Bitcoin surged nearly 6% on Monday, briefly crossing the $86,000 mark for the first time since late January. The sharp move corresponded with crypto short liquidations totaling almost $800 million within 24 hours, intensifying the upward push in prices.
Paramount resolves Warner Bros Discovery deal lawsuit
Paramount Skydance, a major American film and media conglomerate, announced on Monday that it had reached a settlement with California and 11 additional states. These states had previously filed suit to block Paramount’s $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery, citing concerns over reduced competition and market dominance in the film and television industry.
As part of the agreement, Paramount will allocate a minimum of $300 million extra each year toward domestic movie production. The deal further requires an increase in the company’s annual film output after the acquisition closes.
Under the terms, Paramount will produce 30 movies annually over the first two years and deliver 32 movies each year in the following three years. Of these, at least four films per year must be independent productions, and at least 20% must be classified as blockbusters.
The company has also committed to establishing an editorial independence board to ensure newsroom autonomy at CBS and CNN.
Rob Bonta, California’s Attorney General, said the settlement addresses questions regarding movie production and news editorial freedom.
Rob Bonta stated that the agreement addresses key concerns about both the volume of movie production and safeguarding newsroom independence within the newly merged media group.
In July, the states issued their lawsuit with claims that the merger could limit consumer choice and allow the consolidated entity to raise prices for movies and television content.
Paramount and Warner Bros estimated combined savings of $6 billion from the merger, though the new company is expected to bear $80 billion in debt once the deal closes.
Following the settlement, shares of Paramount declined by more than 2% on Monday, while Warner Bros Discovery saw its stock price rise over 10%.
Additionally, the Writers Guild of America secured a separate settlement with Paramount, including a $17.5 million healthcare fund and new employment safeguards for CBS and CNN staff.
Mini dictionary: Paramount Skydance, an American media conglomerate, owns major film studios and television properties, including CBS, and plans to acquire Warner Bros Discovery, another leading global entertainment company.
Gold dips on rate hike speculation
Gold prices dropped on Monday after expectations of further monetary tightening in the United States lifted the value of the dollar. Spot gold fell 0.6% to $4,349.05 an ounce and reached a session low of $4,322.19 earlier in the day. US gold futures closed 0.78% lower at $4,383.60.
Strength in the US dollar, following the Federal Reserve’s recent rate increase, pushed the greenback up more than 1% against rival currencies last week. A firmer dollar typically raises the cost of gold for international investors.
Market traders anticipated an 88% probability of an additional US rate hike in December, as tracked by the CME FedWatch Tool.
In precious metals trading, spot silver slipped 0.15% to $66.12. Platinum edged up 0.21% to $1,811, while palladium added 0.23% to $1,322.5.
Oil prices fall as Saudi shipments increase
Global oil prices registered their lowest point in 12 days as investors tracked developing diplomatic initiatives surrounding the Iran war and noted improved export figures from Saudi Arabia.
In Monday’s trading, Brent crude’s November contract dropped 3.6% to $100.1 per barrel, while WTI’s October contract, due to expire Tuesday, slid 4.75% to $95.54 a barrel.
| Contract | Change | Latest Price |
|---|---|---|
| Brent (Nov) | -3.6% | $100.1 |
| WTI (Oct) | -4.75% | $95.54 |
Investors kept a close watch on the United Nations meeting this week for signs of possible progress in US-Iran peace negotiations.
State-owned Saudi Aramco, one of the world’s largest oil companies, increased shipments, loading around 14 million barrels onto seven supertankers in the Middle East Gulf on Sunday. Satellite data indicated Saudi oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz averaged 2.9 million barrels daily over the past six days, up significantly from 700,000 barrels per day in August.
Mini dictionary: Saudi Aramco, formally known as the Saudi Arabian Oil Company, is the world’s largest oil producer, controlling a significant share of global crude exports and influencing global prices through its output and shipment policies.
Bitcoin momentum and analyst outlooks
The recent surge in Bitcoin resulted in the asset climbing more than 50% over the past two months, with some analysts describing the move as the start of a “new bull market.”
Bitfinex Alpha explained that further gains will require sustained buying pressure, a rise in open interest, and new capital investments in US spot Bitcoin ETFs. The research group also noted that a daily close below $77,100 could invalidate the current bullish setup and potentially push the price toward the $76,677 True Market Mean.
Rekt Capital, another prominent crypto analyst, stated that Bitcoin had broken out of its pattern of lower highs that persisted since October 2025. The analyst highlighted a new potential range for Bitcoin trading between $86,681 and $93,659.
