The risks of defanging the Federal Reserve

Saudi Arabia’s sovereign fund and private equity firm Silver Lake are pouring vast resources into their $55 bln acquisition of the ‘FC’ videogame developer. In this Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists discuss how the record deal turns received M&A wisdom on its head. Visit the Thomson Reuters Privacy Statement for information on our privacy and data protection practices. You may also visit megaphone.fm/adchoices to opt-out of targeted advertising.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Supreme Court will rule whether Donald Trump can fire Governor Lisa Cook in a test of the president’s powers over the central bank. In this Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists explore the consequences for the US economy and markets if the Fed loses its independence.   Visit the Thomson Reuters Privacy Statement for information on our privacy and data protection practices. You may also visit megaphone.fm/adchoices to opt-out of targeted advertising.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A $100,000 fee for hiring skilled foreign workers sent panic through tech giants like Google and Microsoft, whose own CEOs once used the H-1B program. In this week’s Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists debate the plan’s merits and how it clashes with other economic aims. Visit the Thomson Reuters Privacy Statement for information on our privacy and data protection practices. You may also visit megaphone.fm/adchoices to opt-out of targeted advertising.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anglo American’s $50 bln agreed merger with Teck Resources reignites the fitful quest by big extractors to join forces in the hunt for metal essential to the energy boom. In this week’s Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists debate the likely consequences. Visit the Thomson Reuters Privacy Statement for information on our privacy and data protection practices. You may also visit megaphone.fm/adchoices to opt-out of targeted advertising.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The shock success of GLP-1 treatments for obesity carries massive implications for wealthy societies and manufacturers Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly alike. In this week’s Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists discuss how this would-be jackpot has companies running to keep up. Visit the Thomson Reuters Privacy Statement for information on our privacy and data protection practices. You may also visit megaphone.fm/adchoices to opt-out of targeted advertising. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bleak finances, surging far-right support and a key vote that could topple Prime Minister François Bayrou: long-simmering instability in the No. 2 euro zone economy may boil over. In this week’s Viewsroom, Breakingviews columnists debate what it means for the bloc’s future. Visit the Thomson Reuters Privacy Statement for information on our privacy and data protection practices. You may also visit megaphone.fm/adchoices to opt-out of targeted advertising.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As President Trump prepares to meet Vladimir Putin, an effort to punish Indian purchases of Russian crude complicates a delicate post-war supply balance. In this week’s Viewsroom, Breakingviews columnists discuss how traders view this crucial pincer moment. Visit the Thomson Reuters Privacy Statement for information on our privacy and data protection practices. You may also visit megaphone.fm/adchoices to opt-out of targeted advertising. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Machine learning is already saving office workers from laborious research, but it also could herald the end of professional services’ fee structure. In this Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists debate how lawyers, auditors and other consultants can mitigate the risk. Visit the Thomson Reuters Privacy Statement for information on our privacy and data protection practices. You may also visit megaphone.fm/adchoices to opt-out of targeted advertising.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tokyo wants companies to embrace dealmaking to boost the low-growth economy. In this Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists explain why the $33 bln buyout of Toyota Industries and failed $46 bln bid for Seven & i offer a poor verdict on the official value push. Visit the Thomson Reuters Privacy Statement for information on our privacy and data protection practices. You may also visit megaphone.fm/adchoices to opt-out of targeted advertising.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan and Morgan Stanley all released results in recent weeks. In this Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists explain why, despite looming tariffs and stubborn inflation, these lenders appear to be firing on all cylinders – but also why it may not last. Visit the Thomson Reuters Privacy Statement for information on our privacy and data protection practices. You may also visit megaphone.fm/adchoices to opt-out of targeted advertising.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices