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    Sri Lanka debt deal key to restoring debt sustainability, IMF says

    COLOMBO (Reuters) -Sri Lanka’s agreements with China and other creditor nations to restructure about $10 billion in bilateral debt brought it a step closer towards restoring debt sustainability, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Thursday.The island nation signed deals with China and other creditor nations to restructure about $10 billion in bilateral debt on Wednesday, helping it approach the end of a restructuring process that began in September 2022 after its reserves hit record lows and forced it to default on foreign debt for the first time.Sri Lankan officials in Paris inked the agreement with the Official Creditor Committee (OCC) co-chaired by Japan, India and France that have lent a combined $5.8 billion.The committee is now awaiting details of a separate agreement that was signed with China EXIM Bank to rework $4.2 billion to be shared with them to ensure comparability of treatment, OCC said in a statement. Sri Lanka, however, still needs to convince bondholders to restructure about $12.5 billion in international bonds.”We hope that there will be swift progress on reaching agreements with external private creditors in the near future,” Peter Breuer, IMF’s senior mission chief for Sri Lanka, said in a statement.Bilateral lenders said they hoped an agreement with bondholders would be “on terms at least as favourable as the terms offered by the OCC.”The restructuring of bilateral debt agreements was one of the key conditions set by the IMF under a $2.9 billion bailout programme that helped Sri Lanka tame inflation, stabilise its currency, and improve government finances.The central bank estimates the economy will expand 3% in 2024 after contracting 2.3% last year. Sri Lanka, whose total external debt is $37 billion, also has to finalise arrangements with China Development Bank to restructure debt of $2.2 billion, according to latest finance ministry data.Under the restructuring plan, Sri Lanka can delay repaying bilateral creditors till 2028. During this period, the government and creditors can arrange new loans out to 2043.Once the restructuring is completed, Sri Lanka aims to reduce its debt by $16.9 billion, the government said.It will seek approval from parliament on July 2 to proceed with the deals, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said during an address to the nation late on Wednesday.The debt restructuring will help the cash-strapped nation more than halve its foreign debt repayments to 4.5% of gross domestic product between 2027-2032, from 9.2% in 2022 at the peak of the economic crisis.But the country has to still improve governance and stay on the path of reforms, including implementing legislation to lock in IMF-stipulated fiscal targets, impose a property tax, and limit lending by state banks to loss making state-run companies, according to analysts.Recovery could also face headwinds from upcoming presidential elections scheduled to be held before mid-October.”There is now the chance Sri Lanka can access undisbursed loans from bilateral lenders, particularly for infrastructure projects that were stalled, or get new loans,” said Thilina Panduwawala, head of research at Frontier Research.”But it could be next year by the time they get these up and running because elections can also delay that process.” More

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    Explainer-You Need to Calm Down: Why the Taylor Swift economy isn’t real

