Two and a half years after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began, Europe's energy woes still aren't resolved. Current prices are much lower than the all-time high of €300 per megawatt-hour in 2022 but are still double what they were before Putin's invasion. Our senior energy reporter Stephen Stapczynski joins to explain why there are concerns about supplies of gas in the coming months, even though the continent has filled stockpiles to 90 per cent capacity.

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Central bankers are like celebrities in the finance world: every word they say gets closely scrutinised. Did their comments always elicit such interest, and do they ever tell us anything they shouldn't? Bloomberg Opinion columnist and avid central bank watcher, Daniel Moss, joins Stephen Carroll to discuss. 

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 Donald Trump picked Jerome Powell to lead the Federal Reserve, but their relationship soured soon afterwards, with the former President frequently criticising the Fed Chair. Ahead of November's election, some informal Trump advisers have floated ideas about possible changes to the Fed that would give him more power over the central bank. Our Federal Reserve reporter Amara Omeokwe tells Stephen Carroll what a re-elected Trump could and couldn't do to influence monetary policy.

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French bonds have continued to tumble as Marine Le Pen’s far right National Rally party leads polls ahead legislative elections later this month. The moves come after Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire warned that France would be plunged into a debt crisis similar to one sparked in the UK two years ago if far-right leader Marine Le Pen were to win and implement her economic program. But is he right? Our Managing Editor for FX and Rates, Rachel Evans joins Caroline Hepker to discuss if the warning is more than just political positioning.

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Three sets of recent elections have made waves on the markets. In South Africa, India and Mexico - we saw stocks sell off and currencies weaken as the results rolled in - even if they weren't a total surprise. Is there a common theme behind the market moves? Bloomberg's Markets Live Executive Editor Mark Cudmore joins Stephen Carroll to explain.

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The European Central Bank is set to cut interest rates for the first time since 2016, but Federal Reserve policymakers are still saying rates may need to stay higher for longer. Central bank divergence has caused market volatility in the past, but how big a deal is it this time? Bloomberg Opinion columnist Daniel Moss joins Stephen Carroll to explain.

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The US has dodged a recession and inflation is on track to normalise, so why don't people feel happier? Judging only by economic data, Joe Biden should be a shoo-in at November's election. But the polls don't seem to reflect that. Bloomberg's senior editor Wendy Benjaminson joins us from Washington to help explain. 

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There was a time in the not-too-distant past where more free trade was widely considered to be a good thing. Donald Trump, as US President, had a major hand in reviving the use of tools like trade tariffs, but they've continued to be used under Joe Biden too. Bloomberg's Trade Tsar Brendan Murray joins Stephen Carroll to discuss the past, present and future of this key instrument of international trade. 

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China's President Xi Jinping came to Europe with promises of investment and greater cooperation, but also an eye on rising trade tensions with the EU. What was Xi's goal on this trip? In this episode of Here's Why, we examine why China needs Europe right now with our Asia Government and Politics Correspondent Rebecca Choong Wilkins. Hosted by Stephen Carroll, produced by Christopher Pitt and James Woolcock. 

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On the first ever episode of Here's Why, host Stephen Carroll speaks to Bloomberg Opinion Columnist Daniel Moss about the recent dramatic moves in the Yen and why there could be more to come.

You can read Daniel Moss's full opinion piece on the Bloomberg website here: https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2024-04-30/japan-should-leave-the-yen-bazooka-at-home?srnd=undefined

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 It's a trading strategy that was at the heart of the market turmoil in early August: investors have been ditching the carry trade as the value of the Japanese yen fluctuates. Our Managing Editor for Foreign Exchange and Rates Rachel Evans explains what the carry trade is, and what its future looks like now. Hosted by Stephen Carroll. 

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 Since the Hamas attack on Israel on the October 7 and the ensuing war in Gaza, tensions in the Middle East have been running high. But in the background, there has been a flurry of diplomatic activity: negotiations over a truce in Gaza, and attempts to de-escalate the conflict among the various actors. Our head of Middle East and North Africa coverage Stuart Livingstone-Wallace explains to Stephen Carroll why diplomacy still matters in the Middle East. 

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A plan by conservatives to reshape the US government, known as Project 2025, has become a key talking point in the presidential campaign. Its architects see it as a resource for Donald Trump if he wins in November, but the Republican nominee has distanced himself from it. Democrats, meanwhile, are eager to tie Trump to its more controversial proposals. Our senior editor Wendy Benjaminson joins Stephen Carroll to explain what Project 2025 is, and why it's getting so much attention. 

