Squawk Pod: 5 Things to Know Before the Opening Bell – November 10, 2025

Episode Overview

In this brisk, news-packed episode, the Squawk Pod team (anchored by Andrew Ross Sorkin, Joe Kernen, and Becky Quick) highlights the essential business stories affecting the markets as the U.S. trading day begins. The discussion centers on major corporate moves in pharmaceuticals, executive appointments in the beverage sector, aviation safety concerns, a longstanding legal battle in credit card fees, and media ethics at the BBC. The tone is quick, analytical, and slightly irreverent—true to the signature “Squawk Box” style.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Pfizer’s $10 Billion Acquisition of Medcera

• Context: Pfizer prevailed in a bidding war to acquire Medcera, an obesity drug developer.
• Details:
  • Medcera accepted a late offer from Pfizer, reportedly due to U.S. antitrust risks tied to a competing higher bid from Novo Nordisk (maker of Ozempic) [01:02].
  • Pfizer’s final offer was slightly above Novo’s, landing at $10 billion—a considerable premium over their initial $7.3 billion offer [02:18].
• Significance:
  • Pfizer is seeking new growth avenues following its COVID product windfall, looking to tap the $125 billion obesity drug market [02:18].
• Market Reactions:
  • Medcera shares are down ~15% YTD.
  • Novo Nordisk stock rose on the expectation of further bids; Pfizer shares also ticked up [03:03].
• Notable Quote:
  • Joe Kernen: “It could be worth as much as 10 billion. Just shows you Pfizer needed to get in, you know, after, you know, betting the ranch on Covid type stuff and the stock’s in the 20s. And this is going to be … people say it’s going to be $125 billion [market]” [02:18].

2. Diageo Names New CEO

• News: Beverage giant Diageo has tapped Dave Lewis, former chief executive of UK retail heavyweight Tesco, to become its new CEO starting 2026 [01:18].
• Implication: The appointment of a seasoned retail leader signals possible strategic shifts at Diageo and was met positively by investors.

3. Aviation Safety: UPS and FedEx Ground Cargo Planes After Crash

• Incident: Following a fatal UPS McDonnell Douglas MD-11 crash in Kentucky (killing at least 14), both UPS and FedEx grounded a collective fleet of more than 50 MD-11 cargo planes [01:33].
• Significance: This has considerable operational implications for U.S. air freight logistics, raising new questions about safety protocols for aging air cargo fleets.

4. Visa and MasterCard Near Settlement on Credit Card Fees

• Legal Battle:
  • After twenty years of litigation, Visa and MasterCard are reportedly close to settling with merchants over credit card interchange (swipe) fees [01:52].
• Market Impact:
  • The news, first reported by The Wall Street Journal, could have ramifications for payment networks, merchants, and ultimately, consumer costs.

5. BBC Head Resigns Over Trump Speech Editing Controversy

• Details:
  • The BBC’s head of news resigned after controversy erupted over a documentary segment about President Trump’s speech on January 6, 2021 [02:04].
  • Critics blasted the BBC for allegedly misleading editing that omitted key context as to the president’s remarks ahead of the Capitol protest.
• Broader Issue:
  • The incident reignites debates about editorial standards, media trust, and how network choices can shape public perception.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Joe Kernen on Pfizer-Medcera:

  “It could be worth as much as 10 billion. Just shows you Pfizer needed to get in, you know, after, you know, betting the ranch on Covid type stuff and the stock’s in the 20s. And this is going to be … people say it’s going to be $125 billion [market]” [02:18].

• Andrew Sorkin’s Rapid Recap of the Markets:

  “Medcera shares down by almost 15% this year… Novo up… Pfizer shares are up too though, you know, at least not down.” [03:03]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Pfizer-Medcera Bidding War Overview: 01:02–03:11
• Diageo CEO Appointment: 01:18
• UPS/FedEx Grounding Planes: 01:33
• Visa & MasterCard Settlement: 01:52
• BBC Head Resignation: 02:04
• Analyst Banter on Value of the Obesity Drug Market: 02:18–02:58

Conclusion

This Squawk Pod episode distills the day’s top market-moving news: a fierce pharma acquisition race, a key C-suite transition, fresh scrutiny on cargo plane safety, a climactic turn in a payments lawsuit, and a headline-grabbing media ethics controversy. With sharp analysis and some classic Squawk banter, it arms listeners with the critical context they need before the opening bell.