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☆ Options Action: Activision trader wins big on trade placed before FTC injunction denial
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

In this videoShare Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailOptions Action: Activision trader wins big on trade placed before FTC injunction denialMike Khouw, Optimize Advisors president, joins CNBC’s Melissa Lee and the Options Action traders on Activison's bid trading day.

Persons: Mike Khouw, Melissa Lee Organizations: Activision, Options

☆ Activision Blizzard stock surges 10% after judge rules on Microsoft deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Ashley Capoot | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Shares of Activision Blizzard closed up 10% on Tuesday after a judge denied the Federal Trade Commission's motion for a preliminary injunction to stop Microsoft from acquiring the video game maker. Activision Blizzard's stock reached a 52-week high of $92.91 per share, and the move reflects the biggest jump for the video game publisher since the deal was first announced on Jan. 18, 2022. Activision Blizzard shares hit their highest close since July 2021. Microsoft agreed to buy Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion, or $95 per share, but the acquisition has faced opposition in the U.S. and abroad over concerns that it could stifle competition. The FTC can now bring the decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, and Microsoft and Activision Blizzard must find a way forward to resolve opposition from the Competition and Markets Authority in the United Kingdom.

Persons: Jacqueline Scott Corley, Bobby Kotick, — CNBC's Jordan Novet Organizations: Activision Blizzard, Federal, Microsoft, Activision, Jan, U.S, Northern, Northern District of, Court, FTC, U.S ., Appeals, Circuit, Competition, Markets Authority Locations: U.S, Northern District, Northern District of California, United Kingdom

A federal judge on Tuesday ruled against the Federal Trade Commission’s attempt to delay Microsoft’s $70 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, setting the stage for the tech giant and the video game publisher to merge as soon as this month. In a 53-page decision, Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley of U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California said the F.T.C. had failed to show it was likely to prove that the merger was likely to result in a substantial reduction in competition that would harm consumers. The ruling is a significant blow to the F.T.C.’s efforts to police blockbuster tech mergers more aggressively. has sued Microsoft, Meta and Amazon, but it walked away from one of its cases against Meta and has had little to show for its efforts so far.

Persons: Jacqueline Scott Corley, Lina Khan Organizations: Federal Trade, Activision Blizzard, U.S, Northern, Microsoft, Meta Locations: Northern District, California

The moves should bolster efficiency at both firms, amid an already-stellar year for the two Club holdings. Apple surpassed a $3 trillion market capitalization last month, but has since pulled back to a valuation of $2.94 trillion. Meanwhile, WedBush recently forecasted that Microsoft could also join the $3 trillion club by early 2024 on the back of its artificial intelligence capabilities. This round of Microsoft layoffs is much smaller than the cuts the company announced earlier this year, so it probably doesn't move the needle. As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade.

Persons: WedBush, ChatGPT, Tencent, Jim Cramer's, Jim Cramer, Jim, RYU Organizations: Microsoft, Apple, Nasdaq, CNBC, Federal Trade Commission's, Activision, Getty, Visual China Locations: China, Washington, India, Seattle , Washington

☆ Factbox: What's next after US judge rules in favor of Microsoft-Activision deal?
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

With the first fight in federal court in California wrapped up, the agency and companies have decisions to make about what comes next. * Or the agency may choose to challenge Corley's ruling in a federal appeals court. An administrative law judge at the FTC is scheduled to hear arguments about the deal in August. The next stop after that would be a federal appeals court. * If the FTC wins, the companies can appeal to the commission to overturn the decision and, if needed, take the case to a federal appeals court.

Persons: Jacqueline Scott Corley, Corley's, Michael Chappell, Lina Khan, Chappell, Khan, Diane Bartz, Matthew Lewis, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Microsoft, Activision, U.S . Federal Trade Commission, Meta, FTC, Thomson Locations: California, Illumina's, Washington

☆ As the narrative of a looming recession loses steam, Jim calls out these stocks that are in favor
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

As the narrative of a looming recession loses steam, Jim calls out these stocks that are in favorA broader market rally Tuesday is giving a boost to cyclicals and energy, while defensives lag. And the strike down of the FTC's motion to stop Microsoft from acquiring Activision Blizzard opens possibilities of more deal making.

Persons: Jim Organizations: Microsoft, Activision

☆ Dow jumps 300 points as US stocks rise ahead of important June inflation reading
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Max Adams | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

US stocks closed higher on Tuesday as investors got ready for an important June CPI reading. The key inflation data will arrive Wednesday morning, ahead of the Fed's next policy meeting at the end of the month. Shares of Activision spiked in the session after a judge said Microsoft could buy the video game company. It comes ahead of the Federal Reserve's next policy meeting on July 25-26. Inflation has been falling steadily this year, and clocked in at a 4% year-over-year pace in May, the slowest rate in two years.

Persons: they're Organizations: Activision, Microsoft, Service, Federal, Activision Blizzard, Federal Trade Commission Locations: Wall, Silicon

☆ Judge denies FTC request for preliminary injunction to stop Microsoft-Activision deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

In this videoShare Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailJudge denies FTC request for preliminary injunction to stop Microsoft-Activision dealCNBC's Steve Kovach and David Faber join 'Squawk on the Street' to report on a judge denying the FTC's request for preliminary injunction to stop Microsoft-Activision deal.

Persons: Steve Kovach, David Faber Organizations: Microsoft, Activision

☆ Judge strikes down the FTC's effort to block Microsoft-Activision merger
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

In this videoShare Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailJudge strikes down the FTC's effort to block Microsoft-Activision mergerCNBC's Steve Kovach and David Faber join 'The Exchange' to discuss a Federal ruling against the FTC's request for a preliminary injunction of Microsoft- Activision deal, and Microsoft offering small divestiture to meet UK CMA objections.

Persons: Steve Kovach, David Faber Organizations: Microsoft, Activision, CMA

☆ Lucid, Activision, EA, Uber: Here's where Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund has invested
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, known as the Public Investment Fund, is an active player in U.S. public and private markets. But among the documents disclosed in the recent PGA-LIV merger hearings was a previously unreported list of the sovereign wealth fund's top public equity holdings, valued at about $35.5 billion. The list, which was updated as of March 31, shows a $8.9 billion stake in electric automaker Lucid , constituting about 25% of PIF's equity holdings. PIF's second-largest stake, in Activision Blizzard , was valued at $3.3 billion and amounted to 9.1% of PIF's public equity holdings. Google accounts for 2.87% of the Nasdaq by weight but made up a mere 1.2% of the PIF's $35.51 billion public portfolio.

Persons: PIF, PIF's, Prince Mohammed bin Salman Organizations: Public Investment Fund, Activision Blizzard, Trade, Electronic Arts, Nasdaq, Meta, Booking Holdings Locations: Saudi, Saudi Arabia

☆ Microsoft can close its Activision merger, federal judge rules
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —A federal judge will not block Microsoft (MSFT) from closing its $69 billion deal to acquire video game giant Activision Blizzard, a defeat for US regulators who had asked for a temporary injunction while legal challenges to the merger unfold. Microsoft could potentially finalize the deal with Activision in a matter of days, ahead of a July 18 contractual deadline, or the parties could mutually seek to extend that timeframe. During a five-day hearing last month in federal court, Microsoft executives including CEO Satya Nadella testified that properties such as “Call of Duty” would not be restricted from competitors following the deal’s close. UK officials also previously moved to block the Activision merger in April, citing some of the same concerns the FTC raised in its case and triggering an appeal from Microsoft. “Microsoft and Activision have agreed with the CMA that a stay of the litigation in the UK would be in the public interest and the parties have made a joint submission … to this effect.”

