Gold and Silver Surge as Safe Haven Demand Rises on U.S. Economic Uncertainty 
Harris Associates Open to Revised Paramount Skydance Bid for Warner Bros Discovery 
Oil Prices Climb on Venezuela Blockade, Russia Sanctions Fears, and Supply Risks 
Asian Currencies Slip as Dollar Strengthens; Indian Rupee Rebounds on Intervention Hopes 
Micron Technology Forecasts Surge in Revenue and Earnings on AI-Driven Memory Demand 
Asian Stocks Slide as AI Spending Fears and Global Central Bank Decisions Weigh on Markets 
Bank of Korea Downplays Liquidity’s Role in Weak Won and Housing Price Surge 
South Korea Warns Weak Won Could Push Inflation Higher in 2025 
Volaris and Viva Agree to Merge, Creating Mexico’s Largest Low-Cost Airline Group 
Elliott Management Takes $1 Billion Stake in Lululemon, Pushes for Leadership Change 
Austan Goolsbee Signals Potential for More Fed Rate Cuts as Inflation Shows Improvement 
Gold and Silver Prices Dip as Markets Await Key U.S. Economic Data 
Blackstone Leads $400 Million Funding Round in Cyera at $9 Billion Valuation 
Instacart Stock Drops After FTC Probes AI-Based Price Discrimination Claims 
BOJ Poised for Historic Rate Hike as Japan Signals Shift Toward Monetary Normalization 
Delta Air Lines President Glen Hauenstein to Retire, Leaving Legacy of Premium Strategy 
Asian Markets Rebound as Tech Rally Lifts Wall Street, Investors Brace for BOJ Rate Hike 
In a pivotal move aimed at appeasing competition concerns, Microsoft Corporation and Sony Group Corporation have secured a deal ensuring Activision Blizzard's popular "Call of Duty" remains on PlayStation, even as Microsoft's proposed $69 billion merger with the video game giant nears completion.
Microsoft and Sony's deal will ensure that the popular "Call of Duty" will remain playable on the latter's PlayStation gaming console. The agreement comes as the former is closer to sealing its $69 billion merger agreement with Activision Blizzard.
As per CNN Business, the contract may also stand as a resolution to persistent complaints by Sony that says the merger is a threat to competition in the video gaming industry. This is because the merger is set to make Microsoft the third-largest video game publisher in the world.
The arrangement was also confirmed by the head of Microsoft's Xbox, Phil Spencer, on Sunday, July 16. Via tweet, the executive stated, "We are pleased to announce that Microsoft and @PlayStation have signed a binding agreement to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation following the acquisition of Activision Blizzard. We look forward to a future where players globally have more choices to play their favorite games."
Before the deal, it was noted that Sony had been one of the leading critics of the Microsoft and Activision Blizzard acquisition agreement. It said many issues could arise if the merger proceeds; one example is the possibility of "Call of Duty" being pulled out from other companies. Still, the companies' latest deal has already resolved this issue.
Then again, CNBC reported that Microsoft and Sony did not disclose the agreed duration of their agreement, but the former's spokesperson said the signed contract is long-term. While the merger between Microsoft and Activision Blizzard seems to be going smoothly, it is not yet fully certain if the companies can close the deal.
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) can still appeal to block the acquisition. Still, Microsoft and Activision hope to finally complete the transaction by July. 18.
Photo by: Fábio Magalhães/Unsplash
