Draghi buoys markets, Germany and Turkey discuss refuguees and Europe’s most liveable city

European Central Bank president Mario Draghi dropped a strong hint that the bank is ready to launch a fresh round of stimulus in March, giving US and European shares some respite from their savage sell-off of recent weeks.

Oil prices also saw a major rebound, bouncing a whopping 6 per cent after hitting a 12-year low on Wednesday. The news came as Saudi Arabia described the collapse in prices as “irrational” and said it expected the market to recover in 2016 even as the kingdom continues to keep production high. (FT)

In the news

Goldman Sachs: GOP candidates’ bank of choice Republicans running for president may rail against the investment bank in populist speeches. But nearly all of the dozen candidates have some sort of financial relationship with the bank. (Reuters)

Litvinenko inquiry implicates Putin Russia’s President Vladimir Putin “probably” approved the murder of former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko with a radioactive poison in London in 2006, a UK public inquiry has found. The findings are set to spark calls for the UK government to increase sanctions against Russia. (FT)

The demise of the jumbo jet Boeing on Thursday came a step closer to ending production of its best-known aircraft when it announced that it would halve production of the 747 jumbo jet tojust six a year from September. The jet has been one of history’s most successful aircraft types, with Boeing delivering more than 1,500 since 1969. (FT)

Tim Cook lobbies EU antitrust regulators Apple’s chief executive made a surprise visit to Brussels on Thursday to advocate for his company amid a landmark case that could force the iPhone maker to pay billions in underpaid taxes to Ireland. The probe has become one of the most politically charged cases pursued by Brussels since it took on Microsoft two decades ago. (FT)

The Chinese auto challenge China’s largest car parts maker plans to spend Rmb200bn over the next 10 years to build facilities for developing and producing electric and other eco-friendly vehicles. (NAR)

It’s a big day for

Refugees Germany and Turkey are set to hold a joint cabinet meeting to discuss the migrant crisis. The meeting comes as the EU has been warned that it has less than two months to save the Schengen system of border-free travel that has come under threat amid the crisis. (FT)

Food for thought

America’s new best friends A new hierarchy of allies is emerging in Washington as evidenced by a series of high-level visits this week. No longer are the UK and Israel the fulcrum countries, the first port of call when things go wrong. France and Australia are quickly moving into that space, writes Geoff Dyer. (FT)

Japan dreams of robots After decades of disappointments, Japan’s dreams of a robot-rich future are finally becoming reality. At the forefront of this brave new world is Pepper, a puckish humanoid that is selling out as fast as it can be assembled. “By the time my son graduates, Pepper’s stronger and more brilliant cousin is going to take his job and won’t give it back,” writes Leo Lewis in Tokyo. (FT)

Europe’s most liveable city Roads reserved for bicycles and pedestrians. Tree-lined avenues with shops, cafes and homes. Investment in education and hi-tech industry. These are just some of the developments that city planners hope will help transform Denmark’s Odense from a struggling post-industrial hub into one of Europe’s most liveable cities. (The Guardian)

The great British butler Nearly 400 butlers are trained every year in the UK, with about half going overseas to work for royals, sheikhs and oil proprietors who value the traditional Englishway of dining or dressing. Salaries range up to $100,000, although elite “super butlers” — those who have worked with the most wealthy — can easily earn $160,000. (BBC)

Viva rat Vegas Rats trained to gamble for sugary treats in a “rat casino” will take much greater risks than normal if their casino is equipped with bright lights and music, scientists have found. Significantly for the treatment of gambling addiction in humans, giving the rats Dopamine D3 receptors appeared to prevent them from being beguiled by the bright lights of rat Vegas. (ScienceDaily)

Taiwanese teen learns about China risk China’s growing economic might is a juggernaut that can flatten almost anyone in an international business. A 16-year-old Taiwanese girl recently learnt that the hard way. (NAR)

Video of the day

Is the tech revolution overhyped? The main theme of this year’s World Economic Forum in Davos is ‘Mastering the fourth industrial revolution’. But is technology’s potential overhyped? The FT’s Martin Wolf and Izabella Kaminska discuss. (FT)

Author: FirstFT is the Financial Times’ editors curated free daily email of the top global stories from the FT and the best of the rest of the web.