Persons: ”, “, Jacqueline Scott Corley, Corley, Satya Nadella, Tuesday’s, Microsoft’s, “ We’re, Brad Smith, we’ve, Bobby Kotick, Meta’s, ” Douglas Farrar, we’ll, ” Smith Organizations: CNN, Microsoft, Activision, US, Court, Northern, Northern District of, Sony PlayStation, Federal Trade Commission, FTC, Regulators, Nvidia, Nintendo, “, PlayStation, Appeals, Ninth Circuit, Markets, CMA Locations: Northern District, Northern District of California, ”, San Francisco

☆ F.T.C.’s Court Loss Raises Fresh Questions About Its Chair’s Strategy
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Cecilia Kang | More About Cecilia Kang | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Lina Khan became chair of the Federal Trade Commission two years ago on a promise to bring bold action against the biggest tech companies. For too long, Ms. Khan said at the time, the agency had been a weak cop and needed to challenge behemoths like Microsoft, Amazon, Meta and Google in the courts to stem their growing power. But on Tuesday, Ms. Khan suffered the biggest blow yet to her hallmark agenda. That followed a loss in February, when a judge rejected an F.T.C. Ms. Khan’s critics are more emboldened and are speaking out more loudly to poke holes in her take-it-to-the-courts strategy, saying the losses are not even partial wins — they’re just losses.

Persons: Lina Khan, Khan, wanes, — they’re Organizations: Federal Trade Commission, Microsoft, Google, Activision Locations: America

☆ Microsoft is really serious about getting Activision deal done by Monday: Jeffries' Andrew Uerkwitz
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailMicrosoft is really serious about getting Activision deal done by Monday: Jeffries' Andrew UerkwitzAndrew Uerkwitz, Jefferies equity analyst, joins 'Closing Bell Overtime' to talk the latest news on the possible Microsoft-Activision merger and what it means for the gaming industry's future.

Persons: Jeffries, Andrew Uerkwitz Andrew Uerkwitz Organizations: Microsoft, Activision, Jefferies

☆ Microsoft-Activision ruling highlights Lina Khan's struggles to fight tech
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Lauren Feiner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Khan first emerged in antitrust circles for her critiques of how antitrust enforcement overlooked potential abuses by Amazon . The ruling means the parties are closer to being able to complete their merger by their July 18 deadline. "In the coming days we'll be announcing our next step to continue our fight to preserve competition and protect consumers." It's not the first time a judge has looked dubiously on the FTC's antitrust enforcement theories under Khan. WATCH: Judge denies FTC request for preliminary injunction to stop Microsoft-Activision deal

Persons: Lina Khan, Lina Khan's, Khan, Joe Biden, Jacqueline Scott Corley, Corley, Microsoft's, we'll, It's, Matt Stoller, Stoller, –, Microsoft — Organizations: Energy, Securities and Exchange Commission, Federal Trade, Microsoft, Activision Blizzard, FTC, Activision, PlayStation, Nintendo, U.K, Competition, American Economic Liberties, Twitter, Biden, CNBC, YouTube Locations: Rayburn

☆ Watch CNBC’s full interview with former FTC chairman William Kovacic on Microsoft-Activision ruling
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWatch CNBC’s full interview with former FTC chairman William Kovacic on Microsoft-Activision rulingWilliam Kovacic, former FTC chairman, joins 'Power Lunch' to discuss the latest on the Microsoft-Activision deal and what it means for future big tech deals.

Persons: William Kovacic Organizations: Microsoft, Activision

☆ Microsoft-Activision win is also a win for Amazon, says former FTC chair William Kovacic
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

In this videoShare Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailMicrosoft-Activision win is also a win for Amazon, says former FTC chair William KovacicWilliam Kovacic, FMR. FTC chairman, joins 'Power Lunch' to discuss the latest on the Microsoft-Activision deal and what it means for future big tech deals.

Persons: William Kovacic William Kovacic Organizations: Microsoft, Activision, Amazon Locations: FMR

☆ Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway is poised to score a $1 billion profit after Microsoft beats FTC in Activision case
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Matthew Fox | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Berkshire Hathaway is poised to score a $1 billion profit after Microsoft prevailed against the FTC in its bid to acquire Activision. Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway owned nearly 50 million shares of Activision at the end of the first quarter. Berkshire Hathaway first purchased a stake in Activision Blizzard in the fourth quarter of 2021, just a few months before Microsoft announced its proposed acquisition of Activision. Berkshire Hathaway ultimately built its Activision stake to a peak of 68.4 million shares in the second quarter of 2022 at an estimated weighted average price of $73.95 per share, Insider calculated. Since then, the conglomerate pared down its position in the third, fourth, and first quarters of 2022 and 2023, respectively, to 49.7 million shares.

