People & Profit

The number of homes sold in France last year fell by 5 percent, but property consultant Adrian Leeds has seen soaring demand from buyers in the United States. Despite the travel restrictions in place because of Covid-19, "they are very intent on finding homes in France", she told FRANCE 24. "What's happening is that literally our clients are buying sight unseen." It's a new departure for Leeds' business, which works with American property hunters. "This has never really happened before, not at this scale," she added.

Last month, the European Food Safety Authority announced that dried yellow mealworms are safe for humans to eat. Stephen Carroll speaks to the co-founder of the French company trying to bring insects to our mealtimes.

Building a bridge between Ireland and the rest of the EU: we talk about the shifts in shipping patterns that have happened since January 1, when post-Brexit rules came into force. Stephen Carroll speaks to Ciarán O'Driscoll, Policy and Research Officer at the European Movement Ireland.

It's one of the most remarkable stock market stories in decades: the GameStop saga. Small investors, using online forums like Reddit, piled into stocks of certain companies, including the video game retailer. The resulting spike in share prices caused billions of dollars in losses for big hedge funds who'd bet against these companies.

Brewing after Brexit: we speak to James Watt, CEO of Scotland's BrewDog, about how they're adjusting to new trade rules and making plans to expand in the EU.

It's Joe Biden's economy now: we examine the new US president's plans and the challenges he's facing. Adam Posen, president of the Peterson Institute for International Economics, gives us his take.

In another blow to French wine producers, the United States has expanded the list of products it's hitting with tariffs to include all French and German wines – except for champagne – as well as cognacs. It's part of a long-running dispute between the European Union and the US over subsidies to planemakers. We speak to French winemaker Bérénice Lurton, the owner of Chateau Climens in the Bordeaux region.

After a torrid 2020, businesses and the rest of us are hoping for a brighter 2021. The risk consultancy Eurasia Group has published its list of the top 10 risks facing the world this year – all of which could wreak havoc on the global economy. At the top of list is not the pandemic but the US. Will the new president steer a recovery in spite of the divisions in American politics and society? Stephen Carroll talks to Ian Bremmer, the president of Eurasia Group and GZERO Media in New York.

As 2020 draws to a close, we look back on some of the big and overlooked business stories of the year. What happened to the oil supply glut that sent prices plunging below zero in April? Will a new global deal on how to tax digital firms ever be agreed on? Plus: a look at some of the items shoppers did and didn't buy over the year. FRANCE 24's Business Editors Stephen Carroll and Kate Moody present this round-up of some of 2020's biggest business headlines.

UK businesses trading with the European Union will face major changes from January 1, as the Brexit transition period ends. The Cotswolds Distillery imports glass and botanicals from the EU, and exports its gin and whisky. CEO Daniel Szor tells us how they've prepared for the new rules, and why there's no need to worry about a gin shortage in the UK! Also in the show, we check in on the French urban renewal project that sold houses for just €1. Plus, we report on the toymakers moving production back to France because of the pandemic.