Aimee Donnellan

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.

As once-vocal inflation hawk Kevin Warsh prepares for his first meeting as the central bank’s chair, prices are now rising at a sharp 4% rate. In this week’s Viewsroom, Breakingviews columnists debate how he can square the obvious remedy with President Trump’s rate-cut demands.

In 2025 the region grew 2.1%, far outpacing the UK and EU. Northern ​Ireland’s post-Brexit position within both economic ​blocs should make it highly attractive ⁠to global firms. Yet recent ​anti-immigrant unrest threatens the foreign capital ​that would cement this advantage.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and his counterparts are reluctantly contemplating action to address a yawning €360 bln deficit with the People’s Republic. In this week’s Viewsroom, Breakingviews columnists debate whether the continent can actually form a united front.