US stocks hit a five-week low as a warning of potential Fitch downgrades sent bank shares lower, Beijing is making one of its biggest top-down efforts in years to tackle the debts racked up by local governments, and a year after passage of the US Inflation Reduction Act and Chips Act the vast majority of investment is going to red states. Mentioned in this podcast:US and European stocks hit five-week lows after strong retail sales dataChina sends finance experts to tackle regions’ debtsRepublican districts dominate US clean technology investment boomPink Floyd strike a chord as scientists recreate song from brain activityThe FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Josh Gabert-Doyon, Monique Mulima, Monica Lopez, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.