13Mar2018 Pre-Market Commentary: Wall Street Is Set For A Positive Opening This Morning, The Consumer Price Index Came In As Expected, Crude And The US Dollar Index Are Down, Gold Index Up

Here is the current market situation from CNN Money

European markets are mixed today. The CAC 40 is up 0.34% while the DAX gains 0.03%. The FTSE 100 is off 0.30%.

President Trump halts Broadcom takeover of Qualcomm

(Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday blocked microchip maker Broadcom Ltd’s proposed takeover of Qualcomm Inc on national security grounds, ending what would have been the technology industry’s biggest deal ever amid concerns that it would give China the upper hand in mobile communications.

Stock futures edge higher ahead of inflation data

(Reuters) – U.S. stock index futures were slightly higher on Tuesday ahead of the consumer prices data, which will provide the last crucial reading on inflation in the run up to a near-certain interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve next week.

World stocks inch higher ahead of U.S. inflation data

LONDON (Reuters) – World shares inched higher on Tuesday, eking out limited gains as investors kept a wary eye on a U.S. inflation reading later in the day that could offer clues on the pace of Federal Reserve interest rate hikes this year.

Saudi Aramco international listing looks increasingly difficult: sources

DUBAI/LONDON (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia is increasingly looking to just float oil giant Saudi Aramco locally as plans for an initial public offering (IPO) on an international exchange such as London or New York hang in the balance, sources close to the process said.

Apple, Google see reputation of corporate brands tumble in survey

(Reuters) – Apple Inc and Alphabet Inc’s Google corporate brands dropped in an annual survey while Amazon.com Inc maintained the top spot for the third consecutive year, and electric carmaker Telsa Inc rocketed higher after sending a red Roadster into space.

Microsoft women filed 238 discrimination and harassment complaints: court documents

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Women at Microsoft Corp working in U.S.-based technical jobs filed 238 internal complaints about gender discrimination or sexual harassment between 2010 and 2016, according to court filings made public on Monday.

New Boeing jet to accelerate services shake-up

(Reuters) – Boeing Co is doubling down on its landmark new strategy designed to muscle in on the business of maintenance providers by making its next jet the laboratory for in-house services that could radically alter the global business model for selling planes.

Shell, Eni preempt any U.S. probe over Nigeria with filings

LONDON (Reuters) – Oil giants Royal Dutch Shell and Eni have voluntarily filed to U.S. authorities internal probes into how they acquired a giant field in Nigeria as the companies seek to fight corruption allegations in Europe and Africa.

Exclusive: Saudi businessman al-Sanea seeks last-ditch debt deal – sources

DUBAI (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia’s collapsed Saad Group, led by businessman Maan al-Sanea, has called a meeting with creditors in a last-ditch attempt to end a dispute over 16 billion riyals ($4.3 billion) of claims, sources close to the matter said.

In Sweeping $43 Trillion Overhaul, China Merges Banking And Insurance Regulators

Confirming previous reports, overnight Caixin announced that China plans to merge the banking (CBRC) and insurance regulators (CIRC) and to form a new agency called China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC) in the biggest industry overhaul since 2003. Meanwhile, the CBIRC will hand its central bank the power to write the rules for the financial sector, as part of a sweeping overhaul aimed at closing regulatory loopholes and curbing risk in the $43 trillion banking and insurance industries.

As Bloomberg notes, a new regulatory structure with the PBOC as the pivot is emerging as the annual legislative meetings progress through their second week. Still to come (see below) are personnel appointments, including the expected anointment for Politburo member Liu He as a Vice Premier in charge of financial and economic affairs, making him President Xi Jinping’s go-to official as he seeks to avert a financial crisis after years of rapid credit growth.

“The PBOC has more power: It has added the role of lawmaking to its previous role as the adviser on monetary policy,” said Zhou Hao, an economis …

Wall Street Stands To Lose Billions As Trump Hangs A “Not-For-Sale Sign” On US Tech

Broadcom executives should’ve seen this coming.

