Bloomberg Businessweek

Intel gave a strong sales forecast for the current period, signaling that the struggling chipmaker is finally beginning to benefit from the giant build-out of artificial intelligence infrastructure. Revenue will be $13.8 billion to $14.8 billion in the quarter ending in June, the company said Thursday in a statement. Analysts, on average, estimated $13 billion, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Earnings, excluding some items, will be about 20 cents a share, compared with a Wall Street prediction of 9 cents. The upbeat outlook suggests that Chief Executive Officer Lip-Bu Tan is making progress on a challenging comeback plan. After lining up major investments in Intel last year — helping to strengthen the company’s balance sheet — Thursday’s results suggest he’s now delivering on a promise to improve its operations. Intel shares rose 14% in extended trading. The stock had gained 81% this year before the results were released, closing at $66.78. For instant reaction and analysis, Bloomberg Businessweek Daily hosts Carol Massar and Tim Stenovec speak with: See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The people, companies and trends shaping the global economy. Watch Carol and Tim LIVE every day on YouTube: http://bit.ly/3vTiACF. The US Justice Department reclassified state-regulated marijuana as a less dangerous drug, a major shift that could increase legal cannabis sales and help a struggling industry. The directive signed by acting Attorney General Todd Blanche moved licensed marijuana products from Schedule I — the same federal category as heroin and LSD — to the less strictly controlled Schedule III. The action stops short of fully legalizing the drug for recreational use nationwide, but it meets the demands of many advocates who have long argued for looser restrictions. The move is likely to make operations easier for cannabis companies, including potentially gaining greater access to the banking system and reducing taxes, and bolster medical research with the drug. The US industry, which includes public firms, has been trying to revive growth in recent years after an initial surge last decade. Shares of firms that sell marijuana products initially gained after the announcement, but then reversed course. The AdvisorShares Pure US Cannabis ETF declined as much as 15%. The drop for Curaleaf Holdings Inc., one of the largest US cannabis companies, hit 24%. The order narrowly applied to medical use of cannabis only, rather than broadly addressing adult recreational usage, which “might also be causing some confusion,” Aaron Grey, an analyst with Alliance Global Partners, said in an interview. Today's show features: See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With Iran's fragile ceasefire expiring on Wednesday, new Bloomberg satellite data analysis reveals the scale of US-Israeli strike damage and the heightened stakes of a return to all-out war. Krishna Karra, is Bloomberg News Senior Satellite Imaging reporter. He discusses how they received access to these images and the extent of what they learned about the strikes in Iran. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tesla beat Wall Street’s profit expectations to start the year as the automaker said demand for its electric vehicles is rebounding around the globe, hinting at a possible recovery for its long-struggling automotive business. Adjusted earnings rose to 41 cents a share in the first quarter, the company said Wednesday in a statement, higher than the 34-cent average of analyst estimates compiled by Bloomberg. It’s the second straight quarter Tesla’s earnings have exceeded expectations. Tesla said it “saw continued growth in demand for our vehicles” in parts of Asia-Pacific and South America, along with a rebound in North America and the Europe-Middle East region. The surprisingly optimistic comments come several weeks after the automaker reported one of its worst quarters of auto sales in years. For instant reaction and analysis, Bloomberg Businessweek Daily hosts Carol Massar and Tim Stenovec speak with: See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The people, companies and trends shaping the global economy. Watch Carol and Tim LIVE every day on YouTube: http://bit.ly/3vTiACF. In another reversal, US President Donald Trump announced a unilateral, open-ended extension of the ceasefire in the Iran war. Now, there’s no peace, but no active war either. This may become the new normal: a fragile ceasefire without a formal deal, with tensions simmering, sporadic flare-ups, and oil near $100. Indefinite Extension The US and Iran were discussing returning to talks in Islamabad on the eve of the two-week ceasefire deadline. Trump warned he was unlikely to extend the truce and would resume bombing Iran if they failed to show. Tehran held its line: no talks while the US blockade remained. That pointed to a return to hostilities unless someone blinked. Trump blinked first. The political cost of war was rising for the US, as was its economic toll. The prospects for a win were becoming more elusive by the day. Tehran’s goal remains the same: survival and imposing a global cost for the war. It can’t afford to blink, and it didn’t. What does this mean for the war? There’s no deal so there’s no lasting peace. There’s no high-intensity war either. Instead, the war may be settling into a prolonged middle ground: Today's show features: See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Washington battles over tariffs and supply chains, and Wall Street fixates on AI infrastructure, a