Morning Squawk: Trump's Trade Agreements, Novartis Purchases Avidity, Taco Bell's Beverage Initiative, and More

Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst

Source: CNBC

Updated: Oct 27 2025

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Source: CNBC

Trump's Tariff Policies: President Trump's administration is focusing on tariff policies, having paused trade talks with Canada while announcing agreements with several Asian countries during his summit in Asia.
AI Boom vs. Small Businesses: The artificial intelligence sector is thriving, boosting Wall Street and Silicon Valley, but small businesses are struggling with increased costs from tariffs and consumer health concerns.
Novartis Acquires Avidity Biosciences: Novartis plans to purchase Avidity Biosciences for approximately $12 billion, aiming to enhance its research and development division, with Avidity investors set to receive a significant premium on their shares.
Taco Bell's New Beverage Strategy: Taco Bell is expanding its offerings with Live Más Cafés to create a $5 billion drink business by 2030, launching new beverage options in California and Texas.

About the author

Emily J. Thompson

Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.