Key Takeaways
- Paramount Skydance (PSKY) cleared a major U.S. antitrust hurdle for its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) after the HSR waiting period expired.
- U.S. Building Permits for December were revised upward to a 4.8% increase, reaching an annual rate of 1.455 million units, signaling a stronger-than-expected housing rebound.
- President Trump intensified attacks on Fed Chair Jerome Powell, labeling him "Two Late Powell" and blaming a recent government shutdown for a 2% loss in U.S. GDP.
- Apple (AAPL) faces regulatory pressure as the FTC questions the company over alleged political bias and the suppression of conservative outlets within its Apple News app.
- Axel Springer has joined a £500 million backup bid for The Telegraph, positioning itself to take over the media asset if a primary deal with DMGT fails.
Paramount-WBD Merger Advances as Antitrust Period Expires
Paramount Skydance (PSKY) announced on Friday that the 10-day Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) waiting period for its all-cash offer to purchase Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) expired on February 19. According to an SEC filing, the expiration removes the primary U.S. statutory impediment to closing the acquisition, which follows a previous clearance from German foreign investment authorities in late January.
The deal still requires a definitive merger agreement, WBD shareholder approval, and additional regulatory clearances in other global jurisdictions. Paramount Skydance has reportedly enhanced its offer to $30 per share, including a ticking fee of $0.25 per share for every quarter the transaction remains unclosed beyond the end of 2026.
Housing Data Shows Resilience with Upward Revisions
The U.S. Census Bureau revised December Building Permits higher to a 4.8% increase, up from the initial estimate of 4.3%. The annual rate was adjusted to 1.455 million units, reflecting a significant recovery in residential construction activity at the close of 2025.
Housing starts also showed momentum, rising 6.2% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.404 million. While single-family authorizations saw a slight decline, a surge in multi-family authorizations drove the overall monthly increase, suggesting a shift in developer focus toward high-density housing.
Trump Criticizes Fed Policy and Shutdown Impacts
In a series of social media posts, President Trump claimed that the "Democrat shutdown" cost the United States at least two points in GDP. He warned against future government closures while renewing his demand for lower interest rates to stimulate economic growth.
Trump directed sharp criticism toward Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, calling him the "worst" and using the nickname "Two Late Powell." The attacks come as the Federal Reserve maintains a cautious stance on rate cuts, currently holding the benchmark range between 3.5% and 3.75% despite intense pressure from the White House.
Apple Faces FTC Scrutiny Over News Bias
Apple (AAPL) is under fire from FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson, who sent a formal letter to CEO Tim Cook regarding alleged bias in the Apple News app. The inquiry focuses on reports that the platform systematically promotes progressive outlets while suppressing conservative publications like Fox News and the New York Post.
Ferguson suggested that if Apple's curation practices are inconsistent with its Terms of Service or "reasonable consumer expectations," they could constitute a violation of Section 5 of the FTC Act. Apple has yet to issue a formal response to the allegations, which are based on a study claiming the app featured zero articles from conservative sources in its "Top Stories" during the study period.
Media and Geopolitical Developments
In the U.K., Axel Springer has emerged as a new backer for a consortium led by Dovid Efune, which has submitted a £500 million bid for The Telegraph. The bid serves as a secondary option should the existing deal with DMGT encounter insurmountable regulatory hurdles.
On the geopolitical front, Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi stated that ongoing negotiations in Geneva are focused on ensuring Iran’s nuclear program remains peaceful forever. Meanwhile, a 5.7 magnitude earthquake struck the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan at a depth of approximately 73 kilometers, though immediate reports of casualties or significant infrastructure damage were not available.
Ed Liston is a senior contributing editor at TheStockMarketWatch.com. An active market watcher and investor, Ed guides an independent team of experienced analysts and writes for multiple stock trader publications.