French Bond Rout Deepens, Yen Falls After BOJ Meeting & Reform Overtakes Tories

Your morning briefing, the business news you need in just 15 minutes. On Today's Podcast: (1) The Bank of Japan is making investors wait until its July meeting for details on its paring of bond buying, sparking renewed weakness in the yen and a pushing back of bets on an interest rate hike next month. (2) French bonds tumbled, driving yields over safer German peers to the highest level in seven years, amid concerns Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally party will usher in looser fiscal policies if it wins upcoming elections. (3) Reform UK leader Nigel Farage declared his party “the opposition to Labour” after an opinion poll showed it had overtaken the Conservatives for the first time, the latest evidence suggesting Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is heading for a heavy election defeat. (4) Labour Leader Keir Starmer set out his party’s plan for government in a cautious pitch focused on growth and security that prioritized preserving a commanding lead in UK polls, while skirting the tough economic choices he’ll have to make if he wins power. (5) The UK’s Labour Party confirmed plans to raise taxes on private equity fund managers. In its election manifesto, published Thursday, Labour pledged to change the taxation rules, which the party said would raise £565 million ($722 million) annually if it wins the general election on July 4. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.