Viewsroom

Canary Wharf faces stiff test to reinvent itself

6 Jul 2023

HSBC is quitting the financial hub and moving to smaller quarters. In this Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists discuss how hybrid working is an existential threat for commercial property and how Canary Wharf’s pivot to residential and retail may only be a partial salve.

Putin’s problems are only minor boost for Ukraine

29 Jun 2023

The Russian president restored a semblance of calm in Moscow after an aborted mutiny. In this Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists debate what this means for the country’s invasion of its neighbour. It’s helpful, but not necessarily transformative, for Kyiv’s resistance.

Rebuilding Ukraine: how much and who pays?

22 Jun 2023

Talk of reconstruction may seem premature with Russia still firing missiles at Kyiv. Yet that’s what policymakers and financiers gathered in London this week to debate. In this Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists discuss the cost, the timetable, and who picks up the tab.

Man United sale heads into messy added time

15 Jun 2023

The Premier League soccer club is in the final stages of a tense bidding war. In this Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists debate the merits of offers from a Qatari suitor and chemicals tycoon Jim Ratcliffe, and what options minority investors face if they are shut out.

Syngenta’s bumper IPO will test Chinese appetite

1 Jun 2023

The seeds-to-pesticides group is planning a $9 bln stock market float in Shanghai this year. In this Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists explain how investors need to get comfortable with its high debt levels and use of toxic chemicals that could hurt its valuation.

Debt ceiling crash will have few victims

25 May 2023

President Joe Biden is trying to hammer out a deal with Republican lawmakers to ensure the United States can keep its lights on. In this Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists explain how even if the world’s largest economy defaults on its debts the damage will be limited.

Erdogan part three would be worse and the same

18 May 2023

The Turkish president is in a heated battle to lead the battered country. In this Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists discuss the risks Turkey faces if he stays in office, his rival’s offering and how the outcome of the election will impact the rest of the world.

Pharma’s obesity gold rush will have limits

11 May 2023

Drugmakers Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are vying for a large slab of the weight loss medications market, which analysts reckon could be worth $100 bln by 2031. In this Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists discuss how investor optimism in a booming market is unwarranted.

First Republic’s rescue cements ‘too big to fail’

4 May 2023

JPMorgan rode to the rescue of the mid-sized lender, which recently became the latest US bank to keel over. In this Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists discuss the impact of lending giants bulking up further, and whether that itself stores up future risks.

EY’s failed split raises stakes for Plan B

27 Apr 2023

The Big Four professional services firm called off a plan to separate its audit and consulting arms. In this Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists discuss what went wrong, the implications for its rivals, and the pressure on EY bosses to show the intact business can thrive.

Politicians and policy wonks diverge on economy

20 Apr 2023

Prominent policymakers and world leaders met in Washington last week to discuss the economic outlook. In this Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists explain why US politicians are taking a rosier view of inflation and vulnerabilities in the banking sector than the IMF.

WWE and UFC merger mania is quite the production

6 Apr 2023

The wrestling heavyweight has agreed to merge with Endeavor’s mixed martial arts franchise in a $21 bln deal. In this Viewsroom episode, Breakingviews columnists discuss why the transaction makes sense strategically, but the financial logic is contorted.

Alibaba breakup sends positive vibes to investors

30 Mar 2023

The $265 bln Chinese tech giant is splitting into six pieces. In this Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists discuss how the move could be replicated by peers like Tencent and how Beijing’s business charm offensive is sending the right signals to China watchers.

Credit Suisse rescue sends shockwaves far and wide

23 Mar 2023

The ailing Swiss lender was saved by UBS with a $3 bln takeover. In this Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists debate why the deal pushes up bank funding costs, how the new mega-lender affects Switzerland’s financial system, and why bank deposits are becoming less reliable.

SVB’s collapse casts long and global shadow

16 Mar 2023

The US bank’s failure sparked a mass selloff in bank stocks. In this Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists debate the causes of investor jitters, the long-term implications of intervention by governments and regulators, and the latest concerns about Credit Suisse.

UK’s Brexit fix has perks for all sides

2 Mar 2023

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak agreed a trade deal with the European Union this week. In this Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists explain what the accord will mean for future relations between Britain and the 27-nation bloc and how Northern Ireland may get an economic boost.

Ukraine’s long shadow on business and geopolitics

23 Feb 2023

It’s been 12 months since Russian President Vladimir Putin’s bloody invasion. In this Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists discuss how energy markets have changed for good, how defence companies are benefiting, and another potential conflict troubling CEOs and investors.

Europe is playing catch-up in green subsidy race

9 Feb 2023

The U.S. unveiled $369 bln of climate subsidies for consumers and manufacturers. In this Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists explain why Brussels may need to launch a similarly ambitious plan or risk losing its share of jobs of the future.

Gautam Adani’s crisis will hit India hard

2 Feb 2023

The Indian magnate’s sprawling empire has lost over $100 bln of market value after a short-seller made accusations of fraud. In this Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists explain why the situation will narrow Adani’s financing options, limiting his infrastructure ambitions.

Why retail bankers are beating dealmakers

26 Jan 2023

JPMorgan, Citigroup and Goldman Sachs’ earnings revealed that the basic business of lending money is thriving, while investment banking is not. In this Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists debate what this says about the U.S. economy and what to expect from the Europeans.