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☆ Vestager on Microsoft-Activision deal: 'We had a concern about cloud gaming'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | 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 EmailVestager on Microsoft-Activision deal: 'We had a concern about cloud gaming'"We had a concern about cloud gaming, [which is] very nascent right now, but it will grow," Margrethe Vestager, the EU's top competition official, told CNBC's Silvia Amaro on Monday.

It would be a striking show of leniency by a notoriously tough regulator. has been among the most aggressive in policing Big Tech, having fined companies like Google billions and forced changes in their business practices. And given the size and importance of the British, European and U.S. markets, simply ignoring any one of them is impossible. ; overturning the British regulator’s decision is expected to be especially tough. appeal could take months, and will review only whether the regulator’s decision followed proper procedures.)

☆ Stocks making the biggest moves midday: Shake Shack, Charles Schwab, Activision Blizzard and more
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Alex Harring | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Oneok shares slid 7.7%. The IRS is due to release the report this week, the Wall Street Journal reported. Activision shares added 1%, while Microsoft was little changed. The Wall Street firm said shares trade at a significant discount to peers. The Coach and Kate Spade parent has a strong valuation and long-term investment case, the Wall Street firm said.

☆ EU approves Microsoft’s deal to buy Activision Blizzard
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: 1 min

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☆ Activision Blizzard, Microsoft $75 Billion Deal Approved by EU Regulators
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Your AI Clone Can Fool Family, Your Bank, But Not Your Video MeetingYou can pay companies to create video and audio versions of yourself using generative artificial intelligence. But how well does it work? WSJ senior personal tech columnist Joanna Stern joins host Zoe Thomas to explain what it was like to work with her AI clone, and why it has her worried. Illustration: Amogh Alva Vaz/WSJ

☆ E.U. Approves Microsoft’s $69 Billion Deal for Activision
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Adam Satariano | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

American and British regulators said Microsoft’s purchase of Activision would undercut this still-developing sector of the gaming industry before it had a chance to bloom. After negotiating the concessions with Microsoft, European Union officials said they concluded that the deal could go through, particularly because the cloud gaming market is still so small. In the European Union, PlayStation has a much larger market share than Xbox. Authorities also noted that Microsoft and Activision have a relatively small market share for mobile games, which accounts for about half of the overall video game market in European Union. The approval is a rare occasion where European regulators appear to be more accommodating to the tech industry than the United States.

☆ EU approves Microsoft's $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, clearing major hurdle
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

European Union regulators on Monday approved Microsoft's proposed $69 billion acquisition of gaming firm Activision Blizzard , subject to remedies offered by the U.S. tech giant. These remedies centered on allowing users to stream Activision games they purchase on any cloud streaming platform. Regulators globally have been probing whether Microsoft's acquisition of Activision could distort competition in the console and cloud gaming market. One area regulators questioned is whether Microsoft might take Activision games and keep them exclusively on the U.S. giant's own platforms. Microsoft sought to allay the Commission's concerns over making Activision games exclusive ahead of the EU decision.

☆ Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway adds Capital One and these other stocks to holdings
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Yun Li | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway made a slew of changes to its massive equity portfolio last quarter, including adding a financial stock during the latest banking crisis, according to a new regulatory filing. The Omaha-based conglomerate built a new stake in Capital One Financial in the first quarter, worth more than $950 million, the filing showed. Apple, Activision and more Berkshire hiked its two biggest holdings - Apple and Bank of America - slightly in the first quarter. Buffett said at Berkshire annual meeting that "it's not good news when any company passes its dividend, or cuts its dividend dramatically." Outside of top holdings, Berkshire added a small stake - worth about $40 million - in Diageo , a British alcoholic beverage company.

☆ The UK has restricted Microsoft and Activision from acquiring an interest in each other after blocking $68.7 billion merger
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-11 | by ( Hasan Chowdhury | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The UK is restricting Microsoft and Activision from acquiring an interest in each other. The competition regulator published an interim order to prevent any action without its consent. The decision comes weeks after it made a decision to block a $68.7 billion merger between the two. The UK's competition regulator has issued an interim order to restrict Microsoft and Activision from acquiring an interest in each other. It comes weeks after the decision by the regulator, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), to block a $68.7 billion merger between the two companies.

