Hope and optimism are surprise guests at Davos

The Sage of Omaha is preparing to step down, handing the reins of Berkshire Hathaway over to Greg Abel. In this Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists debate the challenge of putting an enviable cash pile to work in the shadow of an investing legend’s track record. 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.

The Li clan is facing political hurdles as it tries to offload the docks business to BlackRock for $23 billion. In this Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists explain why China objects, and why it might create bigger problems for inward investment. 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.

Across multiple administrations and both political parties, the United States has steadily sought to contain the rise of the People’s Republic. In this week’s Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists discuss the measurable extent of the break between the global titans. 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.

Stocks and government bonds have steadied following dramatic falls triggered by the US president’s trade war. Yet the policy may yet do lasting damage. In this Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists examine the possible long-term effects on US Treasuries and the dollar. 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.

President Trump’s import-levies bonanza, however it evolves, is arbitrary enough to upend easy assumptions about how the White House, the Federal Reserve and American trade partners can or will proceed. In this week’s Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists gauge the fallout. 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.

The buy-now-pay-later firm is pushing through a still-thin pipeline toward a listing. Despite a high-tech sheen, it’s less tied to the big themes of the moment than recent disappointing offerings. In this week’s Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists debate its prospects. 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.

The transatlantic trustbusting consensus forged by Lina Khan and Margrethe Vestager is already fraying. In this week’s Viewsroom, Breakingviews columnists discuss if it will lead to mergers involving national champions such as GSK and BP, and in turn remedy some economic ills. 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.

After years of setting the global pace, the S&P 500 Index has dropped 9% from its peak while Hong Kong and Europe benchmarks rise. In this week’s Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists discuss whether trade wars and threats to the rule of law portend a durable shift.   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.

The nation known for anti-deficit orthodoxy faces an economic slowdown and US antagonism. Likely Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s response: boost spending by more than 500 bln euros. In this week’s Viewsroom podcast Breakingviews columnists discuss the jolt to the whole continent.  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.

Beijing’s leap in developing silicon smarts, embodied in DeepSeek’s shockingly cheap model, will challenge US attempts to restrict cutting-edge technology. In this week’s Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists debate whether it will destabilize the AI market.