Bloomberg Daybreak: US Edition

Microsoft Corp. reported a steeper climb in spending than Wall Street expected, fueling anxieties about the high costs of providing AI infrastructure. First-quarter capital expenditures including leases, an indication of data center spending, came in at $34.9 billion, up from $24 billion in the preceding quarter, the company said Wednesday. Microsoft continues “to increase our investments in AI across both capital and talent to meet the massive opportunity ahead,” Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella said in a statement. Total revenue increased 18% to $77.7 billion in the fiscal first quarter, while profit was $3.72 a share. Analysts on average estimated sales of $75.6 billion and per-share earnings of $3.68. The Azure cloud-computing unit posted a 39% revenue gain in the quarter when adjusting for currency fluctuations, beating the Wall Street estimate of 37%. Investor expectations for Microsoft were high heading into earnings, with all but one analyst tracked by Bloomberg rating the stock a buy. Meta Platforms said it expects total expenses to significantly increase in 2026, and will continue to invest at historic levels in artificial intelligence. The company also reported third-quarter net income of $2.71 billion, which included a one-time, non-cash income tax charge of $15.9 billion due to the implementation of the tax bill signed into law in July, Meta said in the statement. Without the accounting charge, Meta said net income would have increased 19% to $18.6 billion.Looking beyond the third-quarter, the company said it expects a “significant reduction” in US federal cash tax payments for 2025 and years to come due to the new law. Meta reported third-quarter sales of $51.2 billion, which beat analysts’ average estimate of $49.6 billion.For analysis of the tech earnings, Bloomberg Businessweek Daily spoke with Bloomberg Intelligence Senior Technology Analyst Anurag Rana and Ivan Feinseth, Research Director and Chief Investment Officer with Tigress Financial Partners.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bloomberg's Tom Keene, Jonathan Ferro and Lisa Abramowicz discuss remarks from Fed Chair Jay Powell following the Federal Reserve's latest policy decision on a special edition of Bloomberg Surveillance. Treasuries extended losses after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said a December interest-rate cut was not set in stone, even after delivering a widely expected quarter-point reduction to prop up the labor market. The central bank reduced its benchmark lending rate to 3.75%-4% in its second straight cut — though two officials dissented. “A further reduction in the policy rate at the December meeting is not a foregone conclusion, far from it,” Powell said in the opening comments of his press conference. In their post-meeting statement, Fed policymakers on Wednesday repeated their assessment that “job gains have slowed” and said “risks to employment rose in recent months.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast:1) President Trump said the US has a “special bond” with South Korea as he addressed a meeting of corporate leaders at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit on Wednesday in Gyeongju. Trump’s visit to the conference comes as he’s looking to work through a series of outstanding issues in his trade deal with South Korea, and prepares for a high-stakes meeting on Thursday with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Meanwhile, Trump said he expects to lower tariffs the US has imposed on Chinese goods over the fentanyl crisis and speak with China’s Xi Jinping about Nvidia Corp.’s flagship Blackwell artificial intelligence chip, as leaders of the world’s biggest economies seek to ease tensions in a meeting on Thursday. Nvidia shares rallied in premarket trading on Wednesday, putting the stock on track to breach $5 trillion in market capitalization, making the semiconductor giant the first public company in history to hit the milestone.2) Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Cuba less than a day after it became the strongest recorded storm to strike Jamaica, where it left hundreds of thousands without power and forced hospitals to evacuate. Melissa crossed the coast in eastern Cuba as an “extremely dangerous” storm, the US National Hurricane Center said in a statement at about 3:10 a.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday. As much as 25 inches (63 centimeters) of rain and storm surges up to 12 feet (3.7 meters) above normal are expected.3) Vice President JD Vance said Tuesday he expects the Trump administration to pay military personnel on Friday, even as the government shutdown shows no end in sight. The administration circumvented Congress and moved about $8 billion in research and development funds to cover the military’s payroll on Oct. 15. But Republicans have cautioned that they could not guarantee paychecks for troops if the shutdown persisted.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast:1) President Trump hailed the US’s alliance with Japan, reaffirming ties with a longstanding partner and praising new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on her plans to ratchet up defense spending as the pair met in Tokyo. Trump also offered optimism that the two sides had overcome their trade disputes. The pair later signed documents on trade and critical minerals intended to formalize some elements of a trade deal brokered under Takaichi’s predecessor, which includes a nebulous pledge for Japan to fund $550 billion in US projects. But documents from the White House on Tuesday suggested that the agreements remained ill-defined. The trade document simply “noted with satisfaction swift and continued efforts by both countries, and confirmed their strong commitment to implementing” their trade deal.2) Jamaican officials urged residents to brace for Hurricane Melissa as it tracked toward the island at Category 5 strength, packing intense rains and winds and threatening to cause widespread destruction. The storm’s winds are likely to cause “total structural failure,” the center said. That’s especially true for higher-elevation areas exposed to the brunt of the storm, where wind speeds could register as much as 30% stronger. If it maintains its strength, Melissa would be the first confirmed Category 5 storm — the highest on the Saffir-Simpson scale — to hit Jamaica.3) The Federal Reserve is expected to deliver a second straight interest-rate cut this week to support a wobbly job market. Any push to extend the easing cycle past October, however, may face renewed opposition from a group of officials who remain anxious over inflation. While the Fed’s dovish faction is, for now, winning the debate and securing lower rates, their rival camp of policymakers worry the cutting will go too far. Fresh data on consumer prices released Friday showed underlying inflation in the US rose in September at its slowest pace in three months. While that reaffirms the Fed’s plan to cut rates next week, the overall flat-lining of progress on cooling prices doesn’t bolster arguments for multiple additional cuts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast:1) Top trade negotiators for the US and China said they came to terms on a range of contentious points, setting the table for leaders Donald Trump and Xi Jinping to finalize a deal and ease trade tensions that have rattled global markets. After two days of talks in Malaysia wrapped up Sunday, a Chinese official said the two sides reached a preliminary consensus on topics including export controls, fentanyl and shipping levies. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, speaking later in an interview with CBS News, said Trump’s threat of 100% tariffs on Chinese goods “is effectively off the table” and he expected the Asian nation to make “substantial” soybean purchases as well as offer a deferral on sweeping rare earth controls.2) President Trump said he didn’t anticipate meeting with Canada “for a while” as he continued to stew over a TV advertisement by the province of Ontario that criticized his tariff regime. Trump in recent days has said he was increasing the tariff on goods from Canada by 10% over the ad, which features excerpts of former US President Ronald Reagan criticizing tariffs. Ontario Premier Doug Ford had said he would stop airing the ad after the weekend, but Trump has expressed frustration that the Canadian leader didn’t move to immediately pull the commercial, which has aired during US broadcasts of the World Series.3) As the US government shutdown stumbles toward the one-month mark, the effects of the standoff between Republicans and Democrats are being felt further away from the Capitol, as flights back up and food aid dwindles. US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that travelers will face more flight delays and cancellations in the coming weeks as the continuing shutdown exacerbates the air-traffic controller staffing crunch.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bloomberg Daybreak Weekend with Host Nathan Hager take a look at some of the stories we'll be tracking in the coming week. In the US – a look ahead to the next Fed meeting and earnings from U.S tech giants. In the UK – a look ahead to European defense earnings. In Asia – a look at top interviews from the APEC Finance Ministers' Meeting in South Korea. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast:1) President Trump is aiming for a quick win in a pivotal Thursday meeting with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, even if the outcome falls short of the sweeping deal he’s teased on issues at the heart of the rivalry between the world’s two largest economies. Ahead of the sit-down, the US president said he wants to extend a pause on higher tariffs on Chinese goods in exchange for Xi resuming American soybean purchases, cracking down on fentanyl and backing off restrictions on rare-earth exports — all while maintaining some trade barriers he sees as essential.2) President Trump said he would immediately halt all trade negotiations with Canada, citing a Canadian advertisement against his signature tariffs plan featuring the voice of former President Ronald Reagan. The ad in question comprises excerpts from an address Reagan gave in 1987 in which he defended the principles of free trade and slammed tariffs as an outdated idea that stifles innovation, drives up prices and hurts US workers. Funded by the government of Ontario, the ad seeks to sow doubt among Republican voters by using one of the party’s most iconic voices. 3) Senate Democrats blocked a Republican measure aimed at paying military troops and some federal workers during the US government shutdown in the latest sign the spending deadlock shows no sign of ending. The vote on Thursday to advance the bill failed on a 54 to 45 vote, with 60 votes needed. Democrats have blocked a temporary spending measure 12 times in the Senate since, arguing that they cannot support it without new healthcare spending attached. Despite the ongoing shutdown, the Bureau of Labor Statistics is set to release the long-delayed September CPI report on Friday at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast:1) Oil rallied after the Trump administration announced sanctions on Russia’s biggest oil producers, rolling out its first major package of financial punishments on President Vladimir Putin’s economy as part of a fresh bid to end the war in Ukraine. The Treasury Department blacklisted state-run oil giant Rosneft PJSC and Lukoil PJSC because of “Russia’s lack of serious commitment to a peace process to end the war in Ukraine,” according to a statement on Wednesday. The sanctions mark a U-turn for Trump, who had announced last week he would meet Putin in the coming weeks and said repeatedly he believed Russia wanted to end the war.2) Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng plans to meet with US officials in Kuala Lumpur from Oct. 24 to 27 for the next round of trade talks, aimed at defusing a standoff between the world’s two largest economies. The meeting will take place in the Malaysian capital to “discuss important issues” in the bilateral trade ties, the Commerce Ministry said in a Thursday statement. He, Beijing’s top trade negotiator, held a call with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent last week ahead of the planned in-person summit.3) Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo sought to cast State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani as a frontrunner unprepared to actually be mayor of the largest US city in the final debate before New York City’s mayoral election. Mamdani, the 34-year-old Queens state lawmaker and democratic socialist, shocked New York City’s establishment when he won the Democratic primary for mayor in June, besting Cuomo by more than 12 points in a race where nearly every poll predicted Cuomo would win. The debate comes as some Republicans and prominent donors are calling upon GOP candidate Curtis Sliwa, founder of the Guardian Angels, to exit the race in order to help improve Cuomo’s odds against Mamdani.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast:1) Netflix shares fell in premarket trading on Wednesday after the streaming-video company reported third-quarter results it said were hurt by a tax dispute with Brazil. The results came in the wake of reports that Netflix and Comcast are among the companies weighing bids for parts of Warner Bros Discovery. Warner's board will evaluate “a broad range” of options, including a planned split-up of the company by mid-2026, an outright sale or separate deals for its studios and streaming or cable-TV units, according to a statement Tuesday. Separately, shares of Texas Instruments fell after the chipmaker gave an outlook that is weaker than expected, indicating that some customers are slowing orders as they navigate mounting trade tensions.2) Anthropic PBC is in discussions with Alphabet Inc.’s Google about a deal that would provide the artificial intelligence company with additional computing power valued in the high tens of billions of dollars, according to people familiar with the matter. The plan, which has not been finalized, involves Google providing cloud computing services to Anthropic, according to the people, who asked not to be named because the information is private. The deal will allow Anthropic to use Google’s tensor processing units, or TPUs — the company’s chips that are custom designed to accelerate machine learning workloads, one of the people said. Google is a previous investor in, and cloud provider for, Anthropic.3) President Trump predicted an upcoming meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, would yield a “good deal” on trade — while also conceding that the highly anticipated talks may not happen. While Trump foresaw the sit-down as being “very successful,” he said the possibility remains that it could fail to materialize. The two leaders are scheduled to meet later this month at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast:1) President Trump signed a landmark pact with visiting Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to boost America’s access to rare earths and other critical minerals, an effort to counter China’s tight grip on the supply chains of key metals. The two governments will jointly invest in a swathe of mines and processing projects in Australia to boost production of commodities used in advanced technologies from electric vehicles to semiconductors and fighter planes. Australia has an $8.5 billion “pipeline that we have ready to go,” Albanese said at a meeting between the two leaders at the White House.2) Small businesses are urging the US Supreme Court to affirm lower court rulings that President Trump's global tariffs amount to a massive illegal tax on American companies. The justices are set to hear arguments on whether Trump legally issued the tariffs under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act, a law that gives the president financial tools to address national security, foreign policy and economic emergencies.3) Senate Majority Leader John Thune says he will wait until President Trump meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the coming weeks before deciding to whether to bring legislation on Russia sanctions to a vote. The bill would give Trump the authority to impose tariffs of up to 500% on imports from countries that buy Russian energy products and are not actively supporting Ukraine. This specifically targets major consumers of Russian energy, such as China and India.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast:1) Israel said it had resumed a truce with Hamas in Gaza after heavy fighting over the weekend, with the sides accusing each other of breaching a deal brokered by President Trump. Around 9:30 p.m. Israel time on Sunday, the Israel Defense Forces said it had “begun renewed enforcement of the ceasefire” and warned it would “respond firmly to any violation.” Israel launched strikes against Hamas in Gaza and suspended aid shipments on Sunday after blaming the Iran-backed militant group for an ambush that killed two soldiers in the southern part of the strip. The IDF said it responded by hitting weapons-storage facilities and other sites. It also said it dismantled several kilometers of underground tunnels.2) President Trump listed rare earths, fentanyl and soybeans as the US’s top issues with China just before the two sides return to the negotiating table and as a fragile trade truce nears expiration. Trump also said the US wanted China “to stop with the fentanyl,” a reference to his accusation that Beijing has failed to curb exports of the drug and its precursor chemicals, contributing to the American opioid crisis. Another key demand was for the world’s No. 2 economy to resume soybean purchases. The three topics were all “very, you know, normal things,” he added.3) Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party will sign a coalition deal with the Japan Innovation Party later Monday, according to the smaller party’s leader, a move that would set up Sanae Takaichi to become the country’s first female prime minister. The LDP and the JIP, also known as Ishin, have broadly reached an agreement and will announce the deal at 6 p.m., Hirofumi Yoshimura, Ishin’s co-leader told reporters, after speaking with Takaichi earlier in the day.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bloomberg Daybreak Weekend with Host Nathan Hager take a look at some of the stories we'll be tracking in the coming week. In the US – a look ahead to earnings from Tesla and Netflix. In the UK – a look ahead to European bank earnings. In Asia – a look ahead to a meeting between President Donald Trump and Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast:1) President Trump said he would hold a second meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin “within two weeks or so” aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. Trump and Putin agreed to meet in Budapest during a two-hour phone call on Thursday. Later, Trump expressed optimism that the summit could result in a ceasefire breakthrough even though an August meeting in Alaska failed to yield one. The conversation took place a day before Trump’s White House meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Friday, who has pressed the US president to sell his country long-range Tomahawk missiles that can strike deeper into Russian territory.2) Zohran Mamdani and Andrew Cuomo sparred over experience and integrity in a heated New York City mayoral debate, while Republican Curtis Sliwa took aim at both rivals. Cuomo attacked Mamdani’s policies as radical, while Mamdani hit back over the former governor’s pandemic handling and harassment allegations. With the presence of President Trump looming large, candidates also clashed over public safety, antisemitism, and political credibility.3) Three weeks into the federal government shutdown, President Trump has avoided direct involvement in talks to end the stalemate, despite Democratic calls for him to lead negotiations. Republican leaders continue to resist linking health care subsidies to any funding deal, while the administration pushes forward with unilateral budget cuts and federal layoffs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast:1) President Trump said he authorized the Central Intelligence Agency to take covert action in Venezuela, citing the flow of drugs and illegal migrants into the US. Trump stated that Venezuelan leaders had "emptied their prisons in to the United States of America" and "we have a lot of drugs coming in from Venezuela".2) A federal judge in California froze the Trump administration's latest round of layoffs, saying the move is likely "illegal and in excess of authority." The judge issued a temporary restraining order to block terminations nationwide that were started last week and ordered the administration to provide a full accounting of all employees laid off and planned future layoffs.3) US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the possibility of extending a pause of import duties on Chinese goods for longer than three months exists if China halts its plan for strict new export controls on rare-earth elements. The US and China have agreed to a series of 90-day truces, with the next deadline looming in November, and economists describe the latest moves by both sides as attempts to stack up bargaining chips ahead of a likely leaders’ meeting.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast:1) President Trump said he might stop trade in cooking oil with China, injecting fresh tensions into the relationship between the world’s two largest economies. Trump on Tuesday cast the potential move as retaliation against Beijing for its refusal to buy American soybeans, which he said “is an Economically Hostile Act” that is purposefully “causing difficulty for our Soybean Farmers.” China remains well supplied with the oilseed, largely thanks to South American purchases. 2) President Trump pledged to release a list of federal programs slated for cuts later this week, the White House’s latest threat to slash the federal bureaucracy and put pressure on Democrats to end the impasse over the shutdown. The threat is the latest effort from the White House to make the shutdown — now in its 14th day — as painful as possible for Democrats. It also marks another end-run by the administration around Congress, which determines how federal funds are spent. The White House has already terminated more than 4,000 federal workers and suspended funding for clean energy and transportation programs in Democratic-run states, escalating the standoff with Democrats.3) Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell signaled the central bank may stop shrinking its balance sheet in the coming months, an important shift necessary to preserve liquidity in overnight funding markets. The Fed chair also indicated labor-market prospects continue to worsen, a message that supports investors’ expectations for another interest-rate cut this month. Fed officials have been winding down the central bank’s balance sheet since 2022 — a process known as quantitative tightening — reversing trillions of dollars of asset purchases designed to stimulate the economy after the pandemic struck. Earlier this year, the Fed slowed the pace by reducing the amount of bond holdings it lets roll off every month.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast:1) China has signaled it’s keeping communication channels open with the US after a series of tit-for-tat moves that intensified a confrontation between the world’s two biggest economies. The Ministry of Commerce on Tuesday reiterated “the door is open” to talks even as it defended China’s decision to implement export curbs on rare earths amid escalating trade tensions in recent weeks. The remarks came just hours after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Beijing had failed to respond to US inquiries over the weekend following China’s announcement of export controls on products containing traces of certain rare earths. It marked China’s first major attempt to exercise long-arm jurisdiction over foreign companies that target the chip industry.2) President Trump used a one-day tour of Israel and Egypt to soak in the praise from fellow leaders and lay out a vision for broader Middle East peace after the success of US-led mediation efforts to end the fighting in Gaza. Yet the nascent ceasefire remains fragile, with many key details left to be worked out. Trump said food and aid has begun to flow into Gaza, which has been devastated by the conflict. “Numerous countries of great wealth” have pledged reconstruction funds, Trump added, though he did not name them. 3) House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is calling Democrats in his chamber back to Washington Tuesday - the 14th day of the government shutdown - despite GOP leadership nixing votes, according to a Democratic lawmaker and two leadership aides. House Republican leaders announced Friday that the chamber will stay out, after originally having been scheduled to be in session. This is the third week in a row Johnson has canceled votes, keeping House lawmakers in their districts amid the government shutdown.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast:1) Hamas freed seven living Israeli hostages from the Gaza Strip on Monday morning, following a US-led deal reached late last week. The Palestinian militant group released them to the International Committee of the Red Cross and they were then passed over to the Israeli military. The rest of the living hostages, 13 in total, are expected to be freed later in the day. Around 10 a.m. Israel time, the Israeli military said the Red Cross is on its way to an additional meeting point in the southern Gaza Strip, where several more hostages will be handed over. The release of the first hostages came just before President Trump’s arrival in Israel for a Middle East trip to celebrate the ceasefire deal clinched last week, also with Egyptian, Qatari, Turkish mediation. Trump has said the agreement should end the devastating two-year conflict in Gaza.2) President Trump’s administration signaled openness Sunday to a deal with China to quell fresh trade tensions while also warning that recent export controls announced by Beijing were a major barrier to talks. Vice President JD Vance called on Beijing to “choose the path of reason” in the latest spiraling trade fight between the world’s two leading economies, claiming that Trump has more leverage if the fight drags on. Trump later posted a statement that hinted at a possible off-ramp for Chinese President Xi Jinping while issuing a veiled threat that a full trade war would wound China.3) President Trump said he is directing the Defense Department to use funds his administration has identified to deliver paychecks to US troops on Oct. 15 despite the ongoing government shutdown. More than a quarter of a million federal employees missed scheduled paychecks this week, with another 2 million expected to go without pay by next week, which would be the third week of the shutdown. Under current law, US troops aren’t guaranteed backpay during a shutdown, unlike civilian employees. The Pentagon’s next military payday, Oct. 15, was shaping up as a key pressure point in the ongoing standoff between Republicans and Democrats over a stopgap spending measure.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bloomberg Daybreak Weekend with Host Nathan Hager take a look at some of the stories we'll be tracking in the coming week. In the US – a look ahead to earnings for U.S banks. In the UK – a look ahead to the annual New Energy Finance summit in London. We also focus on a conversation with Citadel CEO Ken Griffin from Citadel’s securities conference on gold. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast:1) Israel’s cabinet approved a deal that will see Hamas free all remaining hostages held in Gaza in exchange for around 2,000 prisoners, a major step toward ending a two-year war that’s killed tens of thousands of people and destabilized the wider Middle East. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition gave its approval overnight, around a day after negotiators for the warring sides reached an agreement in the Egyptian resort of Sharm El-Sheikh. The deal is based on a plan unveiled by US President Donald Trump late last month and followed days of talks mediated by the Americans, as well as Egypt, Qatar and Turkey.2) Congressional leaders continued to blame the other party for the US government shutdown as President Trump doubled down on his threats to use the stalemate, now entering its tenth day, to make sweeping cuts to Democratic priorities and the federal bureaucracy. There was no sign of progress as government workers and military personnel prepare for missed paychecks and the general public begins to feel the effects of the closure on everything from taxpayer services to air travel. 3) New York Attorney General Letitia James was indicted by a federal grand jury in Virginia, making her the second of President Trump’s perceived political enemies to be criminally charged in two weeks. James was charged with one count of alleged bank fraud and one count of making false statements to a financial institution. The indictment made public on Thursday follows allegations from Trump administration officials that James engaged in mortgage fraud.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast: 1) Israel and Hamas have reached a deal for the release of all hostages held by the militant group in Gaza, a major step toward ending a two-year war that’s devastated the Palestinian territory and triggered multiple conflicts in the Middle East as well as protests across the world. The agreement was reached early on Thursday after several days of indirect negotiations between the warring sides in the Egyptian resort of Sharm El-Sheikh. The ongoing talks were brokered by the US, Egypt, Qatar and Turkey and based on a plan unveiled by President Trump last week. 2) French President Emmanuel Macron said he’ll name a new prime minister by Friday evening, having for the time being avoided the need to call a snap election that would have deepened the political chaos in France. Outgoing Premier Sebastien Lecornu, who was tasked by Macron on Monday to negotiate with the political groups in the National Assembly, said sufficient progress had been made to allow work to begin on forming a new cabinet. 3) China has unveiled broad new curbs on its rare earth exports, as Beijing moves to shore up its trade war leverage ahead of a high-stakes meeting this month between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping. Overseas exporters of items that use even traces of certain rare earths sourced from China will now need an export license, the Ministry of Commerce said in a statement Thursday, citing national security grounds. Certain equipment and engineering technology will also be subject to controls, according to a separate release.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast:1) The Trump administration’s push to deny back pay to federal workers furloughed during the shutdown sets the stage for another round of legal battles over the president’s control of the workforce. The White House in a draft legal opinion Tuesday suggested it may withhold back pay from government employees when the shutdown ends, raising the threat of lost wages for potentially 750,000 civilian workers and stoking a broader clash over how much employees are owed after a shutdown ends. Meantime, spot gold smashed through $4,000 an ounce for the first time, as concerns over the US economy and the government shutdown added fresh momentum to a scorching rally.2) Outgoing French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu expressed optimism that an an accord can be reached to allow the formation of a new government without fully endorsing a new proposal to rethink a controversial pension law as demanded by the Socialists. 3) Teams from the US, Qatar, Israel and other nations are headed to Egypt as part of a final push for a deal with Hamas aimed at ending the two-year war that’s devastated Gaza and destabilized much of the Middle East. A US team that includes US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner will join Qatar Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and other senior officials in Sharm El-Sheikh.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast:1) With the US government shutdown closing in on the one week mark, President Trump showed signs of cracking Monday, sending mixed messages about the state of talks with Democrats on their biggest demand. Trump, who had remained on the sidelines of negotiations for days, on Monday said he was open to negotiating with Democrats over health care subsidies to bring an end to the funding stalemate, at one point suggesting those talks had already begun. The remarks appeared to mark a shift after days of Republicans maintaining they’d only consider a possible extension of Obamacare subsidies after Democrats first passed legislation to fund the government.2) A federal judge declined to quickly issue a temporary order blocking the Trump administration’s plan to deploy National Guard members to Chicago to counter protests against the US immigration crackdown, while urging the government to delay the controversial plan until she rules. US District Judge April Perry on Monday said she could not rule immediately on a request by Illinois for a two-week halt to the deployment, which would include National Guard troops under federal control from Illinois and Texas. She set a Thursday hearing for arguments.3) President Trump is pressing Israel and Hamas to secure a settlement to the two-year conflict that’s devastated Gaza and destabilized the Middle East, with the warring sides starting mediated negotiations. A key sign of progress in the talks, taking place in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh, will be whether Hamas frees all the roughly 20 of its live hostages — plus the remains of those who are dead — in return for Israel releasing about 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Indirect discussions between negotiators about preparing the conditions for that exchange got underway on Monday, AlQahera News reported on its X account, citing unidentified individuals. Egyptian and Qatari mediators are working with both sides to establish an appropriate mechanism.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast:1) French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu resigned Monday just a day after President Emmanuel Macron named a new cabinet, deepening the country’s political crisis. The premier quit less than 24 hours after Macron announced a government that retained most senior members from previous cabinets. That irked opposition parties looking for change, but in a surprising twist, the reappointed interior minister, Bruno Retailleau — who leads the center-right Republicans — also slammed the choice of ministers as failing to “break” with the past.2) President Trump is pressing Israel and Hamas to seal a settlement to the two-year conflict that’s devastated Gaza and destabilized the Middle East, with the warring sides set to begin mediated talks on Monday. A key sign of progress in the negotiations, taking place in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh, will be whether Hamas frees all the roughly 20 of its live hostages — plus the remains of those who are dead — in return for Israel releasing about 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.3) Unions representing hundreds of thousands of federal workers asked a US judge to immediately block any mass firings by the Trump administration during the government shutdown while they press a legal challenge.The emergency request Saturday night to US District Judge Vince Chhabria in San Francisco follows what the unions contend are a series of statements from President Donald Trump and other senior officials signaling that agencies could take action on layoff plans as early as Monday. Kevin Hassett, Trump’s top economic adviser in the White House, said the administration is holding off on layoffs at least until Monday, when a divided Senate is due to vote for the fifth time on a stopgap bill to keep government open through November 21st.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hamas agreed to release the last of the hostages from its 2023 attack on Israel but said the rest of a US peace plan would be subject to negotiation, a stance that offered uncertain hopes for an end to the conflict in Gaza. President Donald Trump responded favorably to the Hamas statement even though the group failed to address other key elements of his 20-point proposal that Israel has also demanded, including that it disarm. He called on Israel to stop its bombing campaign and said discussions were underway on “details to be worked out,” suggesting that he was willing to give Hamas some leeway. “I believe they are ready for a lasting PEACE,” Trump said of Hamas in a social media post. “Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the Hostages out safely and quickly!” In a subsequent video post, Trump thanked the Muslim-majority nations he credited with assisting in the negotiations and pledged that “everybody will be treated fairly” in ongoing talks. “This is a big day,” Trump said. “We’ll see how it all turns out — we have to get the final word down in concrete.” For instant reaction and analysis, Bloomberg Balance of Power host Joe Mathieu speaks with: - Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York- Bloomberg News State Department and Foreign Policy Reporter Eric Martin- Former Deputy Secretary of State Wendy ShermanSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bloomberg Daybreak Weekend with Host Tom Busby take a look at some of the stories we'll be tracking in the coming week. In the US – a look ahead to the impact of lumber and timber tariffs on housing, and President Donald Trump’s Pfizer deal on drugmakers. In the UK – a look ahead to the Nobel Prize decisions. In Asia – a look ahead to the impact of the Golden Week holiday. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast:1) The Senate is expected to hold another vote today on a stopgap spending bill to reopen the government into mid-November. It comes as President Trump threatens to slash jobs. The US government shutdown adds uncertainty for investors seeking signals on the Federal Reserve's monetary-easing path. It will delay Friday's government payroll report, making investors reliant on private data for clues about the economic outlook.2) Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent predicted a “pretty big breakthrough” in the next round of trade talks with China. China has stopped buying US soybeans, with Beijing using the import ban as a bargaining chip in trade talks with the US. The US and China are set to hold talks before the scheduled November 10 expiration of a truce on the highest tariff levels from earlier this year.3) Boeing's 777X is slated to fly commercially for the first time in early 2027, a fresh setback to the US planemaker. The delay could result in potentially billions of dollars in accounting charges, with analysts estimating the non-cash accounting charge could run from $2.5 billion to as much as $4 billion. Boeing executives are set to discuss the extent and cost of the latest schedule slip for the jet when Boeing reports earnings on Oct. 29.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast:1) White House Budget Director Russell Vought is planning to swiftly dismiss federal workers, a sign that Republicans will lean into hardball tactics to pressure Democrats to cave to end a government shutdown. Vought told House lawmakers Wednesday that some federal agencies will move to terminate workers within one to two days, according to people familiar with the remarks, who requested anonymity to discuss a private meeting. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that layoffs would happen within “two days, imminent, very soon” but declined to give any details about what agencies or positions would be targeted. Meantime, the Trump administration is planning to cancel billions of dollars earmarked for hydrogen projects in California and the Pacific Northwest, as well as $18 billion in infrastructure funding for the New York metro region.2) Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago President Austan Goolsbee said a lack of official data while the US government is shut down will make it harder for central bankers to interpret the economy. Goolsbee reiterated concerns about a recent pickup in services inflation, which he said could mean price pressures are persistent in parts of the economy least impacted by tariffs.3) OpenAI has completed a deal to help employees sell shares in the company at a $500 billion valuation, propelling the ChatGPT owner past Elon Musk’s SpaceX to become the world’s largest startup. Current and former OpenAI employees sold about $6.6 billion of stock to investors including Thrive Capital, SoftBank Group Corp., Dragoneer Investment Group, Abu Dhabi’s MGX and T. Rowe Price, a person familiar with the transaction said. That boosted the US company’s price tag well past its previous $300 billion level during a SoftBank-led financing round earlier this year.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast:1) Congress blew past a midnight funding deadline, triggering the US government’s first shutdown in nearly seven years — and the third under President Trump. The White House’s budget office ordered agencies to begin executing their plans for a funding lapse, shuttering the government aside from essential duties, disrupting the jobs of hundreds of thousands of Americans and upending many public services.2) The Congressional Budget Office estimates that about 750,000 employees will be furloughed at a cost per day of $400 million in lost compensation. President Trump has also threatened to use the shutdown to fire federal workers, but agency plans for the lapse in funding didn’t specify any measures for terminations. With key economic reports on hold, traders fear the loss of visibility will leave markets in the dark on the outlook for monetary policy. The immediate reports at risk are Thursday’s weekly jobless claims and the October 3rd release of September’s nonfarm payrolls.3) The White House pulled the nomination of EJ Antoni to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics, throwing the leadership of the critical data agency into further disarray after President Trump fired the former commissioner. A White House official said that the administration looked forward to nominating a new candidate soon. Antoni was slated to appear before a Senate committee for a confirmation hearing for the BLS commissioner role, which is the only political appointee in an agency of roughly 2,000 people.