A daily news podcast from FRANCE 24 English covering the latest business and economic developments. Each episode offers a short, regular update on markets, companies and financial affairs. It airs live from Monday to Thursday at 9:15am and 6:45pm Paris time.
Épisodes
Second day of Web Summit cancelled as Storm Charles puts Portugal on high alert
Portuguese authorities strongly advised organisers of the Web Summit to cancel events this Wednesday because of risks of tidal flooding and severe disruption to public transport. Storm Charles is expected to be at its most dangerous on Wednesday afternoon, with winds reaching up to 120 km/h and potentially very dangerous wind gusts as well. FRANCE 24's Charles Pellegrin reports from Lisbon and als
Anthropic eyes $1.4 trillion valuation in blockbuster IPO
US firm Anthropic, the company behind the AI chatbot Claude, has announced it will offer 825 million shares at a price between $70 and $78 apiece during its planned IPO. This will give the firm a valuation of around $1.4 trillion. The blockbuster IPO will come at a time when investors are increasingly concerned about the risks associated with the AI boom. But first, chip giant Nvidia continues to
The robot boom: Are businesses ready for an AI-powered workforce?
As artificial intelligence makes machines more capable and autonomous, businesses are racing to embrace robotics. But while many executives expect to deploy robot fleets in the coming years, far fewer have a clear strategy for doing so. FRANCE 24's Charles Pellegrin speaks to John Healy, Intel's Vice President of Robotics and Industrial Solutions, about the opportunities, risks and workforce chall
China's 'impossible to ignore' tech rise on display at Web Summit in Lisbon
One of Europe's biggest annual tech events, the Web Summit, kicked off in the Portuguese capital this week with the biggest ever delegation of Chinese business leaders and policymakers. FRANCE 24's Charles Pellegrin talks to Dr. Dan Wang, China Director at Eurasia Group, about EU-China tech relations, the climate of suspicion created by the spying scandal at Nvidia, and what the EU's quest for tec
Musk-backed candidates lose US midterms despite financial backing
Shares of Tesla and SpaceX dropped after the Democratic party swept to power in America's midterm elections. Their founder, tech titan Elon Musk, poured over $440 million into Republican candidates and causes, the single biggest campaign donor in the election cycle. But his investment fell flat, as his preferred candidates lost races in Texas, where he has put down roots. We take a closer look.
Markets react with caution to Democrats' victory in US midterms
Investors shunned AI stocks and turned to government bonds on Wednesday in the wake of the Democratic Party's takeover of Congress in the US midterm elections. Oil prices meanwhile ticked slightly higher, as uncertainty remains over the direction of US President Donald Trump's war against Iran. Also in this edition, we focus on the central issue of this midterm campaign: the rise in the cost of li
Trump's tariffs hitting US small businesses
As US voters cast their ballots in the midterm elections, the economy remains their top concern. Despite robust headline macroeconomic data, middle-class Americans are growing increasingly frustrated with the rising cost of living. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump's tariffs have hit small businesses hard, leading to a significant rise in bankruptcies. Our reporter Cristobal Vasquez met with so
Californians vote on ballot initiative to impose one-time tax on billionaires
This Tuesday, Californians are voting on a landmark plan to impose a one-time tax on billionaires to fund the state's healthcare system. We take a closer look. Also on the show: global oil prices fell sharply on the eve of the US midterm elections. This came after Iran said it was holding intensive talks through mediators towards negotiating peace and signalled that it was ready to reopen the Stra
Despite attacks, Saudi Aramco posts 34% rise in net profits in latest quarter
Saudi Arabia's state-owned oil giant saw its profits rise to $36.25 billion in the third quarter, despite seeing its infrastructure and even headquarters targeted by Houthi rebels. Elevated oil prices have offset the supply disruption caused by the Iran war. Also in this edition: North Korea denies any involvement in the largest-ever crypto heist and we take a look at how Russia's strikes against
Binance users withdraw $3.4 billion after record crypto heist
Customers of cryptocurrency trading platform Binance withdrew some $3.4 billion of their funds on Sunday after Binance reopened trading. The company had suspended all operations after a cyberattack that compromised over $6 billion in digital assets. Also in this edition: the Wall Street Journal reports on a new US plan to restore Russian gas sales to Europe, and we look at Argentina's efforts to c
ECB chief Lagarde steps down in order to speak out
European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde will step down from her post several months early, in order to have more "freedom to engage on matters that are not monetary policy". The comments will fuel speculation about her future plans, ahead of a presidential election in her native France. The resignation also sparks a succession race, as Europe faces a turbulent fiscal future. Also in the
France reclaims title as Europe's champion of tax and social charges
New data shows that France has the EU's highest tax burden at 46 percent of GDP, while its national debt continues to grow. Amid new street protests over lack of education funding and falling purchasing power, the government is proposing a meagre hike in the minimum wage. Also in this edition: US tech giants see their shares diverge as the AI boom pushes massive capital expenditures.
