Business & Finance Summary

U.S. stock futures were flat as investors await a Federal Reserve meeting where another interest-rate cut is anticipated. Furthermore, President Donald Trump has raised concerns regarding Netflix's planned $72 billion acquisition of Warner Bros.

Discovery due to potential antitrust issues, specifically mentioning the significant market share that would result from the merger. In international news, the World Bank forecasts that Myanmar's economy will contract this year amid ongoing conflict and effects from a March earthquake, while Japan's economy has also been confirmed to have shrunk, prompting Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to announce a stimulus package.

Meanwhile, asset managers remain optimistic, with over three-quarters positioning for a risk-on environment through 2026. In a notable corporate development, IBM is reportedly in advanced talks to acquire data streaming software maker Confluent for approximately $11 billion, even though its market capitalization stands at about $8 billion.