News Corporation (NWS), headquartered in New York, creates and distributes authoritative and engaging content, and other products and services worldwide. Valued at $17 billion by market cap, the company delivers news, financial insights, entertainment, book publishing, digital real estate services, and subscription video content through influential publications like The Wall Street Journal, The Times, New York Post, MarketWatch, and more. The global media and information services leader is expected to anno ...

The Writers Guild of America, which represents screenwriters and newsroom staffers, said it will oppose a deal combining Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery https://t.co/2mGe2X20Kg ...

Core Viewpoint - Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) has emerged as a top performer in the U.S. entertainment and media industry, delivering a total return of approximately 94% in 2025, primarily driven by a potential bidding war for its valuable content assets [1][2]. Group 1: Company Performance - WBD's stock has increased significantly, with shares up more than 75% since early September 2025, largely due to reports of acquisition interest from Paramount Skydance [3]. - The company has rejected an offer of nearly $24 per share from Paramount Skydance, which would have represented a 17% premium over its closing price on October 22 [4]. Group 2: Acquisition Interest - Warner Bros. has received unsolicited offers from multiple parties, including Netflix and Comcast, indicating strong interest in its content library [6]. - The CEO of WBD is reportedly seeking an offer of $40 per share, which would represent a nearly 95% premium over its October 22 closing price [9]. Group 3: Content Value - Warner Bros. owns several highly valuable media franchises, including DC Comics, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and Game of Thrones, making it an attractive target for acquisition [7]. - Paramount Skydance has previously demonstrated a willingness to invest heavily in content, as evidenced by its $1.1 billion per year deal for UFC broadcasting [4]. Group 4: Market Dynamics - The potential acquisition of Warner Bros. could lead to substantial gains for shareholders, especially if the bidding competition drives the price higher [10]. - Regulatory approval may pose challenges for potential acquirers, particularly for Comcast, due to the consolidation of media assets [8].

Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the other major stock indexes traded lower in premarket action Thursday. Meanwhile, Tesla (TSLA) sold off on the stock market today after the company reported disappointing third-quarter results. Ahead of the opening bell, the Dow dropped 0.2% while S&P 500 futures also slipped 0.2%. Nasdaq 100 index futures were down 0.3% in… BREAKING: Crude Oil Jumps 5% On Trump Move Related news Get instant access to exclusive stock lists, expert market analysis and powerf ...

Core Viewpoint - Paramount has made multiple bids to acquire Warner Brothers Discovery, with the latest offer being $23.50 per share in cash and stock, indicating a strategic move to consolidate power in the entertainment industry [1][2][11]. Bid Details - Paramount's initial offer was $19, which was subsequently raised to $22, and finally to $23.50 [1][2]. - The offers were communicated in a letter from Paramount CEO David Ellison to the Warner Brothers Discovery board [2]. Strategic Implications - Paramount positions itself as the best partner for Warner Brothers Discovery, suggesting that a merger would create a "scaled Hollywood champion" benefiting both companies and the industry [3]. - The proposal includes an offer for David Zazlav, the current CEO of Warner Brothers Discovery, to become co-CEO and co-chair of the combined entity, indicating a desire to retain key leadership [3][9]. Competitive Landscape - Warner Brothers Discovery has stated it is not pursuing the deal and is effectively putting itself up for sale, raising questions about other potential bidders [4]. - Paramount's letter suggests that regulatory hurdles may limit other bidders, such as Amazon and Comcast, making Paramount's offer more attractive [5]. Market Reactions - Analysts have speculated on the potential for higher bids, with some suggesting that the company needing the acquisition the most will pay a premium [6][7]. - There is concern that if Warner Brothers Discovery does not accept a reasonable offer, the share price could drop significantly [11]. Other Potential Bidders - Amazon is reportedly interested, while Netflix has publicly stated it is not pursuing the acquisition, although its shareholders may not favor high content costs [12][13].

Group 1 - Indian shares are expected to open sharply higher due to cautious optimism reflected in Muhurat Trading, with hopes pinned on a potential U.S.-India trade deal that could significantly lower tariffs on Indian exports from an average of 50 percent to about 15-16 percent [1] - India may consider gradually reducing its imports of Russian crude oil in exchange for tariff concessions from the U.S., although market volatility is anticipated due to ongoing geopolitical tensions and rising oil prices following U.S. sanctions on Russia [2] - Oil prices have increased by more than 2 percent for the third consecutive session as a result of sanctions imposed by the Trump administration on Russia related to Ukraine [4] Group 2 - U.S. stocks experienced a decline overnight, influenced by weaker-than-expected earnings reports from Netflix and Texas Instruments, as well as concerns over potential export curbs to China in response to China's rare earth export restrictions [5] - European stocks mostly closed lower, with the pan-European STOXX 600 down by 0.2 percent, amid comments from President Trump regarding his meetings with Russian and Chinese leaders [6]

