📈 BlackRock Enhances Portfolio with $12B Acquisition BlackRock finalized a $12 billion all-stock acquisition of HPS Investment Partners, significantly boosting its alternative asset portfolio by 25%. 🚗 Volkswagen Workers Strike Over Cost-Cutting Nearly 100,000 Volkswagen workers conducted warning strikes in Germany to protest planned cost-cutting measures amid competitive and financial pressures. 🇨🇳 China Halts Rare Mineral Exports China banned exports of rare minerals to the US, escalating trade tensions in response to US chip sale restrictions to Chinese firms. ✈️ Frontier Airlines Introduces First-Class Seating Frontier Airlines announced plans to introduce first-class seating in an attempt to improve its revenue model. 🛒 Walmart Acquires Vizio for $2.3 Billion Walmart completed its $2.3 billion acquisition of Vizio, aiming to expand its advertising business and enhance its market presence. 🚀 SpaceX Negotiates Insider Shares Sale SpaceX is reportedly negotiating the sale of insider shares at a valuation of $350 billion, a substantial increase from its last valuation. 🌾 Cargill Lays Off 5% Global Workforce Cargill, the largest private company in the US, is laying off 5% of its global workforce due to market challenges. 🍕 Pizza Hut Tests Futuristic Restaurant Concept Pizza Hut revealed a new futuristic restaurant design concept that will be tested in Texas with plans for wider rollout. 🛢️ Bank of America Predicts Oil Price Drop Bank of America forecasted oil prices to fall to $65 per barrel in 2025 due to ample supply. ☁️ Salesforce Exceeds Q3 Revenue Expectations Salesforce surpassed Q3 revenue estimates, driven by strong demand for its cloud services. 📊 Wells Fargo Projects S&P 500 Surge Wells Fargo predicted the S&P 500 would reach 7,007 by 2025 due to broad economic strength. 📈 Tech Stocks Lift Market Slightly Stocks saw a slight increase yesterday with tech companies driving the gains, highlighted by Palantir's shares rising 7% due to advancements in selling cloud services to the US government. 🎮 Nike's RTFKT Shuts Amid NFT Struggles Nike-owned NFT company RTFKT plans to close as the broader NFT market has not benefited from the recent cryptocurrency rally.