Ah, the financial markets. A bastion of logic, predictability, and sober analysis, right? Not when Donald J. Trump is in the news cycle, apparently. For investors navigating the turbulent waters of global economics, President Trump’s pronouncements have become less about fundamental shifts and more about a high-stakes game of policy roulette. One day, tariffs loom like an apocalyptic storm; the next, a “great deal” is just around the corner, often announced via social media and with all the gravitas of a la ...

Industry News - Blockworks' newsroom closure resulted in layoffs, including Jack Kubinec [1] - The closure impacts journalism/media professionals covering the crypto industry [1][2] Career Transition - Jack Kubinec, formerly of Blockworks, is seeking new opportunities in journalism/media [1][2] - Kubinec highlights his experience and growth in covering the crypto industry [1]

Group 1: Financial Performance - YouTube ad revenue exceeded $10 billion for the first time in a single quarter, contributing to Alphabet's strong financial results [1] - Total revenue for Alphabet reached $102.34 billion, marking a 16% increase year-over-year and surpassing the $100 billion milestone for the first time [1] - Diluted earnings per share rose to $2.87 from $2.12, significantly exceeding Wall Street's expectations of $2.27 [1] Group 2: Industry Context - The tech sector continues to perform well, with major companies like Alphabet and Meta reporting strong earnings, while Apple and Amazon are set to report soon [2] - Heavy investments in AI have positively impacted stock prices across the tech industry, with Nvidia recently becoming the first $5 trillion company [2] Group 3: YouTube's Growth and Strategy - YouTube has maintained its position as the top streaming destination for over a year and a half, with nearly 10 million subscribers to its YouTube TV service, making it a leading pay-TV operator in the U.S. [3] - YouTube TV is currently negotiating with several network parents, including a looming deadline with Disney, as it seeks to leverage its subscriber base [3] - YouTube Premium has contributed to surpassing 300 million paid subscriptions, with Google One also being a significant factor [4] Group 4: Product Development - CEO Sundar Pichai highlighted the integration of Gemini, a large-language model, into Google search results, which has attracted over 650 million monthly active users [4]

Core Insights - Paramount has initiated layoffs affecting around 1,000 employees, with expectations of further cuts, ultimately reducing the workforce by 10% as part of a strategy for long-term growth [2][3] - The layoffs are part of a broader cost-cutting initiative following Skydance's $8.4 billion merger with Paramount, which aims to reduce costs by approximately $2 billion [4] - Paramount is also pursuing a potential acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, which would significantly expand its media portfolio [7][8] Company Actions - The new CEO David Ellison has indicated that the layoffs address redundancies and roles misaligned with the company's evolving priorities [3] - CBS News, a subsidiary of Paramount, is expected to cut around 100 employees, a decision made prior to the appointment of Bari Weiss as editor-in-chief [3] - Despite workforce reductions, Paramount has committed to a $7.7 billion deal to become the UFC's streaming partner, which is a significant investment in content rights [8] Industry Context - Paramount's layoffs are part of a larger trend in the industry, with other major companies like Amazon, UPS, Target, and General Motors also announcing significant job cuts [5] - The competitive landscape is intensifying as Paramount seeks to enhance its market position through strategic acquisitions and partnerships, while also managing operational costs [7][9] - Regulatory considerations may impact the potential merger with Warner Bros. Discovery, but the political connections of Skydance's leadership could influence the outcome [9]

We're hearing these layoffs are just the beginning. You know, more cuts are expected to happen at a later date. This comes just months after the Trump administration approved its 8 billion merger with Skyance.It also comes as the company's CEO, David Ellison, continues to pursue a merger with Warner Brothers Discovery, CNN's parent company, confirming speculation that he plans to build a news and entertainment powerhouse that could reshape the media landscape. ...

John Malone, the veteran media billionaire known as the "cable cowboy," is stepping down as chairman of Liberty Media (LLYVK). This ends more than three decades at the helm of the company he helped build into a sprawling media empire. Malone, 84, will transition to chairman emeritus, effective Jan. 1 2026. Vice chairman Robert R. "Dob" Bennett will assume the role of chairman, according to a company statement. "Founding Liberty Media and serving as its Chairman has been among the most rewarding experienc ...

The logo and lettering of Paramount Skydance Corporation can be seen at a Paramount stand at the Media Days in Munich (Bavaria, Germany).Paramount Skydance is slashing nearly 1,000 jobs beginning on Wednesday, just months after the close of its merger, according to a person close to the situation. The layoffs will eventually amount to 2,000 roles, the person said."When we launched the new Paramount in August, we made clear that building a strong, future-focused company would require significant change – inc ...

Welcome back. Some news uh on John Malone, the longtime chairman of course of uh Liberty Media, Liberty Global. He will be stepping down from both of those positions.Um according to sources, expecting the companies to confirm that as well. It' been reported by another publication this morning. I can confirm uh that Malone will be doing so.Not a huge surprise of course uh given he has been um devesting to a certain extent andor consolidating control positions and things of that nature for quite some time now ...

Welcome back. Some news uh on John Malone, the longtime chairman of course of uh Liberty Media, Liberty Global. He will be stepping down from both of those positions.Um according to sources, expecting the companies to confirm that as well. It' been reported by another publication this morning. I can confirm uh that Malone will be doing so.Not a huge surprise of course uh given he has been um devesting to a certain extent andor consolidating control positions and things of that nature for quite some time now ...

Key TakeawaysU.S. Crude Oil Inventories experienced a significant draw of 6.858 million barrels, far exceeding the estimated 1.203 million barrel increase and the previous week's 961,000 barrel decline. However, Cushing crude oil inventories saw a build of 1.334 million barrels, reversing the prior week's draw.The Bank of Canada cut its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to 2.25% and sharply reduced its economic growth forecasts for 2025 to 1.2% (from 1.8%) and 2026 to 1.1% (from 1.8%), primarily du ...