AFN News January 23

AFN NEWS

Thursday, January 23, 2020　

1) From ABC News, I’m Michelle Franzen. A tag team of seven trial managers from the House laying out the articles of impeachment case against President Trump over his dealing with Ukraine. “The facts before us are not in dispute.” Lead trial managers Jerry Nadler and Adam Schiff outlying evidence, they say, will show the President abused his power of office and obstructed Congress. “The House believes that an impartial juror upon hearing the evidence that the managers who lay out in the coming days will find that the Constitution demands the removal of Donald J. Trump from his office as president of the United States.” Democrats now have 24 hours over the course of three days to make their arguments. ABC’s Mary Bruce says senators are paying attention. “It’s a very different tone in that chamber from yesterday. Yesterday it was a lot about politics to play here. Today it’s all about the substance and senators both sides of the aisles, are sighted taking notes, listening intently. Some even getting out of their chairs to walk up a little bit to see, to get a closer look at some of those exhibits.” The defense will also get equal time to present their case.

2) In New York, the criminal trial of movie mogul Harvey Weinstein began today. “Harvey Weinstein was not just a titan in Hollywood. Prosecutors said he was a rapist who left the women he overpowered physically and emotionally nervous, confused and defeated. Prosecutors offered graphic detail about Weinstein’s injection of a reptile medications and aggressive sexual behavior. The defense said prosecutors were previewing a movie that jury would not see, arguing everything Weinstein did was consensual. The defense read friendly emails from some of Weinstein’s accusers seeking jobs or wondering what would be next in town. Aaron Katersky, ABC News, New York.”

3) Health experts are trying to keep an outbreak of the coronavirus from spreading widely from the city of Wuhan in China where it originated. Seventeen people now confirmed dead in China. U.S. health officials have been screening passengers at airports that arrived from China and today new restrictions put into place on flights in and out of Wuhan. You’re listening to ABC News.

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I’m Maria Bartiromo and this is the Fox Business Report. Stocks fading into the closing bell with the major averages ending off session highs and closing mixed as investors digest earnings reports and monitor the coronavirus outbreak. Among the gainers today tech while energy companies declined. The Dow gainers; IBM, Intel and Apple. The Dow decliners; Boeing, Caterpillar and Johnson & Johnson. The Dow closing down 9 points, the NASDAQ up 13, S&P 500 up a point. Among the gainers today, Dow components IBM, it’s stocks closing up over 3% after Big Blue broke a five-quarter streak of declines and the reported minus revenue growth in an upbeat outlook. And some good news on the housing plant, U.S. home sales were the strongest in almost two years finding 3.6% in December, according to the National Association of Realtors. However, a record-low inventory of home on the market has caused prices to surge. That’s your Fox Business Report, I’m Hilarie Barsky, invested in you.

AFN News January 16

AFN NEWS

Thursday, January 16, 2020　

1) From ABC News, I’m Michelle Franzen. This hour House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and seven impeachment managers are expected to walk over articles of impeachment against President Trump to the Senate, the form of process and handoff for the trial. The House approving the final resolution of the articles earlier along party lines that vote. Representative Diana DeGette reading the tally. “On this vote, the yeas are 228, the nays are 193. The resolution is adopted and without objection. The motion to reconsider is laid on the table.” ABC News senior Congressional correspondent Mary Bruce tells us that the speaker picked a number of experienced litigators to handle the case including Judiciary Chair Jerry Nadler and House Intel Chief Adam Schiff. “This team is going to have to get to work, and quickly some of these members were just informed. They’re gonna be having this position in the last 24 hours. They’re now going to have to strategize, maybe do a little cramming and prepare for this historical trial. That starts in earnest on Tuesday.” Senate Leader Mitch McConnell tweeting after the vote, criticizing Democrats over weeks of delays, saying the House prosecutors have, quote, finally overcome their cold feet.”

2) President Trump signing a preliminary trade deal with China today at the White House. There are still concerns over what’s next ongoing trade talks. “Against the backdrop of U.S. and Chinese flags, President Trump today signed what the White House is calling phase one of a trade deal with China. “Today we take a momentous step, one that has never been taken before with China, toward a future of fair and reciprocal trade as we sign phase one of the historic trade deal.” The Trump Administration has said China has agreed to purchase billions of dollars of American farm products. This agreement doesn’t end nearly two-year trade war between the U.S. and China, but it does mark a significance de-escalation. Karen Travers, ABC News, the White House.

3) And on Wall Street, the Dow reaching a new milestone today, closing about 29,000 for the first time.

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“I’m Maria Bartiromo and this is the Fox Business Report.” On Wall Street, the major averages closing in the green with record closes for the Dow and S&P 500, and the Dow making history today closing above the 29,000 mark for the first time, following the signing of the phase one trade deal. Among the gainers today, tech and healthcare companies, while energy and financial lagged. The Dow winners; UnitedHealth, Home Depot and MacDonald’s. The Dow decliners; Boeing, 3M and J.P. Morgan. The Dow rising 91 points, the NASDAQ up 7, S&P 500 up 6. // And not a good day on Wall Street, for shares of Target tumbling 7% after reporting a rare holiday sales miss, dragged down by weakness in toys and electronics. Sales of Target have been robust in the past couple of years aided by a turnaround plan that included adding more in-house brands, remodeling stores and cutting prices. That’s your Fox Business Report, I’m Hilarie Barsky, invested in you.

