AFN News August 20

 

ABC NEWS  AUGUST 20, 2020

                      1)              From ABC News, I am Daria Albinger.  And we have a breaking news out of the White House, where President Trump has just made an announcement at the news briefing; “The United States intends to restore virtually all of the previously suspended United Nations sanctions on Iran.  It’s a snapback, not uncommon.”  He says it’s a process that the US will make in the demand for the United Nations.

 2)               Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden addressing a key group of voters; “Latinos across the country hold extraordinary power to win this election and shape a better future.”  Biden speaking to the Hispanic caucus a day before he officially accepts his party’s nomination, on the last night of the Democratic national convention.

   The theme of this third night is a more perfect union among the speakers; Hillary Clinton, Elizabeth Warren, Nancy Pelosi and President Obama, who is expected to deliver a direct assault on his successor.  The final speaker of the evening will be vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris. 

 3)              Federal health officials are predicting that a rollout of a new rapid saliva-based test and others like it will make screening for COVID-19 much easier to do and and much more wide-spread.  Illinois Governor JB Pritzker says ‘the sooner the better’.  His state is one of seven where the virus is still increasing; “The University of Illinois has just today received emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration to run the saliva-based COVID-19 test at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Lab.”  Inadequate testing is one of the reasons that Florida’s teachers union, the largest one in the state, is suing Governor Ron DeSantis as it’s hoping to force him to pivot to online learning to start school year.

 4)              Thousands are evacuating in the San Francisco Bay area as wildfires continue to burn.  A helicopter involved in the firefighting operations crashed near the New Coalinga Municipal Airport.  You’re listening to ABC News.

  5-1)   I’m Liz Claman, and this is the Fox Business report.

   “Stocks finishing lower after minutes of the Federal Reserve July policy meeting were released, which showed that the Central Bank lowered its estimates for economic growth over the second half of the year.  The Dow falling 85 points, the Nasdaq down 64, S&P 500 down 14. 

 5-2)   And Apple stock making history in an intraday trading on Wall Street.  The tech titan is the first US company to hit $2 trillion in market capitalization.  The milestone comes just two years after Apple became the FIRST US company to top 1 trillion.  This year alone shares of Apple have surged nearly 60%, and was one of the stocks leading the market off of(=from) its coronavirus lows.

 5-3)    Target shares soaring over 12% after posting the strongest quarterly growth in its history including a near tripling of digital sales.  Customers stocking up unessentials, while taking advantage of same-day service options amid the pandemic.

That’s your Fox Business report.  I’m Hilarie Barsky, invested in you.”

AFN News August 13

 

ABC NEWS  AUGUST 13, 2020

1)          From ABC News, I am Dave Packer.  In their first joint appearance as the presumptive Democratic ticket, Joe Biden said his choice for running mate was the best one; “Picked the right person to join me as the next vice president of the United States of America, and that’s Senator Kamala Harris!”  Harris making her first remark, says with the presumptive DP nominee; “Joe, I am so proud to stand with you.  And I do so mindful of all the heroic and ambitious women before me.”

2)           Meanwhile today President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence assembled to gathering of select parents, students and teachers on the reopening of schools during the corona virus pandemic.  President Trump wants to see school districts opened for the fall preferably in-person; “Virtual is not as good as being there.  Virtual is just not the same thing, and for a long time, we’ve been hearing how great it would be, how great it would be.  We’ve always had the ultimate sample right, namely the whole country practically, and it’s not as good.”

3)           This as in Georgia, more than a thousand students and dozens of staffers under a two-week quarantine across several schools in one’s county district there.  “There’s about 60 positive cases here in Cherokee County and reports have more than half of all schools including here, at Etowah High School, they are closed this morning because of those 1100 quarantine.  Now cases are confirmed at 22 of Cherokee’s 38 schools.  And that number could increase because they’re still weighing on test results, and put that 1100 number quarantine in the perspective, there are 30,000 students back in schools district wide and here at Etowah, schools are going to be off today.  There are going to be in the school cleaning.  Students report back for the online tomorrow.  They hope it gets back on campus here for those students on Monday 31.”  ABC’s Steve Gilbuck.

4)           In Baltimore, authorities say 2 people died and 7 others were injured in Monday’s explosion in the West Baltimore neighborhood.  Three homes destroyed, others damaged within a 3-block radius, a man and a woman were killed by the blast, the cause of which at this hour still remains under investigation.  You’re listening to ABC News.

5-1)   I’m Liz Claman, and this is the Fox Business report.

   “Stocks rallying with the S&P 500 closing just shy of its record high notch back in February on encouraging coronavirus vaccine news.  Shares of major tech companies were among the gainers, with Microsoft and Apple leading the charge, while financials dragged.  The Dow rising 290 points, the Nasdaq up 229, S&P 500 up 47. 

5-2)   And Lyft posting a loss of over $437 million for its April through June quarter, as the coronavirus caused fewer people to use its ride-hailing service.  Its number back to riders declining 60%.  However the company said their rides were up for July compared to April. 

5-3)   And Uber CEO warns that the company’s ride-hailing service could shut down in California until November, if Uber loses its appeal of a judge’s ruling requiring drivers to be classified as employees instead of contractors.

That’s your Fox Business report.  I’m Hilarie Barsky, invested in you.”

AFN News August 6

 

ABC NEWS  AUGUST 6, 2020         

1)          From ABC News, I am Daria Albinger.  COVID-19 deaths are on the rise in 32 states with the most populous, nearly setting a daily record.  ABC’s Alex Stone is in Los Angeles; “In the past 24 hours here in California, 202 more people were reported to have died from COVID-19, and over 5,000 new cases were reported.  Cases of positivity rate and hospitalizations have been declining, but the state is now warning that may be a false trend because they are having an issue with case reporting they may not actually be going down.”

2)          Virginia launching a smartphone app to trace the spread of the virus.  Governor Ralph Northam says COVID Wise tells users if they’ve been in contact with someone who’s tested positive; “This can really help us catch new cases early before they spread as far.  You get that alert, you can get a test, and then you can quarantine yourself.” 

3)           Florida setting a new benchmark, surpassing 500,000 cases.

4)           The death toll from tropical storm Isaias has risen to 9.  Hundreds of thousands along the east coast are still without power.

5)           President Trump is still criticizing Nevada’s mail-in ballot ruling.  State officials are hitting back.  “President’s suing to try and stop Nevada from expanding its mail-in balloting.  He insists that would invite massive voter fraud; “No verification of the signature or who’s gonna sign it.”  And Nevada election official says that’s not true, telling ABC News the state will indeed continue verifying every mail-in ballot signature, matching it to an already-signed voter registration card.  Andy Field, ABC News, Washington.” 

6)           The State Department says at least one American is among the 135 dead in yesterday’s massive explosion in Beirut.  Secretary of State Mike Pompeo; “We stand ready to assist the government of Lebanon, and it’s, as it grapples with this horrible tragedy.”  Several Americans are also among the at least 5,000 injured at the blast that nearly leveled the city’s port.   You’re listening to ABC News.           

7-1)   I’m Liz Claman, and this is the Fox Business report.

   “Stocks finishing higher with the Nasdaq notching yet another record close, strong corporate earnings results and upbeat service sector data outweighing a dismal private jobs report.  With the Dow rising 373 points, the Nasdaq up 57 in another record close, S&P 500 up 21.

7-2)    And shares of Zynga are surging in the extended session after the mobile-gaming company released an earnings report that proved once again that home-bound Americans are binging on digital games.  Zynga delivering a strong quarter with revenue improving 47% to 452 million from a year ago. 

7-3)    And Johnson and Johnson stock closing up slightly higher after the company reached a more than $1 billion deal with the US government to supply 100 million doses of its experimental COVID-19 vaccine for use in the States once it gets regulatory approval.   

That’s your Fox Business report.  I’m Hilarie Barsky, invested in you.”

AFN News July 23

 

ABC NEWS  JULY 23, 2020

1)          From ABC News, I am Daria Albinger.  President Trump is holding his second COVID-19 briefing in as many days after a break that lasted months.  It started today with an update on a vaccine; “My administration reached a historical agreement with Pfizer to produce and deliver 100 million doses of their vaccine immediately following its approval.” And the White House says that could be as soon as December. 

 2)          Meanwhile a new state takes the lead with the most COVID-19 cases in the United States.  “Twelve thousand eight hundred seven new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in California in the past 24 hours.  That’s a highest daily increase ever in the state, and in the past day, 115 more people died from COVID-19 in California.  Governor Gavin Newsom; ‘It’s just another reminder, if I need to remind anybody of the magnitude of impact that this virus continues to have.’  And while part of the rise in cases here is due to more testing, the 7-day positivity rate is also up today, showing it’s not only because of more testing.  Alex Stone, ABC News, Los Angeles.”

