AFN
NEWS
Thursday, September 19, 2019
1) From ABC News, I’m Daria Albinger. For the second time
this year, the Fed is cutting its benchmark interest rates. “Fed Chairman Jerome Powell telling reporters; while
a rate-drop was not on their radar four months ago, ‘we’ve seen additional
signs of weakness abroad and a resurgence of trade policy tensions, including the
imposition of additional tariffs. Plus, global growth outlook has weakened notably
in Europe and China. Additionally a number of geopolitical risks, including
Brix, remain unresolved.’ This analyst noting the Fed cut rates twice in three
months. ‘I think the likelihood is that they would go again this year.’ Senior
U.S. economist, NatWest, Kevin Cummins. Chuck Sivertsen, ABC News.”
2)
Stocks closed mostly higher. The Dow added 36, the S&P gained a point, but the
NASDAQ lost 10.
3)
President Trump says he is moving to increase financial sanctions on Iran over
the attack on Saudi Arabia’s oil installations. “We have to do something. We’ll
do it without hesitation.” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo who’s in Saudi Arabia called the attack an act of war
against the Kingdom by Iran but Iran denied the involvement.
4)
An American Airlines mechanic accused of sabotaging a flight could be a terrorist
sympathizer. “Abdul-Majeed Alani told
investigators he sabotaged the navigation system on American Flight 2834 from
Miami to the Bahamas in July, because he wanted to get overtime pay to fix it. Federal
prosecutors in Miami revealed they found an ISIS propaganda video on Alani’s cellphone,
and a judge denied bond out of fear Alani could be a danger to the community.
He’s charged with willfully damaging an aircraft. It’s possible those charges change
when Alani next appears in court on Friday.” ABC’s Aaron Katersky in New York.
5)
The Justice Department says a Florida man has been indicted on several charges
for allegedly cyberstalking and threatening a black activist in Charlottesville, Virginia who intended to
run for city council. The indictment alleges Daniel McMahon expressed white supremacist views on social media
and threatened the candidate with physical harm. McMahon’s attorney denied all
the allegations. You’re listening to ABC News.
…………………………………………..
From
the Fox Business Network; on Wall Street, the major averages closing mixed
after the Federal Reserve announced they will cut its benchmark interest rates
a quarter percentage point in line with market expectations, with the Dow
rising 36 points, the Nasdaq down 9, S&P 500 up a point. // And some good
news for Microsoft shareholders. The tech giant’s board approving a dividend
hike by 11% to 51 cents a share and $40 billion in new share repurchases.
Microsoft shares spiking on the news after hours. // And Roku stocks tumbling close to 14% after a media giant enters its race.
Comcast making a move that undercuts
the makers of streaming-media players and announcing that will be giving away its Xfinity Flex box for free to those who
subscribe to the cable operator’s internet-only plan. Flex will allow customers
to watch streaming services on their TV sets. With the Fox Business Report, I’m Hilarie
Barsky.
