Finance

But there is a disconnect between economists’ metrics and people’s perceptions

Donald Trump and his allies raised a record $429mn in donations last year, as tech billionaires and companies lobbying for policy changes helped build a war chest for the president ahead of the midterm elections. A single political action committee controlled by Trump allies, Maga Inc, is sitting on $304mn — more than any Pac … Read more

Unlock the Editor’s Digest for free Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter. Elon Musk’s SpaceX has acquired his AI group xAI, the billionaire said on Monday, in pursuit of his ambition to develop advanced AI tools powered by data centres in space. SpaceX paid $250bn for the … Read more

UK chancellor Rachel Reeves on Monday called for Britain and the EU to “speak with one voice” to defend common values on the economy, trade and defence, as she took aim at the turmoil unleashed by US President Donald Trump. Reeves was speaking at the end of a day of meetings in London between UK … Read more

Unlock the Editor’s Digest for free Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter. Sir Keir Starmer on Monday called for Lord Peter Mandelson to be stripped of his title and his seat in the House of Lords, but the UK prime minister risked suffering serious collateral damage from … Read more

Unlock the Editor’s Digest for free Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter. France has adopted a deficit-cutting budget for 2026 after months of political wrangling, handing a victory to the minority centre right government of Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu. Lecornu survived a no-confidence vote on Monday in … Read more

Unlock the White House Watch newsletter for free Your guide to what Trump’s second term means for Washington, business and the world The writer is a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council and advises M&C Saatchi World Services During the cold war, when the world last squared off in existential geopolitical confrontation, the US had … Read more

The writer is Minister for the Constitution and European Union Relations In London today we welcomed Maroš Šefčovič, EU trade commissioner, and Valdis Dombrovskis, EU economy and productivity commissioner. Their visit coincided with Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage signing up to a Daily Express campaign for a “proper Brexit”. Now if a “proper Brexit” means … Read more

Unlock the White House Watch newsletter for free Your guide to what Trump’s second term means for Washington, business and the world Donald Trump said the US would lower its tariffs on India after Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed to halt purchases of Russian oil. The US president said he spoke with Modi on Monday … Read more

Unlock the White House Watch newsletter for free Your guide to what Trump’s second term means for Washington, business and the world Middle East powers are working to arrange a meeting between the US and Iran as the Islamic republic signals that it is preparing to hold negotiations with the Trump administration in the coming … Read more