Morning Business Report: Paramount launches hostile takeover bid for Warner Bros. Discovery; McDonald’s shifts focus to value

Paramount has launched a hostile takeover bid for Warner Bros.

(LILAMAX)- Paramount has launched a hostile takeover bid for Warner Bros. Discovery after the company chose Netflix as its preferred buyer. Paramount has now offered billions more than Netflix and says it will also take on the cable networks Netflix did not want. By going directly to shareholders, Paramount is bypassing Warner Bros. Discovery’s board in an aggressive attempt to secure the deal.

Meanwhile, McDonald’s franchisees worldwide will soon face new evaluations focused on how well their pricing delivers value, according to internal memos obtained by CNBC. The fast-food giant is doubling down on value offerings as cash-strapped customers visit restaurants less frequently. McDonald’s has invested in pricing tools to help franchisees determine how best to meet local market needs.

On Wall Street, tech stocks led Monday’s trading session, but most stocks fell as investors grew cautious ahead of this week’s Federal Reserve decision.

President Trump has announced a one-time $12 billion aid package for farmers hit hard by tariffs — particularly soybean and corn growers. The White House calls it the Farm Bridge Assistance Program, designed to support farmers until the administration’s broader economic policies, including tax cuts and tariffs, take full effect.

A new survey sheds light on Americans’ priorities heading into 2026. Saving money, exercising more, and improving overall health top the list of New Year’s resolutions. The poll of 2,000 adults by Talker Research for Talkspace found that only a small number rated 2025 as a “great” year, while most respondents described it as “just okay,” “bad,” or “awful.” On average, Americans plan to set six resolutions for the new year.