Beijing is responding to reports that the US is considering travel restrictions on people arriving from China. This news follows China's decision to drop Covid quarantine requirements for arrivals on January 8. Joining Julia to discuss is Shehzad Qazi, managing director of China Beige Book, the biggest private data collection network in China.  Also on today's show: Planet Fitness CEO Chris Rondeau, WNWN (pronounced "win win") Food Labs cofounder/CEO Dr. Johnny Drain.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's been a challenging 12 months overall for stocks amid multiple interest rate hikes intended to bring down inflation. The S&P 500 is off 19% in 2022, while the NASDAQ has plummeted 33%. The big questions as we approach the new year: Can we avoid a recession? Will inflation continue to ease and at what pace? And will the Federal Reserve make a market-friendly pivot. Joining Julia to gaze into his crystal ball is Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Analytics, where he directs economic research.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

No rest for US investors on the final trading day before Christmas as the market opens mostly lower despite an encouraging new look at the Fed's favorite measure of inflation. Investors are perhaps focusing a bit more on new durable goods numbers which fell more than 2% last month, which was much worse than expected. Joining us to try and sort things out is CFRA Chief Investment Strategist Sam Stovall, author of The Seven Rules of Wall Street.  Also on today's show: Rick Cotton, the Executive Director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, talks about the port's explosive growth and how it's helping alleviate supply chain issues.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Stocks are hobbling toward the finish line with the S&P 500 down 18% and the NASDAQ slumping 30% in 2022. And the New Year won't be a walk in the park either, with major global central banks vowing to keep hiking interest rates until inflation subsides. Joining the show to discuss is UBS Chief Economist Paul Donovan.  Also on the show: Former US Ambassador to Ukraine William Taylor.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to meet today with President Biden at the White House. It's his first trip outside Ukraine since Russia invaded the country back in February. Joining Julia to discuss is Gen. Wesley Clark, a former NATO Supreme Allied Commander.  Also on today's show: Fred Lalonde, co-founder and CEO of popular travel app Hopper.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For many who celebrate Christmas, the age-old question comes up every year: Do we get a real or fake tree? Last year the American Christmas Tree Association estimated the market for artificial trees at between $1-2 billion annually. Joining Julia to discuss is Mac Harman, CEO of Balsam Hill, which manufactures high-end artificial trees as well as home decor for Christmas and other seasons.  Also on today's show: European Commissioner for Economy Paolo Gentiloni.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Yesterday the Dow suffered its worst one-day loss since September, and US markets continue to decline this morning. Retail stocks are one of the worst-performing sectors after new data showed inflation-weary consumers pulling back on spending. And as we head into the last two weeks of the trading year, many are worried both the S&P 500 and the NASDAQ will be testing their 52-week lows. Joining us to discuss is world-renowned economist Jeremy Siegel, a professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Bank of England raised interest rates by half a percentage point to 3.5% today, its ninth increase in a row as it continues to try and cool high inflation. The news came as nurses across much of the UK launched a historic strike, walking out of hospitals and onto picket lines after several years of falling pay and declining standards that have left the country’s nationalized health care system in a state of crisis. Joining us to discuss the situation is Berenberg Bank Senior UK Economist Kallum Pickering.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Inflation and its effect on consumers remain front and center on the minds of fast-food chains like Yum! Brands. Shares of Yum!, famous for brands like KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut, have held up well in these challenging times, rising nearly 20% over the past six months. Joining Julia at the NYSE to discuss is Yum! CEO David Gibbs.  Also on today's show: Seth Berkley, CEO of Gavi, the global vaccine alliance.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The life story of buccaneering Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson is filled with brave endeavors and daring adventures. More than 40 companies now make up the Virgin empire, employing over 60,000 people in 35 countries. Branson is now the subject of a four-part docuseries on HBO and he joins Julia to discuss his remarkable career.  Also on today's show: Defense attorney Renato Mariotti, a former federal prosecutor, weighs in on the arrest of former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices