News Corporation Class B - NWS STOCK NEWS

Realtor.com's December Rental Report shows that rents declined for the 17th consecutive month, dropping -1.1% year-over-year to a median of $1,695. This marks the first time since April 2022 that the national median asking rent fell below $1,700.

The rental market is showing signs of balance as the nationwide absorption rate fell to 55%, matching 2019 levels. While overall inflation has increased 22.8% since 2019, rents have only risen 16%. The Northeast region maintains the highest absorption rates, increasing from 58% to 67%, while the West saw the largest decline, dropping from 72% to 58%.

Notable market changes include significant rent decreases in Memphis (-6.7%), Denver (-5.9%), and Austin (-5.0%). However, affordable rentals continue to show stronger demand with a 56.3% absorption rate compared to 53.8% for pricier units.

Dow Jones has announced the launch of The WSJ Leadership Institute, a new executive learning and leadership program aimed at top-tier business leaders. Led by president Alan Murray, the initiative builds upon existing WSJ membership communities and introduces several new offerings:

Key features include: a daily WSJ CEO Brief newsletter launching February 3; the exclusive WSJ CEO Council: Titans for CEOs of $10B+ revenue companies; WSJ Executive Fellows program with mentorship opportunities through The Onyx Group partnership; and the WSJ Top Directors Council for board members of $1B+ revenue companies launching in 2024. A new community for next-generation C-Suite leaders is planned for early 2026.

The institute aims to leverage Dow Jones and Wall Street Journal's resources to help leaders navigate through periods of change and uncertainty, offering exclusive events, programming, and peer-networking opportunities.

Realtor.com reports a significant rise in Homeowners Association (HOA) fees, adding to housing affordability challenges. The study reveals that 40.5% of for-sale listings in 2024 had HOA fees, up from 39.2% in 2023, with median fees increasing to $125/month from $110.

New construction homes show a higher likelihood of HOA fees at 69.9% compared to 37.1% for existing homes. Similarly, 83.8% of condos, rowhomes, and townhomes have HOA dues versus 33.6% of single-family homes.

The top three metros with highest HOA presence are Edwards, Colorado (89.9%, $525 median monthly fee), Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (84.8%, $138), and Heber, Utah (83.3%, $300). Conversely, areas with lowest HOA presence include Anniston, Alabama (3.8%, $29) and Elizabethtown, Kentucky (5.0%, $19), typically in smaller, inland markets with fewer new builds.

OPIS, a Dow Jones company, has launched CAMIRO (Carbon & Clean-Fuels Analytics, Market Intelligence & Regulatory Outlooks), a comprehensive solution for carbon market compliance rolling out globally in February 2025. The new tool will provide weekly reports with real-time insights on regulation developments and carbon compliance costs.

CAMIRO combines historical data, policy analysis, and pricing models for carbon market allowances, offsets, and clean-fuels credits. The solution aims to help carbon-intensive businesses navigate complex regulatory landscapes across different jurisdictions and inform their climate strategies.

Building on OPIS's decade-long experience in carbon market pricing, CAMIRO integrates spot price assessments with policy analysis and price forecasting. The platform will initially cover carbon markets in the US, Canada, Latin America, and EMEA regions, serving as a one-stop shop for organizations looking to capitalize on carbon market opportunities while managing regulatory risks.

Realtor.com's recent survey reveals that 75% of Americans consider homeownership part of the American Dream, with 64% identifying it as a life goal. The sentiment varies across generations, with Baby Boomers showing the strongest belief (84%), followed by Gen X (74%), Millennials (69%), and Gen Z (67%).

The survey indicates that 59% of Americans believe homeownership is achievable, with Baby Boomers being most confident (63%). Regarding wealth building, younger generations - Millennials (53%) and Gen Z (52%) - are more likely to view homeownership as necessary for long-term wealth compared to Gen X (48%) and Baby Boomers (45%).

Current homeownership rates vary significantly by generation: Baby Boomers lead at 66%, followed by Gen X at 54%, Millennials at 43%, and Gen Z at 33%. The survey, conducted in November 2024, included 2,201 adults and was weighted to represent the U.S. population demographics.

IT Intelligent Treatment, a New York-based medical aesthetic clinic, is set to launch SomaCell™, a groundbreaking non-surgical facelift innovation, at an event on February 3, 2025. The launch will feature an interview led by Page Six Style's Elana Fishman at The Le Jardin Rooftop in New York.

Founded by Kim Laudati in 2007, SomaCell™ represents the first major technological advancement in the U.S. medical aesthetic market since Ultherapy's facial ultrasound introduction in 2008. The technology distinguishes itself by being non-wounding and universally accessible, regardless of gender, ethnicity, sun exposure, or age.

The event will offer guests hands-on experience with the SomaCell™ device and insights into its US Trademarked process. Laudati emphasizes the technology's role in achieving natural and graceful aging results, marking a significant development in non-surgical facial regeneration treatments.

Realtor.com has released its 2025 Best Markets for First-Time Homebuyers report, with Harrisburg, Pennsylvania ranking as the top location. The report highlights opportunities in the Mid-Atlantic and Florida regions, with Rochester, NY, and Villas, FL rounding out the top three spots.

Despite forecasted mortgage rates remaining above 6% throughout 2025, increased inventory is expected to provide more options for buyers. The selected markets offer advantages in housing costs, inventory availability, and location quality. All top 10 markets feature median listing prices well below the national median of $416,880, with prices ranging from $129,900 in Rochester to $236,950 in Villas, FL.

These markets are characterized by strong local economies with below-average unemployment rates, proximity to major job hubs, and forecasted price growth exceeding the national projection of 3.7%. Florida markets show particularly strong growth potential, with Altamonte Springs expected to see a 12.1% increase.

December 2024 showed a 22.0% increase in active home listings compared to the previous year, marking the 14th consecutive month of inventory growth. The median listing price decreased by 1.8% to $402,502, while newly listed homes increased by 0.9% year-over-year.

Homes spent an average of 70 days on the market, representing the slowest December since 2019. Among the top 50 metros, Miami (45.4%), San Diego (42.4%), and Denver (41.9%) led in active listing growth. The price per square foot rose by 1.3% nationally, with some metros experiencing significant increases, notably Cleveland (13.9%) and Hartford (12.9%).

The housing market showed signs of a seasonal slowdown, influenced by both holiday patterns and mortgage rates in the high 6% range. Despite this, increased inventory and slower market pace could present opportunities for winter buyers ahead of the spring season.

News Corp (NWS) has agreed to sell Foxtel Group to DAZN Group for an enterprise value of A$3.4 billion, representing over 7x fiscal 2024 Foxtel EBITDA. The deal includes full repayment of A$578 million in shareholder loans to News Corp and grants the company approximately 6% equity stake in DAZN with one board seat. Telstra will also sell its minority interest, receive repayment of A$128 million in loans, and acquire about 3% stake in DAZN.

The transaction, expected to close in second half of fiscal 2025, allows News Corp to focus on key growth segments: Dow Jones, Digital Real Estate Services, and Book Publishing. Foxtel's current CEO Patrick Delany and management team will continue leading the business, which will maintain its Australian-based operations while leveraging DAZN's global reach and technology.