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EY-Parthenon has forecast that global mergers and acquisitions activity will continue to grow in 2026, with corporate deal volume projected to rise 3% and private equity by 5%, building on expected growth of 10% and 8% respectively in 2025. The firm cites resilient balance sheets, improved valuations, and rising chief executive confidence as key drivers, with further support from expected U.S. interest rate cuts. 

 

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Nike is reorganizing its senior leadership team, eliminating the chief technology officer and chief commercial officer roles and creating the new post of chief operating officer. Chief supply chain officer Venkatesh Alagirisamy  will take up the COO position on December 8th, assuming oversight of the firm's technology efforts, in addition to his current responsibilities at the helm of supply chain, planning, operations, manufacturing and sustainability. Current CTO Muge Dogan is leaving the firm. Nike also named the senior leaders of its four geographic regions to its senior leadership team;  the appointments include Angela Dong, who leads Greater China; Carl Grebert, who heads its business in Europe, the Middle East and Africa; Tom Peddie, who leads North America; and Cathy Sparks, responsible for Asia Pacific and Latin America. Chief executive Elliott Hill said the changes aim to eliminate management layers and position Nike to accelerate its turnaround strategy, dubbed Win Now.

 

The Oregonian

Wall Street Journal

Binance has named co-founder Yi He as its co-chief executive, in a shake-up at the top of the world’s biggest cryptocurrency exchange. Yi He, a longtime Binance executive and partner of founder Changpeng Zhao - who stepped down in 2023 for money-laundering violations - has been with the company for more than eight years and currently serves as its chief customer service officer. Announcing the appointment, the group said that “her leadership has been instrumental to the growth and identity of Binance.”

 

Financial Times

Reuters

Wall Street Journal

Estée Lauder says its restructuring, which has seen it streamline operations and reduce headcount, has cost $1.14bn. In a filing with the SEC, it said that $285m of the total had come from actions taken since October 27th. Estee Lauder said in February it hoped to cut up to 7,000 jobs as part of the restructuring, and by May had eliminated more than 2,600 positions.

 

Wall Street Journal

An ongoing global shortage of memory chips is creating a crisis for both artificial intelligence and consumer electronics companies, pushing prices to record highs. Companies like SK Hynix predict that this shortage will persist until late 2027, with some smartphone makers warning of potential price increases for their products due to rising memory costs. The situation is exacerbated by a significant shift towards higher-margin chips for AI, which has left traditional memory supplies constrained, impacting productivity gains across various sectors.

 

Reuters

U.S. wireless carrier AT&T has confirmed its decision to end diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in order to secure approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for its $1.02bn acquisition of wireless spectrum assets. The move aligns with similar actions taken by T-Mobile and Verizon, which have also ceased DEI initiatives while pursuing regulatory approvals for major deals. AT&T said in its letter to the FCC that it “does not and will not have any roles focused on DEI.”

 

CNN

Reuters

Utilities including PG&E are using artificial intelligence start-ups to analyze satellite images and identify trees that pose a risk of falling onto power lines and igniting wildfires. The approach is seen as significantly cheaper than burying power lines, a process which costs over $3m per mile. AI-driven tree trimming can prevent about 80% of potential fire starts, while targeted interventions help mitigate remaining risks. Overstory, a Massachusetts-based company, has developed technology to pinpoint trees needing maintenance. The start-up's CEO Fiona Spruill said: “We could have a huge impact from a climate standpoint, in that we could help prevent wildfires.”

 

Los Angeles Times

The city of San Francisco has filed a lawsuit against 10 major food manufacturers, including Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Kraft Heinz, and Nestlé, claiming that ultraprocessed foods are contributing to a public health crisis. City Attorney David Chiu said: "They took food and made it unrecognizable and harmful to the human body," as he highlighted the link between these foods and serious health issues including Type 2 diabetes and cancer. The lawsuit seeks to hold the companies accountable for deceptive marketing practices, and also calls for consumer education on health risks and financial penalties to assist local governments with healthcare costs related to ultraprocessed food consumption. The lawsuit marks the first time a municipality has sued over claims food companies have knowingly marketed addictive and harmful ultra-processed foods. A report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that most Americans derive over half their calories from such foods.

 

BBC News

NPR

Reuters

San Francisco Chronicle

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he will announce his pick to lead the Federal Reserve “early next year”, as he touted Kevin Hassett, the top White House economic official, as the “potential” new head of the U.S. central bank. Trump’s team informed candidates that interviews scheduled for Wednesday with Vice President JD Vance had been canceled, according to people familiar with the matter. No reason was given for the decision, although a person familiar with the matter said it was due to a scheduling conflict for Mr. Vance. Whoever eventually ultimately succeeds Jerome Powell could inherit a rate-setting committee that remains especially divided over how to balance the risks of a sharp slowdown in the jobs market, with the risks of higher and more persistent inflation. 

 

Financial Times

Reuters

Washington Times

Wall Street Journal

U.S. consumers spent a record $14.25bn on Cyber Monday, bringing total online sales during Cyber Week to $44.2bn, up 7.7% year-on-year, according to Adobe Analytics, ahead of its forecast of $43.7bn. According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), 202.9m shoppers participated, with average spend rising to $337.86, driven by widespread discounts from Amazon, Walmart and Target. "This year's record turnout reflects a highly engaged consumer who is focused on value, responds to compelling promotions, and seizes upon the opportunity to make the winter holidays special and meaningful," said NRF chief executive Matthew Shay.

 

Reuters

BDO has found that 97% of finance leaders are now willing to pay more for auditors using advanced technologies, with trust in artficial intelligence-powered firms rising 18 points to 81%. The company's 2025 Audit Innovation Report also found that perceptions of audit technology’s benefits have increased markedly, with 63% citing improved efficiency and collaboration, up from 52%; 46% see cost reductions, up from 29%; and 48% report enhanced accuracy. "Successful technology adoption depends on consistent, scalable enablement - anchored in strategic communication, thoughtful change management, and hands-on learning and support," commented Tara Pendleton, Assurance Professional Practice Principal - Enablement. "When individuals are equipped, informed, and confident, they embrace new tools and processes more effectively. By aligning enablement with transformation, organizations reduce change fatigue, accelerate adoption, and stay ahead in an ever-evolving landscape."

 

BDO - 2025 Audit Innovation Report

The U.S. Mint has ceased production of the penny, leaving approximately 300bn pennies still in circulation. The change has led to confusion for retailers, who must now round totals to the nearest nickel. Andrew Leahey, an assistant professor at Drexel Kline School of Law, emphasizes the need for states to modernize sales tax policies through e-invoicing and real-time enforcement. He warns that without clear guidance, retailers may misinterpret tax laws, potentially harming tax revenue. Mr. Leahey suggests that states should implement a standardized digital invoicing system to ensure compliance and transparency, stating: "States shouldn't address the 'pennypocalypse' with patchwork fixes." This modernization could streamline tax processes and reduce compliance uncertainty for businesses.

 

Bloomberg Tax

The Food and Drug Administration is to stop requiring pharmaceutical companies to use lab monkeys for some safety studies, in what the Financial Times says is "a significant cost-savings victory for the industry."

 

Financial Times

Reuters