ICYMI: Netflix signs ‘Game of Thrones’ talent; New Orleans gets tough on Airbnb

If you missed it …

In a week when Uber gave investors a bumpy ride and Nektar wasn’t exactly sweet, this also happened:

• Netflix won a battle for talent in the increasingly heated streaming wars, signing a deal with longtime producing partners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, the creators of “Game of Thrones.” The two will create TV shows and and feature films.

• Responding to residents who say short-term rentals such as those arranged by Airbnb are driving up property taxes and denigrating the character of historic neighborhoods, the New Orleans City Council passed broad restrictions on such rentals, including banning the short-term rentals of whole houses not occupied by the owners. It also puts limits on the number of short-term rentals on commercial properties and bans all short-term rentals in most of the historic French Quarter and the Garden District.

• J.C. Penney says it has been warned that its stock could be removed from the New York Stock Exchange for trading below $1 for too long. The department store chain, which traces its roots to 1902, has six months to try and boost its stock price or face being delisted. It said it may seek shareholder approval for a reverse stock split.

• Luxury gym Equinox and indoor cycling studio SoulCycle faced a backlash from members and celebrities over a fundraiser being held for President Trump by Stephen Ross, chairman of the real estate development firm that owns the two companies.

• U.S. long-term mortgage rates fell sharply, with the benchmark 30-year loan touching its lowest level since November 2016. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday the average rate on the 30-year mortgage dropped to 3.60% from 3.75% last week. A year ago, the rate stood at 4.59%. The average rate for 15-year, fixed-rate home loans tumbled to 3.05% from 3.20%.