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Notoriously volatile, cryptocurrency has long been seen as a niche investment on the verge of going mainstream.

But increasingly digital tokens are being integrated into traditional finance.

The US approved the sale of exchange traded funds linked to Bitcoin in January.

The industry also seems to have moved on from the collapse of FTX, the digital currency exchange, in 2022. Bitcoin, up some 50% in 2024, is even in focus in the US Presidential race.

Our cross asset reporter Emily Graffeo joins Caroline Hepker to explain why it's getting easier to invest in cryptocurrencies and who is buying them.

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China's economy has been having a tough time. The latest growth figures show the slowest pace of expansion in more than a year. Consumer spending is weak and the property slump is ongoing. The official target of growing the economy by 5% a year is still within reach - thanks to a boom in exports. But there are risks there too. Our Executive Editor for Greater China John Liu joins Stephen Carroll to help explain why China's outlook keeps getting worse. 

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The June 27th debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden has become a watershed moment in the US Presidential race. Joe Biden's stumbles have raised concerns among donors and Democrats, but in the two weeks after the event, the President's poll ratings haven't shifted dramatically. Our US Money and Politics Czar Laura Davison joins Stephen Carroll to help explain why. 

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The European Union this week moved ahead with plans to impose provisional tariffs on electric vehicles imported from China that would raise rates to as high as 48%, a step likely to escalate trade tensions with Beijing. The EU move follows a US decision to impose a 100% duty on EVs from China, though shipments are currently close to zero. Canada last month said it’s weighing tariffs as well. While China has threatened to retaliate, the EU’s comparatively well-off consumers represent an important outlet for domestic EV makers battling overcapacity. So why are so many countries taking aggressive action to protect their electric vehicle industries? Craig Trudell, Bloomberg’s Global Automotive Editor joins Stephen Carroll to explain. 

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Nvidia's growth has stunned the market - even when compared to its artificial intelligence peers - riding high on this year's wave. The company took the title of the world's most valuable company earlier this month, but just days after reaching this milestone, Nvidia's stock price took a plunge losing £430 billion dollars from its market cap over just three days. So what was behind the decline of one of Wall Street's darlings and will it bounce back? Matt Turner, who leads Bloomberg's US equities coverage tells Stephen Carroll why the tech giant's worth is proving so elusive.  

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Like the weather, the markets have seasonal trends. January is usually good; September is bad. So how do money managers trade around these periods, and what could upset the usual expectations? Our Markets Live Managing Editor Kristine Aquino joins Stephen Carroll to discuss. 

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 The world runs on dollars. It's the most commonly used currency in international transactions, an important reserve for central banks around the world, and a safe haven in troubled times. There are, however, some countries trying to move away from King Dollar, so what effect is it having? Bloomberg's Senior Washington Correspondent Saleha Mohsin wrote a book on the subject, called 'Paper Soldiers'. She joins Stephen Carroll to discuss. 

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The village of Schengen in Luxembourg lends its name to one of Europe's most ambitious agreements - creating a free travel area that now extends to 29 countries. But increased worries over migration, and other crises including Covid-19, have led to the return of border checks, and a quiet fizzling of the dream of a borderless Europe. Is it in terminal decline? Our Germany Correspondent Oliver Crook joins Stephen Carroll to discuss. 

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CPI, PCE, GDP, PMIs and JOLTS are all data points closely monitored by markets. They help us understand where the economy is, can give us hints on where it's going. But are all of these numbers equally important? Our global economy reporter Enda Curran joins Stephen Carroll to discuss how to separate the signal from the noise.Anchor, Bloomberg Radio 

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 Investors in Chinese shares are used to seeing wild swings in prices. The market rally on September 30 was the biggest one-day gain since 2008, but it came after months of declines. Why are Chinese equity markets so volatile? Our Managing Editor for Asia Equities, Lianting Tu, joins host Stephen Carroll to explain. 

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Government borrowing jumped during the pandemic, but big stimulus plans like the Inflation Reduction Act have added to the mountains of public debt. How worried should we be about how much each country owes, and are austerity policies inevitable to bring it under control? Bloomberg's Head of Economics and Government Stephanie Flanders joins host Stephen Carroll to discuss. 

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The war in Ukraine, the rise of China and the possible return of Donald Trump have all highlight the risks to Europe and how the lack of defense spending over years has left the continent perilously exposed. How big is Europe's fighting force and does it have the capability to act were it to face a real threat? Bloomberg's Executive editor Flavia Krause-Jackson joins host Caroline Hepker to discuss. 

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Every earnings season, investors keenly watch to see whether companies are meeting, beating or missing expectations. But how are these expectations set, and is anyone able to accurately predict what companies will say? Bloomberg Intelligence's Chief Equity Strategist Gina Martin Adams joins host Stephen Carroll to discuss. 

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The popularity of nuclear power has seen major swings since the first reactor went into commercial operation some 70 years ago. As countries look for ways of securing their future energy supplies, interest in nuclear has been revived. Could power-hungry artificial intelligence be another catalyst? Our reporter Jonathan Tirone joins host Stephen Carroll to explain.

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In 2020, it took almost four days to find out who had been elected US President. In 2000, the decision from the Supreme Court didn't come until mid-December. This year, a high number of mail-in ballots, the closeness of the race and new election processes in some states may mean it takes longer to determine a winner. Our Washington DC editor Magan Crane joins host Stephen Carroll to discuss. 

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During his first term as President, Donald Trump imposed tariffs on around $380 billion of imports. He has now promised to go further, with a 20% levy on all imported goods and 60% on Chinese products. Bloomberg's trade tsar Brendan Murray joins host Stephen Carroll to discuss how and when the tariffs might come, and who needs to worry most 

What would YOU like to hear about on Bloomberg? Help make shows like ours even better by taking our Bloomberg audience survey.

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Crypto assets, including Bitcoin, have surged in value since Donald Trump won the US Presidential election. The President-elect has gone from being a crypto-skeptic to promising more friendly regulation for the sector. Our crypto reporter Emily Nicolle joins host Stephen Carroll to discuss whether the hopes are well founded.

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Public health experts have expressed alarm over Donald Trump picking a vaccine-skeptic to head the US Department of Health and Human Services. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s nomination comes as falling vaccination rates for diseases such as measles have led to a spike in cases globally. What's behind anti-vaccine sentiment, how is it evolving and what effect is it having on public health? Sam Fazeli, PhD in pharmacology and Director of Research at Bloomberg Intelligence, joins host Stephen Carroll to discuss.

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Central banks in the US and Europe have been cutting interest rates as inflation slows close to their 2% target. But while the price surge of 2022 is behind us, the outlook for the next year looks less certain. How will trade tariffs, a strong dollar or other shocks affect the outlook for prices? Bloomberg Opinion columnist Daniel Moss joins host Stephen Carroll to discuss.

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Here's Why host Stephen Carroll is in France this week covering the deepening political crisis that has gripped the country. We wanted to bring you a special episode of Bloomberg's Big Take podcast that he's been contributing to while there. We'll be back next week with a normal episode of the show.

The Big Take: After No-Confidence Vote, France Faces Tumult and Uncertainty

The government of French President Emmanuel Macron collapsed Wednesday after losing a no-confidence vote. The outcome brings the country one step closer to a far-right government — the one thing President Macron has sought to avoid at all costs.

Bloomberg’s Stephen Carroll and Big Take co-host David Gura break down the current pressures on France’s government, what led to the vote and what we know about what comes next. 

Listen and follow The Big Take on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

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SpaceX recently cemented its status as the world's most valuable private startup, with a share sale that valued it at about $350 billion. Meanwhile, OpenAI's last fundraising round valued it at $157 billion. Despite huge interest from investors, these names are among many fast-growing companies which are opting not to list their shares on public markets. Bloomberg's Bailey Lipschultz, who covers how companies go public, joins host Stephen Carroll to discuss.

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Iran has lost a key regional ally with the toppling of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria. Tehran's other proxies, Hamas and Hezbollah, are also weakened after over a year of fighting with Israel. What influence does Iran have left in the Middle East? Bloomberg's Head of Iran coverage Golnar Motevalli joins host Stephen Carroll to discuss.

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Move over artificial intelligence, a new technological game-changer is coming. Developers of quantum computers say they will deliver huge advancements in fields from drug development to financial modelling. Some of the world's biggest tech companies, investors and governments are pouring billions into making them a reality. Our reporter Isabella Ward tells us what to expect. Hosted by Stephen Carroll.

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Immigrants have long been part of the economic success story of the United States. Many economists and business leaders credit immigration for filling vacancies across the economy, but Donald Trump and many of his allies accuse immigrants of lowering wages and taking jobs from native-born Americans. He's pledged to crack down on illegal immigration and carry out the biggest deportation plan in US history. But what would that mean for growth, inflation and employment? Bloomberg Senior Editor Derek Wallbank joins host Stephen Carroll to discuss.

