Asia Markets Correspondent

Who are the hedge fund moguls betting on distressed China property debt and will they succeed? Is the Chinese stock market a value trade? How is the People’s Bank of China manoeuvering in the currency markets and what are the family offices of China’s billionaires doing with their money? How are commodity traders rerouting flows of Russian oil through Asian markets? What comes next for the yen, for the Indian stock market or for the restructuring of Sri Lanka’s international debt?

The Financial Times is seeking an Asia Markets Correspondent to address questions such as these from its base in Hong Kong. From the recycling of China’s vast current account surplus to its role as the world’s largest commodity importer, and from capital raisings by innovative tech companies to trading on several of the world’s largest stock exchanges, financial markets in Asia shape the global economy.

The job involves some spot news coverage: Asian financial markets are the first to open during the global trading day, so the correspondent needs to cover the fallout of big developments such as a US interest rate move. But the more important side of the role is to tell stories about financial markets, getting inside the minds of investors and traders to write about where they are putting their money and why; bringing to life the winners, the losers, the drama and the big personalities of the financial world.

The correspondent will join a strong and supportive team, with colleagues working on Chinese and international finance from Hong Kong, as well as the FT’s global network of markets correspondents and colleagues on FT Alphaville. You may also be asked to represent the FT at events and in the media.

Your Skills

An instinct for markets and a sense of how to turn that into stories are the two biggest qualifications. Participants in the financial markets are always looking for their next trade, so an eye for valuations, liquidity and motivated buyers or sellers will help to generate story ideas. The core reporting skills and energy to talk with a wide range of market participants are essential to find out what is going on.

Market stories can be dull if they are just about a price going up or down, but fascinating if they reveal something about the wider world. You will have the ability to conceptualise and explain the broader picture or to reveal the big personalities - bankers, traders and hedge fund managers - who sit behind the trades.

You should be able to write for all parts of the website and newspaper, from strong spot news to deft analysis on a range of subjects. There may be opportunities to write features or coverage for FT Weekend as well. Good communication skills are important. You should regularly pitch ideas to editors in Hong Kong and London, then deliver copy when promised. You should also be collegiate: close collaboration with colleagues across the world is a central part of the FT’s culture and will be vital to your success. Skills in Asian languages are always helpful but not necessary for this role. Hong Kong is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in Asia and the quality of living is high.

Please submit your application by the end of the day, Monday 19th February 2024.

Benefits

Our benefits vary depending on location, but we are committed to providing best in class perks across all our offices as well as an inclusive environment to develop your career. Examples of our benefits include; generous annual leave allowances, flexible working (including working from home), medical cover, enhanced maternity & paternity packages, subsidised gym memberships and Giving Back opportunities. Full details of our benefits can be found here.

How we work

Our hybrid setup means staff are expected to come into the office 3 days a week.

Our commitment to diversity and inclusion in the workplace

The FT is committed to providing an inclusive working environment for all. We are an equal opportunities employer who seeks to recruit and appoint the best talent regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief. We believe that a supportive workplace is one where employees feel they can be themselves at work and have the flexibility they need to meet their personal needs.

Please let us know if you require any adjustments as part of the application process or to enable you to attend an interview. If you would like to discuss your requirements, or have any questions, please contact talent@ft.com and a member of our team will be happy to help.