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast:1) Vice President JD Vance said he believes the US government is on track to shut down, seeking to pin the blame on Democrats one day before federal funding is set to lapse. President Trump met with top Democratic and Republican congressional leaders less than 36 hours before an October 1st shutdown deadline. The two sides left no closer to resolving Democrats’ demands to extend health-care subsidies and reverse Medicaid funding cuts included in Trump’s signature tax legislation passed earlier this year.2) Federal agencies are preparing for a possible government shutdown with detailed plans that call for temporary furloughs but not permanent mass firings — even after the White House pressed departments to consider reductions in force as part of their contingency planning. At least eight cabinet departments comprising more than two-thirds of the federal workforce had detailed their shutdown plans as of Monday afternoon. Together they call for more than 400,000 employees to be sent home as nonessential.3) President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have agreed to a 20-point plan designed to end the war in Gaza, though the prospects for peace remain unclear without the direct involvement of Hamas. Trump said he had the support of other leaders from the Middle East and Muslim-majority nations. Still, the proposal — which mandates Hamas have no role in the future of Gaza — must be accepted by the militant group.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast: 1) The top four congressional leaders will meet with President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday, a day before federal funding would expire if the two parties can’t agree on a short-term spending bill. The discussions will be the first between Trump and congressional leaders ahead of the deadline to avoid a shutdown. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and his House counterpart, Hakeem Jeffries, were expected to meet with the president last week but it was canceled by the White House at the last minute. 2) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to hold a crucial White House meeting with US President Donald Trump on Monday amid assertions from Washington that an ambitious plan to end the war in Gaza is nearly complete. The meeting — the fourth between the two allies since Trump took office in January — comes after the US leader shared a 21-point proposal aimed at concluding the Israel-Hamas conflict with other regional heads in New York last week. 3) New York City Mayor Eric Adams bowed out of his struggling reelection campaign Sunday, but the decision may be too late to fundamentally alter the outcome of the November election to replace him. Adams’ decision to withdraw, amid faltering poll numbers and a struggle to raise money, was a long-speculated outcome by donors and sought by others who hoped to boost former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s chances to defeat frontrunner Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist. But political analysts questioned Sunday whether the decision can make a difference with just 37 days until Election Day.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bloomberg Daybreak Weekend with Host Tom Busby take a look at some of the stories we'll be tracking in the coming week. In the US – a look ahead to the U.S jobs report and the Electric vehicle sector. In the UK – a look ahead to the Bloomberg Women, Money, Power conference in London. In Asia – a look ahead to the China PMI data. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast:1) Former FBI Director James Comey has been charged with lying to Congress and obstruction related to testimony he gave in 2020, accelerating President Donald Trump’s push for legal action against his perceived political enemies. The filing of charges capped days of speculation over whether the Justice Department would bring the high-profile case against Comey, who has clashed with the president for years.2) President Trump announces a fresh round of tariffs on pharmaceuticals, heavy trucks and furniture, including a 100% duty on patented drugs unless the producer is building a manufacturing plant in the US. The pharmaceuticals plan, as described by the president, may allow for wide exemptions for companies with presences within the United States.3) The $14 billion price tag proposed for TikTok’s US business values it more like a stuffy old energy or food company than a leading global social media company. The rough estimate, cited by Vice President JD Vance on Thursday, is well below previous projections that scaled closer to $40 billion. Vance’s comments came as President Donald Trump pushed forward a plan for American investors to buy the US operation from Chinese internet firm ByteDance Ltd.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast:1) The White House budget office is telling federal agencies to prepare plans for mass firings during a possible government shutdown. The move would represent a substantial escalation beyond normal shutdown protocols in recent years, under which government workers deemed nonessential in the case of a funding lapse were typically furloughed and eventually brought back when funding is restored — usually with back pay provided. 2) President Trump is scheduled to meet Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the White House, the latest sign of improving ties between the two nations. The meeting will be the first time Trump has hosted Sharif at the White House since the Pakistani leader took his country’s top office last year. It comes as relations between the US and Pakistan have been easing in recent months following years of tensions. 3) Jimmy Kimmel’s return to late-night TV on Tuesday drew 6.26 million viewers, Walt Disney Co.’s ABC network said in an emailed statement, the most ever in the show’s regular time slot. The total is significantly higher than the 1.55 million viewers Jimmy Kimmel Live! has averaged this year, according to Nielsen data. ABC suspended the program on Sept. 17 following comments the host made two nights earlier about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast:1) Jimmy Kimmel returned to TV, saying "it was never my intention to make light of the death of a young man" and addressing controversy over his remarks about the shooting of Charlie Kirk. Kimmel called Kirk's killer "a sick person" and said the willingness of Kirk's widow Erika to forgive the assassin was an "example we should follow." Kimmel's show was reinstated after he personally negotiated his return with Disney CEO Bob Iger and Dana Walden, and he noted that the company "didn't have to" welcome him back on the air.2) President Trump said NATO nations should shoot down Russian aircraft that violated their airspace. The president expressed a sympathetic tone on Ukraine's chances of winning the war, saying he believed Ukraine could reclaim all territory taken by Russia. President Trump criticized Russia, saying it was "fighting aimlessly" and made the country look like "a paper tiger," while the Kremlin pushed back, saying Russia "maintains its resilience and stability."3) Fed Chair Jay Powell said the outlooks for the labor market and inflation face risks, calling it a "challenging situation." Powell stated that "near-term risks to inflation are tilted to the upside and risks to employment to the downside — a challenging situation" and that "two-sided risks mean that there is no risk-free path."