    FRANKFURT (Reuters) – Taylor Swift is taking Europe by storm, prompting some pundits to envisage an economic windfall as fans flock to dozens of sold-out shows from Dublin to Vienna and beyond. It is hoped Swift, along with the Olympics Games in France and the Euro 2024 soccer championship in Germany will provide a shot in the arm for a continent that has just skirted recession for most of the past two years and badly lagged the United States. But there is one problem: “Swiftonomics” is not actually real. She may be a megastar revolutionising the music industry, but once the excitement wears off, you will need a magnifying glass to spot the economic benefit. Take Stockholm as a case in point. Close to 180,000 fans attended her three shows in May, with half of them coming from abroad and generating close to 850 million crowns ($81 million) in turnover for the city. That is a great three-day haul for Stockholm but a drop in a bucket even for the modestly-sized Swedish economy, which ranks eighth in the European Union with annual output of $623 billion.“This extra turnover is a great weekend boost for Stockholm and in particular, its tourism sector,” says Carl Bergkvist, the Chief Economist at the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce.”But it’s just that — a weekend, with no visible or significant impact on overall economic growth.” Hotels and restaurants made a killing and even cowboy hat sales surged 155%, the Chamber estimates. The impact on prices is similarly invisible and could even be smaller than when Beyoncé performed in the city a year earlier, sparking a temporary inflation scare. Beyoncé effect or not, Swedish inflation has since fallen from 10% to just over 2% now.”Is there a Taylor Swift effect? It’s extremely small and temporary, at best,” said Carsten Brzeski, an economist with ING.”There is copious research in the run-up to big events outlining the economic benefits but after the fact you need a magnifying glass to find these so-called benefits in the numbers,” Brzeski said.The verdict is the same for the Olympics or Euro 2024.They are boon for restaurants, beer sales and sellers of “merch” but do not durably affect consumption patterns.”The consumer spending that occurs is expenditure that would happen anyway and tends to be a form of substitution,” explained Professor Simon Shibli at Sheffield Hallam University.The argument is that cash spent on a concert ticket or a hotel would come from a family’s budget, meaning there would be less left for other expenditure, such as restaurants or travel.Danske Bank’s tongue-in-cheek “draft beer index” showed massive surges when Denmark played its previous European Championship – topping out at a 106% rise in pub and restaurant receipts for a game against England compared to the usual take. “On a micro level, such events do provide a boost but even that is small and temporary,” Danske’s Piet Haines Christiansen said. “They are relevant for specific sectors, like for hotels and catering wherever Taylor Swift goes or for beer sales in countries that are playing football.”Some local media last month jumped on Barclays research about the spending habits of Swifties to suggest her concerts would bring in one billion sterling for the UK economy.But besides the likely substitution effect they have on other spending, there is also the fact that much of the income from the Swift tour will end up in the United States – muting an already small local economic benefit. For economies the size of Britain or those in continental Europe, any such transfers would not move the dial on their trade ledgers either: the 20-country euro zone had a balance of exports over imports of no less than 39 billion euros in April alone.($1 = 10.4619 Swedish crowns) More

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    Interlock Launches ThreatSlayer Web3 Security Extension and Incentivized Crowdsourced Internet Security Community

