Business
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
French fishermen to end blockades over fuel prices
French fishermen have agreed to lift their blockades at fuel depots and ports, including Nice, after talks with the government over financial aid. They say soaring fuel prices since the start of the war with Iran are pushing them to the brink. Also in the segment: India could be hit by fresh US tariffs if it keeps buying Russian oil. US lawmakers approved a new sanctions package that ratchets up t
US Federal Reserve hikes interest rates for the first time in three years
The US central bank raised its benchmark rate by .25 percent, with new Fed Chair Kevin Warsh defying President Donald Trump's desire for lower rates. Consumer banks and bond markets react. Also, OpenAI reveals new incidents of AI misconduct as fears grow that the technology could escape human control.
US Federal Reserve defies Trump with interest rate hike
The US Federal Reserve has raised its key interest rates for the first time in three years, as it seeks to bring down high inflation. The policy decision sets up a potential confrontation between Chairman Kevin Warsh and President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly called on the central bank to cut interest rates. Also in this segment: France extends fuel subsidies as fishermen’s protests gather mom
Horizontal or vertical? Europeans invited to vote on future banknote designs
People in the single-currency Eurozone have been invited to vote on the designs of upcoming euro bank bills. Proposed designs include historic figures like Marie Curie and Leonardo da Vinci, as well as a vertical format. They are expected to enter circulation around 2030. But first, as higher fuel prices stemming from the Iran war hurt consumers, fishermen in southern France scuffled with police a
Nigeria's Dangote refinery kicks off blockbuster IPO
Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote launched the biggest-ever share sale on the African continent, listing 4.1 billion shares in his Lagos refinery on the stock exchange. He framed it as a "people's IPO" to give all Nigerians a chance to share the plant's wealth potentials. Trading is expected to start in November. Meanwhile, global oil prices continued to advance as attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebe
Record heat and drought make this year's champagne stronger
For the first time, French champagne producers are allowed to sell their bubbly with more than 13% alcohol, as record heatwaves and drought have resulted in grapes containing unusually high levels of sugar. They fear that climate change may eventually force them to permanently rewrite the rules governing winemaking. Also in the segment, the European Central Bank raised interest rates for the seco
Apple's new foldable iPhone: expensive gadget or bold statement?
John Ternus, Apple's new CEO, unveiled the tech giant's latest smartphone on Wednesday. The foldable iPhone Duo will go on sale on October 23rd starting at $1,999, making it the most expensive iPhone to date. The move is a bid to comfort the US company's position at the top of the global smartphone market. Also in this edition, we head to Argentina where President Javier Milei's free market approa
European space sector in the spotlight as Paris hosts International Space Summit
Paris's Grand Palais will host a two-day International Space Summit this Wednesday to promote global cooperation in the sector. A number of deals and investments for European space firms are expected to be announced as part of a wider plan to strengthen Europe's position in a field dominated by the US and China. Also in this edition: the US and Canada are locked in a tit-for-tat battle over tariff
Canadian PM stands his ground as Ottawa's retaliatory tariffs on US goods take effect
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said it was a shame that trade talks with the US collapsed but that he would continue to fight to protect Canada's sovereignty. Meanwhile, his government's promised counter-tariffs on $20 billion worth of US exports took effect. Also in the segment: Cuba says economic damage from decades of US trade embargo has risen to a record $8 billion.
Trump threatens ban on Bombardier as Canada's retaliatory tariffs kick in
Canada's retaliatory tariffs of up to 50 percent on approximately $19.8 billion worth of US goods came into effect this Tuesday, further escalating the trade war between the two neighbours. At the same time, US President Donald Trump is threatening to ban sales of all Bombardier aircraft in the US, in spite of the Canadian company's deep web of US suppliers. Also in this edition: Iran raises the p
Volkswagen's Osnabrück plant to switch from cars to defence
Crisis-hit Volkswagen has struck a preliminary deal to sell its Osnabrück plant in Lower Saxony to the state government and Israeli investor Aurelius Capital. From mid-2027, the iconic factory is expected to start producing equipment for Rafael Advanced Defence Systems, the company behind the Iron Dome missile defence system. But first, we take a look at the state of the German economy following
German startup notches Europe's first successful private orbital launch
German startup Isar Aerospace becomes the first company to achieve a successful private orbital space launch. But first: Germany's far-right AfD party scores a big electoral victory, pushed along in part by the country's structural economic crisis and its fiscal policies.
