Reuters - Before the Bell

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Friday, March 1, 2019

Wall Street futures bounce as focus shifts to inflation, factory data

U.S. stock index futures bounced on Friday, setting up Wall Street's main indexes for gains at the open, with investors waiting for data on inflation and manufacturing activity.

Caesars bows to Icahn demands on board, sale still eyed

U.S. casino operator Caesars Entertainment Corp has struck a deal with investor Carl Icahn that appoints three new directors to its board, although the billionaire hedge fund manager continues to press for a sale of the company.

Euro zone's triple-A bond drought persists after ECB steps away

High-grade euro zone debt remains scarce even though the European Central Bank has stopped its huge purchases of new bonds, intensifying concerns that banks will face future collateral shortages and highlighting the need for safe assets.

Southwest takes mechanics union to court over flight disruption

Southwest Airlines filed a lawsuit against its mechanics union on Thursday, accusing the workers of an illegal campaign to disrupt operations in order to improve their position in prolonged labor talks.

China cheers MSCI weight gain, yen takes the strain

World markets enjoyed a lively end to an otherwise slow week on Friday, with Chinese A-shares leaping after MSCI quadrupled their weight in its global benchmarks and strong U.S. economic data lifted the dollar and bond yields.

Deepening downdraft chills factory activity

Factories across the globe slammed on the brakes last month as demand crashed, hit by the ongoing U.S.-China trade war, slowing global growth and political uncertainty in Europe ahead of Britain's imminent departure from the EU.

Canada seen approving extradition hearing against Huawei executive

Canada is likely to announce on Friday that an extradition hearing against a Huawei Technologies Co Ltd executive can proceed, legal experts said, worsening already icy relations with Beijing.

EU banks watchdog urges protection of deposits in case of no deal Brexit

The EU banking watchdog has urged member states to offer deposit account protection for customers of branches of British banks in the rest of the European Union in case Britain crashes out of the bloc this month with no deal.

Japan's Subaru plans biggest-ever global recall over brake lights

Subaru Corp plans to recall around 2.3 million vehicles globally over a brake light problem, in what would be the automaker's biggest-ever recall as it grapples with a series of quality-related issues following rapid expansion.

Saipem and former managers face trial in profit warning case

An Italian judge has ordered oil contractor Saipem and former executives to stand trial on charges of market manipulation and false accounting, the company said on Friday, confirming an earlier report.