Activision’s $18 million settlement, Merck nears purchase of Acceleron Pharma, Bridgerton leads in Netflix views

Yahoo Finance's Julie Hyman breaks down Tuesday’s business headlines.

Video transcript

JULIE HYMAN: Activision Blizzard has agreed to pay $18 million in a settlement with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which will also approve an outside monitor for the company. The video game maker had been under investigation for gender-based harassment and retaliation. According to the EEOC complaint, Activision employees were subjected to quote, "sexual harassment that was severe or pervasive to alter the conditions of employment" and that the company quote, "failed to take corrective and preventative measures." Activision is also being scrutinized by the SEC, California regulators, investors and unions.

Merck is the lead bidder for Acceleron Pharma. That's according to "The Wall Street Journal." The maker of treatments for rare diseases has a market value of almost $11 billion, and would represent one of Merck's largest acquisitions if completed. Bristol-Myers had also been in the running to buy Acceleron. It owns 11.5% of the company. Acceleron makes an experimental drug to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension, which could potentially stop the disease if it is successful. Those Acceleron shares trading a bit higher today.

The most watched Netflix series ever, it's "Bridgerton." Netflix said 82 million subscribers streamed the period drama for at least two minutes in its first 28 days after release. "Lupin" and "The Witcher" tied for second place with 76 million views. The most popular movies on Netflix, "Extraction," "Bird Box" and "Spencer Confidential."