8f8-4dae-9e4c-a441759fc897Diehard Trump Republicans on collision course with US businessft.com/content/9fe61a5e-b57a-4a99-8985-ad7867a500b0?  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Saudi Arabia’s oil cut pledge, Qatar and Saudi Arabia end dispute, businesses tied to rebelling Republicans

US equities had their worst day since October as spiking coronavirus cases and lockdowns shook investors, nearly €6bn of EU share dealing shifted away from London in the first trading day after Brexit, and China’s currency has rallied to its highest level in more than two years. Plus, the FT’s economics editor, Chris Giles, explains why the OECD’s top economist wants governments to rethink their constraints on public spending. EU shares trading flees London on First day after full Brexithttps://www.ft.com/content/a434b756-afe0-454d-9d70-ef2d42ea8d55Wall Street suffers worst day since October on virus advance https://www.ft.com/content/82e8a6ee-78a3-4ed1-aa13-bf6a67e58d97Renminbi rallies past 6.5 per dollar for first time since 2018https://www.ft.com/content/c91a70d8-001c-4924-9bfa-9b5c21099112OECD warns governments to rethink constraints on public spendinghttps://www.ft.com/content/7c721361-37a4-4a44-9117-6043afee0f6b  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Covid-19 shakes US equities, OECD warns against post-pandemic austerity

Businesses face a wave of new bureaucracy and checks at ports now that the UK is officially outside of the EU’s single market and customs union, European countries debate more restrictions aimed at containing the spread of coronavirus, and law firms ditch their UK trophy offices. Plus, the FT’s deputy markets news editor, Ian Smith, tells us about Bitcoin’s latest milestone. European countries set to extend lockdowns as Covid cases surgehttps://www.ft.com/content/3292fc38-7945-4d7e-b8ed-582146ebe782Bitcoin tops $34,000 as record-breaking rally resumeshttps://www.ft.com/content/314f6c8a-ff7f-4a52-b5d1-98eb36a7bf40Law firms ditch trophy office moves as pandemic reshapes Cityft.com/content/e4f4e5f1-72b7-458a-a7bd-eb361cdc970b?Payne’s Politics: Brexit has arrivedhttps://www.ft.com/content/4006f4bc-508e-4f5d-bd76-f6db05ef10f1  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Business after Brexit, extended lockdowns in Europe, Bitcoin’s rise

Britain and the EU were finalising a historic post-Brexit agreement on Wednesday night.  Plus, Beijing’s market regulator has announced an antitrust investigation into Alibaba, China’s ban on Australian coal exports is hurting its companies, and the FT’s US business editor, Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, looks at 2020’s corporate winners and losers as well as who might rebound in 2021. Britain and EU poised to announce Christmas Eve Brexit dealft.com/content/4993212f-25c8-479e-83d6-f7db3731d1be?China launches antitrust investigation into Alibabaft.com/content/bdcc073f-3b70-4411-92d7-ee36973a8b7aPolitics come first’ as ban on Australian coal worsens China’s power cutshttps://www.ft.com/content/e83fffeb-3ef2-4b67-8989-6d17f153d8d4Prospering in the pandemic: the top 100 companieshttps://www.ft.com/content/844ed28c-8074-4856-bde0-20f3bf4cd8f0  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Brexit watch, China-Australia tensions, 2020 corporate winners and losers

A rundown of the most important global business stories you need to know for the coming day, from the newsroom of the Financial Times. Available every weekday morning.

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FT News Briefing

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