Starmer Leadership Threat, China's Phantom Loans, Wall-St India Hiring Spree

Your morning briefing, the business news you need in just 15 minutes. On today's podcast: (1) Allies of Keir Starmer sought to ward off a feared leadership challenge from one of the British premier’s best-known ministers, as cabinet feuds spilled into the open just weeks before the government is due to unveil a contentious budget. (2) The weakness in the UK labor market is likely to have been overstated, economists and policymakers warned, after new figures shifted the narrative in Westminster and financial markets ahead of the budget. (3) Asian stocks rose alongside Treasuries after softer US jobs data strengthened bets on a Federal Reserve interest-rate cut, boosting market sentiment. (4) Banks in China are asking clients to take out loans and then immediately repay them, with the bank covering the interest, in a practice known as "quick-lend-and-recover". (5) The US military is exploring whether to build a temporary base capable of housing 10,000 people near the Gaza Strip as part of its push for a stabilization force of troops from other countries to monitor a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. (6) Germany must start dialing back its borrowing limits from 2029 to ensure solid public finances over the long term, according to the Bundesbank. Podcast Conversation: Harvest Report: 2025 Is Turning Out to Be a Great Year for Wine See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.