El Niño weather phenomenon set to deliver massive blow to global economy
The UN warns El Niño is a "supersized" phenomenon that will hit the global economy. Meanwhile, UK cider producers are feeling the impact of drought. Plus, Nvidia buys AI developer platform Hugging Face for $12.9 billion.
US energy secretary vows oil output will double on visit to Venezuela
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright landed in Venezuela on Tuesday ahead of a signing ceremony for a landmark oil deal between the US government and Venezuela. The deal would see the US create and control a private company that will hold 65 billion barrels in proven oil reserves. This agreement is also meant to encourage other US energy firms to invest in the country, in spite of serious challenges.
Global bond selloff deepens as US launches fresh attacks on Iran
Oil prices rose, stocks fell and bond yields spiked after the US launched fresh attacks on Iranian targets. Japan's 10-year bond yield hit 3 percent for the first time since 1996. The deepening global selloff comes amid fears over rising inflation and concern over mounting government debt, which in the US has risen above $40 trillion. Meanwhile, in the single-currency eurozone, inflation rose to t
Xi, Putin hold talks ahead of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russia's Vladimir Putin are among the heads of state attending a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit taking place in Kyrgyzstan. Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian is also in attendance, where he held bilateral talks with India's Narendra Modi. Marking its 25th anniversary this year, the SCO has strengthened trade ties among its members as the bloc looks
Xi arrives for SCO summit, Putin meeting as regional bloc pushes back on US dominance
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit gets underway in Kyrgyzstan, with the leaders of China and Russia attending. But first: the US hosts G20 finance ministers, while America's massive debt may be painting its new central banker into a corner.
US imposes a 25 percent tariff on some Brazilian imports, citing unfair trade practices
The United States will slap 25 percent tariffs on some Brazilian goods starting July 22 following a yearlong investigation under the Trade Act of 1974. The probe concluded that Brazil engaged in unfair trade practices. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva condemned the move, saying it was politically motivated to favour his rival for upcoming elections, Flavio Bolsonaro. Also in this edit
Chinese growth in second quarter weakest since Covid-19 era
Official data released on Wednesday shows China's GDP grew 4.3 percent in the second quarter, compared to a year prior. The last time quarterly growth was that weak was in late 2022, when China was feeling the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Slow consumer demand, despite a surge in exports, helps explain the slowdown. Also in this edition, Gibraltar's business community breathes a sigh of relief
Ukraine strikes halt shipping on key wheat route as Russian fuel crisis deepens
Ukrainian drone strikes have brought shipping in the Sea of Azov to a near standstill, disrupting a corridor that carries up to a quarter of Russia's wheat exports and sending tremors through global grain and oil markets. They have also knocked out a significant share of Russia's refining capacity, prompting Moscow to ban diesel exports until the end of July and further unsettling global oil marke
How heatwaves are changing France's real-estate market
Crude oil prices surge as renewed US-Iran strikes fuel market fears. In France, real-estate agents say property buyers are changing priorities as heatwaves become more frequent. And Cuba suffers another nationwide blackout amid the impact of US sanctions.
Nike and Adidas locked in World Cup standoff as tournament heats up
As the World Cup quarterfinals get under way, the race to number one between Nike and Adidas heats up. India and Australia sign a new uranium deal. And, OpenAI rolls out its newest model GPT-5.6 Sol to the general public.
UniCredit closes in on Commerzbank takeover
Italy's second biggest bank, Unicredit, is closing in on a takeover of Germany's second biggest bank Commerzbank after saying it secured 47.6% of the lender's shares on Wednesday. The move is facing widespread opposition in Germany, notably from the federal government, which has a 12% stake in the company. Also, new "freedom fuel" filling stations are appearing across the United States, offering c
