13Mar2019 Pre-Market Commentary: Wall Street Equity Futures Point To A Higher Opening, DOW Up 55 Points, Yearly Rate Of Core PPI Tapers To 2.3% From 2.5%

Here is the current market situation from CNN Money

European markets are mixed today. The CAC 40 is up 0.39% while the FTSE 100 gains 0.21%. The DAX is even.

JPMorgan’s Chase to open 90 branches in nine top U.S. markets

The consumer banking unit of JPMorgan Chase & Co said on Wednesday that it was planning to open up to 90 new branches in nine top U.S. markets.

Ethiopia sends Boeing black boxes abroad, Norway airline wants compensation

Ethiopian Airlines said on Wednesday it would send the black boxes from its crashed Boeing 737 MAX abroad for expert analysis, and a Norwegian airline sought compensation after it grounded its models in the wake of the disaster.

France’s BEA not contacted by Ethiopia over black box analysis

Ethiopian authorities have not contacted France’s air accident investigation agency about receiving the black boxes from the Boeing 737 MAX 8 which crashed near Addis Ababa, a spokesman for the BEA said on Wednesday.

Black boxes from Ethiopia crash to go to Europe for analysis: airline spokesman

The black boxes from a Boeing 737 MAX 8 plane that crashed in Ethiopia, killing 157 people, will be sent to Europe for analysis, a spokesman for Ethiopia Airlines said on Wednesday.

Germany sees 750 million euro potential risk from scrapping of Airbus A380

The decision by Airbus to scrap its A380 jet risks costing Germany as much as 750 million euros, an economy ministry report seen by Reuters showed on Wednesday.

Travel agents tweak search options, bookings after Boeing groundings

Travel websites have begun to respond to consumer concern and the grounding of Boeing’s 737 MAX planes by changing policies and introducing new options that exclude flights on those planes from customer queries.

Factbox: Boeing 737 MAX 8 groundings spread around the world

Aviation regulators around the globe are grounding Boeing’s 737 MAX aircraft following Sunday’s deadly plane crash in Ethiopia. Regulators in the United States, where Boeing is based, remained an exception.

U.S. will not suspend Boeing 737 MAX planes; discussion on black box analysis

The U.S. aviation regulator said on Tuesday it would not ground Boeing Co 737 MAX planes after a crash in Ethiopia that killed 157 people, bucking a trend of countries around the world that have suspended the aircraft’s operations.

Egypt bars Boeing 737 MAX jets from its airspace: statement

Egypt has barred the passage, takeoff and landing of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, the civil aviation ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

US Producer Price Growth Slows To 20-Month Lows

Following disappointing (for inflationists) CPI data earlier in the week, US producer prices also rose at a slower than expected rate in February.

While Final Demand PPI printed as expected at +1.9% YoY, that is the weakest growth in prices since June 2017 (and back below the key Fed-mandated 2.00%)…

Trump Slams Newsom For Plan To Halt California Death Penalty, Save “737 Stone Cold Killers”

President Trump slammed California Governor Gavin Newsom (D), who is reportedly planning to take executive action to eliminate the death penalty in the state.

A New Escobar Emerges: Ton And A Half Of Colombian Cocaine Seized At Port Of New York

Authorities at the Port of New York and New Jersey seized a massive 3,200 pounds of cocaine with an estimated street value of $77 million from a shipping container on Feb. 28, NPR reports. The massive drug bust took place after officials carried out an inspection of the shipment when they noticed tampering of several containers on a large vessel traveling from – where else – Buenaventura, Colombia, DEA special agent in charge Ray Donovan told NPR. That is when they discovered the nearly ton and a half of cocaine.

Ethiopian Airlines Pilot Warned Of “Flight-Control Problems” Adding To Boeing/FAA Pressure

The FAA remains stoic in its defense of Boeing in the face of the rest of the world banning, grounding, and investigating their latest 737 Max8 aircraft. However, reports today from The Wall Street Journal could force Elaine Chao to take action today.

Outside the Box: Lyft IPO is being priced for perfection — and that’s not realistic

All the reasons investors should steer clear of Lyft’s stock.

Market Extra: U.S. Transportation Sectary Elaine Chao just took a Boeing 737 Max 8 from Texas to Washington amid worldwide groundings

Elaine Chao, the U.S. transportation secretary, took a 737 Max 8 jet from Austin to Washington, D.C., in an apparent act of support, according to a late-Tuesday report.

Economic Report: Durable-goods orders rise in January for 3rd straight month and investment rebounds

Orders for long-lasting durable goods rose in January for the third month in a row and business investment posted the biggest increase since last summer, indicating a key segment of the economy is still expanding at a steady if unspectacular pace. Orders rose 0.4% in January.