    Uses blockchain and Web3 to incentivize users to participate and share essential threat data Interlock today announced a Web3, incentivized crowdsourced internet security community that aims to make the internet safer for everyone, from individuals to global enterprises. Today the company also announced the worldwide general availability of its flagship product ThreatSlayer, a Web3 security browser extension that harnesses the power of blockchain, AI and a global community of users to revolutionize internet security. Today’s announcement of the ThreatSlayer production version follows a year of beta testing by 29,000+ weekly active users, 80% of whom are outside the United States. The community already includes active members on X, Telegram and Discord. Adding to the Web3 community buzz, Interlock’s CEO recently appeared in Entrepreneur’s “Elevator Pitch,” where he garnered interest in a potential investment of $100,000 from Marc Randolph, Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX) co-founder and former CEO, in a broadcast viewed by 600,000 people. Compatible with most major browsers, ThreatSlayer is available as a free download that installs instantly. It immediately begins protecting internet users from dangerous website URLs and scams, whether malicious links come from phishing, fake ads, search or browsing. By working as part of the browser, ThreatSlayer can block malicious sites before the damage is done. While helping everyone address the legacy problems in today’s risk-ridden Web2 internet, it is particularly well suited to Web3 early adapters and cryptocurrency enthusiasts. Combining Crowd Power with AI to Revolutionize Internet Security Born out of a need for more effective internet security despite billions of dollars spent on existing Web2 solutions, Interlock was conceived to combat persistent phishing and social engineering attacks with Web3 technology and incentivized community threat intel to deliver internet cybersecurity designed for a digital and crypto-focused world. To power ThreatSlayer’s protection with the best threat intelligence available, Interlock rewards users for sharing anonymized security data. While no security solution is perfect, there is safety in numbers and building the world’s largest community for crowdsourcing threat intel is fundamental to what makes it revolutionary. Equally revolutionary is the company’s groundbreaking use of blockchain and AI technology in its platform. In the coming weeks, Interlock will introduce its own utility coin $ILOCK used to pay incentives and enable community members to use the crypto coins to facilitate rewards and security staking, where users can earn extra tokens for correcting Interlock’s threat detection when it gets something wrong. Think of it as a combined PayPal (NASDAQ:PYPL) fraud and Twitter community note style review system. The $ILOCK coin will be available on Arbitrum, the leading Layer 2 (L2) network for Ethereum with a vast user base of 11.6 million and Aleph Zero, a privacy-focused public blockchain platform. By making the $ILOCK coin available on these platforms, Interlock empowers users with choice and enhances security for all participants, while expanding its network. Interlock’s Roadmap Interlock’s near-term product roadmap includes ThreatSlayer on the Mainent, Token Generation Event (TGE) and Security Staking. Later this year, the company’s go-to-market business plan is to monetize the shared security data it is gathering in the $11 billion yearly B2B threat intel market, creating a first-of-its-kind crowdsourced threat intelligence platform. The company will also introduce enterprise versions of its products during the coming 12 months. In keeping with the best practices of a Web3 community leader, Interlock is very transparent and offers a wealth of additional information in the resource center on the website and GitHub. “Interlock’s mission is to solve legacy Web2 security issues by harnessing the power of Web3. Our unique approach is made possible by incentivizing users to share security data and use our security tools,” said Rick Deacon, co-founder and CEO at Interlock. “With ThreatSlayer leading the charge, we’re establishing a new era of cybersecurity that’s both effective and inclusive. As we embark on this journey, we’re grateful for the support of our investors, who share our vision for a safer online world.” The company has raised $4.1 million in funding through two oversubscribed private sales of $ILOCK led by Outlier Ventures. “We are very confident in our investment to support Interlock’s mission to revolutionize Web3 security,” said Jamie Burke, founder of Outlier Ventures. “The security implications of self sovereignty in Web3 are an impossible burden for most users. ThreatSlayer is a simple browser extension that protects individuals and lets them join an army of 29,000 users to crowd source threat intel and earn as they go.” How Interlock’s Revolutionary Ecosystem Works The Interlock ecosystem comprises ThreatSlayer, the internet security browser extension for users; Galactus, the data nexus and open-source rewards system; and Octahedron, a proprietary AI-driven threat detection tool. In the Interlock ecosystem, ThreatSlayer users can opt-in for incentives to continually aggregate web activity and transmit anonymous threat intel data to Galactus. Octahedron, the heart of Interlock’s technology, then uses the data to discern, classify and even predict malicious web entities. An advanced AI threat detection tool, Octahedron was designed to navigate the complexities of cyberspace and continuously update ThreatSlayer to enhance its protection for users. Leveraging supervised learning from the SciKit-learn library, it excels in classifying objects, discerning relationships and predicting trends based on historical data. Using Interlock’s proprietary Decision Tree algorithm, it evaluates websites to identify potential threats and prevent users from entering risky cyber territories. Octahedron has been trained with a variety of data, including known crypto scams, phishing links, dangerous URLs, malware and more, ensuring it has a sharp eye for trouble. Constantly fed with new data from the community, Octahedron continuously evolves into an ever more effective cybersecurity tool. The addition of dimensions, such as the presence of specific keywords like “cryptocurrency” or “free money,” scrutiny of suspicious JavaScript functions, detection of malicious code and evaluation of a website’s domain reputation and traffic patterns, enhance its accuracy in identifying malicious websites. As Octahedron’s dimensions multiply, so does its effectiveness in safeguarding against online threats. As this robust internet security data ecosystem thrives, Interlock’s blockchain infrastructure, the backbone of the operation, ensures user trust and systemic security. Together, these components seamlessly weave a harmonized system, where data collection, threat analysis and token rewards converge in a synchronized dance. Interlock’s Reputable Team Interlock’s CEO and co-founder Rick Deacon has an extensive background in cybersecurity from hacking MySpace to building the next generation of Decentralized Security. Rick was the former CEO of a browser defense platform startup funded by Y Combinator, who sold their software technology to Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN), Gemini and Uber (NYSE:UBER). The company also benefits from the expertise of two senior advisors, Ethan Johnson and Ajeet Khurana. With over a decade of experience in cybersecurity, Ethan shapes Interlock’s enterprise product strategy, drawing from his specialization in crypto architecture and control design. His security roles at Citadel Securities, Galaxy Digital and the Bank of New York Mellon (NYSE:BK) underline his expertise in securing the emerging digital assets sector. “Unlike a lot of AI companies that materialized overnight, Interlock’s team has been building and tuning AI-based web browsing protections for years,” said Ethan Johnson, Interlock Advisor. “I’m excited about their potential for making risky web browsing safer.” Ajeet, founder of Reflexical, brings a robust background to assist Interlock in its mission to bridge the security gap in Web3. His previous roles, including CEO of India’s largest CEX and Head of the Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Committee, equip him with a unique perspective and expertise for Interlock’s success. “Interlock’s groundbreaking approach to incentivizing security combines the strength of artificial intelligence with the collective power of the crowd,” said Ajeet Khurana, Interlock Advisor. “In the realm of Web3 self sovereignty, security concerns can be formidable for most users. However, ThreatSlayer offers a unique solution. By seamlessly integrating AI and the community, users can identify threats and earn rewards effortlessly.” Join the Interlock Community User who are ready to get better internet protection and start getting rewarded for their browsing, can download ThreatSlayer now and become a part of the fast-growing Interlock community. To learn more about ThreatSlayer, the Interlock ecosystem, Web3, blockchain, tokenomics and much more, visit our extensive resources library and be sure to check out our communities on Twitter, LinkedIn, Telegram and Discord. Users can feel free to drop in, say hi and ask questions. About Interlock Interlock pioneers the transformation of security within Web3 with its AI-powered browser extension, Threatslayer. Protecting users from dangerous websites, wallet drainers and scams, while also rewarding and incentivizing them to share data, Interlock fosters a unique crowdsourced threat intelligence platform. Interlock boasts 30,000+ weekly users and a 79,000-strong community and is backed by $4.1 million in funding from oversubscribed private sales led by Outlier Ventures. ContactChloe AmanteMontner Tech [email protected] article was originally published on Chainwire More

