AFN News February 20

AFN NEWS

Friday, February 20, 2020　

1) From ABC News, I’m Dave Packer. The last Democratic debate tonight before the Nevada caucuses. That’s for the first time joining Democrats on stage. Former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg. Other candidates like former vice president Joe Biden are ready to respond. “The truth is he’s basically been a Republican in his whole life. The fact of the matter is he has, he didn’t endorse Barack or me when we ran.” ABC’s Alex Stone is there. “Bloomberg could take fire at a number of issues. One will be his self-funding campaign. Sanders and Buttigieg are attacking Bloomberg for what they claim his paying-his-way into tonight’s debate. Warren is calling Bloomberg an egomaniac billionaire but also an issue is braced. “Stop and frisk” in New York and comments Bloomberg has made about the LGBTQ community, all of those could be fair game tonight.

2) Meanwhile, President Trump set to speak to supporters in Bakersfield, California today. “To be short, Vicky Young says the President is not perfect. ‘I don’t like his tweet’, or just about everything else. She is right there with him. ‘Values, school, education. I like that he loves our farmers.’ And now so what she hopes to hear from the President. ‘I’m hoping he’s gonna tell me he is absolutely going to be reelected 100%.’ Greg Naft, ABC News, Bakersfield, California.

3) The President granting a slew of pardons and clemency. Former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich set free from a federal lockup. In a 20-minute long stay outside of his home, former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich said the President didn’t have to commute his sentence. “President Trump is a man who’s tough and outspoken, but he also has a kind heart.” He also used some Trump terminology when discussing his own political battles. “I wouldn’t allow that swamp in Springfield and my fellow Democrats down there, who just wanted to raise taxes on the working people to raise their taxes.” The convicted governor said if he is allowed to, he would vote for Trump this fall. Ryan Burrow, ABC News, Chicago.

4) Wall Street, the Dow up 115 points the day, the NASDAQ gained 84. You’re listening to ABC News.

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I’m Maria Bartiromo and this is the Fox Business Report.

On Wall Street, the major averages closing higher with the NASDAQ and S&P 500 notching new record highs on easing coronavirus fears and strong economic data. The Dow winners; Apple, UnitedHealth, and Disney. The Dow decliners; Walmart, Travelers and IBM. The Dow rising 116 points, the NASDAQ up 84 for its 16th record close of the year. The S&P 500 up 16. // Shares of Groupon tanking today, down 43%. The online coupon company reporting weak fourth quarter earnings and set it a plan to shut down part of its business that sells merchandise and detailed plans for a reverse-stock split. // And shares of Garmin rising close to 7% after the maker of GPS and fitness devices reported quarterly earnings and revenue beating Wall Street estimate. Its stock hitting its 10-year high. That’s your Fox Business Report. I’m Hilarie Barsky, invested in you.

AFN News February 17

AFN NEWS

Monday, February 17, 2020　

1) From ABC News, I’m Dave Packer. Senator Bernie Sanders getting the most votes in New Hampshire, but former mayor Pete Buttigieg still close behind that he took away the same number of delegates. Both are now tied at 9. “Buttigieg making the case for a new generation of leadership. ‘Putting forward a new perceptive is how Democrats win the White House and we will win the White House.’ And it’s surprised the third-place finisher. ‘We have beaten the odds every step of the way.’ Fueled by her strong debate performance, Senator Amy Klobuchar vaulting into the top tier.” ABC’s Mary Bruce in Manchester. And still with zero delegates, former vice president Joe Biden hoping that South Carolina voters will propel him into the front of the pack.

2) Roger Stone getting more lenient sentence recommendation from Attorney General William Barr after President Trump tweeted that the sentence against his friend is too harsh. The President today placing the blame squarely on the prosecutors assigned to Stone’s crack case and the Mueller investigation. “I am not concerned about anything. They ought to go back to school and learn, because I tell you what, the way they treated people. Nobody should be treated like that.” Four prosecutors who were assigned to Stone’s case have resigned after Barr overrode their sentencing recommendation after the President’s tweet.

3) After being turned away at several seaports due to coronavirus fears, Cambodia has allowed the cruise ship and its stranded passengers to dock there. Christina Kerby is one of the 1400 passengers on the Westerdam cruise liner. “For me, it’s not the vacation that I expected, but it’s been a life changing experience.” The Westerdam had been turned away from Thailand, Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines and Guam. The crew said the ship has no sick passengers.

4) Meanwhile, here at home the 13th case of the deadly strain of the coronavirus now diagnosed officially. It’s now known as Covid-19. Over 2,000 new cases in the last 24 hours along with 97 new deaths, all of those in China. You’re listening to ABC News.

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I’m Maria Bartiromo and this is the Fox Business Report. On Wall Street, another trifecta of record closes with the major averages hitting new record highs, as investors shrug off concerns about the economic impact of the coronavirus and focus on mostly upbeat corporate earnings results. Among the gainers today; tech with chipmakers leading the way and energy companies as the price of oil rose. Among the laggards; utilities and real estate companies. The Dow winners; Apple, UnitedHealth and Caterpillar. The Dow decliners; Merck, Johnson and Johnson, and Proctor & Gamble. The Dow rising 275oints, the NASDAQ up 87, S&P 500 up 22. With the stock closing up nearly 1% after Credit Suisse raised its price target on Boeing stocks to $367 a share from 321. The new target is about 8% higher than recent trading levels. That’s your Fox Business Report. I’m Hilarie Barsky, invested in you.

