Hold on — tech stocks are a safe haven now?

Hold on — tech stocks are a safe haven now?

Author: Financial Times March 12, 2026 Duration: 11:12

The International Energy Agency has launched the largest release of strategic oil reserves in its history, investors have sought shelter from the turmoil of the war in Iran in US tech stocks and US inflation held steady at 2.4 per cent in February. Plus, the war has threatened the Indian economy’s “Goldilocks” combination of strong growth and low inflation. 


Mentioned in this podcast:

IEA releases record oil reserves to counter Iran war energy shock

Investors seek shelter from Iran war in US tech stocks

US inflation holds steady at 2.4% in February

Iran war threatens India’s ‘Goldilocks’ economy

The ‘number station’ sending mystery messages to Iran


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 Fiona Symon, Victoria Craig, Sonja Hutson and Saffeya Ahmed. Our show was mixed by Kent Militzer. Additional help from 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


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


Start your morning with the essential context for the day ahead. FT News Briefing, directly from the Financial Times newsroom, cuts through the noise to deliver a concise, authoritative overview of the global business and political developments that truly matter. Each episode is a focused, ten-minute digest designed for the time-pressed, offering clarity on complex market movements, geopolitical shifts, and economic policy decisions. You’ll hear the FT’s expert analysis woven into the reporting, providing not just the headlines but the underlying forces at play. This daily podcast serves as an efficient primer, whether you’re commuting or preparing for your first meeting, ensuring you’re informed on the stories that will define conversations in boardrooms and beyond. Released every weekday morning, it’s a reliable filter for the overwhelming flow of information, built on the FT’s legacy of rigorous journalism. Tune in to transform the way you catch up on world events, turning a few minutes into a strategic advantage for your day.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

FT News Briefing
Podcast Episodes
The war in Ukraine, four years later [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:03
US software stocks were hit with a fresh burst of selling on Monday as investors fretted that AI will upend the industry, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz heads to China this week to discuss trade. Plus, the FT’s Ben…
The fallout of Trump’s tariff setback at the Supreme Court [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:48
The US Supreme Court’s decision to strike down President Donald Trump’s use of emergency tariff powers is raising questions about existing trade deals, federal revenues, and the impact to American business. Plus, how JPM…
The great graduate job drought [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:03
Donald Trump says the next 10 days will decide if the US strikes Iran or does a deal with the Islamic republic. Plus, the FT’s Anjli Raval explains just how bad the job market is for new graduates, and hiring platform Gr…
Can bankers be fired for demanding sleep? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:35
JPMorgan Chase is in talks to provide banking services to US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace, and investors have warned that loosening the UK’s borrowing limits to fund more spending on defence would risk a bond…
Warner Bros tells Paramount to make an offer it can’t refuse [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:39
Meta has agreed to spend billions of dollars on millions of Nvidia’s chips, and Warner Bros Discovery has reopened sale talks with Paramount. Plus, Christine Lagarde has decided to leave her post as president of the Euro…
Orbán draws US support ahead of Hungary’s election [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:17
Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán lashed out at Ukraine at a meeting with US secretary of state Marco Rubio in Budapest. Fund managers are betting against the US dollar. Shareholders push oil companies to accelerate…
What’s with Wall Street’s weird selloffs? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:48
Cross-border EU banking deals reached their highest level since the 2008 financial crisis, and regulation reversals are hitting global electric-vehicle makers. Plus, soaring gold prices are affecting insurance coverage f…
Introducing 'The Kink Machine: The Hidden Business of Pleasure' [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:21
It’s the most watched business in the world. And the least understood. Streamed by millions every day, porn is everywhere. It shapes our culture, our relationships and even technology. Yet, nobody seems to know who reall…
Private equity’s workaround to buy law firms [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:10
The Trump administration plans to roll back some tariffs, Schroders agrees to a US takeover, and Americans paid 90 per cent of the cost of US President Trump’s tariffs last year. Plus, Goldman Sachs’ top lawyer will depa…