The big story of week so far came just a few minutes after the Brief went to [digital] print yesterday, so apologies for the second hand news: Microsoft has agreed to acquire LinkedIn for a staggering $26.2 billion in a move seen as shoring up Microsoft’s bona fides with the business world – NYTimes and WSJ

Some thoughts about Microsoft’s “high-price gamble” – WSJ

And here’s why it’s borrowing to make the buy (despite $100 billion in the bank) – Bloomberg

Also, the “unspoken reason” behind LinkedIn’s decision to deal – NYTimes

The 2d Circuit has again sided with the SEC on an appeal that questioned the agency’s constitutional right to use its in-house courts to pursue a fraud case—this time against former S&P exec Barbara Duka – Law360

The Upshot fills us in on a labor market that seems to be talking out of both sides of its mouth and takes a shot at explaining what the contradictory data might really say about the state of jobs and the American economy – NYTimes

PwC’s facing difficult questions about the alleged coziness of its relationships with some mutual-fund clients – WSJ

Markets around the world are reacting poorly to the Brexit vote—now just 10 days away—with recent polls showing momentum favoring Britain’s departure from the EU – WSJ

Let’s define “reacting poorly,” shall we: German 10-year government bond yields are now negative for the first time, as fears over the Brexit have helped push investors into “the safest investments possible,” even if they will lose them money in the long run – NYTimes and WSJ

There’s a new sheriff in town at Finra, as the brokerage industry’s overseer named former markets regulator Robert W. Cook president and CEO on Monday. Cook has been a Clearly Gottlieb partner since 2013 and was at the SEC before that – NYTimes and WSJ

McDonald’s HQ is shedding the burbs in a move to downtown Chicago’s West Loop meant to attract more millennial talent. The Golden Arches are taking over Oprah’s former Harpo Studios space – WSJ

The Hong Kong Stock Exchange has unveiled its first leveraged and inverse ETFs this week, even as US regulators are “tightening supervision” of such “high-risk” products – Law360

John Oliver goes a bit financial for us this week with his look at wealth management, fiduciary duties, and retirement plans – Last Week Tonight