Bloomberg Businessweek

The people, companies and trends shaping the global economy. Watch Carol and Tim LIVE every day on YouTube: http://bit.ly/3vTiACF. Nvidia Corp., the world’s most valuable company, gave another bullish quarterly revenue forecast, signaling that the massive build-out of AI computing remains on track. Fiscal first-quarter sales will be about $78 billion, the chipmaker said in a statement Wednesday. That compares with an average Wall Street estimate of $72.8 billion, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. “Our customers are racing to invest in AI compute — the factories powering the AI industrial revolution and their future growth,” Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang said in the statement. The outlook helped soothe concerns about a bubble in AI investments. Huang has repeatedly downplayed fears that the run-up in spending on artificial intelligence hardware isn’t sustainable. He argues that it will take years to replace the world’s installed base of older computers with machines that offer a leap forward in productivity. But some investors had grown weary of that optimism and traded out of stocks like Nvidia. Wednesday’s report provides some evidence that near-term worries may be overblown. Today's show features: See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shares of MercadoLibre fell after fourth-quarter net income missed analysts’ estimates as the company continued to invest heavily in its main business lines. MercadoLibre posted $559 million in net income, below the average forecast for $596 million, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. However, the company posted a 45% year-on-year increase in net revenue to $8.8 billion, beating consensus analyst estimates of $8.5 billion, as customers took advantage of free shipping perks in Brazil and piled into MercadoLibre’s credit offerings. That marks its 28th consecutive quarter of annual growth above 30%. Martin de los Santos, the CFO of South America's largest company, discusses quarterly earnings and the e-commerce giant's continued efforts to scale its fintech platform, Mercado Pago. Martin speaks with Carol Massar and Tim Stenovec on Bloomberg Businessweek Daily. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Jel Sert Company is a family-owned business that has been at the forefront of innovation in the food and beverage industry since 1926. Jel Sert's products include dessert mixes, drink mixes, and freezer bars, and are made exclusively in West Chicago, Illinois. Ken Wegner is President of The Jel Sert Company. The grandson of Jel Sert founders Charles and Lillian Wegner, Ken grew up in the business and has worked at the company since 1985, helping steward beloved brands while expanding Jel Sert’s community impact, and growing its workforce to more than 1,400 employees. He discusses the firm's recent expansion within West Chicago, as well as how real-time searches and social data from platforms like TikTok are guiding new flavor development and brand partnerships for Jel Sert. Ken speaks with Carol Massar and Tim Stenovec on Bloomberg Businessweek Daily. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Donald Trump delivered the longest State of the Union address of the television age Tuesday, declaring “a turnaround for the ages” as he tried to sell Americans on his economic program ahead of crucial midterm elections later this year. The speech had all the ceremony, confrontation and chaos that have come to define the event in an era of narrow congressional majorities and partisan polarization. Democratic Representative Al Green was ejected from the chamber for disrupting the speech. Trump invited the gold-medal-winning men’s Olympic hockey team into the gallery amid chants of “USA! USA! USA!” He awarded several medals honoring veterans and active-duty service members. And in more than 1 hour 47 minutes, the longest State of the Union in history, the president delivered a rally-like speech punctuated less by policy proposals than by political attacks. For instant reaction and analysis, Bloomberg Balance of Power hosts Joe Mathieu and Kailey Leinz speak with: See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The people, companies and trends shaping the global economy. Watch Carol and Tim LIVE every day on YouTube: http://bit.ly/3vTiACF. Activist investor Boaz Weinstein is stepping up his warnings on private credit, saying the turmoil surrounding Blue Owl Capital’s funds is exposing deeper cracks in the $1.8 trillion industry. “All you need is the snowball to start going down the hill and it started. Blue Owl is right in the middle of that,” the Saba Capital Management founder said Tuesday at the iConnections Global Alts conference in Miami Beach, Florida. “I think we are in the super-early innings of the wheels coming off the car.” The comment was the latest salvo by Weinstein against the private credit industry, which is reeling