Matcha mania strains Japan
FT News Briefing
Forhecz Topher
4.4 • 1.2K Ratings
🗓️ 17 October 2025
⏱️ 12 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Shares in US regional banks fell on Thursday after two lenders disclosed that they were exposed to alleged fraud by borrowers, and the UK economy grew 0.1 per cent in August. Plus, Japan is having a hard time keeping up with demand for matcha.
Mentioned in this podcast:
US regional bank shares sink on credit worries after fraud disclosures
UK economy grew 0.1% in August
Japan buckles under matcha mania
Today’s FT News Briefing was produced by Michela Tindera, Josh Gabert-Doyon, Sonja Hutson, and Marc Filippino. Our show was mixed by Kelly Garry. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann and Michael Lello. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Topher Forhecz. The show’s theme music is by Metaphor Music.
Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | For over 40 years, Equinoor has been an energy partner to the UK. |
| 0:04.1 | During that time, we've played our part in the switch from coal to gas, |
| 0:07.1 | and we're working hard to help the UK's energy transition. |
| 0:10.2 | We may not have all the answers yet, but we're determined to find them. |
| 0:13.5 | Equinor, an energy company, searching for better. |
| 0:16.9 | 99.6% of Equinor's energy output is oil and gas. |
| 0:20.5 | Our investment in renewables and low-carbon |
| 0:22.4 | solutions has increased from 4% in 2020 to 27% in 2024. Find out more at equinor.com. |
| 0:32.1 | Good morning from the Financial Times. Today is Friday, October 17th, and this is your FT News briefing. |
| 0:38.7 | Investors got the jitters over U.S. regional banks, and the United Kingdom's lackluster GDP is |
| 0:44.9 | putting more pressure on the government. Plus, people are going nuts for matcha, and it's putting |
| 0:50.6 | a big strain on Japan. T. Serami Grandmasters can't afford to buy matcha, |
| 0:57.0 | and instead people in Los Angeles or London |
| 0:59.8 | are mixing matcha with sugar and milk, |
| 1:04.1 | not appreciating the fine art that is matcher. |
| 1:08.0 | I'm Mark Filipino, and here's the news you need to start your day. |
| 1:19.0 | U.S. Regional Bank shares took a tumble yesterday. Two lenders, Western Alliance Bank and |
| 1:24.3 | Zions Bank, said they were exposed to alleged fraud by borrowers. |
| 1:28.5 | There were already wider concerns about the health of bank loan portfolios, |
| 1:33.6 | the recent failures by the car parts maker first brands, and the auto lender Tricolor |
| 1:37.8 | has hurt credit investors. And it's made people worried that there could be more cracks in |
| 1:42.5 | the private credit market. So how bad was it for regional lenders? |
... |
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