CNBC Business News Update: Record Highs, Skydance Merger, and a Two-Pronged Economy

A CNBC business news update covers Wall Street’s record-setting session, the completed Paramount Skydance–Warner Bros. Discovery deal, and analysis of a two-pronged U.S. economy. It also previews items on Wednesday’s watch list.

■ Markets
- S&P 500 and Nasdaq close at record highs as Treasury yields retreat
- Cisco leads Dow; Nvidia, AMD, and Palo Alto Networks hit record highs
- Analysts discuss uneven rally, AI trade, banks, small caps, and midterm-year optimism

■ Media Merger
- Paramount Skydance completes Warner Bros. Discovery purchase, creating SkyDance (SKYD)
- Focus on $6B cost cuts, $80B debt, content commitments, and expected layoffs

■ Economy & Watch List
- Two-pronged economy: high-end consumer spending and AI capital expenditures
- British Airways’ A380 business-class plan; Microsoft Windows event, consumer credit, Fed minutes

Viewers interested in market news, media consolidation, and macroeconomic trends will find a concise roundup of key developments and upcoming events.