Trump's Truth Social sees soaring market debut, UBS aims to boost wealth business post Credit Suisse acquisition, German groceries uphold century-old ban on Sunday work for computers
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Quick takeaways
Trump's Truth Social's successful market debut raises doubts about its financial sustainability despite high valuation.
Visa and MasterCard's fee reduction settlement benefits U.S. merchants, allowing price variation based on credit cards used.
Deep dives
Trump's Social Media Stock Rollercoaster
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's social media company hit the public market, with a turbulent first day where the share price initially surged over 50% but closed 16% higher. The company, Trump Media and Technology Group, behind Truth Social, faced significant financial challenges, never having turned a profit and reporting about $40 million in losses in the first nine months of the previous year. Despite poor financials, Trump's high stake valued at about $5.5 billion raised questions on his ability to convert the paper gain into actual cash.
Visa and MasterCard Lower Transaction Fees
Visa and MasterCard agreed to lower transaction fees in the U.S., potentially saving merchants $30 billion over five years. The settlement from a lawsuit claimed the credit card companies inflated payment processing fees and now enables merchants to vary prices based on the credit card used. However, merchants are not obligated to pass on the savings to consumers.
UBS's Merger with Credit Suisse and Wealth Management Focus
UBS's significant acquisition of Credit Suisse positioned it as the second largest bank in Europe, paving the way for further expansion to become a global leader. The integration process, led by Chief Executive Sergio Ermotti, especially emphasizes enhancing the wealth management division, as it contributes significantly to the group's profits. Iqbal Khan, head of UBS's Global Wealth Management Division, plays a crucial role in retaining clients and expanding the U.S. operations to fortify the merger's success and ensure future growth.
Shares in Donald Trump’s social media business soared following its New York market debut, and Visa and Mastercard have agreed to cut their US transaction fees. Plus, UBS needs to boost its wealth business to make its Credit Suisse acquisition a success.
The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian and Marc Filippino. Additional help by Zach St. Louis, Sam Giovinco, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Our engineer is Monica Lopez. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music.