new tech cluster is quietly thriving – and it’s not in Silicon Valley. It’s California’s state capital: Sacramento. The city – less than 90 miles from the Bay Area – is seeing unprecedented industry momentum (it’s home to nine global chips companies and offers 26x more semiconductor growth capital than the U.S. average). Greater Sacramento is outpacing the Bay Area in semiconductor job growth: According to the Greater Sacramento Economic Council, the region is expected to exceed state averages in GDP growth and job creation through 2026 — and is the #1 California market for semiconductor growth. Barry Broome is President and CEO of the Sacramento Economic Council. He discusses how Sacramento is a new CA hub for tech/industry as the Bay Area remains pricy and businesses deal with continued regulations. He speaks with Carol Massar and Tim Stenovec. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Donald Trump announced he was extending a ceasefire with Iran indefinitely a day before it was set to expire, even as plans for a fresh round of talks between the two countries fell apart. In a Truth Social post, Trump said Tuesday he would maintain a blockade over ships coming to and from Iran in the Strait of Hormuz. He said Pakistan, which had mediated between the two sides, asked for the US to hold off on fresh strikes and he was extending the ceasefire until Iran submits a new proposal “and discussions are concluded, one way or the other.” For instant reaction and analysis, Bloomberg Businessweek Daily hosts Carol Massar and Tim Stenovec speak with: See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The people, companies and trends shaping the global economy. Watch Carol and Tim LIVE every day on YouTube: http://bit.ly/3vTiACF. Kevin Warsh repeatedly pledged to act independently if he’s confirmed as the next Federal Reserve chair, rejecting Democratic concerns he would be a “sock puppet” for President Donald Trump, who continues to demand lower interest rates. Warsh, in testimony before the Senate Banking Committee Tuesday, called for a slew of changes to the way the US central bank makes its decisions, including a new framework for dealing with persistent inflation and a new way of communicating with the public. But he provided few specifics and avoided answering questions about the near-term path of interest rates. He also insisted the president never asked him to commit to any particular rate decision.“The president nominated me for the position, and I’ll be an independent actor if confirmed as chairman of the Federal Reserve,” Warsh said, in response to questions from Democrats about how he planned to handle pressure from Trump. In her opening remarks, the senior Democrat on the panel, Senator Elizabeth Warren said Warsh would be Trump’s “sock puppet” at the Fed. “Kevin Warsh hit all the right notes to reassure his supporters on the committee that he will push forward his idea of regime change at the Fed,” Joseph Brusuelas, chief economist at RSM. “He said nothing that will disrupt his path to being approved, if it makes it to the floor of the Senate.” Treasuries fell as strong economic data and higher oil prices prompted traders to scale back rate-cut expectations, overshadowing testimony from Warsh. The policy-sensitive two-year note climbed as much as seven basis points to 3.79% as US crude oil rose back above $90 a barrel. Today's show features: See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lauren Berger and Marla Felton are the founders of REAL Cookies who are on mission to make healthier snacks for kids and adults through tasty gluten and grain-free, plant-based cookies. Bringing their knowledge of real food and real ingredients to their community, Lauren & Marla, introduced Real Food is Fuel, a nutrition label curriculum to elementary students, grades 2-5. Now, they have taken the brand from Pandemic startup to securing a strategic merger with Creations Foods USA Inc. to create a new, vertically integrated consumer packaged goods (CPG) platform dedicated to healthier, better-for-you snacking across North America. Creations Foods owns such brands as HighKey Snacks, a manufacturer of high protein, low carbohydrate snacks formulated with reduced sugar; Moon Cheese, a manufacturer of baked cheese snacks; Aw Yeah Snacks, a manufacturer of cookies that feature bold and intense flavors; and now Real & Real Cookie Poppers, dairy-free, gluten and grain-free cookies that are formulated with minimal ingredients. They speak with Bloomberg's Carol Massar and Tim Stenovec. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apple named hardware chief John Ternus as the iPhone maker’s next leader, with Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook shifting to the role of executive chairman. Ternus, 50, will become CEO on Sept. 1, the company said in a statement Monday. The Apple veteran was head of hardware engineering since 2021 and has spent 25 years focused on product development at the iPhone maker. Bloomberg News previously reported that Ternus was Cook’s heir apparent. Ternus’s hardware engineering division will be taken over by longtime deputy Tom Marieb, according to a person with knowledge of the matter. He will report to newly named Chief Hardware Officer Johny Srouji. In that role, Srouji is gaining oversight of a newly combined hardware engineering and hardware technologies group. For instant reaction and analysis, Bloomberg Businessweek Daily hosts Carol Massar and Tim Stenovec speak with: See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The people, companies