Group 1 - Ancora believes Warner failed to adequately engage with Paramount's hostile tender offer [1]

Group 1 - U.S. retail sales unexpectedly stagnated in December, indicating weak consumer spending at the end of the year, leading to increased bets on interest rate cuts for this year [4] - The U.S. economy is showing signs of slowing down, which has weakened the dollar against major currencies and provided more room for the Federal Reserve to consider rate cuts [2][4] - The upcoming U.S. non-farm payroll report is anticipated to provide further insights into the labor market and potential economic direction [4] Group 2 - The S&P 500 and Nasdaq indices fell, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose slightly, marking a new closing high for the third consecutive trading day [2] - U.S. Treasury yields declined, with the 2-year, 5-year, and 10-year yields reported at 3.4520%, 3.7012%, and 4.1427% respectively, reflecting a downward trend [3] - Gold prices dropped over 1% as the market consolidated ahead of the U.S. employment and inflation data releases [2] Group 3 - Alphabet (GOOGL.US) raised nearly $32 billion in debt within 24 hours, with a 100-year pound bond receiving nearly ten times the oversubscription [5] - Barclays (BCS.US) reported better-than-expected earnings for 2025 and plans to return at least £15 billion to shareholders by the end of 2028, with an expanded bonus pool benefiting all employees [6] - Wealth management firms, including Charles Schwab, experienced significant declines due to concerns over a new AI tool developed by Altruist for tax strategy formulation [6] Group 4 - China's January CPI is expected to slow to a 0.4% year-on-year increase, while PPI is projected to narrow its decline to 1.5%, driven by rising material prices [7] - The People's Bank of China committed to maintaining a "moderately loose" monetary policy and will regularly conduct government bond trading operations [8] - Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized the need for enhanced collaboration in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, focusing on deep integration of technological and industrial innovation [9]

Streaming giants launch surprise attack: "Have you destroyed Hollywood?" "No, we are saving Hollywood." Oracle and its parent company respond hostilely after eight rejections from the century-old studio. This isn't a new blockbuster trailer, but rather the twists and turns of Hollywood's biggest acquisition in reality. On December 5th of last year, Netflix dropped a bombshell , planning to acquire the century-old Hollywood giant Warner Bros.for $82.7% billion. Discovery , but the game had only just begun. J ...

Core Viewpoint - Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) is under pressure to consider Paramount Skydance's revised $78 billion takeover offer, primarily due to regulatory concerns surrounding its existing deal with Netflix, rather than the attractiveness of the offer itself [1][5]. Group 1: Paramount's Offer Details - The new terms of Paramount's offer include covering a $2.8 billion breakup fee to exit the Netflix agreement and a "ticking fee" of 25 cents per share for delays in regulatory approval, paid quarterly after December 31 [2]. - The revised offer does not meet WBD CEO David Zaslav's expectations, lacking a $3 per share increase on top of the $30 per share cash bid and failing to secure a personal guarantee from Larry Ellison for the $50 billion debt associated with the deal [3][5]. Group 2: Regulatory Environment - WBD's decision-making is heavily influenced by increasing antitrust scrutiny on Netflix, which is facing challenges regarding its $73 billion acquisition of WBD's Warner Bros. studio and HBO Max streaming service [5][13]. - The scrutiny includes a bipartisan Senate Judiciary Committee hearing that criticized Netflix's business practices, indicating a potential regulatory backlash against the streaming giant [9]. Group 3: Shareholder Considerations - WBD's shareholders are reportedly inclined to approve the Netflix deal, fearing a drop in stock value if the deal is rejected, as the stock could revert to around $12 [7]. - The proximity of Paramount's $30 per share bid to Netflix's $27.75 offer, combined with the value of an upcoming spinoff of WBD's cable properties, complicates the decision for shareholders [8]. Group 4: Financial Implications - If WBD were to walk away from the Netflix deal, it could result in a $5.8 billion windfall from the breakup fee, but this would also lead to a significantly lower stock price for shareholders [16].

分组1: Retail Sales and Economic Indicators - Retail sales figures for December came in flat month over month, falling short of estimates, indicating a slowdown in consumer spending during the holiday season [1][2] - Year-over-year sales increased by 2.4%, significantly down from the 3.3% pace in November, failing to keep up with a 2.7% increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for December [2] - The 10-year Treasury yield dropped more than five basis points to 4.14%, while the 30-year Treasury yield lost six basis points, sitting at 4.78% following the data release [2] 分组2: Corporate Developments - Paramount has enhanced its hostile takeover bid for Warner Brothers Discovery by adding a quarterly ticking fee of about 25 cents per share and agreeing to pay a $2.8 billion breakup fee to Netflix [3] - Despite these enhancements, the per share price of the bid remains unchanged, and Warner Brothers' board continues to support a rival merger with Netflix [3] - Paramount also pledged to assist with Warner Brothers' debt financing costs in an effort to gain shareholder support ahead of a vote expected by April [4] 分组3: Software Sector Performance - Data Dog's stock rose significantly after reporting earnings that exceeded expectations, indicating a recovery in the software sector [5][6] - The company's revenue increased by 29%, driven by customer migration to AI, which is seen as a positive development for the sector [6] - However, concerns arose regarding potential disruption from an AI tool for creating tax strategies, leading to a sell-off in wealth management stocks [6] 分组4: Job Market Insights - A delayed jobs report is anticipated, with expectations of approximately 55,000 jobs added in January, up from 50,000 in December, while the unemployment rate is expected to remain at 4.4% [9][10] - Job gains are likely to be concentrated in healthcare, with fewer job openings reported in December than at any other time since 2020, which may signal future job growth challenges [10] 分组5: Upcoming Corporate Reports - Attention is on upcoming earnings reports from companies such as Shopify and McDonald's, with a focus on consumer behavior and economic indicators [12][13] - Chinese inflation data is also being monitored as it is a critical indicator for the domestic economy [13]

Market Overview - The Dow is experiencing gains, aiming for a third consecutive record close, while the S&P 500 and NASDAQ show mixed performance with slight declines [1][2][8]. - The S&P 500 equal-weighted index and small-cap indices like the S&P 600 are reaching record highs, indicating strong performance in broader market segments [3]. - Bond yields are decreasing, with the 10-year yield down to 4.14% and the 30-year yield at 4.79%, suggesting a shift in investor sentiment towards bonds [4]. Sector Performance - Utilities and real estate sectors are leading the market, with utilities up approximately 2.3% and real estate up about 1.5%, reflecting their sensitivity to interest rates [5]. - Financials, technology, and healthcare sectors are underperforming, indicating a potential shift in investor focus away from these areas [5][6]. AI and Technology Insights - The AI sector is entering a new phase, with companies increasingly relying on debt for capital expenditures rather than free cash flow, as seen in major firms like Google and Amazon [9][10]. - Investors are currently accepting of big tech companies taking on debt to finance AI developments, but there is a growing concern about the return on investment (ROI) and whether these expenditures will yield positive results in the future [12][14]. - The competitive landscape in AI is evolving, with uncertainty about which companies will emerge as leaders, prompting a cautious approach from investors [16][17]. Alphabet's Bond Offering - Alphabet is raising approximately $32 billion through multiple bond deals, including a rare 100-year bond, to finance its AI infrastructure buildout despite having substantial cash reserves [20][21]. - The demand for long-term bonds from companies like Alphabet indicates a shift in investment strategies, with institutional investors seeking stable, long-term returns [21]. Tax Implications for Big Tech - Major tech companies like Amazon and Meta are projected to see significant reductions in their tax bills for 2025, attributed to favorable tax provisions and credits related to AI investments and capital expenditures [22][23]. - This reduction in tax liabilities is expected to positively impact their bottom lines, although it may attract public scrutiny regarding their tax practices [23]. Job Market and Economic Outlook - The upcoming jobs report is anticipated to show a modest increase in employment, with projections around 70,000 new jobs added, but the White House is preparing for potential criticism if the numbers fall short of expectations [22][23]. - The labor market is described as stable, with sluggish hiring but no significant increase in layoffs, indicating a cautious economic environment [22].

>> THIS IS BLOOMBERG BUSINESSWEEK DAILY, REPORTING FROM THE MAGAZINE THAT HELPS GLOBAL LEADERS TO STAY AHEAD WITH INSIGHT ON THE PEOPLE, COMPANIES, AND TRENDS SHAPING TODAY'S COMPLEX ECONOMY. PLUS GLOBAL BUSINESS, FINANCE, AND TECH NEWS AS IT HAPPENS. BLOOMBERG BUSINESSWEEK DAILY WITH CAROL MASSAR AND TIM STENOVEC ON BLOOMBERG RADIO, TELEVISION, YOUTUBE, AND BLOOMBERG ORIGINALS.KAILEY: VERY GOOD AFTERNOON. THIS IS BLOOMBERG BUSINESSWEEK DAILY. CAROL MASSAR AND TIM STENOVEC.IT IS -- S&P 500 BRIEFLY HITTING A ...

>> LIVE FROM WASHINGTON, D. C. , THIS IS BALANCE AND POWER WITH JOE MATTHEWS AND KAILEY LEINZ.>> FOUR DAYS UNTIL THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY RUNS OUT OF MONEY. WELCOME TO THE TUESDAY EDITION OF BALANCE OF POWER. WITH NO DEAL INSIGHT ON ICE RESTRICTIONS EVEN AS LAWMAKERS HEAR TESTIMONY FROM THE HEADS OF ICE AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT IN THEIR FIRST HEARING SINCE THE TWO FATAL SHOOTINGS IN MINNEAPOLIS.I'M JOE MATHIEU ALONGSIDE KAILEY LEINZ IN WASHINGTON. YES, KAYLEE IS BACK AFTER SIX MONTHS AND WE ARE ST ...

Core Viewpoint - Paramount is enhancing its hostile takeover bid for Warner Bros. Discovery by introducing new fees and extending the deadline for shareholder support [1] Group 1: Bid Details - Paramount is offering Warner shareholders an additional "ticking fee" of 25 cents per share, totaling $650 million for each quarter after December 31 if the deal does not close by year-end [1] - The cash offer remains at $30 per share, with a new tender deadline set for March 2 [1] - Paramount's total bid for Warner is valued at $77.9 billion, with an enterprise value of $108 billion including debt [1] Group 2: Shareholder Support - Recent disclosures indicate a decline in shareholder support, with valid tenders dropping from over 168.5 million shares on January 21 to 42.3 million shares as of Monday [1] - Warner has approximately 2.48 billion shares outstanding, and Paramount needs over 50% to gain control of the company [1]

>> "BLOOMBERG TECH" IS LIVE FROM COAST-TO-COAST WITH CAROLINE HYDE IN NEW YORK AND ED LUDLOW IN SAN FRANCISCO. ED: COMING UP, SPOTIFY ADDED A RECORD NUMBER OF USERS LAST QUARTER THANKS TO ITS END OF YEAR WRAPPED CAMPAIGN. CAROLINE: PARAMOUNT ENHANCES ITS BID FOR WARNER BROS.DISCOVERY, OFFERING BILLING TO COVER DEBT REFINANCING AND TAKING FEES. ED: RUNWAY CEO CRISTOBAL VALENZUELA TALKS ABOUT THE NEW FUNDING ROUND THAT VALUES THE COMPANY AT FIVE POINT $3 BILLION. CAROLINE: ON THE BENCHMARKS, NOTHING THAT EXCI ...