16Mar2018 Pre-Market Commentary: Wall Street To Open In The Green, Expected To See Red Before The Noon Hour, WTI Crude Slowly Trending Up As The US Dollar Cut Its Previous Gains

Here is the current market situation from CNN Money

European markets are higher today with shares in London leading the region. The FTSE 100 is up 0.18% while Germany’s DAX is up 0.17% and France’s CAC 40 is up 0.07%.

Ten years after JPMorgan/Bear Stearns deal banks may have already seen biggest gains

(Reuters) – Ten years after JPMorgan bought failing investment bank Bear Stearns, one of the first big harbingers of the financial crisis, investor views on U.S. banks are significantly brighter, although the sector may have already put its biggest gains behind it.

Stock futures flat as political worries keep investors wary

(Reuters) – U.S. stock index futures pointed to a flat opening for Wall Street on Friday as continuing turmoil in the Trump administration kept investors on edge.

Chamber of Commerce warns Trump against China tariffs

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The head of the most influential U.S. business lobbying group warned the Trump administration that unilateral tariffs on Chinese goods could lead to a destructive trade war that will hurt American consumers and U.S. economic growth.

Casino mogul Steve Wynn may sell his stake in Wynn Resorts

(Reuters) – Wynn Resorts Ltd’s former chief executive, Steve Wynn, may elect to sell all or a portion of his stake in the company, according to a regulatory filing dated Thursday.

Where is the fear? Markets wave off global risks

SYDNEY (Reuters) – Simmering fears of a global trade war. An embarrassing political scandal in Japan. Rapid job-turnover inside the White House and the threat of faster interest rate hikes in the United States.

Markets watchful as fresh U.S. turmoil tests investors’ nerves

MILAN (Reuters) – World stocks wavered and the dollar eased on Friday as turmoil in the U.S. administration kept markets watchful at the end of a week scarred by concerns that U.S. tariffs could provoke a trade war.

Former Qualcomm chairman explores long-shot bid for U.S. chip maker: sources

(Reuters) – Former Qualcomm Inc Chairman Paul Jacobs has informed its board of directors that he will seek to partner with investment firms to make an offer for the U.S. semiconductor company, people familiar with the matter said on Thursday.

Deutsche Bank boosts bonuses to 2.3 billion euros despite bigger 2017 loss

FRANKFURT (Reuters) – Deutsche Bank paid bonuses worth 2.3 billion euros ($2.83 billion) for 2017, four times higher than the previous year even as the German lender warned on costs for 2018 and reported a bigger 2017 loss than previously disclosed.

A factory worker at 13, Hong Kong’s iconic billionaire retires

HONG KONG (Reuters) – Li Ka-shing’s rise from penniless immigrant in 1940 to billionaire tycoon is the consummate success story in Hong Kong, a city which progressed alongside him from trading outpost to one of the world’s biggest financial centers.

Merkel’s New Interior Minister: “Islam Does Not Belong To Germany”

In a startling confirmation of the rising power of Germany’s populist movement, on Friday Germany’s new Interior Minister Horst Seehofer declared that “Islam does not belong to Germany” while setting out hardline immigration policies in an interview published on Friday, in an attempt to ward off rising anti-immigration challengers.

“Islam does not belong to Germany,” Seehofer said, contradicting former German president Christian Wulff who fueled a debate over immigration in 2010 by saying Islam was part of Germany. In 2015 Merkel echoed Wulff’s words at a time when anti-immigration campaign group PEGIDA – or Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the West – was holding marches.

Horst Seehofer

Closing the book on Merkel’s disastrous “open door” policies, Seehofer told Bild he would push through a “master plan for quicker deportations”, in his first major interview since he was sworn into office on Wednesday.

The minister – a member of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s CSU Bavarian allies who are further to the right than her own Christian Democrats – said he would also classify more states as “safe” countries of origin, which would make it easier to deport failed asylum seekers. The statemen …

Hong Kong’s Richest Man Retires, Hands Control Of Empire To Son

Li Ka-shing, whose life journey from humble beginnings as a wartime refugee who used to sweep factory floors in Hong Kong for a living to Asia’s biggest business fortunes became the epitome of entrepreneurship that inspired generations of Hongkongers, has announced his retirement after seven decades at the pinnacle of one of the world’s largest corporate conglomerates and amassing one of Asia’s biggest fortunes from building skyscrapers to selling soap bars.

Li Ka-shing

Starting with some local property investments that cemented his wealth, Li built a business empire that included retail, energy, ports, telecommunications, media and biotechnology companies worldwide. Overseas, Li-controlled companies are among the biggest foreign investors in the U.K.

“I have decided to step down as chairman of the company and retire from the position of executive director at the forthcoming annual general meeting of the company,” Li said in filings for CK Hutchison Holdings and CK Asset Holdings to the Hong Kong stock exchange on Friday.

“I am grateful to have been able to create value for shareholders all these years, and serve society,” Li said. “This has been my greatest honour. I thank everybody for their …

Blain: “US Stocks Look Cosmetically Strong” But Something Is Going On With High Yield

Submitted by Bill Blain of Mint Partners

Sloppy Markets, but a new investment thesis: buy Macron’s Europe?

“Roll up that map, it will not be wanted these 50 years….”

Its been a “sloppy” week in markets. Although the US stock market looks cosmetically strong, it’s largely on the back of Tech and Fangs – its not broadly spread. European markets are still languishing. Credit markets don’t feel they are going anywhere – it feels like they are already closed for the Easter Break. New deals have been underperforming, there’s a distinct sogginess in HY and Financials particularly.

I’ve attached a chart from our HY bond team showing the divergence between HY and Stock Sentiment this year – that is worth considering.

Why the lacklustre performance? Its not just the comings, but mainly goings, at the White House, Trump wanting a trade war (actually he doesn’t), or the Russians, or the host of other things.. It’s just that markets are suffering a distinct lack of empathy at the moment. No one feels particularly inclined to do anything… and if the whole market is sitting on its hands waiting… then I suspect we’ll be waiting a while longe …

7 Dead After US Military Helicopter Crashes Near Syrian Border In Iraq

Update: The Pentagon has confirmed that all seven airmen aboard the Blackhawk helicopter that crashed last night in western Iraq were killed, per CNN.

There were no survivors. The crew of a second aircraft that was flying alongside the helicopter reported no signs of hostile fire.

* * *

A U.S. Military helicopter has crashed in western Iraq near the border with Syria, U.S. Central Command said in a late Thursday statement.

March 15, 2018

Release Number 20180315-28

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

U.S. military aircraft crashes in western Iraq

TAMPA, Fla. – A U.S. military aircraft has crashed in western Iraq with U.S. service members aboard.

Rescue teams are responding to the scene of the downed aircraft at this time.

Further details will be released when available.

An investigation will be initiated to determine the cause of the incident.

ABC news reports that at least some aboard were killed, according to a U.S. official.

Drinkers Go Crazy for Gin, Investors for Tonic

It’s party time in the gin industry—but buying a gin producer may not be the best way for investors to join the fun.

What Happens If AT&T Beats the Government?

No matter who wins, the blockbuster antitrust trial pitting AT&T against the U.S. government will reshape the media landscape. What it won’t do is end the upheaval of an industry contending with new competitors and new technologies.

Alibaba’s Homecoming May Not Prove a Home Run

Alibaba’s investors may feel excited about its plan to list on a mainland Chinese stock exchange. In reality, there may not be much to celebrate.

Bond Report: Treasury yields mostly tick lower ahead of economic reports, coming Fed policy update

Treasury yields are little changed Friday as investors brace for the last raft of economic data for the week while looking ahead to the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy meeting next Wednesday.

In One Chart: Bitcoin under shadow of ‘death cross’ chart pattern

A bearish chart pattern known as a “death cross” is close to appearing in bitcoin’s chart.

There are more women CEOs in this industry, but they still get paid less than men

Women are the boss more frequently than men in many companies in this industry.