{"id":58843,"date":"2026-02-20T09:38:34","date_gmt":"2026-02-20T13:38:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/paramount-wbd-merger-clears-regulatory-hurdle-trump-slams-fed-as-housing-data-strengthens\/58843\/"},"modified":"2026-02-20T09:38:34","modified_gmt":"2026-02-20T13:38:34","slug":"paramount-wbd-merger-clears-regulatory-hurdle-trump-slams-fed-as-housing-data-strengthens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/paramount-wbd-merger-clears-regulatory-hurdle-trump-slams-fed-as-housing-data-strengthens\/58843\/","title":{"rendered":"Paramount-WBD Merger Clears Regulatory Hurdle; Trump Slams Fed as Housing Data Strengthens"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/paramount-wbd-merger-clears-regulatory-hurdle-trump-slams-fed-as-housing-data-strengthens\/58843\/#Key_Takeaways\" >Key Takeaways<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/paramount-wbd-merger-clears-regulatory-hurdle-trump-slams-fed-as-housing-data-strengthens\/58843\/#Paramount-WBD_Merger_Advances_as_Antitrust_Period_Expires\" >Paramount-WBD Merger Advances as Antitrust Period Expires<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/paramount-wbd-merger-clears-regulatory-hurdle-trump-slams-fed-as-housing-data-strengthens\/58843\/#Housing_Data_Shows_Resilience_with_Upward_Revisions\" >Housing Data Shows Resilience with Upward Revisions<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/paramount-wbd-merger-clears-regulatory-hurdle-trump-slams-fed-as-housing-data-strengthens\/58843\/#Trump_Criticizes_Fed_Policy_and_Shutdown_Impacts\" >Trump Criticizes Fed Policy and Shutdown Impacts<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/paramount-wbd-merger-clears-regulatory-hurdle-trump-slams-fed-as-housing-data-strengthens\/58843\/#Apple_Faces_FTC_Scrutiny_Over_News_Bias\" >Apple Faces FTC Scrutiny Over News Bias<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/paramount-wbd-merger-clears-regulatory-hurdle-trump-slams-fed-as-housing-data-strengthens\/58843\/#Media_and_Geopolitical_Developments\" >Media and Geopolitical Developments<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Key_Takeaways\"><\/span>Key Takeaways<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Paramount Skydance (<a href=\"\/stock\/PSKY\">PSKY<\/a>)<\/strong> cleared a major U.S. antitrust hurdle for its acquisition of <strong>Warner Bros. Discovery (<a href=\"\/stock\/WBD\">WBD<\/a>)<\/strong> after the HSR waiting period expired.<\/li>\n<li><strong>U.S. Building Permits<\/strong> for December were revised upward to a <strong>4.8% increase<\/strong>, reaching an annual rate of <strong>1.455 million units<\/strong>, signaling a stronger-than-expected housing rebound.<\/li>\n<li><strong>President Trump<\/strong> intensified attacks on Fed Chair Jerome Powell, labeling him &quot;<strong>Two Late Powell<\/strong>&quot; and blaming a recent government shutdown for a <strong>2% loss in U.S. GDP<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Apple (<a href=\"\/stock\/AAPL\">AAPL<\/a>)<\/strong> faces regulatory pressure as the <strong>FTC<\/strong> questions the company over alleged political bias and the suppression of conservative outlets within its <strong>Apple News<\/strong> app.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Axel Springer<\/strong> has joined a <strong>\u00a3500 million<\/strong> backup bid for <strong>The Telegraph<\/strong>, positioning itself to take over the media asset if a primary deal with <strong>DMGT<\/strong> fails.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Paramount-WBD_Merger_Advances_as_Antitrust_Period_Expires\"><\/span>Paramount-WBD Merger Advances as Antitrust Period Expires<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Paramount Skydance (<a href=\"\/stock\/PSKY\">PSKY<\/a>)<\/strong> announced on Friday that the 10-day <strong>Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR)<\/strong> waiting period for its all-cash offer to purchase <strong>Warner Bros. Discovery (<a href=\"\/stock\/WBD\">WBD<\/a>)<\/strong> expired on February 19. According to an <strong>SEC filing<\/strong>, 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.<\/p>\n<p>The deal still requires a definitive merger agreement, <strong>WBD<\/strong> shareholder approval, and additional regulatory clearances in other global jurisdictions. <strong>Paramount Skydance<\/strong> has reportedly enhanced its offer to <strong>$30 per share<\/strong>, including a ticking fee of <strong>$0.25 per share<\/strong> for every quarter the transaction remains unclosed beyond the end of 2026.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Housing_Data_Shows_Resilience_with_Upward_Revisions\"><\/span>Housing Data Shows Resilience with Upward Revisions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The <strong>U.S. Census Bureau<\/strong> revised December <strong>Building Permits<\/strong> higher to a <strong>4.8% increase<\/strong>, up from the initial estimate of 4.3%. The annual rate was adjusted to <strong>1.455 million units<\/strong>, reflecting a significant recovery in residential construction activity at the close of 2025.