Aimee Donnellan

The likes ​of Nestlé, Reckitt and ⁠Heineken are once ​again talking up ​the continent’s appeal. Its population of 1.5 bln ​is set ​to boom, potentially creating new ‌demand ⁠in big cities. With volumes falling in the West ​and ​budgets ⁠tight, the key is to ​learn from ​previous ⁠mistakes.

As war rages and Donald Trump looms, a recent election featured little mention of the ailing $164 bln drugmaker, once so successful it distorted economic figures. In this week’s Viewsroom, Breakingviews columnists discuss the future of weight loss pills, and Novo’s place in it.

Whether it’s Kraft Heinz weighing a split of its ketchup and hot-dog units or Unilever sealing a $65 bln mayonnaise deal, edible empires are coming apart. In this week’s Viewsroom, Breakingviews columnists debate consumer groups’ sticky spot between ultra-budget and luxe rivals.

In ​a weaker economy, households ⁠tend to ​keep paying internet bills ​but steer clear of brand-name goods. What ​about obesity treatments, ​which can cost $1,000 a ‌month? ⁠The jury is out, but weaker US consumption growth ​alongside ​a ⁠price war seems bad for ​Eli Lilly ​and ⁠Novo Nordisk.

Unilever and Reckitt are down 23% since the Iran war, on ​fears of emerging market ​exposure. Nestlé and P&G held up ⁠better, owing to a ​focus on wealthier regions. Yet all ​face rising food and material prices. They will have to choose between lower ​margins or lower sales.

The world’s largest carmakers descended on the Chinese capital for the industry’s annual shindig. In this Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists debate whether $100-a-barrel oil will jolt demand for electric vehicles, or if economic pain will deter consumers from splurging.

Bumper returns promised by the $3.5 trln non-bank lending industry are giving way to rising defaults and falling income. In this week’s Viewsroom, Breakingviews columnists discuss how old-guard financiers juiced the trade with extra leverage, and the fresh dangers it poses.

Elon Musk’s rocket ‌firm is poised to float with a $1.75 trln valuation. With OpenAI coming, starry-eyed investors ​are likely to focus on mega ​floats. Windscreen fixer Belron’s mix of stable ⁠growth and low AI-disruption risk could ​show that even earthier listings can ​take off.

Elon Musk’s rocket company is preparing for a stock market take-off. In this Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists debate how the Tesla boss explains the stratospheric valuation, and why shareholders might be willing to forgo basic rights to get a slice of the action.

A ​decade on, the German ⁠pharma giant is ​worth less than ​the $62 bln it paid for Roundup's maker. ​Known legal risks ​negated any promised benefits. ‌The ⁠deal created value in one way: it flagged the ​power ​of ⁠disaster modeling and liability ​insurance to avoid ​similar ⁠pitfalls.