Persons: Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffett's Berkshire, Warren, Todd Combs, Ted Weschler, Berkshire Hathaway's, Buffett, Microsoft's, Berkshire Hathaway —, —, CNBC's David Faber Organizations: Microsoft, FTC, Activision, Activision Blizzard, Warren, Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway, Service, Berkshire, Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway's Locations: Berkshire, Wall, Silicon

Activision shares surged 10% on the day, as the U.S. and Britain have been the two countries opposed to what would be Microsoft's biggest deal ever and the largest transaction in the videogame industry's history. Microsoft shares rose 64 cents to $332.47. Microsoft logo is seen on a smartphone placed on displayed Activision Blizzard's games characters in this illustration taken January 18, 2022. "It does seem like the Microsoft and the CMA could work out a deal within the next couple of weeks," said D.A. The FTC's complaint had cited concerns about loss of competition in console gaming, as well as subscriptions and cloud gaming.

Persons: Jacqueline Scott Corley, ”, Joost Van Dreunen, University's, Corley, Douglas Farrar, we'll, Dado Ruvic, Biden, Brad Smith, Franco Granda, Satya Nadella, Diane Bartz, David Shepardson, Jaspreet Singh, Aditya Soni, Chris Sanders, Caitlin Webber, Matthew Lewis David Gregorio, Muralikumar Organizations: Activision, Microsoft, Biden, U.S, Markets Authority, University's Stern School of Business, U.S . Federal Trade Commission, Nintendo, Sony Group, FTC, Sony PlayStation, REUTERS, FOCUS Gaming, CMA, Davidson &, PlayStation, Thomson Locations: WASHINGTON, U.S, British, Britain, San Francisco, New, Washington, Bengaluru

☆ Activision Blizzard jumps 11% after judge rules Microsoft can buy the video game publisher in a win over FTC
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Max Adams | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Activision Blizzard stock popped 11% after a judge paved the way for Microsoft to complete its takeover of the game publisher. She said the deal would in fact enhance access to popular game franchises like "Call of Duty" and other titles published by Activision. The company has said it is concerned that Microsoft will make popular franchises like "Call of Duty" exclusive to its consoles. Microsoft has said it doesn't intent to do this, but critics point to the firm's $11 billion takeover of Zenimax in 2021. The deal can now proceed before a hearing that the FTC had scheduled for August, in which it was set to challenge the merger.

Persons: Microsoft's, Jaqueline Scott Corley, Biden, Bobby Kotick Organizations: Activision Blizzard, Microsoft, Federal Trade Commission, Service, Privacy, US, FTC, Activision, That's, Sony, Xbox Locations: Wall, Silicon, Zenimax

☆ Microsoft CFO Amy Hood warned employees not to 'build a gold toilet'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Jordan Novet | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

From left, Tim Stuart, chief financial officer of Xbox at Microsoft; Phil Spencer, Microsoft's CEO of gaming; and Microsoft finance chief Amy Hood arrive to court in San Francisco on June 29, 2023. Microsoft's finance chief advised employees not to "build a gold toilet" during a 2018 meeting, according to emails that came up during federal court hearings last month over the software maker's planned Activision Blizzard acquisition. The quip might invoke a 2016 social-media claim (proven false by Snopes) that former President Donald Trump owned a solid gold toilet. "I've made that mistake on too many products, and I'm sure everyone else has too, when we've built features before we answered the core questions," Gluckstein wrote. Read the emails from Spencer and Gluckstein regarding Hood's "gold toilet" comments below.

