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Good morning from the newsroom of the Financial Times.

Today is Wednesday, January 2nd,

and this is your FT news briefing.

Today we'll be looking at a plan hatched by the Democrats

to end the US government shutdown, the inauguration of

Trump ally Jayir Bolsonaro, and just what UK business leaders are saying

about the outlook for Britain's economy in 2019. Then the F.T's Owen Walker will tell us about a

new crop of money-saving services that could disrupt some traditional asset

managers. I'm Amy Keene and here's the news you need to start your day.

A new session of the U.S. Congress is set to begin on Thursday,

but sparring between Democrats on Capitol Hill and the Republican president in the White House

is already signaling a new period of gridlock in Washington.

Nancy Pelosi, who's expected to lead the Democratic majority in the House, along with the party Senate leader Chuck Schumer,

are planning a quick legislative blitz to try to end the U.S. government shutdown.

It began almost two weeks ago.

In a joint statement, they said they would work to pass separate

bills that would allow funding for the country's federal agencies through September

but funding for the Department of Homeland Security which is the agency responsible for border security, would only run until

February 8th.

That funding would not include any new money for a border wall.

...