Business

Crude oil prices fell around 7 percent on Monday, after Iran said it had launched a missile attack on a US base in Qatar. Investors appeared to take the retaliatory action as being limited, following days of uncertainty over whether Tehran would close the Strait of Hormuz. US President Donald Trump later said that Iran had given the US advance notice of the attack. Earlier, Washington also called on China to pressure Tehran not to close the vital waterway. 

After 18 months of negotiations, Japan’s top steelmaker, Nippon Steel, completed its $14.9 billion acquisition of US Steel. On Thursday, CEO Eiji Hashimoto confirmed that the company granted the US government an unusual "golden share", giving it more say in strategic issues. Also in this edition, the latest data showing France's economy is lagging behind its European neighbours and potentially the biggest sale in US sports team history.

The US Federal Reserve has kept its benchmark interest rate at the current range of 4.25 percent to 4.50 percent as it expects slower growth, higher inflation and slightly higher unemployment by the end of the year than what it previously forecast. The move was widely expected, including by Donald Trump, who nonetheless insulted Fed Chairman Jerome Powell again. Plus, Nippon Steel has completed its takeover of US Steel after agreeing to let the US government have significant control in business decisions. 

Crude oil markets continued to hover around the $75 a barrel mark this Wednesday, sustained by fears that the US could get directly involved in the conflict between Israel and Iran. The possibility that Iran could seek to close the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20 percent of the world's crude production transits, is also a source of concern. Also in this edition: French authorities recall Citroen cars equipped with defective airbags after the death of a woman in a car accident on Saturday.

Luca de Meo is leaving Renault and the automobile industry after five years at the helm of the company. He will take on the role of CEO at luxury group Kering, which is struggling to revive its flagship brand Gucci. Kering's shares rose 12 percent on the news, while Renault's sank more than 8 percent. But first, global oil prices have come down after soaring on Friday as investors continue to monitor the Israel-Iran war closely. 

Fresh analysis from LinkedIn shows the rate of women hired into leadership positions has slowed for the third year in a row, leaving the hiring rate back where it was in 2020. The data shows women are being shut out of senior positions, holding less than a third of top roles despite making up almost half of the global workforce. Sue Duke, LinkedIn's Global VP of Public Policy, discusses some of the solutions that would help reverse this decline.

In this edition, FRANCE 24's Charles Pellegrin speaks with Benjamin Netter, the co-founder of Riot. The French company provides real-time cybersecurity for over 1.5 million employees around the world and has raised $45 million since it was launched in 2020. Netter provides insights on the French tech ecosystem, the magnitude of cybersecurity threats in the age of artificial intelligence, and how AI can also be used to increase protection.

Vivatech 2025, billed as Europe's largest tech and startup event, kicked off this Wednesday in Paris. Some 14,000 startups are showcasing their innovations, hoping to attract the attention of investors in a difficult context. FRANCE 24's Charles Pellegrin speaks with Jad Shimaly, EY Global Managing Partner, about how trade uncertainty is weighing on the tech sector, Europe's quest for tech sovereignty, and how EY is advising businesses to integrate artificial intelligence.

The European Union has proposed a new round of sanctions against Russia, which include a ban on the use of the Nord Stream underwater pipelines between Russia and Germany and the addition of 77 more vessels to the blacklist of the so-called "shadow fleet" of tankers carrying Russian oil. Plus, Eurostar announces a €2 billion expansion plan that includes new direct trains from London to Frankfurt and Geneva. 

Delegations from Washington and Beijing are in London this Tuesday for a second day of trade talks, with the Americans expected to ease export restrictions on microchips in exchange for China releasing more rare earth minerals supply. Also in this edition: Canada looks to boost its defence spending in Europe. Plus, Apple's AI offerings at its 2025 Worldwide Developers Conference underwhelm analysts.