The Sky News Business Podcast
Catch up on the day's big business and economics stories Monday to Friday. Reports, discussion and interviews from the heart of the City and beyond.
Latest episodes
Feb 1, 2024 • 21min
Interest rates, Polestar without Volvo, and Phoneix Group overachieves
Ed Conway, Sky's Economics and Data Editor, discusses the Bank of England's decision on interest rates. Jim Rowan, Chief Executive of Volvo Cars, talks about Volvo stopping funding for Polestar. Andy Briggs, Chief Executive of Phoenix Group, explains how they hit their 2025 target for new business cash generation ahead of schedule.
Jan 31, 2024 • 9min
Microsoft, weight loss drug sales, and GSK profits surge
In today's episode, Ian King speaks with Dan Ives - managing director of the brokerage and advisory firm Wedbush Securities - to discuss Microsoft's revenues and AI.Ian Johnston, global pharmaceutical correspondent at the Financial Times, discuses sales of popular weight loss drug 'Wegvoy', made by Novo Nordisk - as they say their sales almost quadrupled last year.And, Ian discusses GSK's operating profit of £8.8billion for 2023 with strong selling medicines including its HIV and shingles medication.
Jan 30, 2024 • 17min
Grocery price inflation, shares of Diageo fall, and HSBC is fined
Figures show grocery price inflation continued to fall this month, but at a slower pace than in December, Ian is joined by Fraser McKevitt - Head of retail & consumer insight at Kantar. He also speaks to Debra Crew - the Chief Executive of spirits company Diageo - after a drop in its sales and profits. Plus, HSBC is hit with £57m fine by the Bank of England over deposit protection.
Jan 29, 2024 • 17min
Ryanair, profit warnings and the housing market
On today's episode, Ian King is joined by the chief financial officer of Ryanair to discuss their latest results.He also speaks about profit warnings issued by listed companies.And Ian's joined by Zoopla's Richard Donnell to discuss the housing market's strong start to the year.
Jan 26, 2024 • 18min
Rising consumer confidence, CityFibre sales increase, Hitachi talks renewables
On today's show, Ian King speaks to Joe Staton, from the German market research company GfK, about a rise in consumer confidence.CityFibre's Chief Executive, Greg Mesch, reports on their annual sales.And Claudio Facchin, chief executive of Hitachi Energy, has the latest on overcoming potential barriers to the rollout of renewables.
Jan 25, 2024 • 15min
US economic growth, Foxtons results, car market boost
On today's show, Ian King has the latest figures showing surprisingly strong growth in the US economy.Ian also talks to Guy Gittins, Foxtons chief executive, about the estate agent's performance and expectations for the future.And Emma Butcher, from The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, discusses the recent revival in car production and the wider motor industry.
Jan 24, 2024 • 15min
Royal Mail reforms, Co-op expansion, and London beats the best
In today's episode, Ian King discusses Ofcom's plans for the future of Royal Mail, and what it means for customers.Chris Hayward, policy chairman at the City of London Corporation, talks about research showing the UK capital's the world's top global financial centre.And he's joined by Kenyatte Nelson, Co-op's chief membership and customer officer, to delve into their proposals to expand their retail business.
Jan 23, 2024 • 15min
Tech start-ups, IPO listings, and public borrowing
On today’s show, we've got the latest reports about potential cutbacks at fund manager abrdn.Ian King speaks to Carina Namih, partner at Plural, about a new €400 million fund to back the next generation of start-ups.Yoko Spirig, co-founder and chief executive of Ledgy, discusses research showing almost three-quarters of UK tech companies would prefer to launch their initial public offerings in the UK over any other destination.Plus there's the latest on UK public borrowing figures, and trading updates from Primark's owner Associated British Foods.
Jan 22, 2024 • 17min
Growth forecasts improve, accounting rules, and young investors
On today's show, Ian King speaks to Peter Arnold, chief economist at the EY ITEM Club, about their forecasts for the UK economy.The chief executive of the Financial Reporting Council, Richard Moriarty, is discussing new rules for directors, after complaints they will harm the UK's competitiveness.And Myron Jobson, senior personal finance analyst at Interactive Investor, talks about why younger private investors have been outperforming their older peers.
Jan 19, 2024 • 18min
Tata Steel, Centrica and retail sales
On today's episode, hear the latest news on Tata Steel which has confirmed it plans to close blast furnaces at its plant in Port Talbot, South Wales - with 2,800 people losing their jobs. Ian also looks at the latest retail sales for December which showed a 3.2% drop. And hear from the boss of British Gas as the chief executive of Centrica, Chris O'Shea, is on the show to talk about what to expect from our energy bills this year.