from worries about overspending on artificial intelligence and lending standards after Blue Owl restricted withdrawals from one of its funds. Saba Capital, alongside Cox Capital Partners, has announced cash tenders for stakes in three funds managed by Blue Owl Capital at steep discounts to their stated value, after the alternative investment firm restricted redemptions in one vehicle and began selling loans to raise cash for investors. The offer price is expected to be 20%-35% below net asset value and aims to give a liquidity solution to retail investors wanting to exit positions that have been harder to redeem as withdrawals surged across the sector. During the panel, Weinstein warned about market dislocations, where some credit assets are currently trading at historic highs while related equity and fund structures are at massive discounts. He added that he is looking to launch a fund to capitalize on an expected wave of opportunities, particularly around the Blue Owl situation and similar semi-liquid products facing redemption pressures. Saba and Cox sent notices to buy Blue Owl Capital Corporation II shares on Feb. 17. They plan to make similar offers for Blue Owl Technology Income Corp. and Blue Owl Credit Income Corp., which are also business development companies. Blue Owl’s shares have plunged around 50% in the past year, even as the firm’s revenue continued to climb in that period. Others have sounded warnings as well in recent days. JPMorgan Chase and Co. Chief Executive Officer Jamie Dimon on Monday drew parallels between the present day and the era leading up to the 2008 global financial crises, when the scramble to make loans ended disastrously. Today's show features: See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tom Freston is a cofounder of MTV and the former CEO of Viacom, where he oversaw Paramount Pictures. After launching a successful clothing export company out of Afghanistan and India, Freston transitioned into the media landscape, helping found MTV and bringing it to international fame in more than 150 countries. Before his Viacom roles, he ran MTV Networks for seventeen years, overseeing Nickelodeon, VH1, Comedy Central, and other legendary networks. In addition to currently serving as the Principal of consulting and investment firm Firefly3, Freston also recently released his memoir, “Unplugged Adventures from MTV to Timbuktu,” which details some of his more unique experiences as he rose through the ranks of the entertainment industry. Tom discusses his unparalleled career as well as some of the pressing issues in the media business today, including the ongoing battle between Netflix and Paramount Skydance over control of Warner Bros. Discovery. Tom speaks with Carol Massar and Tim Stenovec on Bloomberg Businessweek Daily. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The people, companies and trends shaping the global economy. Watch Carol and Tim LIVE every day on YouTube: http://bit.ly/3vTiACF. A European Union assessment found that President Donald Trump’s new tariff policy will increase levies on some of the bloc’s exports, including cheese and some agricultural products, above the level permitted in their trade agreement. After the US Supreme Court struck down Trump’s use of an emergency-powers law to impose his so-called reciprocal tariffs around the world, he announced a new 10% global levy, which he then threatened to increase to 15%. The European Commission, which handles trade matters for the bloc, told lawmakers Monday that the new global tariff will be added to levies that are already in place, according to Bernd Lange, chair of the European Parliament’s trade committee. The new cumulative rate means some goods would be above the 15% ceiling the EU and US agreed to in their trade deal. Under Trump’s new tariff program, some products including butter, plastics, textiles and chemicals would have levies above that 15% ceiling, according to people familiar with the commission’s assessment. The new global tariffs can stay in place for as many as 150 days.Commission spokesman Olof Gill declined to comment on the assessment. The EU-US trade deal — struck last summer between Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen — would impose a 15% tariff rate on most EU exports to the US while removing tariffs on many American goods heading into the bloc. The US would also continue to impose a 50% tariff on European steel and aluminum imports. The bloc agreed to the lopsided deal in the hopes of avoiding a full-blown trade war with Washington and retaining US security backing, particularly with regards to Ukraine. European Parliament suspended legislative work on approving the EU-US accord on Monday, requesting clarity on Trump’s new trade policy. Today's show features: See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gen Alpha, the cohort born from 2010 to 2024, has been subject to harsh critiques, including being addicted to phones, lacking self-discipline and social skills, and being unable to read or spell. Despite these criticisms, Gen Alphas have strengths such as teamwork, empathy, honesty, and creativity, and are highly tuned into world events and global issues due to their access to global platforms and networks. Bloomberg Businessweek Contributing Writer Stacey Vanek Smith discusses how Gen Alphas are already showing significant spending power and influence over adult purchasing decisions, with many having a strong sense of self-expression and a desire for luxury products, and are expected to play a major role in shaping the future of work and technology. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Featuring some of our favorite conversations of the week from our daily radio show “Bloomberg Businessweek Daily.” Hosted by Carol Massar and Tim Stenovec Hear the show live at 2PM ET on WBBR 1130 AM New York, Bloomberg 92.9 FM Boston, WDCH 99.1 FM in Washington D.C. Metro, Sirius/XM channel 121, on the Bloomberg Business App, Radio.com, the iHeartRadio app and at Bloomberg.com/audio. You can also watch Bloomberg Businessweek on YouTube - just search for Bloomberg Global News. Like us at Bloomberg Radio on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @carolmassar @timsteno and @BW See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The people, companies and trends shaping the global economy. Watch Carol and Tim LIVE every day on YouTube: http://bit.ly/3vTiACF. The US Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump’s sweeping global tariffs, undercutting his signature economic policy and delivering his biggest legal defeat since he returned to the White House. Voting 6-3, the court said Trump exceeded his authority by invoking a federal emergency-powers law to impose his “reciprocal” tariffs across the globe as well as targeted import taxes the administration says address fentanyl trafficking. The justices didn’t address the extent to which importers are entitled to refunds, leaving it to a lower court to sort out those issues. If fully allowed, refunds could total as much as $170 billion — more than half the total revenue Trump’s tariffs have brought in. Trump said at a press conference that he will reimpose some tariffs using alternative legal tools. The fall-back options tend to be either more cumbersome or more limited than the wide-ranging powers Trump asserted under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Stocks rose on news of the decision given investors previously fretted tariffs would hurt the outlook for economic growth and company earnings. Treasuries extended declines with yields rising broadly and the rate on the benchmark 10-year note climbing to 4.10% as investors priced in the likelihood of lower tax revenues. A Bloomberg gauge of the dollar fell as much as 0.2% before erasing the drop. Today's show features: See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump’s sweeping global tariffs, undercutting his signature economic policy and delivering his biggest legal defeat since he returned to the White House. Voting 6-3, the court said Trump exceeded his authority by invoking a federal emergency-powers law to impose his “reciprocal” tariffs across the globe as well as targeted import taxes the administration says address fentanyl trafficking. The justices didn’t address the extent to which importers are entitled to refunds, leaving it to a lower court to sort out those issues. If fully allowed, refunds could total as much as $170 billion - more than half the total revenue Trump’s tariffs have brought in. For instant reaction and analysis, Bloomberg Intelligence co-hosts Paul Sweeney and Scarlet Fu, o speak with: - Bloomberg Washington correspondent Tyler Kendall - Bloomberg Legal Analyst and host of Bloomberg Law June Grasso - Henrietta Treyz, Managing Partner and Director of Economic Policy at Veda Partners - Dave Townsend, Partner with Dorsey & Whitney See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For a few brief, shining moments, the dream of Milton Friedman must have seemed closer to reality in corporate America than ever before. Donald Trump had been reelected president, and the tax cuts and regulatory loosening he’d promised were on the horizon. Whatever leverage ordinary workers had managed to scrape together in the years following the Covid-19 pandemic had mostly been quashed, and surely the incoming administration would take care of what remained. Gone, too, were the days when executives would have to evince corporate disapproval of racism or sexism or homophobia if they didn’t feel like it, as many of them had been goaded into doing during #MeToo or the Black Lives Matter movement. They could get out of talking about politics—which is not quite the same as getting out of politics, period—and get back to maximizing shareholder value however they pleased.. Bloomberg Businessweek Senior Reporter Amanda Mull discusses how