For decades, the global centre for oil trading has been Geneva, Switzerland. But Russia’s war in Ukraine changed that. Sanctions have made it harder for western traders to move Russian oil. Now, traders are flocking to a new trading hub that has no restrictions on oil from Russia: the United Arab Emirates. The FT’s energy correspondent Tom Wilson explains how this shift has helped the UAE replace Switzerland, and whether the global energy industry is shifting away from western economies.  Plus, do you have your own burning questions about business or finance? Send us your questions and we may use them in a future show. Record a voice message here and we may even play it on the show: https://sayhi.chat/rmc2b Or, email Michela at michela.tindera@ft.com, or message her on Twitter at @mtindera07 Update: A new version of this episode was uploaded on August 9, 2023 to correct that Fujairah is roughly an hour’s drive east from Dubai, not west. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  For further reading: How Dubai became ‘the new Geneva’ for Russian oil trade Switzerland questions oil trader over sidestep of Russian sanctions Letter: Energy trading is opaque — and that suits Big Oil Switzerland/Paramount: block loopholes which swerve oil sanctions - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  On Twitter, follow Tom Wilson (@thomas_m_wilson) and Michela Tindera (@mtindera07) Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Under “normal” circumstances, economists and analysts study a variety of specific indicators to understand what’s happening with the US economy. But lately, those indicators have been sending mixed signals. The FT’s US financial commentator Robert Armstrong explains why they’re wonky and how that’s led him to a different data source to help him understand the economy. Plus, have your own burning questions about business or finance? Send us your questions and we may use them in a future show!  Record a voice message here: https://sayhi.chat/rmc2b  Or, email Michela at michela.tindera@ft.com, or message her on Twitter at @mtindera07 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  For further reading: Recession odds fall, a bit There is more slack in labour markets than we think An ‘immaculate disinflation’ in the US is not guaranteed Stocks rise on robust US bank earnings and ECB rates signal Listen to the Unhedged podcast Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.