SQUAWK BOX, FRIDAY 16TH APRIL, 2021

Chinese Q1 GDP growth soars by a record-breaking 18.3 per cent on the year but falls short of analysts’ expectations. Strong U.S. earnings have pushed the Dow over 34,000 for the first time. Retail sales are also up by almost 10 per cent and first-time jobless figures hit a one-year low. Daimler posts a surprise jump in Q1 earnings as it unveils its flagship electric car, the EQS. However, CEO Ola Källenius tells CNBC that the global chip shortage is weighing on sales. French cosmetics giant L'Oréal shrugs off lockdown effects through solid Chinese demand and strong online sales in Europe.