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Donald Trump has started his Presidency by signing dozens of executive orders, taking action in areas from energy, to immigration, to withdrawing the United States from the World Health Organization and the Paris climate accord. How powerful are these instruments, and how can they be challenged? Bloomberg White House reporter Hadriana Lowenkron joins host Stephen Carroll to explain.

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Chinese AI startup DeepSeek shot to global fame after the launch of its R1 chatbot, seen as a rival to the likes of ChatGPT. But how disruptive will its apparently cheaper business model be to the global tech industry? Bloomberg's Tom Mackenzie joins us to explain.

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It took just two weeks for Donald Trump to impose the first trade tariffs since returning to the White House. His move to impose levies on China, and threats to Canada and Mexico, have political and business leaders scrambling to rethink complex supply chains and assess the economic impact. But if relations improve, how easy are these measures to unwind? Bloomberg's Trade Tsar Brendan Murray joins host Stephen Carroll to discuss.

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Talks over ending the Russian invasion of Ukraine have begun with a meeting between US and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia. Efforts to secure a ceasefire have accelerated since Donald Trump returned to the White House, and re-established contact with Vladimir Putin. How will Trump negotiate with the Russian President? Our senior writer Stephanie Baker, author of 'Punishing Putin', joins host Stephen Carroll to discuss.

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Environmental, social and governance rules have come under additional pressure since the election of Donald Trump as US President. American businesses have also called for the European Union to roll back its ESG regulations, and France and Germany have indicated they want changes too. But how far will these efforts go? Our Managing Editor for ESG Investing, Tasneem Brogger, joins host Stephen Carroll to discuss.

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President Trump's unconventional policies and high-stakes manoeuvres have shaken up global trade and security, now Wall Street is wondering if the global financial system may be next. The concept has been called the "Mar-a-Lago Accord" and its aim would be to weaken the US dollar to help American exporters. But the idea faces hurdles and pitfalls, so what would be involved in a "Mar-a-Lago Accord"? Our Global Economics Correspondent, Enda Curran, joins host Caroline Hepker to discuss.

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World leaders have been left reeling by the flurry of announcements from Donald Trump since he returned to the White House. The US President has penalised America's allies, made overtures to autocrats, and thrown out international conventions. Markets, too, are increasingly uncertain about what the future holds. Bloomberg's Editor-in-Chief John Micklethwait joins host Stephen Carroll to discuss Donald Trump's approach to international relations.

For more stories like this one go to bloomberg.com/explainers

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A spate of plane accidents, botched landings and near-misses in the US and elsewhere has raised widespread concerns about air safety. While the likelihood of a plane crash remains incredibly low, experts are concerned that a global shortage of air traffic controllers could make flying more dangerous. Our transport reporter Danny Lee joins host Stephen Carroll to discuss.

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The rush into artificial intelligence - spurred by the success of ChatGPT - has propelled a handful of technology companies into market superstardom. Nvidia, SK Hynix, ASML and TSMC have seen their share prices soar as their products lead the market in the chips that power AI. Our tech reporter Mark Bergen joins host Stephen Carroll to discuss the scale of their success, and what could disrupt it.

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Donald Trump's election sparked a frenzy of optimism in the crypto world, but his much-heralded announcement of a strategic Bitcoin reserve left investors disappointed. The biggest digital token slumped further from its record highs. Bloomberg's Executive Editor for Crypto, stacy-marie ishmael joins host Stephen Carroll to explain why.

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US Treasury bonds have long served as a refuge for investors during times of panic. But as President Donald Trump unleashes an assault on global trade, their status as the world’s safe haven is increasingly coming into question. Yields, especially on longer-term debt, have surged on the tariff announcements, raising fears that key foreign buyers could take their money elsewhere, in a form of buyers' strike. Our Managing Editor for FX and Rates, Rachel Evans, joins host Stephen Carroll to discuss.

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The American economy is richer, more innovative, and has expanded at a faster rate than most of the developed world for many years. How will Donald Trump's tariffs affect that trajectory? Bloomberg's head of economics and government Stephanie Flanders joins host Stephen Carroll to discuss.

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The near-daily shifts in US trade policy have plunged markets into turmoil, and made businesses and consumers nervous about spending. What sort of damage does uncertainty do to the economy? And will we eventually get used to it? Co-host of Bloomberg's Odd Lots podcast, Joe Weisenthal, joins Stephen Carroll to discuss.

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