☆ EU decision clearing $69 billion Microsoft, Activision deal expected May 15, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Foo Yun Chee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Activision games "Call of Duty" are pictured in a store in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., January 18, 2022. REUTERS/Carlo AllegriBRUSSELS, May 10 (Reuters) - EU antitrust regulators are set to approve Microsoft Corp's (MSFT.O) $69 billion acquisition of Activision (ATVI.O) next week, with May 15 as the likeliest date, people familiar with the matter said. The European Commission's imminent clearance comes nearly three weeks after the UK competition authority blocked the deal, the biggest-ever deal in gaming, over concerns it would hinder competition in cloud gaming. U.S. distributor Valve Corp, owner of the world's largest video game distribution platform, Steam, declined a contract saying it trusts Microsoft. (This story has been corrected to say that Valve does not have a licensing deal with Microsoft in paragraph 4)Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; Editing by Kirsten DonovanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

May 10 (Reuters) - Roblox Corp (RBLX.N) on Wednesday topped quarterly bookings estimates on Wednesday, as a wider audience swarmed to the platform for games such as "Adopt Me!" However, adjusted loss of 44 cents per share was bigger than analysts' expectation of 40 cents loss per share, according to Refinitiv data. Roblox said higher expenses due to developer exchange fees, personnel costs and infrastructure were the reason behind the bigger loss. "We also expect our operating expenses to increase significantly in future periods", the company said, adding it intends to continue to make investments to grow its business and hire more people. Reporting by Yamini Kalia and Tiyashi Datta in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra EluriOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ EU decision clearing $69 bln Microsoft, Activision deal expected May 15, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Foo Yun Chee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BRUSSELS, May 10 (Reuters) - EU antitrust regulators are set to approve Microsoft Corp's (MSFT.O) $69 billion acquisition of Activision (ATVI.O) next week, with May 15 as the likeliest date, people familiar with the matter said. The European Commission's imminent clearance comes nearly three weeks after the UK competition authority blocked the deal, the biggest-ever deal in gaming, over concerns it would hinder competition in cloud gaming. The Commission, which has set a May 22 deadline for its decision, declined to comment. Japan approved the takeover in March while the U.S. Federal Trade Commission is also seeking to block it. Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; Editing by Kirsten DonovanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ FTC Chair Lina Khan: What best produces breakthrough innovations is competition
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | 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 EmailFTC Chair Lina Khan: What best produces breakthrough innovations is competitionFTC Chair Lina Khan joins 'Squawk Box' to discuss the push for A.I. regulation, the Microsoft-Activision merger, the enforcement of antitrust & consumer protection laws, and more.

☆ FTC Chair Khan on regulation: To ensure incumbents don't squash competition with existing dominance
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | 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 EmailFTC Chair Khan on regulation: To ensure incumbents don't squash competition with existing dominanceFTC Chair Lina Khan joins 'Squawk Box' to discuss the push for A.I. regulation, the Microsoft-Activision merger, the enforcement of antitrust & consumer protection laws, and more.

☆ EA's quarterly bookings beat estimates on 'FIFA' strength
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

May 9 (Reuters) - Videogame publisher Electronic Arts Inc (EA.O) beat fourth-quarter booking estimates on Tuesday as the latest installments in its "FIFA" and "Madden NFL" series kept gamer interest strong, sending the company's shares up 3.3% after the bell. EA reported net bookings of $1.95 billion in the fourth quarter, compared with Refinitiv estimates of $1.76 billion. "Record live services performance and increased engagement, particularly from our EA Sports FIFA franchise, drove better-than-expected Q4 net bookings," Chief Financial Officer Chris Suh said. EA also said it expects fiscal 2024 net bookings between $7.30 billion and $7.70 billion, compared with estimates of $7.52 billion. Bookings outlook for the current quarter was in line with expectations.

☆ Warren Buffett set for 59th Berkshire Hathaway shareholder marathon as big questions loom
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-06 | by ( Jonathan Stempel | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

[1/2] Berkshire Hathaway Chairman Warren Buffett walks through the exhibit hall as shareholders gather to hear from the billionaire investor at Berkshire Hathaway Inc's annual shareholder meeting in Omaha, Nebraska, U.S., May 4, 2019. Tens of thousands of people are flocking to Omaha, Nebraska this weekend for the extravaganza that Buffett, 92, calls "Woodstock for Capitalists." "Charlie is 99 and Warren turns 93 on Aug. 30," Lountzis added, "and you just don't know how many more you're going to have." Buffett and Munger are due to answer five hours of shareholder questions at the meeting. "We believe in constructive engagement and dialogue, whether it's Warren Buffett or another company," Frerichs said in an interview.

Berkshire Hathaway Chairman and CEO Warren Buffett gave Apple glowing reviews during Berkshire Hathaway's annual shareholders meeting Saturday. To be sure, Buffett clarified Berkshire doesn't have 35% of its holdings in Apple — as a questioner incorrectly believed. Bank of America Bank of America is Berkshire's sole bank holding, and Buffett said he plans to stick with it. "I think Microsoft has been remarkably willing to cooperate with governing bodies. But if it doesn't go through, I don't think it's through any shortcoming by Microsoft or Activision.

