Morning Business Report: Energy merger buzz, vaccine panel shake-up, and market moves
LILAMAXIt’s possible that Shell is considering a huge acquisition deal for BP. Early negotiations that might bring together two of the biggest oil companies in the world in the greatest energy merger in a generation are reportedly under way, according to The Wall Street Journal. Even while talks are still in their early phases and no deal has been reached, the prospect of it has already caused a stir in the world’s energy markets.
It is anticipated that the national vaccination schedule for children and adolescents will be reexamined by the vaccine advisory panel led by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. In addition to examining religious concerns to the use of fetal cell lines in vaccine research, the panel will look at the scheduling of important immunizations like MMR and Hepatitis B. As investors await information on whether the Trump administration would pursue policy changes, vaccine-related equities are remaining stable.
After two days of solid gains, U.S. markets ended the day neutral on Wednesday. Although investors are still cautious going into the second half of the year, recent optimism has been fueled by indications of reducing geopolitical tensions.
Homebuyers may soon be permitted to utilize cryptocurrency assets to bolster their mortgage applications, according to Bill Pulte, who is in charge of federal mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. This may be a game-changer for the housing market. By allowing purchasers to retain their cryptocurrency holdings instead of exchanging them for US dollars, the idea would facilitate digital asset investors’ access to government-backed loans.
The current trade battle between the United States and China is expected to cost FedEx $170 million this quarter. Executives point to the Trump administration’s new tariff regulations as the reason for the decline in demand for package deliveries from Chinese shops like Temu and Shein. FedEx executives argue that because trade policy is still changing, future performance is unpredictable.
