Podcast

Shein’s China and ESG risk puts IPO on iffy ground

25 Jan 2024

The fast-fashion giant is preparing a New York stock market listing. In this Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists explain how US investors might be wary of links to Beijing, and how its hard-to-recycle $5 tops and sweaters could be vulnerable to future regulation.

Fixed income investors have reasons to be fearful

23 Jan 2024

Uncertainty over the direction of inflation and monetary policy is buffeting markets. In this Exchange podcast Jim Grant, founder of ‘Grant’s Interest Rate Observer’, discusses his gloomy outlook for US bonds and sounds a warning about the risks of shadow banking.

Global risk pile-up penetrates Davos bubble

18 Jan 2024

Nearly 3,000 movers and shakers have converged on the Swiss resort amid crises in the Red Sea, Gaza and Ukraine. In this Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists discuss how Davos-goers unable to ignore these perils are nervously anticipating another Trump presidency.

Bain is keeping the private in private equity

16 Jan 2024

Rivals like Apollo and KKR went public more than a decade ago, over time de-emphasizing their buyout roots, especially amid a recent deal drought. In this Exchange podcast John Connaughton of Bain Capital explains why his firm isn’t following them, and how the market is healing.

Prolonged Red Sea attacks can hurt global economy

11 Jan 2024

Freight costs are soaring as militants target ships on a crucial trade route. In this Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists debate how inflation could rise and which companies could suffer if the tensions aren’t resolved soon.

AI startups’ key challenge is creativity, not cost

9 Jan 2024

Developing humanlike models is notoriously expensive. In this Exchange podcast, venture capital investor Konstantine Buhler of Sequoia Capital discusses how new breakthroughs are starting to lower costs and how that presents opportunities for challengers like OpenAI.

The world’s paradigm shift will create a busy 2024

2 Jan 2024

Surprise IPOs, a wave of M&A activity and changing recruitment patterns are just a flavour of predictions from Breakingviews. In this Viewsroom podcast, columnists explain how a better understanding of the rates environment and inflation will make it easier to get things done.

Policymakers take divergent paths toward rate exit

14 Dec 2023

Central banks in Europe and the US left borrowing costs untouched this week. But the latter went a step further and unexpectedly promised cuts. In this Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists explain how ratesetters, who were slow to tackle inflation, could be laggards again.

Global energy fissures are a risk for the West

12 Dec 2023

Falling oil prices despite recent cuts imply a weak OPEC+. Yet the producer group may increasingly align with other emerging market states on areas like Russia and climate change. In this Exchange podcast commodities expert Helima Croft says that’s an issue for Europe and the US.

COP28 wrestles with the nuances of binning oil

7 Dec 2023

The global climate conference in Dubai has seen its fossil fuel-rich UAE host criticised for appearing to contest the need to phase out crude. In this Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists discuss how the picture is a bit more complex.

COP28’s big dilemma: fossil fuel cuts, or fudges

28 Nov 2023

The success of the Dubai climate shindig rests on how much it slashes emissions via cuts to oil production, and how much it relies on carbon storage or removal. In this Exchange podcast, Energy Transitions Commission chair Adair Turner warns against relying on the latter.

OpenAI’s boardroom drama is far from over

23 Nov 2023

Sam Altman will return to the helm of the artificial intelligence firm after a torrid week of resignations. In this Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists explain how the saga has raised concerns about governance, the future of AI and an alarming cult of the CEO.

Biden and Xi’s warmer ties look flimsy

16 Nov 2023

The leaders of the largest economies resumed high-level communication following years of tension. In this Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists explain how Taiwan as well as anti-China rhetoric in the lead-up to next year’s US election could undo any goodwill.

Labour is weak link in Israeli economic defences

14 Nov 2023

The Middle Eastern country has withstood the financial pain of a war with Hamas, William Wechsler at the US think tank the Atlantic Council says in this Exchange podcast. But as the conflict continues, an increasing labour shortage will pile pressure on the economy.

Wind woe opens door for alternative green ideas

9 Nov 2023

Shares of Orsted and Siemens Energy are being battered by their inability to boost profits. In this Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists explain how trouble in offshore wind may encourage investors to back other clean energy segments like battery storage, cables and solar.

Drug shortages demand quick and costly action

7 Nov 2023

Chemotherapy and penicillin ran short over the past year amid supply-chain disruptions and regulatory pressure. In this Exchange podcast, Dr. Steffen Denzinger, president of the European Fine Chemicals Group, argues that safeguarding medicines may require patients to pay more.

Japan’s rates tweak is careful and crafty

2 Nov 2023

The central bank changed its policy to allow higher 10-year bond yields. Unlike the US, it can afford to raise borrowing costs slowly as inflation is low. In this Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists explain why monetary tightening as others loosen may give Tokyo an edge.

Israel’s war is a risk and opportunity for Saudi

31 Oct 2023

Hamas’s attacks complicate Mohammed bin Salman’s aim to build relations with the Israeli state, Gulf expert Kristian Coates Ulrichsen says in this Exchange podcast. But if the Saudi crown prince can use his leverage to help Palestinians, it may help his image at home and abroad.

Real big energy: Exxon and Chevron swim upstream

26 Oct 2023

The two US oil titans unveiled acquisitions worth more than $100 bln combined within weeks of each other. In this Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists discuss what’s powering the renewed consolidation push, as well as the threats posed to the industry by a greener market.

How to spur investments in greener power grids

24 Oct 2023

Electricity networks need to be upgraded and adapted to a carbon-free world. That means doubling investments to $750 bln a year. With returns uncertain, attracting cash is not easy, Secure Meters CEO Suket Singhal argues in this Exchange podcast. New pricing models would help.