corporations have largely avoided criticizing Trump, with some leaders only speaking out after extreme circumstances, such as the killing of a Minnesota man by CBP agents, and even then their statements have been muted and avoided direct condemnation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The people, companies and trends shaping the global economy. Watch Carol and Tim LIVE every day on YouTube: http://bit.ly/3vTiACF. At least one structured note tied to Blue Owl Capital Inc. is being quoted at just 47 cents on the dollar after the asset manager restricted withdrawals from one of its retail-focused private funds. The security, which was issued by a subsidiary of Citigroup Inc., is due later this year. Another 2028 note that was offered by a unit of JPMorgan Chase & Co. is quoted at about 68 cents, while a Bank of Nova Scotia instrument partly tied to Blue Owl was at 87 cents, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Structured notes are bonds with embedded derivatives, giving holders exposure to a number of assets, from stock prices to currencies and interest rates. There’s generally no secondary market for those bonds, with prices only coming from the banks that arranged them. Blue Owl’s stock fell as much as 9.4% in New York on Thursday. The notes were already quoted below face value prior to the announcement about the withdrawal restrictions.The depressed prices underscore the pressure on Blue Owl, whose stock has already fallen by about a quarter this year. The plan to limit withdrawals signaled a reversal from a previous arrangement to resume redemptions this quarter. Today's show features: See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jeff Vaughn, a former CBS anchor, says a 2022 billboard convinced him that being White and male was becoming a liability, and he sued CBS in 2024 after being fired in 2023. The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is urging White men to come forward with complaints about their treatment by employers looking to diversify their workforces, with EEOC Chair Andrea Lucas saying that anti-discrimination laws apply equally to everyone. Jeff Green, Bloomberg News Managing Diversity Reporter, writes how white men who sue their employers over perceived discrimination may face career damage, with experts saying that bringing a lawsuit can make it difficult to find a new job, as potential employers can discover the lawsuit with a basic Google search. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The people, companies and trends shaping the global economy. Watch Carol and Tim LIVE every day on YouTube: http://bit.ly/3vTiACF. Federal Reserve officials signaled renewed worries over inflation with “several” policymakers suggesting the central bank may need to raise interest rates if inflation stays above their goal. “Several participants indicated that they would have supported a two-sided description of the committee’s future interest-rate decisions, reflecting the possibility that upward adjustments to the target range for the federal funds rate could be appropriate if inflation remains at above-target levels,” a record of the central bank’s January meeting showed. Minutes of the Federal Open Market Committee’s Jan. 27-28 meeting released Wednesday also revealed that a “vast majority of participants judged that downside risks to employment had moderated in recent months while the risk of more persistent inflation remained.” The FOMC voted 10-2 at the meeting to hold the benchmark federal funds rate in a range of 3.5%-3.75%. Governors Christopher Waller and Stephen Miran dissented in favor of a quarter-point reduction. Officials dropped language pointing to increased downside risks to employment that had appeared in the three previous statements. The minutes further signaled that one group of policymakers was embracing a view less open to additional rate cuts, at least in the near term. Today's show features: See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Marvina S. Robinson is the Founder & CEO of B. Stuyvesant Champagne. Founded in 2020, B. Stuyvesant Champagne is a luxury, woman-owned Champagne house produced and bottled in Épernay, France. The brand develops its cuvées in partnership within the Champagne region, focusing on small-production wines crafted according to traditional méthode champenoise standards. Beyond the bottle, the company operates a Brooklyn tasting room and curates elevated Champagne experiences designed to make luxury Champagne more accessible while honoring the heritage of the region. B. Stuyvesant Champagne continues to grow through experiential activations, disciplined brand expansion and a focus on long-term value creation within the global luxury beverage market. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The people, companies and trends shaping the global economy. Watch Carol and Tim LIVE every day on YouTube: http://bit.ly/3vTiACF. Warner Bros Discovery Inc. has agreed to reopen negotiations with rival Hollywood studio Paramount Skydance Corp. after the suitor proposed raising its bid and sweetened other terms of its offer, setting the stage for a renewed showdown with Netflix. Netflix, which Warner Bros. still described as its preferred bidder, has granted the board seven days to discuss Paramount’s most recent proposal, according to a statement Tuesday. The decision came after a Paramount banker told a Warner Bros. board member that Paramount would offer at least $31 a share, or $1 a share higher than its previous offer, if the company agreed to reopen talks. Warner Bros. now wants to see that, and other aspects of Paramount’s new bid, in writing. Warner Bros. said the board still unanimously recommends shareholders vote in favor of its binding agreement to sell its namesake studios and HBO Max streaming business to Netflix for $27.75 a share, or $72 billion. Paramount’s all-cash $77.9 billion bid, which is backed by billionaire Larry Ellison, is for the entirety of Warner Bros., including its cable TV channels such as CNN and TNT that are otherwise planned to be spun off under a deal with Netflix. Warner Bros. has scheduled a shareholder vote on the Netflix deal for March 20. The decision to reengage with Paramount, which confirms Bloomberg’s reporting Sunday, adds another twist in the long drawn-out saga over control of one of Hollywood’s most iconic properties. The fight for Warner Bros., the century-old studio behind films from Casablanca to Batman, and hit TV series like Friends, is one of the biggest media deals in years and has the power to reshape the entertainment industry. Today's show features: See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brad Finkel founded Hoboken Farms in 1992. His family has had deep roots in Hoboken dating back to around 1895. As a youngster, whenever Brad visited friends, he was always asked to bring fresh bread, mozzarella, and pastas from Hoboken's local shops. Soon, neighbors and ex-Hobokenites who missed these local delicacies began requesting deliveries as well. Brad saw an opportunity and started a small business to meet this demand. Hoboken Farms, once a part-time endeavor, became Brad's full-time obsession. As his community grew to encompass around 800 markets annually, so did his commitment to providing nourishment and inspiration through food and family. Brad details his growing line of farm market products and how a critical new investment is helping Hoboken Farms continue its evolution into a beloved supermarket brand. Brad speaks with Carol Massar and Tim Stenovec on Bloomberg Businessweek Daily. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s an open secret that the Chinese government has engaged in a global campaign to acquire intellectual property from foreign rivals. At the center of that campaign is the Ministry of State Security, China’s elusive intelligence agency. The US has apprehended hundreds of people accused of giving information to the MSS, but the agency’s inner workings have been a mystery – until now. The Sixth Bureau from Bloomberg News follows an MSS intelligence officer whose mission was to acquire the crown jewels of American aerospace companies. With aliases, blackmail and the occasional break-in, he targeted corporate giants. That is, until his sloppiness – and a cunning FBI sting – led to a stunning reversal: Xu Yanjun became the first Chinese intelligence officer ever convicted on American soil. The Sixth Bureau is the story of superpowers, their secrets and how one Chinese spy got caught. Listen to episodes 1 and 2 now on Bloomberg's Big Take podcast. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Europe’s fate is intertwined with the US while faulting the continent for what he said was a drift away from their shared Western values. The double-edged message offered some reassurance to allied leaders gathered at the Munich Security Conference but did little to temper their push for more independence from Washington. “We want Europe to prosper because we’re interconnected in so many different ways, and because our alliance is so critical,” Rubio told Bloomberg News Editor-in-Chief John Micklethwait on the sidelines of the conference on Saturday. “But it has to be an alliance of allies that are capable and willing to fight for who they are and what’s important.” “What is it that binds us together? Ultimately, it’s the fact that we are both heirs to the same civilization, and it’s a great civilization,” he said. “It’s one we should be proud of.” Rubio’s comments elaborated on a speech he delivered to the event, Europe’s premier annual security gathering, earlier Saturday morning. The speech was the most anticipated of the three-day conference, with fellow leaders eager to hear if he would double down on the contemptuous tone voiced a year earlier by Vice President JD Vance at the same venue. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.