In a move that has caught the attention of investors, shares of various technology companies experienced significant gains. This trend suggests that investors are becoming more willing to take on additional risks in their portfolios.
Microsoft’s Agreement with Sony for Call of Duty Series
A recent development in the gaming industry involves Microsoft’s agreement with Sony regarding the popular Call of Duty series. If Microsoft successfully completes its $75 billion deal to acquire Activision Blizzard, Sony has confirmed a 10-year deal to keep the Call of Duty series exclusively on its PlayStation system.
Regulators have been closely monitoring this deal to ensure that it does not negatively impact competition within the global videogame industry. The concern is that Microsoft, if left unchecked, could make Activision’s games, including the highly popular Call of Duty series, exclusive to its Xbox system.
Potential Consequences of U.S. Restrictions on Semiconductor Sales to China
The Biden administration is considering imposing restrictions on the sale of advanced semiconductors to China. However, the U.S. chip-industry trade group warns that such restrictions could undermine significant government investments in domestic chip-making.
The Semiconductor Industry Association, based in Washington, D.C., emphasizes the importance of maintaining access to the Chinese market, which happens to be the world’s largest commercial market for commodity semiconductors. They believe that restricting this access would jeopardize the positive impact of efforts made to strengthen the domestic chip-making industry.
