Trending Market News

Coca-Cola has called off the sale of its Costa Coffee chain after private equity bids fell short of the company's expectations. The U.S. beverage giant ended negotiations with remaining bidders in December, halting a months-long auction process, according to a Financial Times report citing sources familiar with the matter.

• Coca-Cola terminated talks with bidders in December after a multi-month auction process failed to meet valuation targets
• Private equity firms submitted offers that came in below the company's expectations for the Costa Coffee chain
• The decision marks a reversal of Coca-Cola's strategy to divest the coffee business it had put up for sale

Ford CEO Jim Farley emphasized that the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) trade deal is critical for the automaker and industry, contradicting President Trump's statement that the deal is 'irrelevant.' The remarks came as the trade agreement faces review this year, amid ongoing uncertainty over tariffs and regulations affecting the automotive sector.

• Ford views Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. as an 'integrated manufacturing system' and considers USMCA vital, though the company seeks revisions to the agreement
• Trump imposed 25% tariffs on auto imports from Mexico and Canada last year, though workarounds have reduced the levies, contributing to regulatory uncertainty
• Ford executives highlighted affordability concerns as average new vehicle prices approach $50,000, announcing plans for a $30,000 electric pickup in 2027

Tesla has agreed to enter mediation to potentially settle a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) that accuses the company of tolerating severe and widespread racial harassment of Black employees at its Fremont, California assembly plant. Negotiations are expected to begin in March or April 2025, with the EEOC alleging harassment included racial slurs and displays of racist graffiti such as swastikas and nooses.

• The EEOC sued Tesla in September 2023, claiming harassment at the Fremont plant included racist graffiti that appeared even on vehicles rolling off the assembly line
• Tesla has denied knowledge of the harassment and accused the EEOC of 'headline-chasing', while facing multiple lawsuits over alleged worker mistreatment at the facility
• If mediation fails, both parties will propose next steps to the judge by June 17, 2025; Tesla recently won a separate case blocking over 6,000 Black workers from suing as a class action group

Exxon Mobil is preparing to process Venezuelan crude oil at its 522,500 barrel-per-day Baton Rouge, Louisiana refinery, according to sources familiar with operations. The refinery previously processed Venezuelan heavy sour crude but stopped when sanctions were imposed on Venezuela. This signals a potential shift in U.S.-Venezuela energy relations.

• The Baton Rouge refinery has a processing capacity of 522,500 barrels per day
• Operations would mark the resumption of Venezuelan crude processing after a sanctions-related hiatus
• Exxon has not yet provided official comment on the reported plans

Netflix is working on revised terms for its acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery, considering an all-cash offer for the company's studios and streaming businesses, according to Bloomberg News. The streaming giant is restructuring its bid for the media assets, though specific financial details were not disclosed in the report.

• Netflix is discussing changing its acquisition offer to an all-cash structure
• The deal would focus on Warner Bros Discovery's studios and streaming business units
• The revision suggests Netflix is actively negotiating terms to complete the major media industry consolidation

Thermo Fisher Scientific has secured multiple contracts to help pharmaceutical companies relocate production from Europe and Asia to the United States, CEO Marc Casper announced at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference. The reshoring trend, driven by President Trump's push for domestic manufacturing, is expected to provide significant business momentum in 2027-2028.

• Thermo Fisher acquired Sanofi's Ridgefield, New Jersey facility last year specifically to expand capacity for helping customers reshore production to the U.S.
• The CEO noted that biotech funding is improving and pharmaceutical companies 'feel very confident' working with the U.S. administration, leading to increased pipeline investments
• Analysts viewed the messaging as constructive, with the company expressing optimism while maintaining realistic expectations for 2026 performance

Canadian oil executive Adam Waterous, chair of Strathcona Resources, is offering Canada's heavy oil expertise to help the U.S. rebuild Venezuela's oil industry following President Trump's recent meetings with oil executives. Waterous argues Canada is uniquely positioned to assist due to its experience with similar heavy crude, though a Venezuelan oil revival could eventually compete with Canadian crude exports to the U.S.

