The UK's energy partner.

Learn more at equinore.

Good morning.

From the newsroom of the Financial Times.

Today is Friday, February 1st, and this is your FT news briefing.

Today, Amazon delivers record profits but sees a slower growth ahead, U.S. China trade talks wrap up without a

solid deal, and new research from the UK's Low Pay Commission shows that a raise in the

minimum wage hasn't resulted in the widespread adoption of

automation some had expected. Then the FT's Ed Crooks explains how GE is making its way

out of crisis mode. I'm Eric Krupky and here's the news you need to start your day.

Amazon announced its third consecutive record quarterly profit on Thursday.

Net income for the e-commerce giant rose 63% to $3 billion on revenue of more than $72 billion,

thanks to strong holiday sales.

But shares in Amazon dropped nearly 5% after hours after the company

said it would ramp up spending in 2019. And it warned investors that its pace of growth

in the current quarter would slow.

Some of that forecast comes from uncertainty around new rules for foreign e-commerce companies

operating in India.

The rules went into effect this week and forced Amazon to remove products from its site there.

Also in 2018 Amazon pulled back on hiring and capital spending which boosted profits.

And on Thursday, Finance Chief Brian Olsovsky told analysts the company

was planning to invest more in the coming year.

...