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast:1) Jimmy Kimmel Live! will return to the air on Tuesday, ending a suspension Walt Disney Co. imposed following controversial remarks the ABC late-night host made about the assassination of Republican activist Charlie Kirk. Kimmel will address the controversy when he returns to the stage, according to people with knowledge of the matter who asked not to be identified.2) President Trump's call for pregnant women to avoid Tylenol is drawing sharp criticism from researchers who say the advice ignores decades of evidence and could endanger mothers and babies. Researchers say the White House's message misrepresents the science around acetaminophen, with a physician-scientist calling it "astonishing misinformation."3) President Trump is preparing to address the UN General Assembly gathering in New York today for the first time in his second term. Earlier this month, the White House announced it would use this year’s General Assembly gathering to push other countries to adopt more restrictions on asylum. Another topic Trump is sure to broach will be Israel’s war in Gaza, as several nations are planning to recognize a Palestinian state on the first day of the conference, and he is sure to defend his close ally.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast: 1) On Sunday evening, Erika Kirk, the widow of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, spoke at memorial service for her late husband, attended by the president and many prominent conservatives. She said she forgave the man who gunned down her husband, saying “I forgive him because it was what Christ did and it’s what Charlie would do.” President Trump proclaimed Charlie Kirk a “martyr for American freedom” in a memorial ceremony. 2) President Trump signed a proclamation to overhaul the H-1B visa program, requiring a $100,000 fee for applications to curb overuse. The proclamation restricts entry under the H-1B program unless accompanied by the payment, and asserts that abuse of the H-1B pathway has displaced US workers. 3) President Trump suggested that Lachlan Murdoch and his father Rupert Murdoch are involved in the US takeover of TikTok. Under the deal, Americans would hold six of the seven board seats for TikTok, the app’s algorithm would be controlled in the US and Oracle would act as TikTok’s security provider.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Trump's efforts to redefine federal relations with higher education have major implications for how the US funds research. From his 50-year tenure as President of Bard, Leon Botstein brings a broader perspective to what he believes is at stake for the country. He speaks with David Westin on this special bonus edition of the Bloomberg Wall Street Week podcast. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bloomberg Daybreak Weekend with Host Tom Busby take a look at some of the stories we'll be tracking in the coming week. In the US – how The K-Shaped Recession Hasn’t Hurt US Equities...Yet In the UK – Are Private Markets Entering Their Golden Age In Asia – a look at Stephen Miran's Impact on EM and the Dollar See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast:1) The president threatens TV networks that criticize him after Jimmy Kimmel's suspension. President Trump has said US broadcast networks should face scrutiny over their licenses if they're too critical of him, and media executives and academics say companies are "bending to the will" of Trump's administration, making media companies look like state-run outlets.2) The call between President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping may determine the fate of TikTok and potentially ease trade tensions between the two countries. Trump and Xi are due to discuss a framework agreement to shift control of TikTok's US operations from its Chinese parent ByteDance to a consortium of American investors.3) President Trump has asked the US Supreme Court to let him fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook while she fights his attempt to oust her. The Justice Department asked the court to at least temporarily pause a Washington federal judge’s ruling that has allowed Cook to remain in her position for now.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast: 1) Walt Disney Co.’s ABC network is taking Jimmy Kimmel Live! off the air indefinitely amid a backlash to remarks the late-night host made about the killing of Republican activist Charlie Kirk.2) President Donald Trump dined on organic Norfolk chicken at a white-tie banquet Wednesday night hosted by the British royal family. His state visit to the UK now turns to tougher diplomatic talks on trade and foreign policy with Prime Minister Keir Starmer. 3) Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell rallied a deeply divided committee of policymakers behind an interest rate-cut, tuning out heavy political pressure to find middle ground among officials variously worried by a faltering labor market and lingering inflation concerns.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast: 1) The UK has shelved its talks with the US aimed at eliminating tariffs on British steel, in a recognition that giving Donald Trump the honor of a rare second state visit wouldn’t be enough to shake the American president off a key trade stance. 2) Federal Reserve officials are expected to backstop a faltering US labor market by lowering interest rates Wednesday, marking a shift after worries about tariff-induced inflation kept them on hold all year. 3) TikTok’s US operations would be acquired by a consortium that includes Oracle Corp., Andreessen Horowitz and private equity firm Silver Lake Management LLC under a deal President Donald Trump is set to discuss with Chinese President Xi Jinping this week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast: 1) An appeals court blocked the White House from removing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook from her post for now, allowing her to continue working while her lawsuit challenging President Trump’s move to dismiss her proceeds. The court's 2-1 ruling came just hours before the start of the Fed's meeting to vote on interest rates, and President Donald Trump could still ask the Supreme Court to step in.2) President Trump is bringing a $15 billion defamation and libel lawsuit against The New York Times, according to a post on Truth Social. The suit is being brought in Florida, Trump says. The president accuses the publication of becoming a “mouthpiece” for the Democratic Party, citing its endorsement of former presidential candidate Kamala Harris among other concerns.3) The Securities and Exchange Commission is "prioritizing" a proposal to reduce the frequency of corporate earnings reports after President Trump called for an end to quarterly reports. Trump said companies should report on a "Six (6) Month Basis" instead of quarterly, which he claims will save money and allow managers to focus on running their companies. Critics argue that shifting away from quarterly reporting could be a "gigantic step backward" and increase uncertainty and volatility on earnings results.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.