FirstFT: FBI investigates China-backed VC agency

Good morning. In right now’s e-newsletter:

• The ‘soap opera’ derailing Australian central financial institution reform

• Younger Indians rack up bank card debt

• The FT’s US Election Recreation

However first, the FBI is investigating whether or not a China-backed US enterprise capital fund handed commerce secrets and techniques to Beijing.

California-based Hone Capital, which launched in 2015 with $115mn of preliminary capital from a Chinese language personal fairness group, invested in 360 US tech start-ups in lower than three years.

The fund turned certainly one of Silicon Valley’s most prolific early buyers, constructing stakes in driverless-car maker Cruise, funds group Stripe and aerospace engineer Increase.

The FBI is inspecting whether or not Hone Capital accessed details about the know-how, funds or purchasers of start-ups for the good thing about its Beijing-based proprietor or Chinese language authorities, mentioned a number of individuals near the matter.

Right here’s what else we all know in regards to the probe, which comes as heightened geopolitical tensions between the US and China have rattled Silicon Valley’s enterprise trade.

And right here’s what else I’m retaining tabs on right now:

• Financial information: Singapore publishes its newest industrial manufacturing index and Malaysia report PPI information for August. Remaining second-quarter GDP information is due within the US.

• Japan: The Financial institution of Japan publishes its newest financial coverage assembly minutes.

• Ukraine chief in Washington: Volodymyr Zelenskyy will meet President Joe Biden on the White Home and current him with a “Victory Plan” that he says will pressure Russia to the negotiating desk.

5 extra prime tales

1. A political “soap opera” is threatening a once-in-a-generation reform of the Reserve Financial institution of Australia aimed toward bettering the central financial institution’s much-criticised report on financial coverage after a post-pandemic inflation surge. The reform would set up a separate financial coverage board inside the RBA to determine rates of interest. However the opposition Liberal celebration, which initially supported the plan, has turned in opposition to it.

2. Younger Indians are racking up mortgage and bank card debt as they splurge on aspirational purchases from clothes to holidays, elevating issues about rising delinquencies and a wider lending slowdown. A couple of third of millennials and 40 per cent of Gen Z Indians are submerged beneath unsustainable borrowings, in response to Freed, an Indian debt decision platform.

3. Mira Murati, OpenAI’s chief know-how officer who briefly served as chief government throughout the failed coup in opposition to founder Sam Altman, is leaving the corporate. It’s the newest blow to the Microsoft-backed synthetic intelligence start-up, which has had a number of high-profile departures this 12 months.

4. Vladimir Putin has issued a stark menace to Ukraine’s Nato allies, saying he would increase Russia’s nuclear doctrine to probably cowl assaults in opposition to his nation utilizing superior western missiles. Putin’s threats have been a transparent message to Ukraine’s western allies because the US and UK take into account letting Kyiv hit targets deep inside Russia with Storm Shadow missiles. Right here’s extra on Putin’s revised nuclear doctrine.

5. The US and France have been racing yesterday to safe a brief truce between Israel and Hizbollah as Israel’s navy chief advised troops to arrange for a possible floor offensive in Lebanon. US President Joe Biden and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron have been concerned within the diplomatic push on the UN Basic Meeting in New York, in response to individuals briefed on the state of affairs.

The Huge Learn

Within the years since its founding in 2009, Uber instigated a transport revolution, unfold its disruptive enterprise mannequin to a variety of sectors and have become one of many world’s most beneficial personal tech corporations. On prime of ride-sharing and takeaways, Uber’s couriers now ship items for retailers, placing it in ever extra direct competitors with Amazon. Is it attempting to do an excessive amount of?

We’re additionally studying . . . 

• Hizbollah: The Iran-backed militant group won’t admit defeat, writes Kim Ghattas. However there’s a brief window for worldwide diplomacy to discover a face-saving method that may enable Hizbollah to face down.

• The top of the favored politician: A once-common sort is vanishing from the west. Janan Ganesh argues it’s a downside of demand not provide.

• European competitiveness: The EU tech trade is dire. However the issue is not lack of cash, writes Martin Wolf.

Chart of the day

Chinese language markets have given a short-term welcome to an “unprecedented” toolbox promised by Beijing to stabilise capital markets and revive animal spirits. However the greater concern is whether or not the measures shall be sufficient to stimulate the faltering actual economic system.

Take a break from the information

Are you able to mastermind a US presidential marketing campaign? Compete in opposition to different FT readers in the Election Recreation.

Extra contributions from Gordon Smith and Tee Zhuo