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Housing starts<\/strong> also showed momentum, rising <strong>6.2%<\/strong> to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of <strong>1.404 million<\/strong>. While single-family authorizations saw a slight decline, a surge in <strong>multi-family authorizations<\/strong> drove the overall monthly increase, suggesting a shift in developer focus toward high-density housing.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Trump_Criticizes_Fed_Policy_and_Shutdown_Impacts\"><\/span>Trump Criticizes Fed Policy and Shutdown Impacts<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In a series of social media posts, <strong>President Trump<\/strong> claimed that the &quot;Democrat shutdown&quot; cost the United States at least <strong>two points in GDP<\/strong>. He warned against future government closures while renewing his demand for <strong>lower interest rates<\/strong> to stimulate economic growth.<\/p>\n<p>Trump directed sharp criticism toward <strong>Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell<\/strong>, calling him the &quot;worst&quot; and using the nickname &quot;<strong>Two Late Powell<\/strong>.&quot; The attacks come as the <strong>Federal Reserve<\/strong> maintains a cautious stance on rate cuts, currently holding the benchmark range between <strong>3.5% and 3.75%<\/strong> despite intense pressure from the White House.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Apple_Faces_FTC_Scrutiny_Over_News_Bias\"><\/span>Apple Faces FTC Scrutiny Over News Bias<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Apple (<a href=\"\/stock\/AAPL\">AAPL<\/a>)<\/strong> is under fire from <strong>FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson<\/strong>, who sent a formal letter to CEO <strong>Tim Cook<\/strong> regarding alleged bias in the <strong>Apple News<\/strong> app. The inquiry focuses on reports that the platform systematically promotes progressive outlets while suppressing conservative publications like <strong>Fox News<\/strong> and the <strong>New York Post<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Ferguson suggested that if Apple&#39;s curation practices are inconsistent with its <strong>Terms of Service<\/strong> or &quot;reasonable consumer expectations,&quot; they could constitute a violation of <strong>Section 5 of the FTC Act<\/strong>. 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 &quot;Top Stories&quot; during the study period.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Media_and_Geopolitical_Developments\"><\/span>Media and Geopolitical Developments<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In the U.K., <strong>Axel Springer<\/strong> has emerged as a new backer for a consortium led by <strong>Dovid Efune<\/strong>, which has submitted a <strong>\u00a3500 million<\/strong> bid for <strong>The Telegraph<\/strong>. The bid serves as a secondary option should the existing deal with <strong>DMGT<\/strong> encounter insurmountable regulatory hurdles.<\/p>\n<p>On the geopolitical front, Iranian Foreign Minister <strong>Araghchi<\/strong> stated that ongoing negotiations in <strong>Geneva<\/strong> are focused on ensuring Iran\u2019s nuclear program remains <strong>peaceful forever<\/strong>. Meanwhile, a <strong>5.7 magnitude earthquake<\/strong> struck the <strong>Hindu Kush<\/strong> region of Afghanistan at a depth of approximately <strong>73 kilometers<\/strong>, though immediate reports of casualties or significant infrastructure damage were not available.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Takeaways Paramount Skydance (PSKY) cleared a major U.S. antitrust hurdle for its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) after [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":50383,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"rank_math_schema_Article":[],"rank_math_focus_keyword":[],"rank_math_description":[],"financial_data_references":[],"stock_symbols_mentioned":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[5012],"tags":[225,3829,3860,4824,5267,5391,8828,14062],"class_list":["post-58843","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-breaking-news","tag-aapl","tag-ma","tag-wbd","tag-geopolitics","tag-economy","tag-real-estate","tag-psky","tag-hsr"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58843","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=58843"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58843\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/50383"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=58843"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=58843"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=58843"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}