Top headlines from across today’s paper
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FINANCIAL TIMES
Wednesday, 20 August 2025
 
 
 

Top Headlines from the UK Edition

 
 
 
Labubu frenzy sends Pop Mart profits soaring
 
Chinese toy company’s better than expected results may allay analysts’ concerns over sustainability of its sales surge
 
 
US tech stocks hit by concerns over future of AI boom
 
Warning from OpenAI’s Sam Altman and MIT paper puncture Wall Street’s enthusiasm
 
 
Reeves explores reform to capital gains tax on expensive houses
 
UK Treasury considers overhaul of property levies as ministers confront a hole in the public finances of at least £20bn 
 
 
Jay Powell to deliver Jackson Hole address under fire on multiple fronts
 
Federal Reserve chair is under bombardment from Trump and battling an insurgency within the central bank
 
 
The UK immigration debate has become a hall of mirrors
 
Keir Starmer’s task is to deal with facts, not illusions, and restore public trust
 
 
 

Top Headlines from the International Editions

 
 
 
BHP and Rio Tinto lobby Donald Trump over US copper mine after new delay
 
President calls opposition to Arizona project ‘anti-American’
 
 
US drops probe of gun-sales payment company backed by Donald Trump’s son
 
CFPB suggests Biden-era investigation into Credova Financial was politically motivated
 
 
US in talks for a 10% Intel stake, White House says
 
Commerce secretary Howard Lutnick ‘ironing out the details’ of a deal, according to Trump’s spokesperson
 
 
‘On another level’: crypto industry hosts rival gathering in Jackson Hole
 
Fed governors and SEC officials join executives at event ahead of central bankers’ annual gathering
 
 
The glamorous but tough industry of luxury hotel uniforms
 
UK design studios that produce bespoke clothing for grand hotels face complex demands
 
 
 

Markets

 
 
 
SoftBank held talks with Intel on buying contract chipmaking business
 
Japanese group’s approach comes as US manufacturer struggles to attract customers and compete with rival TSMC
 
 
Tether hires former head of Trump’s crypto advisory council
 
Bo Hines joins world’s biggest stablecoin issuer as strategic adviser
 
 
European defence rally falters on Ukraine ceasefire talks
 
Share prices fall as Trump vows to involve Zelenskyy in peace discussions with Putin and Kyiv promises to buy US weapons
 
 
Peabody pulls out of $3.8bn Anglo American coal deal
 
Withdrawal triggered by ongoing closure of major mine in Australia deals blow to Anglo’s restructuring drive
 
 
BHP posts lowest profit since start of pandemic
 
Miner’s poor performance driven by falling iron ore and coal prices
 
 
 

Companies

 
 
 
Smartphone makers must do more to protect children, UK safeguarding minister says
 
Jess Phillips targets handset manufacturers after introduction of age verification rules to access adult websites
 
 
Sanex advert banned over racial stereotyping
 
UK watchdog says the ad from Colgate-Palmolive ‘could be interpreted as suggesting’ white skin is superior
 
 
Uncle Sam taking a stake in Intel is sane in an absurd world
 
For a president who likes to make deals, investing in the chip company makes sense
 
 
Good COP, worse COP
 
A clamour to rethink global climate policy is exactly what we need
 
 
Home Depot sales rise in sign of US consumer resilience
 
Robust demand comes despite lingering high interest rates
 
 
 

Opinion

 
 
 
Putin is back in the driver’s seat on Ukraine
 
Moscow is seeking victory, not compromise, through diplomacy — and Trump is playing along