STOCK MARKET NEWS: Microsoft’s ChatGPT deal, Spotify cuts workers, Salesforce activist action

Memory chip maker Western Digital Corp and Japan’s Kioxia Holdings Corp are in advanced talks for a possible merger which will involve a dual-listing, Bloomberg News reported on Friday.

A combined Kioxia-Western Digital would control a third of the NAND flash market, putting it on par with South Korea’s Samsung Electronics.

In Japan, the two companies jointly produce NAND chips, which don’t need power to retain data and are used in smartphones, TVs, data center servers and public announcement display panels.

Under the plan being discussed, Western Digital would spin off its flash business and merge it with Kioxia, creating a publicly traded company in the United States, Bloomberg said citing people familiar with the matter, adding that the company would also plan a second stock listing in Japan.

Toshiba owns about 40.6% of Kioxia.

Western Digital and Kioxia did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters.

The announcement of the combined company is expected in the next few months, according to the report.

Newell Brands Inc said on Monday it will cut about 13% of its office positions, in a bid to save costs amid stubbornly high inflation that has pressured consumer spending.

The sharpie maker joins a growing list of companies in corporate America — from Wall Street Banks and tech companies such as Spotify Technology SA to online furniture retailer Wayfair Inc – that have reduced their workforce amid worries of an economic downturn.

Newell said it will begin laying off employees in the first quarter of 2023.

The company said on Monday it expects to realize annualized pre-tax savings of $220 million to $250 million when restructuring changes are fully implemented.

It estimates the restructuring and related charges to be in the range of $100 million to $130 million.

As of Dec. 31, 2021, the company employed about 32,000 people worldwide, according to a regulatory filing.

Environmental, social, and governance more commonly known as
ESG investing has become a lightening rod for many who argue it may not always make sense, especially when it comes to America’s retirement accounts.

Here’s an opinion arguing that viewpoint.

Microsoft and OpenAI confirmed on Monday a partnership that will advance powering artificial intelligence products include GitHub and ChatGPT.

“We formed our partnership with OpenAI around a shared ambition to responsibly advance cutting-edge AI research and democratize AI as a new technology platform,” said Satya Nadella, Chairman and CEO, Microsoft. “In this next phase of our partnership, developers and organizations across industries will have access to the best AI infrastructure, models, and toolchain with Azure to build and run their applications.”

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Online music platform Spotify became the latest tech company to cut workers joining Microsoft, Amazon and Google.

Today is the first day of the 2023 tax season when filers can begin submitting their returns. Here’s a guide to get you up to speed.