Glencore and Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) have returned to the deal room early in CY26, holding “preliminary discussions” on an all-share merger between the two that would instantly make them the world’s largest mining company.Listen to the HotCopper podcast for in-depth discussions and insights on all the biggest headlines from throughout the week. On Spotify, Apple, and more.The bumper talks, first reported late on Thursday before being confirmed by a Glencore update (which was forwarded by Rio on the ASX wire), a ...

Join our daily newsletter At The Bell to receive exclusive market insightsASX today – Friday in Week 2 is looking like an M&A kind of day, with Kerry Stokes’ eager conglomerate now preparing another BlueScope Steel (ASX:BSL) tilt and Glencore confirming it’s speaking to Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) again.Listen to the HotCopper podcast for in-depth discussions and insights on all the biggest headlines from throughout the week. On Spotify, Apple, and more.These bumper conversations – two of the biggest deals the ASX ...

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The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer offered insights on. Cramer was bullish on the stock during the episode, as he commented: “Take Goldman Sachs. I’ve been shouting from the rooftops that this will be the year of mergers and acquisitions, not to mention gigantic equity offerings. Goldman stock opened almost unchanged. It sells at just 17 times earnings, less than the average S&P 500 stock, even though it’s much better than they are, and it’s a huge player in M&A and is ...

Jan 6 (Reuters) - Buyout firm Hg Capital has agreed to acquire financial software maker OneStream in an all-cash deal worth $6.4 billion, the ​company said on Tuesday, less than two years after its Nasdaq ‌debut. Shareholders will receive $24 a share in cash, representing a 31% premium to OneStream's closing price ‌on Monday. The stock jumped more than 28% in afternoon trading. Global mergers and acquisitions activity showed a steady rebound in 2025, extending a gradual recovery despite uncertainty over ...

Mergers and Acquisitions - The three largest insurance brokers, Marsh, Aon, and Arthur J. Gallagher, engaged in multi-billion-dollar acquisitions in 2024, indicating a strong trend in insurance M&A activity [1] - Brown & Brown announced an agreement to acquire Accession Risk Management, the parent company of Risk Strategies and One80 Intermediaries, for approximately $9.8 billion, making it a significant deal in 2025 [3] - Baldwin Group acquired CAC Group for about $1.03 billion, consisting of $438 million in cash and 23.2 million shares valued at $589 million [4] - WTW completed a late 2025 acquisition of Newfront for $1.3 billion, while South Korea's DB Insurance Co. agreed to buy Fortegra Group for $1.65 billion [5] - AIG acquired Everest's retail commercial insurance renewal rights and jointly acquired Convex Group with Onex Corp, while Sompo Holdings' subsidiary acquired Aspen Insurance Holdings for about $3.5 billion [6] Legal Issues and Lawsuits - Howden US faced multiple lawsuits from Aon, Marsh, WTW, and Brown & Brown over allegations of poaching employees and theft of trade secrets [7] - Marsh filed lawsuits against former employees who joined Howden US, as well as against Aon and Alliant for employee exits within its construction surety business [8] - The insurance industry is increasingly concerned about third-party litigation funding (TPLF), which is believed to drive up litigation costs and insurance premiums, prompting legislative attention [9][11] Industry Challenges - The impact of President Trump's import tariffs on the insurance industry has been a major concern, with potential increases in the cost of goods essential to the industry [12][13] - Liberty Mutual announced the discontinuation of the Safeco brand, which has been associated with independent agents since its acquisition in 2008 [14] Leadership Changes - John Neal's unexpected departure from AIG, where he was set to lead the General Insurance segment, raised concerns about leadership stability within the company [15][16] Regulatory and Program Updates - The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) faced a lapse in reauthorization, causing homeowners to consider private flood insurance options [18]

Core Viewpoint - Small-cap stocks and related ETFs have faced challenges in 2023, but there are signs of recovery and potential growth for these assets heading into 2026, particularly highlighted by recent performance metrics [1][6]. Performance Indicators - The Russell 2000 Index has gained 4.33% over the past month, while the Invesco NASDAQ Future Gen 200 ETF (QQQS) has returned over 6% in the same period, indicating a positive trend for small-cap investors [1]. - Historically, small-cap stocks have outperformed large-cap stocks in the months following Federal Reserve interest rate cuts, with data showing this trend since 1990 [2]. Market Dynamics - Increased mergers and acquisitions activity, along with more accommodating regulatory policies, are expected to contribute to the favorable outlook for small-cap stocks [2]. - The QQQS ETF allocates nearly 52% of its weight to healthcare stocks, which are rumored to be potential takeover targets, enhancing its attractiveness [2]. Valuation Insights - Small-cap stocks currently exhibit undemanding valuations despite recent strength, making them an appealing option for growth and diversification [3][4]. - The QQQS ETF has a significant allocation (71%) to healthcare and technology sectors, which are typically seen as richly valued in the small-cap space [3]. Risk and Market Sentiment - The QQQS ETF is considered to have a manageable risk profile, with potential support from market participants willing to embrace risk in the small-cap sector [5]. - The recent rally in small-cap stocks has been driven by falling interest rates and economic growth, which are expected to continue benefiting this asset class [6].

Core Insights - Oracle's co-founder Larry Ellison is personally guaranteeing over $40 billion for his son's company in an effort to acquire Warner Brothers Discovery [1] - The Warner Brothers Discovery Board is reviewing a new amended offer, which addresses most of their concerns but is not yet a game changer [2] - The valuation of the Discovery Global equity piece related to Netflix is a critical factor that still needs resolution, along with debt considerations [3] Financial Analysis - Warner Brothers' current valuation is at $28.76, which is already a dollar more than the Netflix deal for Warner Brothers studio streamers [5] - The global network is estimated to be worth between $3.5 billion and $4.5 billion, indicating that Paramount needs to offer at least $32 billion for a more equitable deal [6] - The valuation of Discovery is influenced by its debt and cash flows from the linear streaming model, with a suggested multiple of four to four and a half times [8][9]

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Dec. 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Independent Bank Corporation (NASDAQ: IBCP), the holding company of Independent Bank, a Michigan-based community bank, announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Michael G. Wooldridge to the boards of the Corporation and the Bank. Mr. Wooldridge was formerly a partner with the Varnum law firm where he concentrated on corporate governance, securities, and mergers & acquisitions, representing publicly traded clients on governance and securities c ...

Key Points The mortgage specialist announced its first large-scale acquisition. It has agreed to purchase mREIT Two Harbors Investment. 10 stocks we like better than UWM Holdings › Mortgage company UWM Holdings Corporation (NYSE: UWMC), the indirect parent company of United Wholesale Mortgage, announced the first major acquisition in its history earlier this week. Many investors were unhappy about this, however, and according to data compiled by S&P Global Market Intelligence, these folks were co ...