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

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.