AFN News January 9

AFN NEWS

Thursday, January 9, 2020　

1) From ABC News, I’m Michelle Franzen. In Iraq, reports of two rockets fired landing somewhere inside the so-called Green Zone in Baghdad where the U.S. embassy and other diplomatic offices are located. It comes as the U.S. and Iran took a step back from recent escalations following Iran’s missile strikes into U.S. bases in Iraq. Those strikes in response to the U.S. drone strike that killed Iran’s top general.

2) Earlier today President Trump said Iran must change its position on nuclear weapons and attacks. President Trump said the United States will immediately impose what he called powerful economic sanctions on Iran. “These powerful sanctions will remain until Iran changes its behavior.” The U.S. already has sanctions on Iran putting in place, since President Trump pulled the U.S. out of the Iran nuclear agreement. Those penalties have had a crippling effect on Iran’s economy. Karen Travers, ABC News, the White House.

3) ABC’s senior foreign correspondent Ian Pannell is in Erbil, Iraq and says the threat to the U.S. is not over. “We’re certainly hearing from the leader of one of those organizations that is prescribed by the United States as a terrorist organization. They’re saying that the Iranians have had sanctions. Now it’s time for the Iraqi militias to respond. That may calm this conciliatory message.”

4) On Capitol Hill, lawmakers were briefed for the first time today on the Trump Administration’s claims that General Qasem Soleimani posted an imminent threat. Democrats remain skeptical, and following one briefing, GOP Senator Mike Lee of Utah lashed out. “What we were told over and over again was… Look, this action was necessary. This was a bad guy. We had to do it, and we can’t have division. We can’t have dissension within our ranks, within our government or else. It sends the wrong signal to Iranians. And just, I think that’s completely wrong.”

5) The investigation into the Ukrainian International Airlines flight that crashed shortly after takeoff in Tehran continues. Ukrainian intelligence points to the likelihood of a catastrophic event like an engine blowing up. You’re listening to ABC News.

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“I’m Maria Bartiromo and this is the Fox Business Report.” The major averages closing in the green and paring gains in the final minutes of trading on reports of sirens and blasts in Baghdad. Only the NASDAQ closed at a record high today. Among the gainers, banks and tech companies, while energy companies lagged as oil prices fell. The Dow winners; Apple, UnitedHealth and Microsoft. The Dow decliners; Boeing, Walgreens and Chevron. The Dow rising 161 points, the NASDAQ up 61, S&P 500 up 16. // And the Dow would have closed higher today. It was the worst for Boeing. Its shares falling 1.5% after the crash of 737-800 jet, not a MAX, near Tehran. // And shares of Apple closing up over 1%, hitting a new all-time high. The tech giant announcing that its new service has reached 100 million monthly active users, and customers spent more than $1.4 billion in the App Store between Christmas and New Year. That’s your Fox Business Report, I’m Hilarie Barsky, invested in news.

AFN News January 2

AFN NEWS

Thursday, January 2, 2020　

1) From ABC News, I’m Michelle Franzen. At the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, most of the Iranian-backed militia have pulled away from the compound. U.S. troops earlier today using tear gas to disperse those crowds. It comes after two days of escalations. ABC’s Aaron Katersky says the U.S. embassy is now closed. “The U.S. embassy in Baghdad suspended all public consular operations, and the statement said U.S. citizens are advised to not even approach the embassy. It comes after Iran-backed militiamen breached the compound, destroyed the reception area and sprayed graffiti on the walls. They’ve fully retreated but the embassy, one of the most heavily fortified diplomatic missions in the world, said it would remain closed to the public until further notice.”

2) The State Department also says Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has postponed his week trip to Ukraine to monitor the situation back home.

3) Pro-basketball’s governing body, the NBA says former commissioner David Stern has died nearly three weeks after suffering a brain hemorrhage. Here, Stone talking to ESPN back in September. “The thing I take pride in is the number of millionaires that the NBA has made and developed, not just the owners getting wealthier because of the asset appreciation, but the players getting contracts that are off the charts.” Stern became the NBA’s fourth commissioner back in 1984. He was 77 years old. *ESPN = Entertainment and Sports Programming Network

4) In New Jersey this hour, tens of thousands gathering at MetLife Stadium for a Jewish event with a heavy security presence, following recent anti-Semitic attacks. They include the deadly shooting at a kosher market in Jersey City in early December and a stubbing attack at a Hanukkah celebration last week at a rabbi’s house north of New York City.

5) Starting in February, truck rental company U-Haul says they will no longer hire people who use nicotine. The policy implemented in 21 states. U-Haul chief of staff Jessica Lopez, “We want each existing team members who uses nicotine and/or tobacco products to know that their job is not in jeopardy.” That’s if they are hired before February. You’re listening to ABC News.

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“I’m Maria Bartiromo and this is the Fox Business Report.” It was a stellar year on Wall Street, and many investors wonder whether the economy will still be robust next year. Steve Sadove, Mastercard Senior Adviser, said they were entering the New Year on solid footing. “Ultimately the consumers speak with their wallets. Right now, they are telling us unemployment is low, confidence is high. They are coming into next year with their fairly good amount of momentum.” And there are positive signs. “I feel terrific that we may get resolution on this tariff situation that plays into the consumer. As we go into next year, we’re in a political year. You usually tend to have, you’re not gonna have a dramatic thing happening with the consumer.” And on Wall Street, stocks had their best year since 2013 with S&P 500 jumping close to 30%, as everything from shares of tech companies to bank, all have not significant gains. That’s your Fox Business Report. I’m Hilarie Barsky, invested in news.