Business Brief – December 22, 2025

Walmart acquires Target in $45B all-cash deal – Agreement announced this morning creates largest US retailer with combined $650B annual revenue. Expected to close Q3 2026 pending regulatory approval. Walmart IR

Boeing reaches $12B settlement with 737 MAX crash victims' families – Federal court approved agreement today ends four-year legal battle. Includes $8B in compensation and $4B in safety improvements. Reuters

Goldman Sachs reports surprise Q4 loss of $2.1B – Trading losses in commodities division announced today mark first quarterly loss since 2020. Stock down 12% in after-hours trading. Goldman Sachs

Starbucks closes 500 underperforming US locations – CEO announced restructuring today affecting 8% of domestic stores. Focus shifts to drive-thru and delivery formats. Starbucks Newsroom

All news verified as <24h old at time of publication.