Persons: Tim Stuart, Phil Spencer, Amy Hood, Donald Trump, MC Hammer, Catherine Gluckstein, Gluckstein, Xbox's, I've, we've, Spencer, xCloud, it's Organizations: Xbox, Microsoft, Activision Blizzard, Bluetooth, TAM, Cloud, Google, Federal Trade Commission Locations: San Francisco

☆ Franchising industry holds its breath as FTC takes a closer look at regulations
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( Kate Rogers | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

The FTC told CNBC it received more than 5,500 comments on the inquiry, indicating "broad interest in ensuring fairness in franchising." The agency sought input from stakeholders, including franchise operators, workers and parent corporations, as it scrutinizes franchising practices. Industry watchers say an initial proposal from the FTC on franchise rule amendments could come as soon as the end of year. The NOA's public submission said, "The McDonald's system was, and could again be, the gold standard for the franchise business model. "Since McDonald's founding in 1955, our franchising model has successfully served the brand, franchisees, employees and the local communities we operate in."

Persons: Lina, Matt Haller, they're, Haller, franchisors, McDonald's, NOA, Danielle Marasco, Marasco Organizations: FTC, CNBC, Federal Trade Commission, Franchise Association, Microsoft, Activision, Twitter, Industry, IFA, Service Employees International Union, Strategic, Marriott, Hilton, Brands, National Owners Association, National Locations: U.S, McDonald's, Marriott, California

☆ Biden names two Republican nominees for FTC commissioner, White House says
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, July 3 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden has nominated Virginia Solicitor General Andrew Ferguson and Utah Solicitor General Melissa Holyoak to fill Republican slots at the Federal Trade Commission, the White House said Monday. The FTC "operates best at full strength, and I will look forward to working with them," she said. A native of Virginia, Ferguson has an undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia and a law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law. Holyoak is the Utah Solicitor General with the Utah Attorney General's Office. Her undergraduate degree is from the University of Utah, as is her law degree.

Persons: Joe Biden, Andrew Ferguson, Melissa Holyoak, Lina Khan, Khan, Ferguson, Holyoak, Biden, Donald Trump's, Mitch McConnell, Lindsey Graham, Chuck Grassley, Myers, Amgen's, Black Knight, Diane Bartz, Kanishka Singh, Eric Beech, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Federal Trade Commission, U.S, Senate, FTC, Democratic, Facebook, Amazon.com, Albertsons, Senate Republican, University of Virginia, University of Virginia School of Law, Utah Attorney General's, Myers LLP, Hamilton Lincoln Law Institute, Competitive Enterprise Institute, Center for, University of Utah, Activision, Horizon Therapeutics, Black, Thomson Locations: Utah, Virginia

☆ Microsoft-Activision Hearing Set to Wrap Up as FTC Tries to Stop $75 Billion Deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Tom Dotan | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

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Persons: Dow Jones Organizations: microsoft, activision, ftc

☆ Leaked court documents show Microsoft's Azure revenue half of Amazon's AWS
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailLeaked court documents show Microsoft's Azure revenue half of Amazon's AWSCNBC's Deirdre Bosa reports on the latest from the Microsoft-Activision Blizzard trial.

Persons: Deirdre Bosa Organizations: Microsoft, Activision

☆ UK regulator may refer Adobe's $20 bln Figma deal to deeper probe
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

June 30 (Reuters) - Britain's competition regulator on Friday said Photoshop owner Adobe Inc's (ADBE.O) $20 billion buyout of cloud-based designer platform Figma may be referred to a deeper investigation as it could "reduce innovation". The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said unless the parties offer acceptable undertakings to address competition concerns, the deal would be referred to a Phase 2 investigation. CMA had said in May it was looking into the deal, announced in September last year. "Adobe has no meaningful plans to compete in the product design space," Adobe said in a statement. "We remain confident in the merits of the case as Figma's product design is an adjacency to Adobe’s core creative products."

Persons: We're, Sorcha O'Carroll, Adobe, Eva Mathews, Radhika Anilkumar, Chavi Mehta, Janane Venkatraman, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Adobe, Markets Authority, CMA, Regulators, Big Tech, Activision, Thomson Locations: U.S, Bengaluru

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