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Warner Bros. Discovery said to revisit talks with Paramount as media M&A reshapes

Warner Bros. Discovery is considering reopening talks with Paramount, even after agreeing to sell itself to Netflix under a contract that allows pursuit of superior alternatives. Any shift would reconfigure Hollywood’s streaming and studio landscape and face complex antitrust and financing hurdles. Investors are watching for deal structure, asset divestitures, and how creditors and regulators respond.

Source: NYTDealBook


U.S. equities trade at a 40% premium to the rest of the world

U.S. stocks are now 40% more expensive than international peers, intensifying the valuation gap and fueling arguments for geographic diversification. The premium raises the bar for future returns and adds support to rotation theses favoring Europe and other developed markets with lower multiples.

Source: Seeking Alpha


Tariff risk watch: Supreme Court odds put potential Trump-era duties back in play

Odds are estimated near one in four that the U.S. Supreme Court could rule in favor of Trump’s tariffs, reviving a major policy swing with implications for inflation, supply chains, and sector winners and losers. A pro-tariff outcome would likely pressure import-heavy retailers and manufacturers while benefiting select domestic producers.

Source: Seeking Alpha


ACH usage surges to record highs, pressuring bank deposits and card revenue

ACH Network volumes hit new records in 2025, with both traditional and same-day rails accelerating, American Banker reports. Faster, cheaper payments threaten banks’ card interchange and noninterest income while making deposits more mobile, forcing incumbents to revamp pricing, onboarding, and treasury services.

Source: AmericanBanker


Global automakers stare down a $65B hit as EV demand cools

Easing enthusiasm for pure EVs could cost automakers roughly $65 billion, prompting capacity resets, incentives, and a renewed tilt toward hybrids. The shift underscores execution risk in the EV ramp, from supply chains and pricing to software monetization, with balance-sheet flexibility now at a premium.

Source: Seeking Alpha


Morgan Stanley builds tokenization stack, eyes E*Trade crypto and RWA wallet

Morgan Stanley opened senior engineering roles to architect a hybrid blockchain and tokenization platform spanning Ethereum, Polygon, Hyperledger, and Canton. The bank is preparing native Bitcoin/Ether/Solana trading on E*Trade and a proprietary wallet for tokenized private equity, real estate, and bonds—signaling Wall Street’s push to capture the multi-trillion-dollar RWA opportunity.

Source: Finance Magnates


Macquarie leads A$11.7B bid for Qube; shares hit record

Australia’s Qube Holdings jumped to a record after receiving a binding A$11.7 billion takeover led by Macquarie, highlighting sustained private-capital appetite for logistics and ports infrastructure. The deal would further consolidate critical supply-chain assets and underscores infrastructure’s resilience amid rate volatility.

Source: Seeking Alpha


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Business — February 16, 2026 | Briefing24