Capital Connection (TV programme)

The show functions as an early-afternoon look at the Asian trading day. Previously the format had focussed on the top Asian business stories thus far and looked ahead to the corporate and economic news expected in Europe. Previously correspondents from Asia usually appeared on the first half of the show while those from Europe came in on the second half of the show. Now only Asia-based staff input into the show.

Capital Connection replaced Today's Business (also hosted by Steve Sedgwick), an early morning pre-market programme originating from CNBC Europe which also aired on CNBC Asia and CNBC World.

Prior to Capital Connection, another show anchored from two continents was Market Watch (later renamed Global Market Watch). Unlike Capital Connection, this show was produced by CNBC Europe. It was originally anchored by Geoff Cutmore from London and Cecilia Zecha from Singapore but it was later hosted exclusively from London by Simon Hobbs. The show ended its run in early 2001.

Steve Sedgwick served as European anchor from the launch of the programme until 28 November 2008. He then left the programme to work full-time for Squawk Box Europe and was replaced by Rebecca Meehan (now Beccy Barr) on 1 December 2008 and in 2010 by Anna Edwards. After Edwards departed at the end of 2011, Meehan returned as the programme's European anchor and continued in that role until she left CNBC at the end of 2012.

Maura Fogarty served as Asian anchor from the launch until March 2010, when she was replaced by Chloe Cho until she left the network in January 2014. Sri Jegarajah, previously a reporter, was promoted to anchor full-time, and subsequently permanently took the presenting role.

In 2010 and 2011, the show had a third anchor. On 14 June 2010 Yousef Gamal El-Din, joined the show from the network's then-newly opened Bahrain studio.[1] Originally, this leg of the show was only featured from Monday to Thursday, but was later featured every weekday from February 2011 to November 2011, when the Bahrain leg was discontinued altogether. As a result, Capital Connection reverted to two continents (Asia and Europe).

Between 31 December 2012 and 12 July 2013, the London studios was on hiatus after Meehan's departure from CNBC and the programme came from a single location and was solely presented from Singapore. On 15 July 2013, the European anchor was reinstated with Carolin Roth (also previously a reporter) in the presenters' chair until 29 August 2014. On 20 October 2014, Helia Ebrahimi replaced Roth on the anchoring role until she left CNBC altogether in March 2015. In July 2015, Nancy Hungerford (previously a producer in CNBC Europe, who then became a reporter and anchor full-time) joined as European anchor for Capital Connection until she was re-assigned at the end of that year (Hungerford would ultimately return to the show as an anchor, this time based in Singapore, a year and a half later).

On 9 February 2015, Capital Connection updated its logo. The opening animation sequence was shared with CNBC US' Squawk on the Street.

On 4 January 2016, due to CNBC International's cutbacks at its London operations, Capital Connection was permanently reduced to a single location in Singapore, with Jegarajah as its solo anchor. This was the first time that the show did not have an anchor based in London.

On 3 October 2016, Pauline Chiou, who had previously anchored The Rundown since its 31 March 2014 debut, replaced Sri Jegarajah as anchor after the latter was elevated to CNBC Asia's Senior Correspondent.

On 3 July 2017, Nancy Hungerford, who was previously a correspondent and relief anchor in CNBC Europe, joined CNBC Asia and rejoined the programme as an anchor, replacing Chiou.

From 30 October 2017 until the end of March 2018, when Europe was not on DST, the show was expanded to two hours, starting at 5am CET. This was the first time that live programming had been broadcast during this hour as previously the hour had been filled by a showing of Fast Money on a six-hour tape delay or by pre-recorded programmes. The show was once again expanded to two hours on 29 October 2018, and again on 28 October 2019, again with Europe not on DST.

On 16 April 2018, Hadley Gamble, who was previously a Middle East-based correspondent with CNBC Europe, joined the show as its European anchor. She is based from the network's newly opened studio in Abu Dhabi, with Hungerford still based in Singapore.

On 4 February 2019, Matthew Taylor, who was previously a Sydney-based correspondent, moved to the network's Singapore Exchange studio and replaced Nancy Hungerford as anchor there, with Gamble still based in Abu Dhabi.

On trading days over the Christmas and new year period, CNBC Asia massively cuts back its regional programming, replacing it with pre-taped specials with live output restricted to a two-hour edition of Asia Squawk Box. Consequently, during this period, Capital Connection is not broadcast.

• Worldwide Exchange
• Today's Business (the programme Capital Connection replaced)

• Official website