EU natural gas prices top €100 for first time since 2022
As winter approaches, the price of European natural gas has topped €100 per megawatt hour, its highest level since 2022. The EU says it's not worried about supplies, although its storage facilities are only 72 percent full, but warns households of a "difficult" season to come. Also in the show: the UK government tries to cushion the impact of high energy bills, and 200 passengers are stranded in C
French Senate debates new 'rioters pay' bill
As thousands of French businesses grapple with the fallout from recent riots, French senators are debating a new bill aimed at making not only the perpetrators but also those belonging to the same group pay for damages. The idea of "collective civil liability" divides lawmakers, with opponents saying it could potentially violate people's democratic rights to protest as some might stay clear of dem
Anthropic files for mammoth IPO as revenues and losses mount
US artificial intelligence giant Anthropic files public regulatory paperwork as it gets set to launch on the stock market. Also in this edition: France plans a special disaster fund for businesses hit by riots and looting, and Apple's new top-of-the-line folding iPhone screen shows some unwanted lines of its own.
Anthropic's IPO filing shows soaring sales and steep losses
AI giant Anthropic has publicly filed for an initial public offering (IPO) with US market regulators. The document offered a glimpse into the company's finances but also contained nearly 100 pages related to risks around investing in the firm. The filing revealed that in the first half of 2026, its revenue soared to $16.3 billion while its net loss widened to over $80 billion. Plus: London's iconi
Italy's trucker protests halt buffalo mozzarella production, cost producers €3 million
Italy's diesel-price protest halts buffalo mozzarella production, with producers estimating €3 million in losses in just 24 hours as milk fails to reach dairies and finished cheeses cannot reach customers. In banking, Barclays announces it will cut around 5,000 jobs – roughly 5 percent of its workforce – as it uses artificial intelligence to reduce costs. This comes as Nvidia chief executive Jense
Meta's Zuckerberg pitches AI successes to investors with 26% rise in quarterly revenue
Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg touted the company's progress on artificial intelligence during an earnings call on Wednesday and called for more investment. The tech giant's Muse AI agent has garnered 10 million users since its launch six weeks ago, while third-quarter revenue rose to $64.6 billion. Meanwhile, the company is accused of political interference in Brazil's presidential election.
French bond yields hit 24-year high after unrest
French bond yields have topped 5 percent, their highest level since 2002, after widespread protests and violence over the weekend. It's a sign that investors are losing confidence in France's finances, as the government grapples with budget and debt problems. Also in the show: chipmaker Nvidia says it's invested $10 billion in European tech firms to boost the "AI economy", and the UK approves a co
Musk talks up potential merger of SpaceX and Tesla
As SpaceX reports blockbuster quarterly earnings, CEO Elon Musk floats the possibility of merging the rocketry and AI firm with his electric car company Tesla. Also in this edition: OpenAI reveals more agent misbehaviour as market turmoil hits data centre companies, and France's political crisis exacerbates its bond market rout.
US regulators certify Boeing 737 MAX 10 after years of delay
The US Federal Aviation Administration has given final approval for the 737-10, the largest model in Boeing's best-selling MAX family. The certification comes more than five years after the narrowbody jet's maiden flight, and marks an important step for the planemaker that's been trying to regain ground following a safety and management crisis. Plus, the French government has offered all businesse
French retailers begin filing insurance claims after weekend of looting
Shop owners in France are counting the cost of the weekend's riots as the government works on new measures to help them recover from widespread looting. Also in this edition: Germany welcomes new investments from Nvidia into its tech scene, and energy prices continue to climb after new Houthi attacks in Saudi Arabia.
France tells online marketplaces to crack down on resale of looted items
As thousands of French shop owners are reeling from the weekend's violence and looting, listings of apparently stolen items have been popping up online. The government has asked major second-hand marketplaces such as Vinted, eBay and Amazon to crack down on suspicious adverts.
French retailers reel after weekend of riots, looting
Representatives of the French business community gather for a crisis meeting with the government following widespread looting during the weekend's protests. Meanwhile, the country's tourism sector fears a drop in winter holiday bookings, and bond and currency traders sell off French debt and the euro.