and trends shaping the global economy. Watch Carol and Tim LIVE every day on YouTube: http://bit.ly/3vTiACF. US President Donald Trump said he’s not likely to extend the two-week ceasefire with Iran, increasing the urgency for negotiators to conclude a deal to end the war. Trump said in a Monday phone interview that the truce, which he announced April 7, expires on “Wednesday evening Washington time” — possibly buying more time for negotiations. But the president also said it’s “highly unlikely that I’d extend it” if no deal is reached before then. “I’m not going to be rushed into making a bad deal. We’ve got all the time in the world,” the president said.In the interview, Trump reiterated that the Strait of Hormuz would stay blockaded for now, saying “the Iranians desperately want it opened. I’m not opening it until a deal is signed.” Iran previously said it would open the critical waterway for energy supplies to international shipping, but reversed that decision in light of Trump’s refusal to follow suit. Details about the next negotiating session, expected to take place in Pakistan, started to came into focus on Monday. Iran is also sending a team, according to people familiar with the plans who declined to be identified, although it is not clear who would lead the delegation. Earlier, Tehran said it was hesitant to participate in further peace talks with the US. Today's show features: See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The consumer price index has risen quickly since early 2020, with some categories seeing steeper price increases, making it hard for consumers to avoid feeling swindled. Quince, an online retailer, has found success by selling low-cost "luxury" goods, cutting out middlemen, and using data analysis and close relationships with manufacturers to keep prices low. Amanda Mull, Bloomberg Businessweek Senior Reporter writes how Quince's approach to logistics, shipping merchandise directly from manufacturers to customers, has enabled the company to undercut competitors' prices and achieve efficiency unheard of among large apparel retailers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Featuring some of our favorite conversations of the week from our daily radio show "Bloomberg Businessweek Daily." Hosted by Carol Massar and Tim Stenovec Hear the show live at 2PM ET on WBBR 1130 AM New York, Bloomberg 92.9 FM Boston, WDCH 99.1 FM in Washington D.C. Metro, Sirius/XM channel 121, on the Bloomberg Business App, Radio.com, the iHeartRadio app and at Bloomberg.com/audio. You can also watch Bloomberg Businessweek on YouTube - just search for Bloomberg Global News. Like us at Bloomberg Radio on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @carolmassar @timsteno and @BW See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The people, companies and trends shaping the global economy. Watch Carol and Tim LIVE every day on YouTube: http://bit.ly/3vTiACF. President Donald Trump said Iran agreed to suspend its nuclear program indefinitely, and will not receive any frozen funds from the US.Trump said in a phone interview on Friday that a deal to end the war, which the US and Israel began with Iran in late February, is mostly complete. Talks over a lasting agreement will “probably” be held this weekend, the president said. “Most of the main points are finalized. It’ll go pretty quickly,” Trump said.Iran has yet to comment on any deal beyond the Strait of Hormuz opening, nor on claims made by Trump on Thursday that Tehran had offered concessions — including over the key issue of its nuclear program. Oil, fuel and natural gas prices plunged on hopes that the latest developments would mean more energy supplies can finally transit safely through the strait. Brent crude fell more than 10% to trade below $89 a barrel by 12:41 p.m. in New York and wiped out most of its gains since the onset of the war. Diesel prices in Europe and the US led the move lower in the energy complex. Trump said he hasn’t decided who would lead a US delegation for talks with Iranian officials to sign an agreement. Asked if he would travel to Pakistan, which hosted the last round of negotiations, the president said, “I may.” JD Vance led discussions with Iranian officials last weekend, and Trump said the vice president, his son-in-law Jared Kushner, and envoy Steve Witkoff were candidates to attend additional talks. Today's show features: See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The people, companies and trends shaping the global economy. Watch Carol and Tim LIVE every day on YouTube: http://bit.ly/3vTiACF. Carol and Tim speak with Dr. Bea Bakshi, co-founder and CEO of C the Signs, an early cancer detection platform that uses AI as part of our weekly women's health segment. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Watch Carol and Tim LIVE every day on YouTube: http://bit.ly/3vTiACF. Charles Schwab is likely to launch prediction markets linked to financial events as competitors including Robinhood Markets Inc. expand their presence in the space.Schwab is “taking a hard look” at prediction markets, Chief Executive Officer Rick Wurster said on a conference call Thursday, but would stay away from allowing customers to place wagers on sports or pop culture given the firm’s focus on building clients’ long-term wealth. “Prediction markets that are not aligned to that are not something we want to pursue,” Wurster said on the call with analysts to discuss first-quarter results. Retail investors can already access prediction markets via a number of platforms, including Robinhood, Kalshi, Polymarket and Interactive Brokers Group. The majority of event-based wagering centers around sports, which Wurster said Schwab won’t offer. This episode features: See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are many different narratives around travel uncertainty and issues, stretching from TSA staffing to storms to the war in Iran and its impact on the airline industry. Many of them are false or at least as it relates to business travel. Navan's agentic-AI tools, which ease the customer experience and can deliver up to 15% median savings on travel budgets, should continue to disrupt legacy providers in the corporate-booking space -- as evidenced by the company turning free-cash-flow positive on the back of 4Q's 42% gross bookings volume growth. Management noted no current impact on the business from the geopolitical environment or TSA disruptions. Ariel Cohen is CEO at Navan. He discusses the data into the health of the corporate traveler. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The people, companies and trends shaping the global economy. Watch Carol and Tim LIVE every day on YouTube: http://bit.ly/3vTiACF. US economic activity continued to increase at a slight-to-modest pace across most regions as the war with Iran generated a new wave of uncertainty and higher energy costs, the Federal Reserve said. Price growth remained moderate overall, but energy and fuel costs rose sharply in all 12 Fed districts, the central bank reported in its Beige Book survey of regional business contacts released Wednesday. “The conflict in the Middle East was cited as a major source of uncertainty that complicated decision-making around hiring, pricing and capital investment, with many firms adopting a wait-and-see posture,” the Fed said. The report featured information compiled by the New York Fed and collected through April 6, capturing the early effects of the war on the US economy.The report also noted that price pressures were bleeding beyond energy. “Energy and fuel costs rose sharply in all districts, attributed to the Middle East conflict, leading to higher freight and shipping costs and higher prices for plastics, fertilizers and other petroleum-based products,” the Fed said. “Input cost pressures beyond energy-related increases were also widespread.” The oil shock spurred by the conflict has sent gasoline prices in the US to their highest level since 2022, leading US inflation to jump in March. Several Fed policymakers have signaled a preference to keep borrowing costs steady for quite some time while they evaluate the economic data. Officials are expected to leave their benchmark rate unchanged when they meet on April 28-29, according to pricing in futures contracts. Today's show features: See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As credit card companies with lofty fees compete for affluent consumers, the hottest new perks are wearable devices for tracking health, fitness and sleep. After lifting annual dues for their top-tier cards, JPMorgan Chase & Co. and American Express Co. rolled out typical benefits like hotel, dining and travel credits. But there were also more unexpected bonuses: American Express added a $200 credit toward an Oura Health Oy smart ring to the Platinum Card, while Chase included a $359 rebate for Whoop Inc.’s fitness bands for Sapphire Reserve holders. The promotions are generating results, pushing users to sign up for the latest credit cards and join the wearables craze for the first time. Cam Baker, Bloomberg News Breaking News Editor discusses with Bloomberg's Carol Massar and Tim Stenovec. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The people, companies and trends shaping the global economy. Watch Carol and Tim LIVE every day on YouTube: http://bit.ly/3vTiACF. Bank results so far show that private credit woes remain contained, with executives offering words of calm for nervous investors. First, there are no big red flags in the aggregate credit loss provisions from the four big banks that have reported so far, including Wells Fargo. The measure, where stress typically starts to show, is tracking higher for some lenders -- for instance, Goldman attributed the increase to “growth and impairments related to wholesale loans,” yet the overall number remains very modest compared to peers. Citi’s worse-than-expected provisions were tied to US consumer card losses and a firmwide reserves build amid the uncertain macro environment, but its measure is only the highest since 2Q 2025. That has also been offset by JPMorgan’s lower-than-estimated provisions. Taken altogether, the combined bad debt forecast tally is so far smaller than feared for the quarter and more modest than it was during the same period last year. Banks went further to disclose at least $100 billion of specific exposure to private-credit firms, with Citi saying that it’s had zero losses over the life of the portfolio. Its executives noted on the call that the bank has strong protections in place, including a prudent approach to reserves, which it continues to constantly stress test. For his part, JPMorgan CEO Dimon said he’s “not particularly worried” about private credit after the bank disclosed a $50 billion exposure. Goldman CEO David Solomon also defended the industry on Monday. The remarks and moderate credit provisions so far should give investors some comfort that strains from private credit remain limited so far -- something that other parts of the credit market have been signaling as well. Today's show features: See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.