• Strathcona Resources is willing to send a technical team to Venezuela if requested, though it is not seeking investment opportunities there
• Canada exports about 90% of its crude to the U.S., and increased Venezuelan heavy crude production could compete with Canadian barrels refined on the U.S. Gulf Coast
• The discount on heavy Canadian crude to U.S. oil widened by 14% last week amid concerns about potential Venezuelan competition and uncertainty around the Canada-U.S.-Mexico trade agreement renewal

AstraZeneca has agreed to acquire Boston-based Modella AI, marking the first acquisition of an AI firm by a major pharmaceutical company. The deal, with undisclosed financial terms, will integrate Modella's AI foundation models and agents into AstraZeneca's oncology research to accelerate drug discovery, clinical development, and biomarker identification.

• The acquisition follows a multi-year collaboration launched in July, which served as a 'test drive' before AstraZeneca decided to bring Modella's data, AI models, and talent in-house
• AstraZeneca plans to use AI tools to make pathology more quantitative, analyze biopsies for relevant proteins, and develop highly targeted biomarkers and therapeutics
• The deal was announced alongside other major AI partnerships at the JP Morgan Healthcare Conference, including a $1 billion collaboration between Nvidia and Eli Lilly to build a new AI-powered research lab

President Donald Trump intensified his attacks on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, calling him 'incompetent' or 'crooked' amid an unprecedented DOJ criminal investigation into the Fed leader. The comments come as Trump faces growing opposition over the probe, which threatens the Federal Reserve's long-standing independence from the executive branch.

• The Department of Justice is conducting an unprecedented criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell
• Trump's criticism comes when asked whether the DOJ probe undermines confidence in the Fed's independence from the executive branch
• The situation raises concerns about threats to the Federal Reserve's traditional independence from political interference

Airbus appointed Matthieu Louvot as the new CEO of its helicopters division, effective April 2025. He will replace Bruno Even, who has led the unit since 2018 and is departing for personal reasons. The leadership change affects one of Airbus's key business segments.

• Matthieu Louvot will assume the CEO role for Airbus Helicopters starting in April 2025
• Outgoing CEO Bruno Even served in the position since 2018 and is leaving for personal reasons
• The appointment represents a leadership transition in Airbus's helicopter business unit, a significant division within the European aerospace group

U.S. President Donald Trump has vowed to cut off Venezuelan oil supplies to Cuba, creating a severe energy crisis for the island nation already suffering from blackouts and shortages. Venezuela, Cuba's top supplier providing 26,500 barrels per day (one-third of Cuba's needs), has not sent crude or fuel to Cuba for about a month. Experts warn the situation could become 'catastrophic' with few alternative suppliers willing to risk U.S. sanctions to help Cuba.

• The last Venezuelan oil cargo to Cuba was sent in mid-December carrying 600,000 barrels, with Venezuela previously supplying 26,500 bpd compared to Mexico's 5,000 bpd
• Cuba's political allies including Angola, Algeria, and Brazil have not provided oil support, leaving only Mexico and Russia offering limited assistance insufficient to meet the island's energy needs
• Cuban President Diaz-Canel vowed to 'defend the homeland until the last drop of blood' and rejected U.S. pressure to strike a deal, while Trump warned Cuba to negotiate 'before it is too late'

Google will begin developing and manufacturing high-end smartphones in Vietnam in 2024, according to Nikkei Asia. The move includes new product introductions for Pixel, Pixel Pro, and Pixel Fold models, while lower-end Pixel A series production will remain in China. This represents a significant shift in Google's manufacturing strategy for its premium smartphone lineup.

• High-end Pixel models (Pixel, Pixel Pro, and Pixel Fold) will undergo new product introductions (NPI) in Vietnam starting this year
• Lower-end Pixel A series development and manufacturing will continue in China for now
• The report could not be immediately verified by Reuters at the time of publication

JPMorgan Chase reports fourth-quarter earnings Tuesday before market open, with Wall Street expecting $5 per share in earnings and $46.2 billion in revenue. The results will provide insights into consumer and corporate health at year-end 2025 and offer guidance for 2026 amid concerns about potential economic weakening and regulatory changes.

• Banks enjoyed strong conditions in recent quarters with rebounding Wall Street activity, falling interest rates, and stable consumer credit; the bank stock index climbed 29% in 2025
• Analysts expect net interest income of $24.99 billion and trading revenue of $5.29 billion in fixed income and $2.55 billion in equities
• CEO Jamie Dimon likely to face questions about Trump's proposed 10% cap on credit card rates and Federal Reserve independence concerns

Venezuela's stock market has surged over 130% since the ouster of former President Nicolás Maduro, with the benchmark Indice Bursatil de Capitalizacion reaching record highs. Investors are betting on economic stabilization after years of mismanagement and sanctions, with expectations that a new government may attract capital, revive oil output, and normalize U.S. relations. A U.S. ETF issuer has filed to create the first Venezuela-focused fund.