3)           A few more states are moving to require masks in public; Ohio, Minnesota and Indiana.  The mayor of Washington D.C. is making face coverings mandatory in public for everyone except for federal government workers on the job.

4)           The president calls it ‘Operation Legend’.  He’s sending federal agents to Chicago, Albuquerque and other cities where crime is rising.  “We will work every single day to restore public safety, protect our nation’s children and bring violent perpetrators to justice.”  The mayor of Chicago Lori Lightfood says she’s been told that the agents will focus on gun violence in the city.  She says the FBI, DEA and AFT agents will not crack down on protests like they haven’t Portland, Oregon. 

 5)           The State Department has ordered China to close its consulate in Houston to protect US intellectual property.  Beijing says it will retaliate.  You’re listening to ABC News.

6-1)   I’m Connell McShane.  This is the Fox Business report. 

“A trappy trading session with stocks ending higher despite concerns over tensions between the US and China and continuing fears about the coronavirus in its toll on the economy.  The Dow rising 165 points, the Nasdaq up 26, S&P 500 up 19.

6-2)   And after the closing bell, Microsoft announcing earnings beating Wall Street expectations, and reporting record revenue for the quarter.  However growth rate says Azure cloud division slowed from the previous quarter, and the closing of Microsoft physical retail stores also cut into its earnings.  Microsoft shares are down after hours, but its stock has run up nearly 35% so far this year.

And business messaging app Slack is accusing Microsoft of antitrust violations in Europe.  The complaint file to the European Commission accuses Microsoft of tying its Team software to its Office system to snap out competition.    

That’s your Fox Business report.  I’m Hilarie Barsky, invested in you.”

AFN News July 2

 

AFN NEWS

Thursday July 2, 2020

1) From ABC News, I’m Chuck Sivertsen. The COVID-19 surge in the South and West is not being slowed. A record-breaking day for cases: hospitalizations, emergency room visits and deaths in Arizona, as Vice President Mike Pence visits the state. “We did hear in the briefing today for the need for personnel. We’ve already responded. Sixty-two medical personnel arrived this week in Tucson, but the governor conveyed to us an additional request for another 500 personnel.” Coronavirus cases increasing in almost 40 states. Hospitalizations  are up in half of the states.

2) California Governor Gavin Newsom orders for at least three weeks a total closure of bars and indoor operations of restaurants, movie theaters, museums and other patron-based businesses. In Los Angeles and other high population counties. “These are 19 counties within the state, but these 19 counties represent over 70% of the population here in the state of California.”

3) Texas set a new record of more than 8,000 COVID-19 cases today. After a popular bar was busted for holding crowded gatherings in one of New Jersey’s largest cities, Governor Phil Murphy is once again urging people not to blow it. “Even one knucklehead bar can ruin it for everyone. It only takes one match to start a wildfire, and it only takes one infected bar-goer to invite, or ignite rather, a COCID-19 flare-up and then shuts everything else all back down.” As a precaution, New York City will not move forward with indoor dining on Monday.

4) Seattle police have torn down the city’s occupied protest zone and herded out protesters on Mayor’s orders. Police Chief Carmen Best, “Our job is to support peaceful demonstration, but what has happened here on these streets over the last two weeks, few weeks, that is, is lawless and is brutal and bottom line it is simply unacceptable.” Listening to ABC News.

…………………………………………..

I’m Liz Claman and this is the Fox Business Report.

Stocks finishing mixed on its first trading day of the month and a quarter after the data showed that the labor market continued to improve last month. Payroll processor ADP’s private sector job reports showing that nearly 2.4 million jobs were created in June with 70% of new jobs in leisure, hospitality, trade and construction industries. The Dow falling 77 points, the NASDAQ up 96 for another record close, the S&P 500 up 16. // And Tesla hitting a milestone. It is now the most valuable car company in the world surpassing Japan’s Toyota. Here today, Toyota stocks are down around 12%, while shares of Tesla has soared more than 165 %. // And due to spiking coronavirus cases in several states throughout the country, Apple will temporarily re-close 30 of its retail stores in the U.S. bringing the nationwide total to 77. That’s your Fox Business Report. I’m Hilarie Barsky, invested in you. *ADP = Automatic Data Processing