For months now, Singapore-based Broadcom has pursued a merger with US-based Qualcomm, raising its bid for the largest US-based technology firm to $117 billion, which is developing chips that are expected to be integral to 5G network technology in the US. Then, national security issues reared their head.

Earlier this month, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the US inserted itself into the negotiations (following a request from lawmakers) by ordering Qualcomm to delay its March 6 shareholder meeting to give CFIUS more time to investigate the takeover bid.

CFIUS’s involvement presented yet another obstacle to the deal. Qualcomm had actively resisted the Broadcom’s overtures, but the Singapore-based firm’s willingness to repeatedly raise its bid, along with its plans to redomicile in the US, impressed upon investors that the company was committed to closing the merger.

Then last night, President Trump definitively quashed the deal by issuing an executive order blocking the deal on national security grounds.

“There is credible evidence that leads me to belie …

Hillary Falls Twice As Aides Scramble To Help Her Overcome Flight Of Stairs

Hillary Clinton does not have the best luck with obstacles – however it has nothing to do with her health, we’re being told again.

While navigating down a flight of approximately 15 stairs at Jahaz Mahal in New Delhi, India on Monday, Clinton began to fall about halfway down. As helpers scrambled to assist the former Secretary of State, she lost control again – her left foot shooting forward while her right leg crumpled beneath her.

Hillary’s double stumble down the relatively benign flight of stairs comes one day after she said Trump supporters “didn’t like black people getting rights,” or “women getting jobs” during a discussion at the India Today Conclave on Sunday.

Madame Citizen’s fall from grace was the latest in a long line of stair-related issues Hillary has suffered throughout her long and lucrative career. During an August 2016 campaign stop in South Carolina, a state she lost, Clinton struggled to ascend yet another unassuming flight of stairs.

Russia Refuses To Respond To UK “Ultimatum” Until It Receives Nerve Toxin Samples

Russia has refused to respond to the British “ultimatum” about a clandestine Soviet chemical weapon allegedly used in an ex-double agent’s poisoning until a sample of the agent is provided, the Russian foreign minister said. As reported on Monday, British PM Theresa May said a chemical weapon developed under a secret Soviet program dubbed Novichok was used in the poisoning of Sergei Skripal. May demanded that Russia provide details of the program, saying otherwise London would consider the poisoning an attack directed by the Russian government.

On Tuesday, Moscow balked at this demand, with the Russian Foreign Ministry saying that it had summoned British Ambassador to Moscow Laurie Bristow.

“We have certainly heard the ultimatum voiced in London,” Russia’s top diplomat Sergey Lavrov said. “The spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry has commented on our attitude to this,” he added referring to Maria Zakharova branding of May’s appearance in Parliament as a “circus.”

Lavrov said that a case of alleged use of chemical weapons should be handled through the proper channel, being the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons of which both Russia and Britain are members.

“As soon as the rumors came up that the poisoning of Skripal involved a Russi …

Don’t Mistake Market Calm for Being Out of the Woods

Investors should search the past for lessons about where we are in the market cycle. 2005 was an instructive moment.

China’s Super-Regulator Can’t Kill Shadow Banking

Investors should celebrate a stronger banking and insurance regulator in China. The demise of Chinese shadow banking, however, remains greatly exaggerated.

Stitch Fix Stays in Fashion

Styling company Stitch Fix continues to grow its revenue and clients, disproving skeptics, as it added 100,000 clients in its latest quarter.

Flying taxi ‘Cora’ unveiled by Larry Page-backed Kitty Hawk

Google co-founder and Alphabet CEO Larry Page’s autonomous, all-electric flying taxi company unveils its commercial plane called Cora.

Need to Know: Trump’s Broadcom block is just a ‘prelude’ to more China takedowns

Today’s big election in Pennsylvania already was riling up politicos. Now President Trump has nixed the biggest tech deal ever. Consider it “a prelude” to “strong U.S. actions against Chinese trade over the next several weeks,” says today’s call.

How to help your child win more college scholarships

4 ways to encourage your child — and protect your retirement savings.