• Venezuela's IBC gained over 130% since Maduro's capture, following a 1,644% surge in 2025, though analysts warn the thinly-traded market makes price swings extreme and largely driven by speculation rather than confirmed outcomes.
• Renewed investor interest spans mainstream emerging-market managers, hedge funds, and distressed-debt specialists, with optimism centered on potential debt restructuring following Venezuela's 2017 default.
• Venezuela faces external liabilities estimated at over $150 billion including arbitration claims and bilateral debts, complicating recovery timelines despite expectations for sanctions relief and eventual economic re-rating.

SK Hynix announced a $12.9 billion investment to build a new advanced packaging plant in Cheongju, South Korea, with construction starting in April and completion targeted for end of 2027. The expansion aims to meet surging demand for high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips used in AI processors, while also addressing shortages in conventional memory chips affecting the broader electronics industry.

• The HBM market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 33% between 2025 and 2030, driven by intensifying global AI competition
• SK Hynix is the world's leading producer of high-bandwidth memory chips, which are used in AI processors including those designed by Nvidia
• The shift to AI-focused memory production has strained supplies of conventional memory chips, prompting SK Hynix and rival Samsung Electronics to expand production capacity

President Trump announced that Microsoft will implement changes to prevent Americans from paying higher electricity bills due to AI data center power consumption. The move comes as tech companies rapidly expand data centers to meet AI demand, contributing to rising utility costs in affected states. Trump is seeking commitments from other tech companies to protect consumers from increased electricity costs.

• Microsoft will 'make major changes beginning this week' to ensure consumers don't absorb data center power costs through higher utility bills
• U.S. electricity prices increased in August compared to the prior year, particularly in states with significant data center presence
• Tech giants are rapidly expanding power-intensive data centers, with Meta recently signing deals with three nuclear power companies for an Ohio facility

AbbVie reached a three-year agreement with the Trump administration to provide reduced drug prices through the Medicaid program via TrumpRx. The pharmaceutical company also committed to investing $100 billion in U.S.-based research and development over the next decade as part of the deal.

• The agreement focuses on lowering drug prices specifically for Medicaid beneficiaries through the TrumpRx initiative
• AbbVie pledged $100 billion for domestic R&D investment over a 10-year period
• The arrangement spans three years and represents collaboration between the pharmaceutical industry and federal government on drug pricing reform

Two supertankers departed Venezuelan waters on Monday carrying crude oil from state-run PDVSA's facilities, following a 50-million-barrel oil supply deal announced by President Trump last week. The shipments come after trading firms Vitol and Trafigura received U.S. licenses to negotiate Venezuelan oil as part of the approximately $2 billion deal, though the vessels' destinations and connection to the agreement remain unclear.

• The tankers, which are not under sanctions, departed from PDVSA's Amuay anchorage on Venezuela's western coast
• Global traders Vitol and Trafigura received U.S. licenses last week to trade Venezuelan oil under a deal valued at roughly $2 billion for 50 million barrels
• The vessels' intended destinations and whether the cargoes are part of Trump's announced supply deal have not been confirmed

General Dynamics' information technology unit has been awarded a $988 million contract by the U.S. Navy to modernize fleet systems. The contract, awarded in December, includes a one-year base period with multiple extension options totaling up to 4.5 additional years. The work will upgrade command, control, and surveillance technologies across naval vessels including guided missile ships, aircraft carriers, and Coast Guard vessels.

• Contract structure includes a one-year base period, four one-year options, and one six-month option, allowing flexibility for extended engagement
• Modernization will cover critical systems for command, control, and surveillance technologies to enhance readiness of naval forces
• Scope encompasses multiple vessel types including guided missile ships, aircraft carriers, and Coast Guard vessels

Brazil's antitrust authority CADE has opened an investigation into Meta's WhatsApp Business tool and suspended its new terms in the country. The regulator is concerned about potential anti-competitive practices related to how artificial intelligence tool providers can access and offer their technologies to WhatsApp users under the new terms.

• CADE suspended WhatsApp Business's new terms in Brazil pending evaluation of the case
• The investigation focuses on potential anti-competitive practices concerning AI tool providers' access to WhatsApp users
• The probe targets Meta's new terms for the WhatsApp Business platform specifically, not the consumer messaging app