AFN News February 6

AFN NEWS

Friday, February 6, 2020　

1) From ABC News, I’m Dave Packer. The Senate votes to keep President Trump in office. Chief Justice John Roberts presiding; “On this article of impeachment, 48 senators have pronounced Donald John Trump, President of the United States, guilty as charged. 52 senators have pronounced him not guilty as charged.” Mr. Trump found not guilty on both counts of impeachment, “abuse of power” and “obstruction of Congress.” Before the vote, Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer reminded his colleagues on the Senate floor about how they vote would determine how history remembers them; “Let future generations know that only a fraction of the Senate swallowed these fantasies. The rest of us condemn them to the usher of history.” Sen. Mitch McConnell clearly differs, “Whatever policy differences we may have, we should all agree this is precisely the kind of recklessness, the kind of recklessness the Senate was created to stop.” ABC’s senior White House correspondent Jonathan Karl, “The White House has pushed very hard to portray this as a purely partisan impeachment, and in the House that’s exactly what it was, not a single Republican voted to impeach the President and they really believed that it was what’s gonna be the situation in the Senate. But now here you have a Republican and not just any Republican but a former Republican presidential nominee come out and say that he is voting to remove the President from office to convict him on impeachment.” And talking, of course, about Republican Mitt Romney. He’s catching a lot of criticism from others in the GOP for being the only Republican to vote to remove the President. “I’m sure to hear abuse from the President and his supporters. Does anyone seriously believe that I would consent to these consequences other than from an inescapable conviction than my oath before God demanded it of me.” Other Republicans led by Representatives Collins, Zeldin and Jordan blasting Romney’s decision.” You’re listening to ABC News.

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I’m Maria Bartiromo and this is the Fox Business Report. Stocks rally with the major averages ending higher as investors assessed latest batch of corporate earnings reports and set aside fears about the economic global impact from the coronavirus. Among the Dow winners today; Boeing, IBM and UnitedHealth, all three stocks accounted for a half of the Dow-gains today. The Dow decliners; Disney, Merck and Visa. The Dow rising 483 points, the NASDAQ up 41 for a new record close, the S&P 500 up 37 for a new record high. // And shares of Tesla tumbling 17%, hitting the brakes on a dramatic rally after senior executive warned that the coronavirus outbreak in China would delay deliveries of Model 3 cars made at its Shanghai plant. // And another automaker tumbling, Ford; its stocks plunging down over 9% after reporting dismal fourth-quarter results with a loss of $1.7 billion for the quarter. That’s your Fox Business Report, I’m Hilarie Barsky, invested in you.

AFN News January 30

AFN NEWS

Thursday, January 30, 2020　

1) From ABC News, I’m Michelle Franzen. An impeachment trial taking a new turn today. Senators asking the questions and the legal team responding. One key question today, President Trump’s motive when he held the phone call with the Ukraine leader asking him to investigate political rival Joe Biden and his son and withholding military aid to Ukraine. The President’s attorneys argued the money was released to Ukraine, and that the President was concerned about corruption. Deputy White House Counsel Patrick Philbin, “Once you get into a mixed motive situation, if there’s both some personal motive but also some legitimate public interest motive, it can’t possibly be an offense.” House managers Zoe Lofgren of California arguing that the intent was there. “Getting caught doesn’t medicate the wrongdoing. The President’s unrepentant and we fear he will do it again.” The other sticking point whether to allow testimony from former National Security adviser John Bolton. ABC’s Rachel Scott, “Pressure is building to call former National Security adviser John Bolton to testify, calls fueled by his unpublished book. The New York Times reports an unpublished manuscript. Bolton says the President told him explicitly the hold up a military aid to Ukraine was directly tied to the investigations of his political rival.” The President’s attorney is now trying to block manuscript of the book and testimony siding as classified.

2) At the U.S.-Mexico border, a new discovery, “Just revealed, the border patrol finding what it says is the longest cross-border tunnel ever discovered, running three quarters of a mile from Tijuana into the U.S. The tunnel is 5.5 feet tall, 2 feet wide. It runs about 70 feed down and has an extensive rail and cart system, forced air ventilation, high voltage electrical cables, a drainage system, and even an elevator to move drugs. Nobody has been arrested connected to the tunnel.” ABC’s Alex Stone.

3) World Health experts now say the coronavirus has killed 132 people in China without an outbreak statement. You’re listening to ABC News.

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I’m Maria Bartiromo and this is the Fox Business Report. The major averages ending off session highs and closing mixed. Markets slipping today following the Fed’s late decision and Chair Jerome Powell’s comments. The Federal Reserve leaving its benchmark interest rate unchanged to a range of 1.5 and 1.75%, reaffirming that it remains in a holding pattern. The Dow winners today; Apple, Boeing and McDonald’s. The Dow decliners; UnitedHealth, 3M and Disney. The Dow rising 12 points, the NASDAQ up 5, S&P 500 down 3. // And Google said it was temporarily shutting down all of its China offices due to the coronavirus outbreak. // And another big mover today. On Wall Street, Victoria’s Secret parent L Brands jumping 13% after the Wall Street Journal reported its chief executive, Leslie Wexner is in discussion to step aside and is exploring strategic alternatives for the lingerie brand, which could result in a full or partial sale of the company. That’s your Fox Business Report, I’m Hilarie Barsky, invested in you.A