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Author: FRANCE 24 English

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A daily update on the latest business and economic news. Live from Monday to Thursday at 9:15am and 6:45pm Paris time.

241 Episodes
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Israeli airstrikes have hit two petrochemical plants in Iran's South Pars gas field complex.  It is the second time Israel has targeted the key energy complex since the war started.  The previous attack, on March 18, triggered retaliatory strikes by Iran on energy infrastructure across the region. We look at why the gas field is so important for Iran and the world. Plus, Pakistan has offered public transport to people to cushion the impact of the Middle Eastern energy crisis. 
As crude prices hover around the $110 per barrel mark on Monday morning, consumers worldwide are feeling the impact of the war in Iran and the closure of the Hormuz Strait when they head to the petrol pump. In China, where more than half of new car sales are for electric vehicles, that impact may be less pronounced, as France 24’s Bryan Quinn explains in his report. Also in this edition, "Super Mario Galaxy Movie" has achieved the best opening release of the year so far.
It has been a year since US President Donald Trump introduced sweeping new tariffs, reshaping the global trade landscape. After 12 months of upheaval and uncertainty, what is left of the so-called “Liberation Day” duties? Also in the show, soaring oil prices are driving a surge in car-pooling services in France.
Oil prices rose and stocks fell on Wednesday following US President Donald Trump’s speech in which he warned he would hit Iran “extremely hard” over the next two to three weeks. Meanwhile, Iran has reportedly begun collecting tolls from ships seeking safe passage through the Hormuz Strait. We’ll take a closer look at how this process is unfolding and whether it could be formalised. Also in this edition, SpaceX has filed for what could become the world’s largest ever Initial Public Offering.
The average price of regular gasoline in the United States has topped $4 a gallon for the first time since 2022, as the war in Iran continues to disrupt global energy supplies. Meanwhile, inflation in the eurozone rose to 2.5% in March, surpassing the European Central Bank’s target amid rising energy costs. And in Egypt, shops and restaurants are being forced to close early under government-imposed energy-saving measures introduced in response to surging fuel prices.
Oil prices searched for direction on Tuesday amid conflicting events related to the Iran war. While US President Donald Trump's threats that the US would obliterate Iranian energy infrastructure if the Strait of Hormuz remained closed led to an increase in prices, a later report saying Trump is seeking an end to the war brought them down. Also in this edition: inflation in France ticks up because of higher energy prices and Australia threatens legal action against social media giants.
Global oil prices have continued to surge after Yemen's Houthi rebels entered the Middle East war, launching attacks on Israeli targets. The Iran-allied militants had previously attacked commercial ships passing through Bab-el-Mandeb, a maritime chokepoint between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, during Israel's war with Hamas. The weekend events have stoked fears of wider disruption to the global energy and goods trade as the strait is crucial for shipping between Europe and Asia via the Suez Canal. 
Oil surged over $115 a barrel this Monday as the war in Iran entered its fifth week. Houthi strikes on Israel have raised concerns that shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb strait could be disrupted, adding to the supply pressure already created by the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Also in this edition, we see how the conflict in the Middle East is affecting a wide range of businesses, including used car dealers in Japan and South Korea.
Concern that the Iran war could plunge the world into stagflation is rising as hostilities in the Middle East continue with no end in sight. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)'s chief economist Beata Javorcik tells FRANCE 24's Yuka Royer that while the world is not yet seeing high stagflation risks, everything depends on how long the conflict will last. Ongoing high energy prices will lead to higher inflation, which will in turn hurt growth. 
Elon Musk's profitable rocket and satellite internet company SpaceX is reportedly preparing to raise $75 billion on public equity markets as its subsidiary xAI burns cash. But first: a pair of US court verdicts against social media giants could signal the sector's Big Tobacco moment, and France's finance minister convenes G7 officials to address the economic fallout from the Iran war. 
France's Finance Minister Roland Lescure revealed on Wednesday that between 30 and 40 per cent of Gulf refining capacity has been damaged or destroyed by Iran's retaliatory strikes, leaving a shortage of 11 million barrels a day on global oil markets. Lescure warned it could take up to three years to restore damaged facilities, and several months to restart those that were urgently shut down. Meanwhile, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has travelled to Algeria for emergency energy talks, seeking to secure increased gas deliveries to Italy as the country scrambles to replace lost LNG supplies from Qatar. With fossil fuel supplies under severe strain, both the UK and Germany signalled on Wednesday that the energy crisis is accelerating their green transitions. This comes as European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde assured the continent that the ECB has several options for dealing with the inflation shock triggered by the US-Israeli war on Iran, and vowed that policymakers would not be "paralysed by hesitation".
The energy crisis over the Iran war has left some countries glad they've added more renewables, while others are doubling down on fossil fuels. But first: oil prices fall on hopes for de-escalation in the Middle East, while suspicions swirl over potential insider trading on Trump administration policies.
Oil prices rose again on Tuesday, a day after a sharp decline, amid confusion over which way the Iran war is going. Brent crude settled well above $100 a barrel. Meanwhile, rising energy costs stemming from the conflict are causing the cost of plastic packaging to skyrocket, which in turn will make everything on supermarket shelves more expensive. But first: the EU and Australia have sealed a landmark free trade agreement that will eliminate tariffs on most goods. 
The EU and Australia have signed a sweeping free trade agreement that will eliminate tariffs on nearly all trade between them as global economies seek to hedge against chaotic US tariff policies. Also in this edition: crude oil prices rise again as traders remain sceptical of signals that Washington is trying to de-escalate its war with Iran.  
Global crude oil prices fell about 10 percent and Wall Street stocks rallied after Donald Trump said he was holding off military strikes on Iran's power plants. The US president made the announcement following what he called "constructive talks" with Tehran, despite Iran denying it was negotiating a deal. Meanwhile, France is looking at the possibility of increasing the country's refining capacity to cushion the impact of higher petrol prices on consumers, but is stopping short of cutting fuel taxes. 
Natural gas prices soared as attacks intensified on energy infrastructure in the Middle East. The Ras Laffan plant in Qatar has sustained "significant damage", according to its operators, which could take years to fully repair. That will have a significant impact on global supplies, because the facility produces around a fifth of the world's LNG (liquefied natural gas). Also in the show: the World Trade Organization warns a trade slowdown could lead to mounting food insecurity.  
Strikes on the natural gas production facilities of Iran and Qatar have sent energy prices soaring, with central bankers around the world struggling to set monetary policy amid a highly uncertain inflationary outlook. We take a closer look. Also in this edition: the French shipbuilding industry welcomes the start of construction of the country's next nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.
The Trump administration is taking steps to curb rising energy costs, as it continues to wage war in the Middle East. The US is easing sanctions on Venezuela, and suspending a century-old shipping law, in an effort to get more oil supplies into the global market. Meanwhile, oil prices continue to rise, with crude topping $109 per barrel, as Gulf energy infrastructure is targeted by strikes. Also in the show: the UN's maritime agency seeks safe passage for sailors trapped by the conflict. 
The long-awaited return to the stage of K-pop sensation BTS is set to boost South Korea's tourism and consumer economy. Our regional correspondents report. But first: the war in Iran upends the spring travel season for airlines and passengers alike, and investors await the latest rate call from the US Federal Reserve.
Two Indian-flagged tankers together carrying over 92,000 metric tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas have arrived at ports in Gujarat state after safely passing through the Strait of Hormuz.  New Delhi has been negotiating with Iran, but the government denies discussing the possible release of Iranian tankers it seized in February as part of the bargain. Meanwhile, global crude prices jumped again amid new Iranian attacks on the UAE. 
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