Core Insights - Tesla's revenue increased by 12% year on year in Q3, marking the first rise in three quarters, but net income fell by 37% compared to the previous year [1][2] Financial Performance - The decline in net income is attributed to lower vehicle prices aimed at competing with Chinese manufacturers and a 50% rise in operating expenses, partly due to investments in artificial intelligence and R&D projects [2] Market Reaction - Following the earnings report, Tesla's shares dropped by 3.8% in extended trading, reflecting investor dissatisfaction [3] - The negative sentiment was compounded by disappointing earnings reports from Netflix and Texas Instruments, which saw their shares decline by 10% and 5.6% respectively [3] Broader Market Impact - The declines in major tech stocks contributed to a broader market downturn, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite experiencing declines for October [4] - Upcoming earnings reports from major tech companies like Alphabet, Apple, Meta, and Microsoft could influence market recovery in the remaining trading days of October [4]

Core Viewpoint - Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison is cautious about overpaying for Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) and believes he may not need to exceed $25 per share due to various factors, including support from Donald Trump [1][3]. Bid Details - Paramount has made an offer of $24 per share for WBD, with sources indicating the exact bid was $23.50 [2]. - WBD's stock rose 11% following the news of the bid, closing at $20.53, but Ellison has no plans to increase his offer above $25 [3]. Competitive Landscape - Ellison is advised that U.S. antitrust concerns and personal animosities will hinder rival bidders, particularly Comcast, which is led by Brian Roberts, a figure Trump reportedly dislikes [3][4]. - Comcast has shown interest in acquiring WBD but faces challenges due to its ownership of MSNBC and NBC, which are viewed unfavorably by Trump [6][12]. Strategic Considerations - Zaslav, WBD's CEO, has rejected three offers from Paramount, with the last being around $24 per share, and is aiming for a sale price of up to $30 per share, valuing WBD at over $70 billion [9]. - Internal advisors suggest that Ellison may consider a hostile bid if necessary, as they believe Zaslav has limited options [10]. Regulatory Environment - There are concerns that Trump's FCC would block Netflix's potential acquisition of WBD's streaming platform due to antitrust issues, as Netflix is the leading streaming service [13]. - Amazon is also interested in WBD's assets but faces regulatory hurdles due to a consent decree with the FTC [16]. Market Position - WBD has established itself as the No. 1 studio and has the No. 3 streaming service since its formation in 2022 through the merger of Discovery Inc. and Warner Media [10].

Core Insights - The entertainment industry is undergoing significant transformation, with Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery at the forefront, adapting to streaming trends and redefining their business models [1][2] Company Overview - Disney is a century-old entertainment leader with diverse operations in film, television, theme parks, and streaming [2] - Warner Bros. Discovery was formed from the 2022 merger of WarnerMedia and Discovery, creating a diversified content ecosystem that includes HBO, Warner Bros. Pictures, and CNN [2] Strategic Positioning - Warner Bros. Discovery operates across Studios, Streaming, and Linear Networks, leveraging a large content library and global production capabilities [4] - Disney is focusing on restoring earnings momentum through a transformation that emphasizes streaming and experiences, with a disciplined approach to cost management [8] Financial Performance - Warner Bros. Discovery's Studio revenue for Q3 2025 is estimated at $2.77 billion, a 5.6% increase year-over-year, driven by franchises like Harry Potter and DC Universe [5] - Disney's Direct-to-Consumer revenue for Q4 2025 is projected at $6.3 billion, reflecting a 9.01% year-over-year growth, supported by subscriber growth across Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ [10] Growth Drivers - Warner Bros. Discovery's streaming platform, Max, is expanding in 77 markets with a strong lineup of franchise and original content [5] - Disney's Experiences segment, including Parks and Resorts, is expected to generate $8.22 billion in revenue for Q4 2025, driven by strong attendance and guest spending [11] Valuation and Market Performance - Disney has a forward price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of 2.04X, higher than Warner Bros. Discovery's 1.33X, indicating greater market confidence in Disney's diversified business [13] - Year-to-date, Warner Bros. Discovery's shares have increased by 92.4%, while Disney's shares have appreciated by 2.5%, reflecting differing investor sentiments [16] Conclusion - Both companies are adapting to a streaming-first landscape, with Warner Bros. Discovery showing operational progress but facing volatility due to restructuring, while Disney is positioned for sustainable long-term value through improving margins and global expansion [19]

Good Wednesday morning from Yahoo Finance's New York City headquarters studios. I'm Yahoo Finance executive editor Brian Sazi. You're watching Noah Holdings, ringing the opening bell at the NYC. If you never heard of this company, no is a wealth manager that serves global Chinese high- netw worth investors and Hong Kong based restaurant group Master Beef Group getting trading under uh away at the NASDAQ. Master Beef, interesting. All right, earning season is very much in full swing. Investors are still pick ...