Scott Horsley

is buying a stake in Canada's Trilogy Metals Mining Company.

It's one of the businesses that stands to benefit from the administration's opening of new copper mining territory in Alaska.

Stock in Trilogy Metals more than tripled on the news.

And two mid-sized banks are merging in a deal that would create the nation's ninth biggest bank.

Fifth Third Bank Corp.

is buying Comerica for $10.9 billion.

Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.

Social Security Commissioner Frank Bisignano will add the new title of CEO at the IRS, while Treasury Secretary Scott Besson continues to serve as acting IRS commissioner.

Besson's held that role since August when the former IRS commissioner, Billy Long, was fired.

The Treasury Department said in a statement that the tax collection agency and Social Security share many of the same goals for technology and customer service, making Bisignano a natural choice to run both sprawling agencies.

But critics warn Bisignano is likely to be stretched too thin.

They say Social Security recipients deserve a full-time commissioner, and they warn his split role does not bode well for a smooth tax filing season next year.

Scott Horsley, Empire News, Washington.

A trio of private equity firms is buying the video game giant Electronic Arts in a deal valued at $55 billion.

EA is the company behind popular games like Madden NFL and The Sims.

The buyers include Saudi Arabia's public investment fund and Jared Kushner's investment company.

Lufthansa says it's adding more than 230 jets to its fleet by the end of the decade to keep up with strong demand for air travel, but the airline also says it plans to cut about 4,000 administrative workers, thanks to efficiency gains tied to artificial intelligence.

Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.

Consumer spending is the biggest driver of the U.S.

economy, and consumers have not stopped spending yet.