In short
Squawk Pod Episode Summary
Episode Title
5 Things to Know Before the Opening Bell 1/9/26
Podcast Overview Squawk Pod is a daily curation of highlights from CNBC’s morning show Squawk Box, hosted by Joe Kernen, Becky Quick, and Andrew Ross Sorkin. This episode focuses on five significant news items impacting the stock market before opening bell.
---
Key Highlights
- Merck’s Acquisition Talks
- Company Involved: Merck
- Target: Revolution Medicines (a cancer drugmaker)
- Deal Size: Estimated between $28 billion to $32 billion.
- Significance: This would mark the largest deal in the pharmaceutical sector in nearly three years.
- Context: There was a recent denial by AbbVie regarding its involvement in the acquisition discussions.
- Strava’s IPO Filing
- Company: Strava (a fitness tracking application)
- Action: Confidential filing for an Initial Public Offering (IPO).
- Source: Information sourced from a person familiar with the matter, as reported by CNBC.
- Saks' Bankruptcy Financing
- Company: Saks (luxury department store)
- Current Situation: Nearing a deal for a bankruptcy financing package exceeding $1 billion.
- Source: Reported by the Wall Street Journal.
- Paramount Skydance and MTV
- Company: Paramount Skydance
- Action: In discussions with potential partners, including music industry figures, regarding taking a stake in MTV.
- Objective: Aiming to reinvigorate the network.
- Source: Information provided by Bloomberg News.
- NASA's Crew Return
- Organization: NASA
- Situation: A crew member aboard the International Space Station (ISS) has developed a serious medical condition, necessitating an early return for them and three other astronauts.
- Details: The specific condition and identity of the affected crew member are yet to be disclosed.
---
Conclusion This episode of Squawk Pod highlights crucial financial and corporate developments that are likely to influence market activities. Listeners can expect more timely news and in-depth discussions in future episodes.
---
Additional Notes
- Hosts: Andrew Ross Sorkin, Joe Kernen, Becky Quick.
- Availability: The podcast features moments and analyses from Squawk Box and can be found on various podcast platforms.
- Host Context: The podcast is produced by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company, which handles personal data collection for advertising purposes.
---
For more insights and updates, follow Squawk Pod for daily recaps and analyses of market movements and corporate news.
Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.
Chapters
Tap a time to open that second in VORevMed Acquisition Talks
0:08 to 0:21
Mark is reportedly in talks to acquire RevMed, which could reshape the pharma sector.
“Financial Times saying a deal is likely several weeks away, but it would be the biggest in the pharma sector in nearly three years.”
AbbVie Denies Acquisition Rumors
0:21 to 0:31
AbbVie denies reports of negotiations to acquire RevMed, adding to market speculation.
“Meantime, fitness tracking app Strava confidentially now filing for an IPO.”
Strava's IPO Filing
0:31 to 0:42
Strava has confidentially filed for an IPO, indicating growth in the fitness tech sector.
“The Wall Street Journal reporting that the owner of the luxury department store, Sachs nearing a deal for a bankruptcy financing package of more than a billion dollars.”
Saks Bankruptcy Financing
0:42 to 0:56
Saks is nearing a deal for over a billion dollars in bankruptcy financing amid financial struggles.
“taking a stake in MTV as it looks to reinvigorate that network.”
NASA Medical Condition Update
0:56 to 1:13
NASA reports a serious medical condition aboard the ISS, leading to an astronaut's early return.
“It's unclear what the condition is or who is affected.”
Transcript
Automatic transcript. May contain errors.0:01Hi, I'm Andrew Ross Sorkin, co-host of Squawk Box, and this is five things to know before today's opening bell. Mark reportedly in talks now to buy cancer drug maker RevMed for between$28 and$32 billion. Financial Times saying a deal is likely several weeks away, but it would be the biggest in the pharma sector in nearly three years. Yesterday, AbbVie denied a report from the Wall Street Journal that it was in talks to buy RevMed. Meantime, fitness tracking app Strava confidentially now filing for an IPO. It's according to a source familiar with the matter who spoke to CNBC. The Wall Street Journal reporting that the owner of the luxury department store, Sachs nearing a deal for a bankruptcy financing package of more than a billion dollars.
0:41And Paramount Skydance has now held talks with companies and music industry figures about taking a stake in MTV as it looks to reinvigorate that network. That's according to Bloomberg News. And NASA saying a serious medical condition with a crew member aboard the International Space Station will prompt an early return for the astronaut and three other crew members. It's unclear what the condition is or who is affected. We're going to be back later today with an all new Squawk Pod, our daily podcast featuring the best of Squawk Box. Check it out wherever you get your podcasts and listen anytime.
From the publisher
The 5 things you need to know before the stock market opens today: Merck is reportedly in talks to buy cancer drugmaker Revolution Medicines, fitness tracking app Strava will confidentially file for an IPO, Saks may be nearing a deal for a bankruptcy financing package of over $1B, Paramount Skydance is exploring adding strategic partners to its stake in MTV, and NASA will bring a crew home from space after they detected a “serious medical condition” aboard the ISS.
Squawk Box is hosted by Joe Kernen, Becky Quick and Andrew Ross Sorkin. Follow Squawk Pod for the best moments, interviews and analysis from our TV show in an audio-first format.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

