US MARKETS:

S&P 500 futures down 0.3% to 2,879.75
Brent Futures down 2.2% to $60.94/bbl
Gold spot up 0.8% to $1,337.41
US Dollar Index down 0.05% to 96.63


GLOBAL NEWS:

DSY gets Medidata. This is the largest transaction in the group's history: French tech Dassault Systemes will acquire US company Medidata Solutions, whose software is used to monitor clinical trials, for $5.8 billion. The operation is supported by the boards of directors of both companies. It will enable the French group to strengthen its position as a supplier to the life sciences industry. Completion is expected at the end of the year, once all the required conditions have been met. It should be noted that Medidata is currently quoted at USD 94.76 after having gained 40% since the beginning of the year, above Dassault's offer, which was denominated at USD 92.25.

Apple eyeing Intel. The Cupertino firm is reportedly in talks to buy Intel's German modem business, which was hit badly after Apple and Qualcomm settled their legal disputes in April. Intel's chip production facilities are headquartered in Germany, after a 2011 purchase of chipmaker Infineon.

Nissan Renault saga. A rare event, the shareholder consulting firms ISS and Glass Lewis recommend to the General Assembly of Nissan (Renault) to vote against the renewal of CEO Hiroto Saikawa's mandate. Sow the wind and reap the whirlwind? In parallel, Renault is holding its general meeting today. For Nissan, it will be June 25. In Japan, the press accuses the French car manufacturer of weakening the alliance with its recent positions.

Ackman unhappy. Activist Bill Ackman (Pershing Square) has written to United Technologies, in which his company is a shareholder, urging it to abandon its plans to merge with Raytheon. The influential investor does not understand the strategic logic of the transaction, especially if it is carried out in securities when he considers UTC shares to be significantly undervalued. As usual, Ackman threatens to unite other dissatisfied shareholders to take a public stand against the transaction.

Musk (always) optimistic. Tesla has a "good chance" of achieving a record second quarter "at all levels" and is on track to meet its production targets by the end of the year, Elon Musk told the manufacturer's annual general meeting. Shareholders did not vote in favor of improved governance. Or rather, if so, the shareholders present almost unanimously supported the measures, but they were not numerous enough to reach 2/3 of the required outstanding shares.

KKR is buying Axel Springer. The fund submitted an offer at EUR 63 per Axel Springer share, which the Board of Directors accepted. The German group's share is currently trading at EUR 56.

Complicated merger. Ten American states are filing an appeal against the merger between Sprint and T-Mobile US. A position that caused the shares of the two operators to fall yesterday at the end of the journey on Wall Street. Already controversial, the merger could be threatened if the pitfalls multiply, despite the commitments adopted by the two companies to limit the competitive impact of the transaction.

In other news. Volkswagen AG has ceased its partnership with the American startup Aurora in autonomous driving, while the latter is flirting with Ford. Mattel once again rejects MGA Entertainment's merger offer. Uber is testing a flying taxi service in Melbourne. 3M Company will take a charge of $160 million after the decision to suspend its activities in Venezuela. Facebook victim of a faked video on Instagram, showing Mark Zuckerberg criticizing the company's data management practices. Interroll signs a major contract in South Korea. SGS acquires the British i2i Infinity.