Latest Corporate News
Wall Street Nears Record Highs On Mixed U.S. Jobs Data And Corporate Moves
U.S. stocks advanced toward record levels after December jobs data showed weaker-than-expected hiring but a better-than-forecast unemployment rate, supporting a “low‑hire, low‑fire” labor backdrop that eases recession fears. Vistra jumped about 11.7% after a 20‑year nuclear power deal with Meta, Oklo gained on a related Meta nuclear-fuel partnership, while homebuilders rallied on President Trump’s plan for $200 billion in mortgage-bond purchases; General Motors slid as it flagged a $6 billion hit tied to an EV pullback.
JPMorgan Sees Record Global M&A In 2026 As CEOs Pursue Scale Amid Rising Risks
JPMorgan’s global head of advisory and M&A says dealmakers are heading into a potential banner 2026, with a record number of transactions already in the pipeline after 2025’s $5.1 trillion in deals, the second‑best year on record. She notes boards are pursuing ever larger combinations—68 deals over $10 billion last year—as companies seek scale to manage geopolitical shocks, AI disruption, and market volatility, with commodities, technology, energy, consumer, and healthcare expected to remain hot sectors.
Rio Tinto–Glencore Talks Signal Potential Creation Of World’s Largest Metals Miner
Glencore confirmed it is in early acquisition talks with Rio Tinto, which could create the world’s largest metals miner by combining Rio’s dominant iron‑ore franchise with Glencore’s diversified mining and trading operations. Rio Tinto is valued around $142 billion and Glencore about $65 billion, making this one of the biggest potential corporate tie‑ups in global resources and a bellwether for continued consolidation in commodities.
UN Projects Moderating Global Growth, Shaping Corporate Planning For 2026
The United Nations forecasts global economic growth of about 2.7% in 2026, slightly below the previous year’s estimate, signaling a still‑sluggish but expanding world economy. This modest outlook influences corporate capital spending, hiring, and cross‑border investment decisions, as firms balance expansion plans against persistent geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainty.
Venezuela Oil Shock: U.S. Control Of Exports Reshapes Energy Corporate Landscape
Following the deposition and U.S. detention of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, the Trump administration has asserted that global oil companies must deal directly with Washington, not Caracas, for access to Venezuela’s vast reserves. Trump has signaled plans to bring in U.S. firms to rehabilitate Venezuela’s oil infrastructure, while OPEC+ maintains production freezes amid internal tensions, creating a complex new environment for international energy companies and investors.
Record LNG Supply And OPEC+ Freeze Reconfigure Energy Market For Global Corporates
A record wave of LNG supply combined with OPEC+’s decision to maintain production freezes through the first quarter is reshaping price dynamics and planning for oil and gas majors. Key exporters like Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq are holding quotas steady to avoid further price declines, while global firms from Shell and BP to Rosneft and Novatek are simultaneously accelerating large‑scale green projects in wind, solar, and storage to meet climate targets.
Private Equity Primes Dental Sector For Aggressive M&A And Recapitalizations In 2026
Miami‑based investment bank Viper Partners says it has committed “significant nationwide capital” to dental deals, anticipating a wave of mergers, acquisitions, and recapitalizations across U.S. dentistry this year. Lower interest rates, increased buyer liquidity, and a backlog of deferred transactions are expected to drive consolidation of dental support organizations, giving corporate and PE‑backed platforms greater scale and bargaining power.
Insurance Megadeals Dominate Sector M&A Value Heading Into 2026, PwC Says
PwC’s 2026 outlook reports that insurance M&A remained steady in late 2025, with megadeals accounting for most of the sector’s transaction value. The firm expects continued deal activity as carriers seek scale, technology capabilities, and portfolio optimization, keeping financial sponsors and strategics active across life, P&C, and specialty lines.
IPOs And Tech M&A: Strong Pipeline, Expectations For Massive AI And Biotech Deals
Industry commentary on exits in 2026 highlights a strong backlog of tech IPO candidates after selective successes like Circle’s listing and Google’s $32 billion acquisition of Wiz in 2025. Analysts expect IPO momentum to carry into mid‑2026 and forecast a more active M&A environment, including a potential $50‑plus‑billion AI software acquisition and sizable biotech and fintech consolidation as incumbents deploy large cash reserves.
SPAC Deal To Take SL Bio Public In $5.7 Billion Transaction
Biotech company SL Bio has agreed to go public via a SPAC merger in which it will effectively acquire Horizon Space Acquisition II at an implied equity valuation of about $5.7 billion. The combined entity will list as a new public company, underscoring that SPACs remain a viable route to market for high‑growth life‑sciences firms despite overall IPO normalization.