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Bloomberg News Now

Merz Wants to Rein In Macron, Powell Will Attend Cook Hearing, More

20 Jan 2026

Transcription

Chapter 1: What is Vanguard's approach to bond markets?

0.031 - 21.363 Unknown

Today's show is brought to you by Vanguard. To all the financial advisors listening, let's talk bonds for a minute. Capturing value and fixed income is not easy. Bond markets are massive, murky, and let's be real, lots of firms throw a couple flashy funds your way and call it a day. But not Vanguard. At Vanguard, institutional quality isn't a tagline. It's a commitment to your clients.

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21.784 - 44.318 Unknown

We're talking top-grade products across the board of over 80 bond funds. actively managed by a 200-person global squad of sector specialists, analysts, and traders. These folks live and breathe fixed income. So if you're looking to give your clients consistent results year in and year out, go see the record for yourself at Vanguard.com slash audio. That's Vanguard.com slash audio.

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44.739 - 47.723 Unknown

All investing is subject to risk. Vanguard Marketing Corporation Distributor.

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48.918 - 71.223 Doug Krisner

News when you want it. With Bloomberg News Now, I'm Doug Krisner. Some European leaders are taking a stand against President Trump's threat of new tariffs. Now, Trump announced a new 10% levy on eight EU countries opposed to his plan to seize Greenland. In response, French President Emmanuel Macron intends to request... the activation of the EU's strongest trade countermeasure.

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71.283 - 81.078 Doug Krisner

However, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is trying to persuade Macron to tone down his response as Merz attempts to de-escalate tensions with the US.

81.639 - 95.822 Friedrich Merz

We do not want this escalation. We do not want a trade dispute with the United States of America. But if we are confronted with tariffs that we consider inappropriate, then we are in a position to respond. And that is precisely what we will be discussing in Brussels on Thursday.

95.842 - 117.605 Doug Krisner

That is German Chancellor Friedrich Merz speaking through a translator. The International Monetary Fund has slightly raised its outlook for global growth this year. However, the IMF also voiced concern. about a bubble in artificial intelligence as well as tensions both trade and geopolitical. Here is IMF Chief Economist Pierre-Olivier Gorinchas.

117.626 - 137.413 Pierre-Olivier Gorinchas

Pierre-Olivier Gorinchas, IMF Chief Economist Global activity continues to show notable resilience despite significant trade disruptions and heightened uncertainty. According to our latest projections, global growth will hold steady at 3.3% this year. an upward revision of 0.2 percentage points compared to our October estimates.

137.433 - 156.988 Doug Krisner

That is IMF chief economist Pierre-Olivier Gorinchas. In the States, a federal judge is allowing the Trump administration to require a week's notice before members of Congress can visit immigration detention facilities. The judge concluded the Department of Homeland Security did not violate an earlier court order

Chapter 2: How is Macron responding to Trump's tariffs?

218.06 - 240.581 Doug Krisner

It was back in October that justices refused to allow Trump to immediately oust Cook while she sues to keep her job. Now, this case is critical because it will address the removal protection afforded members of the Fed's Board of Governors. Meantime, the next Fed meeting is just over a week away. Here is Stephen Stanley, chief economist at Santander U.S. Capital Markets.

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241.262 - 257.378 Stephen Stanley

What we're seeing now is the Fed has moved into pause mode. And there are at least some on the committee that would like to move further, I think. But what you heard from Powell in December, I thought was really important, where he said that the rate is now within the plausible range of neutrality. So there's no urgency to move.

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257.442 - 272.397 Doug Krisner

That is Stephen Stanley of Saint-Anthier. Tomorrow, after the closing bell, Netflix is set to report its fourth quarter results. We know the company is facing a fierce takeover battle for Warner Brothers Discovery. Here is Bloomberg analyst Geeta Raghunathan.

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272.798 - 297.743 Geeta Raghunathan

I hope the focus really turns, and this is a distraction from this whole drama that we've seen. But fundamentals-wise, you're absolutely right. The company has never been in a stronger situation. We think they will absolutely deliver on their revenue growth expectations of about 17%. Strong operating margin, strong free cash flow. They're expecting about $9 billion for the full year.

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297.723 - 317.217 Doug Krisner

That is Gita Raghunathan from Bloomberg Intelligence. We'll get more bank earnings in the coming week. Regional and super-regional lenders will be reporting. This list includes Citizens Financial Group, Fifth Third, First Citizens Bank Shares, Huntington Bank Shares, and U.S. Bank Corp. Here is Bloomberg analyst Herman Chan.

317.197 - 337.847 Herman Chan

We're seeing improving net interest income, some margin expansion, growing the balance sheet. We're seeing some acceleration in loan growth and deposit trends look good. And credit's really stable. So despite some of the economic uncertainties and potential issues surrounding unemployment, the banks are talking about really stable consumer trends. So we'd expect that to continue.

337.867 - 346.68 Doug Krisner

That is Herman Chan of Bloomberg Intelligence. Apple is once again the number one phone manufacturer in China. More from Bloomberg's Erika Herskowitz.

346.846 - 368.206 Erica Herskowitz

The jump comes after shipments of iPhone 17 devices soared 28% during the holiday quarter, with Apple's handsets accounting for one in every five shipments, despite a worsening shortage of vital memory chips. The growth comes at the expense of Huawei Technologies and Xiaomi, both of which experienced double-digit percentage declines.

368.767 - 375.553 Erica Herskowitz

Overall, shipments in the world's largest smartphone arena fell 1.6%. Erica Herskowitz, Bloomberg Radio.

Chapter 3: What concerns does the IMF have regarding global growth?

455.411 - 474.39 Barry Ritholtz

Sometimes it's authors, Michael Lewis, author of The Big Short and Moneyball. Regardless of the conversation, these are the folks that move markets each week. That's the Masters in Business podcast with me, Barry Ritholtz. Listen on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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