This update was written automatically with AI from market data and news wire reports, and published without review by a person.
Key Takeaways
- Larry Ellison has pledged 413 million Oracle shares worth approximately $58 billion as collateral for personal loans, a significant increase from 346 million shares a year ago.
- Nvidia (NVDA) is reportedly in talks to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in Australian AI cloud provider Firmus after the startup scrapped its $5 billion IPO.
- UK median pay awards edged up to 3.1% in the three months to September, though analysts see little sign of a significant shift in long-term wage trends.
- The Ellison family finalized a $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) on October 6, 2026, consolidating major media assets under the new Skydance Corp.
- Rising employer social security contributions and minimum wage hikes are expected to keep UK pay awards capped at roughly 3% through 2027.
Ellison Leverages Oracle Fortune for Media Mega-Merger
Oracle (ORCL) co-founder Larry Ellison has significantly increased his personal borrowing to finance his son David Ellison’s takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD). According to recent regulatory filings, Ellison has pledged 413 million shares of Oracle—valued at roughly $58 billion—to back personal indebtedness. This represents a nearly 20% increase in pledged shares compared to the previous year.
The borrowing spree allowed Ellison to avoid selling approximately $7.5 billion in stock, a plan he scrapped in September to prevent triggering substantial taxable gains. The funds were utilized to backstop the $111 billion merger between Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery, which was completed on October 6. Ellison’s collateral pool also includes shares in Tesla (TSLA), SpaceX, and Paramount.
Nvidia Targets Firmus Following IPO Withdrawal
Nvidia (NVDA) is in discussions to inject hundreds of millions of dollars into Firmus, a Sydney-based AI cloud service provider. The move comes shortly after Firmus abandoned plans for a $5 billion initial public offering on the Australian Securities Exchange. The startup cited market volatility and investor skepticism regarding high AI valuations as primary reasons for shelving the listing.
The potential investment underscores Nvidia's strategy of supporting "neocloud" providers—specialized firms that build data centers specifically for AI workloads. Firmus currently operates "AI factories" in Melbourne and Singapore and is seeking private capital to fund the purchase of additional Nvidia GPUs. Reports suggest the deal may include credit support and revenue-sharing agreements similar to Nvidia's other infrastructure partnerships.
UK Wage Growth Remains Stable Amid Cost Pressures
Data from human resources firm Brightmine shows that UK median pay awards rose slightly to 3.1% in the quarter ending September, up from 3.0% in the previous two periods. Despite the uptick, the majority of recent pay deals did not exceed those granted a year earlier. The data suggests that while wage growth is resilient, it remains well below the peaks seen during the height of the recent inflationary cycle.
Employers are reportedly facing mounting budget constraints due to higher social security contributions and an upcoming increase in the statutory minimum wage. Brightmine’s analysis of 42 settlements covering 650,000 employees indicates that pay awards are likely to remain subdued, with a forecast of 3% growth through 2027. This stability may influence the Bank of England's upcoming interest rate decisions as it monitors private-sector wage pressure.
Automated market updates written with AI from market data and news wire reports, published without human review.