ASML Trillion-Dollar Valuation: Can Europe’s AI Chip Giant Reach the Historic Milestone? 
Oil Prices Rise as Houthi Attacks on Saudi Tankers Heighten Middle East Supply Fears 
Japan PM Sanae Takaichi Unveils Growth Plan as BOJ Independence Concerns Lift Bond Yields 
Chalco Shares Jump as Chinalco Plans Up to $300 Million Stake Increase 
US Stock Futures Rise as AI Optimism Lifts Tech, 3M Jumps on Strong Earnings 
US-Iran Conflict Escalates as Gulf Attacks Threaten Global Oil Supply 
IBM Q2 Earnings Miss Estimates as Software Growth Offsets Infrastructure Weakness 
Nasdaq Drops as AI Earnings, Oil Surge and Middle East Tensions Weigh on Wall Street 
South Korea Q2 GDP Beats Forecasts as AI Chip Exports Drive Growth 
Pakistan Seeks $10 Billion U.S. Exchange Stabilization Fund to Boost Forex Reserves 
ASEAN Ministers Warn Middle East Conflict Threatens Regional Stability and Energy Security 
Cathay Pacific Sees H1 Profit Surge on Strong Travel Demand 
Houthi Naval Blockade on Saudi Arabia Escalates Iran Conflict, Threatens Global Oil Supply 
Judge Approves Anthropic’s $1.5 Billion AI Copyright Settlement With Authors 
GM Q2 Earnings Beat Estimates as General Motors Raises 2026 Profit Outlook 
Saudi Oil Tankers Reverse Course as Houthi Threats Disrupt Red Sea Shipping 
US Dollar Pauses Rally as Middle East Tensions Support Safe-Haven Demand 
Mattel Inc. revealed this week that it was able to take back the license for making toys based on Walt Disney’s “Frozen” and Disney Princess characters. The Barbie doll and Hot Wheels toymaker was able to recoup the license after losing it to its rival, Hasbro Inc. in 2016.
Reuters reported that the new licensing deal between Mattel and Walt Disney will allow the former to produce Disney characters toys again. The two camps signed a multi-year global licensing agreement and the Mattel will start selling a new range of Disney toy collections in 2023.
Moreover, with the license, Mattel will be free to develop products for Disney consumer products, publishing, and games including small dolls and figures. Aside from “Frozen,” the other Disney characters-based dolls that Mattel can create under the new agreement are “Beauty and the Beast,” “The Princess and the Frog,” “Cinderella,” “Sleeping Beauty,” “The Little Mermaid,” “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” “Aladdin,” “Brave,” “Mulan,” “Tangled,” and “Pocahontas.”
“We are incredibly proud to welcome back the Disney Princess and Frozen lines to Mattel,” Mattel president and chief operating officer, Richard Dickson, said in a press release. “As the worldwide leader in dolls, we look forward to bringing our unique Mattel Playbook approach to brand management, product and marketing expertise, and unrelenting attention to detail and quality to create innovative and inspiring lines for these iconic stories and characters.”
The new deal banks on the existing licensing alliance between Mattel and Disney for Pixar Animation Studios’ “Cars” and “Toy Story” franchises. Recently, the former was granted a license for Pixar’s “Lightyear.”
Meanwhile, the financial terms for the new licensing deal were not publicly disclosed. CNBC further noted that Mattel’s shares soared on Wednesday, Jan. 26, after it announced the good news of winning back the license for Walt Disney characters.
On the other hand, while Mattel saw an increase of around eight percent, Hasbro’s shares reportedly fell by one percent in premarket trading. As it loses its Disney license, Hasbro will now be relying more on the “Star Wars” and “Indiana Jones” franchise.
