Core Viewpoint - Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) is experiencing a surge in interest from potential buyers, particularly due to a reported $50 billion cash offer from Paramount Skydance, leading to a significant increase in WBD's stock price [1][4]. Group 1: Company Developments - WBD shares rose 17% to $18.87 following reports of a potential bid from Paramount Skydance [1]. - CEO David Zaslav is actively seeking to engage other media and tech companies, including Amazon, Apple, and Netflix, to explore potential acquisition opportunities [3]. - Zaslav aims to increase WBD's stock price to $40 per share and is considering using the rising share price to acquire more content if no suitable offers materialize [4]. Group 2: Market Context - The interest in WBD and its assets has intensified, attributed to the relaxed antitrust enforcement policies during the Trump administration [4]. - Media executive Jay Penske has shown interest in acquiring CNN, which is part of WBD's portfolio [5].

Core Viewpoint - UBS is considering relocating its headquarters from Switzerland to the US in response to proposed stringent capital requirements by Swiss regulators, which the bank believes would hinder its global competitiveness [1][4]. Group 1: Regulatory Environment - Swiss regulators have proposed new capital requirements that would necessitate UBS to increase its loss cushion by $26 billion, a move the bank strongly opposes as it deems the changes disproportionate and not aligned with international standards [3][4]. - The Swiss government's proposal is a reaction to concerns about a potential banking crisis, particularly following UBS's acquisition of Credit Suisse in 2023 amid solvency fears [4]. Group 2: Strategic Moves - UBS executives are exploring options to establish a US headquarters, aiming for a more favorable regulatory environment, and have engaged with Trump administration officials regarding this potential shift [2][5]. - The bank's market value stands at $126 billion, and it could consider partnerships with midsized banks in the US, which would allow it to expand without being constrained by deposit caps that affect larger banks [8]. Group 3: Market Context - Midsized banks such as PNC Financial and Bank of New York, valued at $79 billion and $74 billion respectively, are rumored to be potential acquisition targets for UBS [9]. - In the US, deposits are insured up to $250,000 per account, and major financial institutions are classified as "systemically important," which subjects them to heightened regulatory scrutiny [10].

Core Viewpoint - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proposing a $3.1 million fine against Boeing for safety violations, particularly related to an incident involving an Alaska Airlines jetliner losing a door plug panel midflight [1][2]. Group 1: Incident Details - The proposed penalty is linked to safety violations that occurred from September 2023 to February 2024 [1]. - The incident in question involved a door plug blowout on an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 shortly after takeoff from Portland, Oregon in January 2024 [2]. - Fortunately, none of the 171 passengers or six crew members were seriously injured, and the pilots managed to land the plane safely [4]. Group 2: Investigation Findings - The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) conducted a 17-month investigation, concluding that lapses in Boeing's manufacturing and safety oversight, along with ineffective FAA inspections, contributed to the door plug blowout [4]. - The FAA identified hundreds of quality system violations at Boeing's 737 factory in Renton, Washington, and at subcontractor Spirit AeroSystems' factory in Wichita, Kansas [5]. - Among the violations, a Boeing employee pressured a member of Boeing's Organization Designation Authorization (ODA) unit to approve a 737 Max airplane despite it not meeting applicable standards [6]. Group 3: Boeing's Response - Boeing has 30 days to respond to the FAA's proposed civil penalty [8]. - In a statement, Boeing indicated it is reviewing the proposed civil penalty and highlighted that it implemented a safety and quality plan last year under FAA oversight to enhance safety management and quality assurance [9]. - The company expressed regret over the January 2024 door-plug incident and is focused on strengthening its safety culture and improving accountability across operations [9]. Group 4: Historical Context - The Boeing 737 Max has faced ongoing issues since two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019, which resulted in the deaths of 346 people [10]. - In May, the Justice Department reached a deal allowing Boeing to avoid criminal prosecution for allegedly misleading U.S. regulators regarding the Max before the crashes [12].

