EU weighs rolling over €350bn in Covid-era bonds to avert spending crunch

Good morning. We have now a number of unique tales at present, together with on an elite US Navy unit planning for a possible Chinese language invasion of Taiwan and Spain blocking the Hungarian takeover of a Madrid-based prepare group over Ukraine-related issues. Extra particulars under.

However first, we flip to Brussels, the place EU officers are inspecting methods to roll over a whole lot of billions of euros of Covid-era bonds with a purpose to keep away from the bloc’s widespread funds being overwhelmed by compensation prices.

Such a transfer, backed as an choice by former Italian premier Mario Draghi, would prolong as a lot as €350bn of unprecedented pandemic-era EU borrowing, in line with folks accustomed to the problem. Discussions are at an early stage over tips on how to design an answer that will overcome staunch opposition from capitals similar to Berlin and important authorized constraints, in addition to win over buyers.

However officers in Brussels worry the compensation prices, if unaddressed, might hobble the EU’s spending energy in coming years. Draghi warned in a report this week that the looming obligations — and the unwillingness of EU states to present Brussels revenue-raising powers or more cash — left the EU going through a debilitating funds crunch. We have now extra on the choice to roll over debt, introduced by Draghi in his 400-page report this week.

Right here’s what else I’m retaining tabs on at present:

• ECB price determination: Buyers count on the European Central Financial institution to decrease borrowing prices at present and will probably be in search of hints of one other reduce in October.

• Oil costs: The Worldwide Vitality Company publishes its oil market report. Brent crude tumbled out of its year-long buying and selling vary on Tuesday as buyers grew more and more nervous about slowing demand.

• UK politics: Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer responds to an official evaluate discovering the NHS in “critical condition”. His chancellor Rachel Reeves and Financial institution of England governor Andrew Bailey meet high financial institution bosses, who worry she is planning a tax raid on the sector within the Funds.

• Outcomes: John Lewis and Adobe report.

Know of a European firm that has made a intelligent shift in technique or enterprise mannequin? Nominate them for the FT Reinvention Champions 2024 — make certain to submit your entries by tomorrow.

5 extra high tales

1. Donald Trump’s marketing campaign is reeling after his poor efficiency within the debate towards Kamala Harris yesterday. Exasperated allies thought the previous president was outplayed by the vice-president and appeared unprepared, with Republican strategists and donors calling the face-off a “missed opportunity”.

FT specialists will dissect the controversy and its impression on the White Home race in an unique webinar at present. Be a part of us at 5pm BST.

2. Unique: Spain blocked a €619mn Hungarian takeover of Madrid-based trainmaker Talgo on the grounds that Viktor Orbán’s Russia-friendly authorities shouldn’t purchase expertise that might be helpful to Ukraine, in line with folks accustomed to the matter. Learn the complete story.

3. Unique: The US Navy Seal unit that killed Osama bin Laden has been coaching for missions to assist Taiwan whether it is invaded by China, in line with folks accustomed to the preparations. Seal Group 6, tasked with a few of the army’s most delicate and tough missions, has been planning and coaching for greater than a yr.

4. Unique: 7-Eleven’s proprietor has tapped Nomura to advise on a possible takeover battle with Alimentation Couche-Tard, in line with three folks with data of the state of affairs. The Canadian mother or father of rival chain Circle Okay stated it remained “highly focused” on the takeover, regardless of Seven & i’s rejection of its preliminary $39bn bid. Extra particulars right here.

5. OpenAI is aiming to lift a minimum of $5bn from buyers together with Apple, Nvidia, Microsoft and Thrive Capital. The San Francisco-based group is looking for extra funding to fund its formidable plans to develop AI fashions able to outperforming human intelligence, in a deal that might almost double the start-up’s valuation to $150bn.

The Huge Learn

Amid political and financial pressures, enterprise capital finance has dried up in China, prompting a dramatic fall in new firm formation. Founders and buyers harbour few hopes of a return to the glory years earlier than the Covid-19 pandemic, when the likes of Alibaba and Tencent took benefit of speedy financial development and the rise of cellular web to turn out to be globally important tech firms. One Chinese language govt stated: “The whole industry has just died before our eyes.”

We’re additionally studying . . . 

• Gary Stevenson: For a lot of followers, his self-proclaimed success as a dealer is what makes him such a compelling critic of inequality. His former Citigroup colleagues have a special story.

• UniCredit: The Italian lender’s announcement that it had constructed a 9 per cent stake in rival Commerzbank has stoked takeover rumours and caught the German institution without warning.

• Tata’s UK plant: Each the federal government and the Indian group have hailed the current £1.25bn deal, however the way forward for British steelmaking stays in query.

• US Metal deal: Nippon Metal’s doomed bid in the course of the election season affords classes on the limits of American friendship, writes Leo Lewis.

Chart of the day

The UK Treasury has refused to supply key particulars of the £22bn fiscal “black hole” that chancellor Rachel Reeves claims to have found, fuelling doubts in regards to the authorities’s transparency. A freedom of data request by the Monetary Occasions for an actual breakdown was declined, with officers insisting they want extra time to make sure the figures are correct.

Take a break from the information

The boys’s grooming sector is booming. Lately, devoted manufacturers together with Harry Kinds’ Pleasing, Dwayne Johnson’s Papatui and Jake Paul’s W have entered the market. Do males actually need so many specialised grooming merchandise? Teo van den Broeke investigates.

Extra contributions from Benjamin Wilhelm and Gordon Smith