Israel-Hamas Hostage Deal, Macron Seeks New PM, ASML's Huge Expansion

Your morning briefing, the business news you need in just 15 minutes.

On today's podcast:

(1) Israel and Hamas have agreed to terms for the release of all hostages held by the Palestinian militant group in Gaza, a major breakthrough in the US- and Qatari-brokered negotiations to end their two-year war.

(2) French President Emmanuel Macron said he’ll name a new prime minister by Friday evening, having for the time being avoided the need to call a snap election that would have deepened the political chaos in France.

(3) China has tightened curbs on rare earths to include items manufactured abroad, adding a potentially complex layer of restrictions to an industry that’s been a source of intense trade friction between Beijing and Washington.

(4) HSBC Holdings Plc plans to take Hang Seng Bank Ltd. private in a deal that values the lender at $37 billion, ramping up its exposure to Hong Kong as the financial hub attempts to bounce back from years of economic turbulence.

(5) With Britain’s venerable Conservatives desperate to avoid political oblivion, delegates at the party’s annual conference found themselves prompted to seek guidance from a prime minister who left office 35 years ago. “Ask the Iron Lady,” urged a poster from the Conservative Women’s Association.

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