Shares in Pfizer and Moderna fell 3.9% and 7.4%, respectively, Friday after a report that the Trump administration plans to link the deaths of 25 children to COVID vaccines.Trump health officials plan to include the claim in a presentation next week to a panel of advisors to the CDC that is considering new COVID vaccine recommendations, which can impact access to the shots and whether they’re free, according to the Washington Post.Those deaths were seemingly gathered from information submitted to the govern ...

Opendoor’s new chairman Keith Rabois blasted the company as “bloated” on Friday — vowing to cut up to 85% of its employees.“There’s 1,400 employees at Opendoor. I don’t know what most of them do. We don’t need more than 200 of them,” Rabois told CNBC’s “Squawk on the Street” on Friday.Rabois — a member of Silicon Valley’s famed “PayPal Mafia” that includes Elon Musk, Peter Thiel and Reid Hoffman — returned to the online real estate company this week after it installed former Shopify executive Kaz Nejatian a ...

Google and Amazon reportedly face a Federal Trade Commission probe over whether they are misleading companies that buy ads on their websites.The FTC, led by Republican chairman Andrew Ferguson, is looking into whether the Big Tech giants have been transparent about the terms and pricing of their ad deals, Bloomberg reported, citing unnamed sources.For Amazon, FTC officials want information on Amazon’s auction process and whether it informed clients about its “reserve pricing” for some ads – which refers to ...

Shares of Gemini Space Station, the billionaire Winklevoss twins’ crypto firm, jumped about 32% at the open Friday in the company’s New York Stock Exchange debut — trading at $37.01 on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol “GEMI.”Gemini, which primarily operates as a crypto exchange, had priced its initial public offering at $28 per share late Thursday, above its expected range of $24 to $26, according to Bloomberg.That valued the firm – which was founded in 2014 and holds over $21 billion of assets – at $3.3 ...

Rivian is recalling 24,214 US electric vehicles over a software glitch in its hands-free driver assistance program that can fail to identify lead vehicles and increase the risk of a crash, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Friday.The recall includes 2025 R1S and R1T vehicles running on an older software system. It estimates 100% of these electric SUVs and trucks have the defect.The recall includes some of Rivian’s R1S (above) and R1T models. Bloomberg via Getty ImagesRivian said it is ...

Warner Bros. Discovery chief David Zaslav is looking to set up a bidding war for his media conglomerate – even as David Ellison’s Paramount Skydance plans a multibillion-dollar takeover offer, The Post has learned.Paramount Skydance has yet to disclose an official bid for Warner Discovery, the owner of the Warner Brothers studios and the HBO Max streaming service, as well as cable networks like Discovery, TNT and CNN.But Zaslav isn’t in the waiting mood. According to a person with direct knowledge of the ma ...

Core Insights - Paramount Skydance is reportedly preparing to make a bid for Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), driven by the financial backing of Larry Ellison, who has recently seen a significant increase in his net worth [1][5][6] - David Zaslav, CEO of WBD, has been seeking a buyer for the company since the merger of Warner and Discovery, with shares of WBD rising on news of the potential bid [3][10] - The market capitalization of WBD is approximately $38 billion, suggesting that a deal could exceed $40 billion [5] Financial Context - Larry Ellison's net worth surged by $100 billion, bringing it to over $370 billion, positioning him as one of the wealthiest individuals globally [6] - The financial implications of the deal are significant, as David Ellison is expected to spend strategically, balancing the need for investment with the responsibility to public shareholders [12][17] Market Dynamics - Zaslav has been fielding offers for parts of WBD, particularly for CNN, which has faced challenges in ratings [7][10] - There are concerns regarding regulatory approval if WBD were to be acquired by Skydance, especially regarding the ownership of both CBS and CNN [8][10] - The media landscape is challenging, with declining theater attendance and underperformance in streaming revenues [11] Strategic Moves - Skydance is reportedly hiring Bari Weiss for a significant sum, with a compensation structure that includes stock rather than cash, indicating a focus on performance metrics [16][17] - The company is also looking to hire a right-leaning think tank as an ombudsman, reflecting a strategic approach to media bias monitoring [12][16]