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    How to tax the ultra-rich the same as you and me

    Standard DigitalWeekend Print + Standard Digitalwasnow $85 per monthBilled Quarterly at $199. Complete digital access plus the FT newspaper delivered Monday-Saturday.What’s included Global news & analysisExpert opinionFT App on Android & iOSFT Edit appFirstFT: the day’s biggest stories20+ curated newslettersFollow topics & set alerts with myFTFT Videos & Podcasts20 monthly gift articles to shareLex: FT’s flagship investment column15+ Premium newsletters by leading expertsFT Digital Edition: our digitised print editionWeekday Print EditionFT WeekendFT Digital EditionGlobal news & analysisExpert opinionSpecial featuresExclusive FT analysisFT Digital EditionGlobal news & analysisExpert opinionSpecial featuresExclusive FT analysisGlobal news & analysisExpert opinionFT App on Android & iOSFT Edit appFirstFT: the day’s biggest stories20+ curated newslettersFollow topics & set alerts with myFTFT Videos & Podcasts10 monthly gift articles to shareGlobal news & analysisExpert opinionFT App on Android & iOSFT Edit appFirstFT: the day’s biggest stories20+ curated newslettersFollow topics & set alerts with myFTFT Videos & Podcasts20 monthly gift articles to shareLex: FT’s flagship investment column15+ Premium newsletters by leading expertsFT Digital Edition: our digitised print editionEverything in PrintWeekday Print EditionFT WeekendFT Digital EditionGlobal news & analysisExpert opinionSpecial featuresExclusive FT analysisPlusEverything in Premium DigitalEverything in Standard DigitalGlobal news & analysisExpert opinionSpecial featuresFirstFT newsletterVideos & PodcastsFT App on Android & iOSFT Edit app10 gift articles per monthExclusive FT analysisPremium newslettersFT Digital Edition10 additional gift articles per monthMake and share highlightsFT WorkspaceMarkets data widgetSubscription ManagerWorkflow integrationsOccasional readers go freeVolume discountFT Weekend Print deliveryPlusEverything in Standard DigitalFT Weekend Print deliveryPlusEverything in Premium Digital More

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    FirstFT: Attempted coup in Bolivia fails

    Standard DigitalWeekend Print + Standard Digitalwasnow $75 per monthComplete digital access to quality FT journalism with expert analysis from industry leaders. Pay a year upfront and save 20%.What’s included Global news & analysisExpert opinionFT App on Android & iOSFT Edit appFirstFT: the day’s biggest stories20+ curated newslettersFollow topics & set alerts with myFTFT Videos & Podcasts20 monthly gift articles to shareLex: FT’s flagship investment column15+ Premium newsletters by leading expertsFT Digital Edition: our digitised print editionWeekday Print EditionFT WeekendFT Digital EditionGlobal news & analysisExpert opinionSpecial featuresExclusive FT analysisFT Digital EditionGlobal news & analysisExpert opinionSpecial featuresExclusive FT analysisGlobal news & analysisExpert opinionFT App on Android & iOSFT Edit appFirstFT: the day’s biggest stories20+ curated newslettersFollow topics & set alerts with myFTFT Videos & Podcasts10 monthly gift articles to shareGlobal news & analysisExpert opinionFT App on Android & iOSFT Edit appFirstFT: the day’s biggest stories20+ curated newslettersFollow topics & set alerts with myFTFT Videos & Podcasts20 monthly gift articles to shareLex: FT’s flagship investment column15+ Premium newsletters by leading expertsFT Digital Edition: our digitised print editionEverything in PrintWeekday Print EditionFT WeekendFT Digital EditionGlobal news & analysisExpert opinionSpecial featuresExclusive FT analysisPlusEverything in Premium DigitalEverything in Standard DigitalGlobal news & analysisExpert opinionSpecial featuresFirstFT newsletterVideos & PodcastsFT App on Android & iOSFT Edit app10 gift articles per monthExclusive FT analysisPremium newslettersFT Digital Edition10 additional gift articles per monthMake and share highlightsFT WorkspaceMarkets data widgetSubscription ManagerWorkflow integrationsOccasional readers go freeVolume discountFT Weekend Print deliveryPlusEverything in Standard DigitalFT Weekend Print deliveryPlusEverything in Premium Digital More

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    Bybit Wins Innovative Collaborations Award at MENA Business Awards 2024

    Bybit, the world’s second-largest web3 platform by trading volume, is proud to announce its recognition as the recipient of the prestigious Banking and Finance – Innovative Collaborations and Partnerships Achievement Award at the MEA Business Awards 2024. This award celebrates Bybit’s groundbreaking initiative and the Blockchain for Good Alliance, which aims to harness Web3 technologies for social good.The MEA Business Awards 2024, hosted by MEA Business Magazine, recognizes exceptional businesses and organizations across the Middle East and Africa. Bybit’s Blockchain for Good Alliance has been acknowledged for its innovative approach to leveraging blockchain technology to address critical global challenges and drive positive social impact.Bybit has partnered with global leaders to launch the Blockchain for Good Alliance. This initiative directs Web3 technologies towards social good, utilizing blockchain to tackle global issues and support socially impactful projects.About BybitBybit is the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, serving over 33 million users. Established in 2018, Bybit provides a professional platform where crypto investors and traders can find an ultra-fast matching engine, 24/7 customer service, and multilingual community support. Bybit is a proud partner of Formula One’s reigning Constructors’ and Drivers’ champions: the Oracle (NYSE:ORCL) Red Bull Racing team.For more details about Bybit: Bybit Press. For media inquiries: [email protected] more information: https://www.bybit.comFor updates, users can follow: Bybit’s Communities and Social MediaContactHead of PRTony [email protected] article was originally published on Chainwire More

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    Will XRP’s $0.5 Reversal Finally Happen? Bitcoin Can (BTC) Hold Above $60,000, Cardano (ADA) Lost $0.4: What’s Next?

