War, inflation and how central banks are handling it all
5/1/202612 min
Apple delivered another quarter of strong sales growth driven by what the tech giant called its “most popular” iPhone model ever, and we explore how some of the world’s biggest central banks are dealing with the energy shock from the Iran war. Plus, can Tinder win women back to its platform, and why the UK’s local elections next week will be a big test for the Labour government.
Mentioned in this podcast:
Apple credits ‘most popular’ ever iPhone for booming sales
ECB and BoE warn of rate rises as they grapple with Middle East shock
What Labour’s likely meltdown means for the UK
Note: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts
Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted and edited by Marc Filippino, and produced by Victoria Craig, Fiona Symon, and Sonja Hutson. Our show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello and David da Silva. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Cheryl Brumley is the FT’s Global Head of Audio. The show’s theme music is by Metaphor Music.
Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com
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Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsMark Filipino· Host0:00
[upbeat music] Good morning from the Financial Times. Today is Friday, May 1st, and this is your FT News Briefing. Apple's iPhone sales are booming, and the energy shock from the war in Iran is complicating things for central bankers. Plus, Tinder has been looking for love in all the wrong places, but the app is trying to turn things around.
Kieran Smith· Guest0:21
Tinder was one of the first apps to break onto the scene, but with other apps coming on, many users have decided that if they are to find that special person, they're more likely to do it on one of Tinder's competitors.
Mark Filipino· Host0:32
I'm Mark Philippo, and here's the news you need to start your day. [upbeat music] Apple reported quarterly earnings yesterday, and things, things are good. The smartphone maker saw about a seventeen percent annual rise in revenue to the end of March. That's a little bit more than a hundred and eleven billion dollars for the quarter. And Apple is thanking what it calls its most popular iPhone model ever for the success. Apple CEO Tim Cook said there has been extraordinary demand for the iPhone 17. iPhone sales rose more than twenty percent last quarter. This is the first earnings report since Apple announced that Cook is stepping down in September. He'll be replaced by hardware chief John Ternus. [upbeat music] Inflation caused by the Iran war's energy shock hasn't just forced policymakers in the US to keep