A 1-for-20 reverse split may sound like a defensive move, but paired with 500% projected revenue growth and a new fintech rollout, this reset could mark a turning point. The stock soared 280% as investors sized up what happens when a small-cap stops playing small.

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Markets
U.S. stocks ticked higher after cooler-than-expected PCE inflation data reinforced expectations for a Fed rate cut next week. Soft labor data and strong earnings from names like Ulta and Netflix supported sentiment, although indices experienced a pullback at the end of the session.
DJIA [+0.22%]
S&P 500 [+0.19%]
Nasdaq [+0.31%]
Russell 2k [-0.39%]

Market-Moving News
Media
The $82.7B Deal That Flips a Century of Power in One

Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX) has reached an $82.7 billion agreement to buy Warner Bros., pulling HBO, DC, Harry Potter, and a vault of franchises under one roof.
The scale of the move hits you once those HBO-level titles sit beside global Netflix originals, because that is when the true size of the new catalog becomes impossible to ignore.
This is not expansion, this is absorption. The company now controls theatrical IP, top-tier streaming brands, and a production engine built for global scale.
You’re watching the first time a tech-era platform takes over a legacy studio ecosystem completely.
A New Kind of Entertainment Power
Netflix now holds worlds that can stretch across films, series, games, merchandise, and live global events. You notice how quickly the business math changes when the same company owns the pipeline and the product.
Churn drops. Optionality explodes. For rivals, this forces a rethink of everything from licensing to theatrical strategy.
Netflix just removed its biggest bottleneck, and the rest of the industry now has to operate around that gravity.
A Blueprint for the Next Decade
If regulators approve the deal, Netflix becomes the studio, the distributor, and the global franchise machine in one shot.
You understand the significance once you see how many storylines, brands, and characters are now under one corporate strategy.
Hollywood hasn’t seen a power shift this big in decades.

Manufacturing
How Many Recalls Can a Comeback Handle?

Ford (NYSE: F) is recalling nearly 109,000 Escape SUVs after regulators found liftgate hinge covers that can fly off during driving.
The issue spans multiple model years, adding one more chapter to Ford’s long-running fight to stabilize manufacturing quality.
This hits during a period when Ford is trying to cut warranty costs and rebuild reliability across its lineup.
You see why every additional recall becomes a setback, forcing resources toward fixes instead of progress.
Legacy Problems Still Drag Into 2026
A smaller Lincoln recall arrived at the same time, hinting that older design and production issues are still surfacing.
The moment Ford runs into another legacy problem, it puts you right in front of how hard it is to win a market that values consistency more than anything else.
Operationally, this puts pressure on Ford’s quarter as it balances compliance with its shift toward higher-margin programs.
It’s a reminder that quality issues don’t just frustrate customers, they slow strategic momentum.
The Bigger Question Ahead
Ford has invested heavily in new systems, diagnostics, and plant upgrades meant to reduce recall frequency.
You start wondering how long it will take before those investments show up in the numbers.
In a hypercompetitive auto market, Ford’s margin for error keeps shrinking — and every recall makes the next test even tougher.

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Pharma
A $7 Billion Signal: Merck Isn’t Playing Small Anymore

Merck (NYSE: MRK) has secured $7 billion in fresh capital, a step that usually shows a company sharpening its long-term playbook.
This type of raise rarely happens unless leadership wants room to act faster.
You’re pulled into a different interpretation when a pharma giant strengthens the balance sheet right as pipelines scale.
It frames Merck as a company preparing for movement, not waiting for it.
Fuel for the Next Wave of Medicine
The new capital supports expansion across oncology, vaccines, and therapies built for aging populations, all areas where competition intensifies every quarter.
More liquidity means Merck can advance programs without slowing down for budgeting cycles.
Speed backed by real money pulls you into Merck’s strategy in a new way, because it shows how fast the company can move on acquisitions or manufacturing upgrades the second the door cracks open.
A Financial Foundation Built for Offense
Merck is positioning itself for long-cycle dominance, not defensive maintenance.
Stronger liquidity gives the company leverage in a market where innovation windows keep tightening.
You’re left with a company that feels primed for its next chapter, not stuck in the current one.
This $7 billion move turns Merck into one of the most financially prepared players in global healthcare.

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Top Winners and Losers
Treasure Global Inc [TGL] $25.72 (+280.59%)
Treasure Global skyrocketed after launching a 1‑for‑20 reverse stock split to regain Nasdaq compliance and projecting over 500% revenue growth in 2026 through fintech initiatives like OXI Wallet.
SMX (Security Matters) Public Limited Company [SMX] $331.98 (+135.45%)
SMX extended its rally as investors responded to a new $100 million equity line and an $11.5 million convertible note, positioning the company for long-term scaling and crypto-backed reserves.
Wheeler Real Estate [WHLR] $6.41 (+97.84%)
Wheeler Real Estate surged after reporting Q3 results showing massive EPS improvement and highlighting strategic asset sales and improved leasing efficiency.

Parsons Corp [PSN] $66.66 (-21.07%)
Parsons' stock plunged after losing a critical FAA air traffic control contract to Peraton, erasing a major growth catalyst and triggering a price target cut from analysts.
Protara Therapeutics, Inc [TARA] $5.58 (-18.78%)
Protara slid after announcing a $75 million public offering priced at a steep discount to recent trading levels, sparking dilution fears among shareholders.
Sentinelone Inc [S] $14.52 (-14.44%)
SentinelOne fell despite a solid Q3 earnings beat, as its Q4 revenue guidance came in below analyst expectations, suggesting slowing growth in the cybersecurity space.

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Everything Else
Meta signed a batch of AI deals with news publishers, grabbing more content fuel for its models.
China’s Nvidia rivals are lining up hefty IPOs as the country doubles down on tech self-sufficiency and homegrown silicon.
S&P 500 stretched its winning streak to four days and crept toward a record after a softer inflation read lifted the mood.
Apple and Google pushed out a new wave of cyber threat alerts to users worldwide, signaling another rough day for security teams.
Paramount is pressing WBD on whether the sale process is truly fair or just dressed up to look that way.
IKEA is cranking up U.S. production as tariffs hit, turning assembly lines into its newest cost shield.
India is weighing heavier phone location surveillance, a move Apple, Google, and Samsung are loudly pushing back against.

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