    The inability of XRP to break above the 26 EMA is a sign of the absence of buying pressure on the market. If the 26 EMA is not broken, it indicates that the bulls are not in control. The 26 EMA frequently serves as a significant resistance level. Any price movement without a lot of volume is probably going to be erratic and short-lived. There has been volatility on the larger cryptocurrency market, with key assets like Ethereum and Bitcoin seeing declines. It is difficult for altcoins like XRP to gain traction in this environment. The price action of XRP is being significantly impacted by the general bearish sentiment on the market. Given that the RSI is currently in the 40–50 range, it appears that XRP is neither overbought nor oversold. The lack of significant momentum in either direction is supported by this neutral RSI reading. XRP needs to see an RSI move above 50, along with rising volume and optimistic market sentiment, in order to stage a significant comeback. A retest of lower support levels may occur if XRP struggles to stay below the 26 EMA. At $0.46, which has historically served as the asset’s floor, there is another major support level. A more significant decline in XRP might be expected, possibly testing even lower levels if this support is broken. However, a strong break above the 26 EMA backed by rising volume might indicate a possible reversal. XRP clearly needs more buyers.More sellers are putting more pressure on the cryptocurrency market, and Bitcoin is no different. Given the extreme volatility of the last few days, the price action of BTC must continue to hold above the $60,000 threshold. The current state of the market is testing this level, which has historically provided strong support. Bitcoin is likely to face difficulties in the future, according to a number of technical indicators. The 30-to 40-range RSI suggests that Bitcoin is getting close to the oversold area. In addition to reflecting the strong selling pressure that is currently driving the market, this may indicate a buying opportunity. It is also important to keep an eye on the moving averages, especially the 50-day and 200-day EMAs. If Bitcoin manages to hold above $60,000, we could see a potential rebound. The first target would be the $65,000 resistance level which, if breached, could pave the way for a rally toward $70,000. However, for this to happen, there needs to be a significant increase in buying volume and positive market sentiment.On the flip side, if Bitcoin fails to hold the $60,000 support, the next major support lies around $57,000. A drop below this level could invalidate the 200-day EMA as a support, pushing Bitcoin into a more bearish zone and potentially triggering a stronger sell-off.ADA’s pricing performance has been poor in spite of its potential and strong community support. With its price stuck around $0.41, the chart shows that Cardano has been finding it difficult to gain traction. The 50-day and 200-day EMAs in particular are critical resistance levels for any meaningful upward movement in the cryptocurrency but have not been broken by it. Technical analysis shows that Cardano is in oversold territory because its RSI is in the lower range. This may indicate that long-term investors have a chance to purchase. But the low trading volume is a worrying indication that the market as a whole is not interested. At best, investor sentiment has been uncertain about Cardano. This article was originally published on U.Today More

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    Did the ECB ease too early?

    Standard DigitalWeekend Print + Standard Digitalwasnow $85 per monthBilled Quarterly at $199. Complete digital access plus the FT newspaper delivered Monday-Saturday.What’s included Global news & analysisExpert opinionFT App on Android & iOSFT Edit appFirstFT: the day’s biggest stories20+ curated newslettersFollow topics & set alerts with myFTFT Videos & Podcasts20 monthly gift articles to shareLex: FT’s flagship investment column15+ Premium newsletters by leading expertsFT Digital Edition: our digitised print editionWeekday Print EditionFT WeekendFT Digital EditionGlobal news & analysisExpert opinionSpecial featuresExclusive FT analysisFT Digital EditionGlobal news & analysisExpert opinionSpecial featuresExclusive FT analysisGlobal news & analysisExpert opinionFT App on Android & iOSFT Edit appFirstFT: the day’s biggest stories20+ curated newslettersFollow topics & set alerts with myFTFT Videos & Podcasts10 monthly gift articles to shareGlobal news & analysisExpert opinionFT App on Android & iOSFT Edit appFirstFT: the day’s biggest stories20+ curated newslettersFollow topics & set alerts with myFTFT Videos & Podcasts20 monthly gift articles to shareLex: FT’s flagship investment column15+ Premium newsletters by leading expertsFT Digital Edition: our digitised print editionEverything in PrintWeekday Print EditionFT WeekendFT Digital EditionGlobal news & analysisExpert opinionSpecial featuresExclusive FT analysisPlusEverything in Premium DigitalEverything in Standard DigitalGlobal news & analysisExpert opinionSpecial featuresFirstFT newsletterVideos & PodcastsFT App on Android & iOSFT Edit app10 gift articles per monthExclusive FT analysisPremium newslettersFT Digital Edition10 additional gift articles per monthMake and share highlightsFT WorkspaceMarkets data widgetSubscription ManagerWorkflow integrationsOccasional readers go freeVolume discountFT Weekend Print deliveryPlusEverything in Standard DigitalFT Weekend Print deliveryPlusEverything in Premium Digital More