FirstFT: US and Taiwan strike trade agreement linked to $250bn chip investment
Also in today’s newsletter: Japanese opposition parties unite and Wall Street’s investment banking revival
Samsung rides the chip slipstream — but that’s not as good as leading the pack
Korean behemoth’s struggles with advanced AI memory have turned customers towards its more commoditised products
US and Taiwan strike trade deal tied to $250bn chip investment
Agreement will reduce tariffs on goods from the island to 15%
Stock picking champs 2025
What bets paid off last year?
Oil prices tumble as fears of US action in Iran ease
Brent crude falls over 4 per cent as oversupply fears return
Regulator raises alarm over rise in top grades at English universities
Office for Students says almost two-thirds more first-class degrees were awarded than can be explained
Trump threatens to deploy military to Minnesota after ICE shooting
Tensions remain high in the state following last week’s killing of a protester by a federal immigration agent
Jenrick joins Reform UK after being sacked from Tory shadow cabinet
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch had ousted former leadership rival for ‘plotting’ to defect
Middle East governments believe US-Iran tension ‘de-escalated’
Washington imposes new sanctions on Tehran as military personnel and aircraft carrier movements keep region on edge
Jenrick defection redraws battle lines on right of British politics
But ex-Tory minister’s switch to Reform raises questions about whether he will be a help or a hindrance to Farage
US bank results as it happened: Goldman’s equities traders recapture Wall Street crown, Morgan Stanley’s client assets top $9tn for first time
Best year for investment banking since 2021 on busy day of earnings
Goldman and Morgan Stanley investment bankers ride dealmaking wave
Chief David Solomon says Goldman had largest backlog of deals since pandemic
Solomon’s third act at Goldman Sachs may be the most dramatic
Wall St chief wants AI to reshape the bank but the question is how exactly it will measure success
Is it too late to save the planet? You asked, we answered
The FT’s business columnist Pilita Clark, and climate correspondent Attracta Mooney answered reader questions
Whitehall’s blame game: ministers vs mandarins
Also in this week’s newsletter, why hard choices keep losing at the ballot box
Six films to watch this week
‘The Voice of Hind Rajab’ is a ★★★★★ drama based on a real-life phone call from a trapped five-year-old in Gaza; Ralph Fiennes stars in zombie sequel ‘28 Years Later: The Bone Temple’; Brendan Fraser plays an actor for hire in ‘Rental Family’; Chloé Zhao’s ‘Hamnet’ is a slick weepie starring Paul Me
UK economy beat expectations to grow 0.3% in November
Figure marks rebound from previous month’s contraction
FT quiz: the week in news
Ten topical questions to test your news nous
Rental Family — Brendan Fraser exports his charm in Tokyo-set feelgood drama
The American star plays an expat actor playing roles that fulfil an emotional need in a gooey film of clashing cultures
The Voice of Hind Rajab — Gazan girl’s last words become a film of impossible urgency
The real call made by the trapped five-year-old is the basis for a wrenching drama that is both eulogy and protest
How Iran’s Islamic revolution devoured itself
Iranians have not become monarchists — they are seeking anyone who can replace a despotic regime at war with its own people
Small nuclear reactors are worth the wait
Compared to other clean energy sources, the value of SMRs lies in scale not speed
Labour to avoid risk of at least 9 council losses by delaying May elections
At least 175 of party’s councillors due to face voters will serve for another year
Nato troops to be in Greenland on ‘more permanent’ basis
Some European countries are sending soldiers to the Arctic island after Donald Trump intensified threats to take control