World Business Report
Analysis of the big global business and economic issues, as they affect consumers and investors. Broadcast on weekdays.
How are shipping delays at the Strait of Hormuz impacting global business?
The US-Israel war with Iran brought the crisis in global shipping. We hear how it's affecting seafarers and speak to the Head of the International Maritime Organisation. Also, all provinces in Iraq have experienced a power blackout, which the government has attributed to a technical fault. We get the latest…
Crude warning: Energy experts say Strait of Hormuz closure could force energy prices higher
Oil and gas traders took a breath on Wednesday after Trump pledged help in the Strait of Hormuz, but experts say there are still signs the price of crude could break through the $100 mark as hundreds of tankers are anchored and unused in the vital waterway. Meanwhile, TikTok has…
Trump: US Navy could escort tankers through Hormuz
President Trump says the US Navy will escort tankers through the Strait of Hormuz "if necessary", after shipping traffic almost entirely halted through the key sea passage following Iranian threats to "set fire" to ships. We hear the latest on shipping in the region. We also head to Lebanon as…
Strait talking: Energy markets rocked as conflict intensifies
Natural gas prices spike in Europe after Qatar closes its LNG base. Meanwhile the Strait of Hormuz closure sends crude oil higher and its importance in the shipment of fertiliser ingredients could have major effects on global crop production this year, the boss of Yara says
What the US-Israel war with Iran means for global trade
The conflict has caused the closure of shipping lanes, with up to a fifth of global energy and as much as a third of other commercial shipping impacted. Thousands of flights have also been suspended, with airports as well as refineries the target of Iranian attacks. We get reaction to…
Iran: War in Middle East rattles global markets
Airlines have grounded flights, one of the world’s busiest airports has shut, and oil prices are climbing after strikes in the Middle East. We hear from investors and analysts as they react in real-time to the US-Israel war with Iran. And we find out how the disruption is affecting air…
Paramount–Skydance looks set to buy Warner Bros Discovery
A plot twist in Hollywood has taken place in the last 24 hours, but in the spreadsheets rather than on the screens, as Netflix decides it's not willing to counter Paramount–Skydance's US$111bn bid for Warner Bros Discovery. We discuss what this means for the studio house that brought Bugs Bunny,…
The battle for Warner Brothers takes a dramatic turn
Paramount-Skydance is the only show in town for ownership of Warner Brothers, with a deal valuing the movie maker and media empire at $111bn. But even if it seals the deal with shareholders and boards it still needs to get past regulators on both sides of the Atlantic. We head…
The legal spotlight falls on tech giants Meta and Google
With a landmark court case in California hearing from a woman who says tech giants Meta and YouTube’s owner Google harmed her mental health as a child, we catch up with our correspondent in Los Angeles, Peter Bowes, on the legal proceedings and discuss how damaging and addictive social media…
Another business leader steps down over ties with Jeffery Epstein
The president and chief executive of the World Economic Forum, Borge Brende is stepping down after an investigation into his links with Jeffrey Epstein. The Forum says it found no additional concerns. The price of lithium, a key ingredient in EV batteries, has surged after one of the world’s top…