Big tech, big brands and a clampdown on fake reviews

On this week’s podcast Dan Coatsworth and Danni Hewson talk through a bumper crop of earnings including the first update from big tech with both Microsoft and Alphabet beating expectations. First Republic sent shivers back through markets as the US regional bank reveals more than $100 billion dollars was withdrawn during last month’s crisis of confidence. A whole host of global consumer giants from Nestle to Coca-Cola have reported and it seems brand is a powerful thing with customers prepared to keep paying more for the things they love despite the cost-of-living crisis. The UK’s competition watchdog has been flexing its muscles – blocking Microsoft’s takeover of gaming giant Activision Blizzard and it may also be given new powers to tackle businesses that carry fake reviews which has big implications for the consumer and could result in large fines for offenders. Dan also talks to Ritu Vohora from T.Rowe Price about the latest events on the markets.