Trump signals US naval blockade of Strait of Hormuz has begun
President says US military will blow up Iranian boats that come near American warships enforcing embargo
And the FTAV charts quiz winner is…
Tee to a you
Oil prices soar above $100 a barrel
Crude had stabilised on optimism that a deal could be reached to reopen the Strait of Hormuz
New EU competition official to hold line on Big Tech despite Trump pressure
Anthony Whelan, a former adviser on tech, vows to pursue cases irrespective of ‘noise’ around them
Bank of England wins US approval for new way to rescue failed lenders
Regulators gain more flexibility if ‘bail-in’ process is required in response to a crisis
Southport killings ‘could and should have been prevented’, inquiry finds
Report into July 2024 attack identifies ‘critical failures’ in information-sharing about Axel Rudakubana
The price of marriage in Switzerland
Social conservatism in this otherwise egalitarian country extends to tax penalties for couples who both work
Goldman bond traders take shine off bumper quarter
Equities unit powers bank’s earnings, while fixed income, currencies and commodities business fell well short
What happens now in Iran?
The war could alter global trade flows irrevocably
Battery giant CATL is no longer just a play on electric vehicles
The Chinese group’s expansion into non-automotive areas will benefit from policy-driven demand to offset consumer cycles
When did marriage become the stuff of horror?
From Netflix series to indie cinema, marriage has become a matter of life and death — reflecting a generation’s anxieties around matrimony
The AI build-out is powering global goods trade
Data centre boom is helping to mask the impact of Trump tariffs on US and world economy
Pope Leo says he has ‘no fear’ of Trump administration
Comments from Catholic Church head come hours after US president launched scathing attack on him
Javokhir Sindarov, 20, closes in on world title match as rivals fade
Puzzle: can you crack the Candidates brilliancy?
EU ties €35bn fund release to Hungary’s break with Orbán era
Brussels links unfreezing of funds to 27 conditions it expects incoming prime minister Péter Magyar to deliver on
Why time is on Iran’s side
A global energy crisis is only just beginning. Political turmoil will follow
Inflation and interest rates tracker: see how your country compares
Inflationary pressures are beginning to wane. Explore the latest data through interactive charts
Perella Weinberg to buy London advisory boutique Gleacher Shacklock
Acquisition is latest move by US investment banks to expand in Europe
Michelle Ogundehin on the new emotion in interior design
The TV presenter says homes should have feelings too
FirstFT: Oil price surges ahead of Strait of Hormuz blockade
Also in today’s newsletter: Viktor Orbán suffers crushing defeat and Meta develops AI version of Mark Zuckerberg
Starmer defends fast-tracking EU rules into UK law
Prime minister says mechanism would help cut business costs and bring down prices
Hungarian elections offer lessons for UK’s Labour
Politicians shouldn’t forget they’re ultimately in the consumer services business
The best of TV and streaming this week
‘Malcolm in the Middle’ returns; Hugh Bonneville stars in ‘Twenty Twenty Six’; ‘Big Mistakes’ is a chaotic comedy from Dan Levy. Reviews by Rebecca Nicholson
FTAV’s further reading
Repo; risk; credit hedge funds; warfare; renewables’ stablecoins; prediction markets; Mythos; and free jazz