☆ Berkshire stake in Activision Blizzard was 'one of the pinnacles' of my career, says Bobby Kotick
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-06 | 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 EmailBerkshire stake in Activision Blizzard was 'one of the pinnacles' of my career, says Bobby KotickActivision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick speaks with CNBC from the 2023 Berkshire Hathaway annual shareholders meeting

☆ Warren Buffett on Microsoft-Activision deal: Microsoft has met the opposition more than halfway
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-06 | 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 EmailWarren Buffett on Microsoft-Activision deal: Microsoft has met the opposition more than halfwayBerkshire Hathaway Chairman and CEO Warren Buffett and Vice Chairman Charlie Munger preside over the 2023 Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting. Warren Buffett reacts to the UK blocking Microsoft's Activision Blizzard deal.

☆ Warren Buffett owns these stocks, and analysts love them too
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Brian Evans | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Analysts are bullish on some of the stocks owned by Warren Buffet's Berkshire Hathaway . Still, some of the "Oracle of Omaha's" stocks are also well liked by analysts on Wall Street. CNBC Pro looked through his portfolio to find companies that met the following criteria: 55% or more of the analysts covering the stocks have a buy rating. Topping the list is Taiwan Semiconductor , with 83% of analysts rating it as buy and the average price target pointing to upside of 25%. The stock has buy ratings from 55.6% of analysts covering it, and the average price target suggests it could go up 40%.

☆ Berkshire Hathaway's annual meeting is here: What to expect from Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Yun Li | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Warren Buffett is set to kick off Berkshire Hathaway 's annual shareholder meeting Saturday before tens of thousands of adoring shareholders. Berkshire's annual "Woodstock for Capitalists" will be held in Omaha, Nebraska, the second straight in-person gathering after two virtual meetings during the pandemic. The question of Buffett's Activision stake is expected to come up at the annual meeting. Geico Berkshire shareholders will also be eager to learn more about what's next for auto insurer Geico , the crown jewel of Berkshire's insurance empire and Buffett's "favorite child." ESG issues There are a few ESG-related shareholder proposals being put to a vote at the annual meeting, including requiring Berkshire to publish an annual assessment of climate-related risks and publish data on its workforce composition by gender, race, and ethnicity.

☆ Buffett set for 59th shareholder marathon as big questions loom
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Jonathan Stempel | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

[1/2] Berkshire Hathaway Chairman Warren Buffett walks through the exhibit hall as shareholders gather to hear from the billionaire investor at Berkshire Hathaway Inc's annual shareholder meeting in Omaha, Nebraska, U.S., May 4, 2019. Tens of thousands of people are flocking to Omaha, Nebraska this weekend for the extravaganza that Buffett, 92, calls "Woodstock for Capitalists." Buffett and Munger are due to answer five hours of shareholder questions at the meeting. "We believe in constructive engagement and dialogue, whether it's Warren Buffett or another company," Frerichs said in an interview. Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in Omaha, Nebraska; Editing by Will Dunham and Megan DaviesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Britain launches probe into ChatGPT-style A.I. as regulators grow concerned by risks
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

LONDON — The U.K. competition regulator launched an investigation into the artificial intelligence industry, seeking to examine potential competition and consumer concerns as U.S. tech giants Microsoft and Google square off over the technology. The probe will focus on "foundation models" like large language models and generative AI, such as those being developed by Microsoft-backed firm OpenAI. Large language models are AI systems trained on huge amounts of data to understand human language and come up with humanlike responses to user inputs. However, they have also caused alarm for regulators who are concerned by the rapid pace at which AI systems are being developed and what this means for the labor market. The announcement by the CMA follows a request by the government to regulators to review how principles like safety, transparency and accountability are being incorporated into AI systems.

☆ UK reviews AI models as rapid growth fuels safety concerns
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Paul Sandle | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Governments around the world are now trying to find a balance whereby they can assess and rein in some of the potential negative consequences of AI without stifling innovation. Britain in March opted to split regulatory responsibility for AI between those bodies that oversee human rights, health and safety, and competition, rather than creating a new body dedicated to the technology. CMA CEO Sarah Cardell said in a statement that AI had burst into the public consciousness and was developing at speed. The review in Britain echoes investigations taking place around the world, from Beijing to Brussels and Washington. Italy, a G7 member, took ChatGPT offline last month to investigate its potential breach of personal data rules.

☆ Adobe's $20 billion Figma buyout deal under UK competition watchdog scanner
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Britain's competition watchdog said on Wednesday it was looking into Adobe Inc 's $20 billion buyout deal for cloud-based designer platform Figma to find if it could lead to "substantial lessening of competition" in the country. The move underlines regulators' worries that large tech firms acquiring smaller innovative rivals could throttle competition. UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) last week blocked U.S. software giant Microsoft's $69 billion acquisition of "Call of Duty" maker Activision Blizzard over concerns it would hinder cloud gaming. CMA said it has set June 30 as the deadline for its phase 1 decision on the the Adobe-Figma deal. Figma said it would "continue to engage constructively with regulators in the UK".

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