Reuters - Before the Bell

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Wednesday, May 1, 2019

The debate behind Trump's move to tighten Iran oil sanctions

U.S. President Donald Trump's unexpected decision to ban all Iranian oil purchases after May 1 - ending exemptions for eight nations - came after hawkish economic and security advisors allayed the president's fears of an oil price hike, according to three sources familiar with the internal debate.

Nations using oil as a weapon threatens OPEC: Iran oil minister

Any country using oil as a weapon could cause the collapse of oil producer group OPEC, Iran's Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh said on Wednesday, according to SHANA, the news outlet of the oil ministry.

Futures bounce as investors cheer Apple results

U.S. stock index futures jumped on Wednesday, pointing to a strong open for Wall Street as Apple Inc's stellar results and forecast allayed concerns about slowing growth in corporate profits.

Yum Brands same-store sales beat on KFC strength

Yum Brands Inc beat analysts' estimates for quarterly sales at established outlets on Wednesday, boosted by strong growth at its KFC chain.

GSK first-quarter beats estimates on shingles vaccine surge

GlaxoSmithKline Plc reported better-than-expected first-quarter revenue and earnings on Wednesday, as sales of the British drugmaker's fast-growing shingles vaccine surged another 60 percent.

CVS Health beats profit estimates, raises full-year forecast

CVS Health Corp beat estimates for quarterly earnings on Wednesday and raised its full-year adjusted profit forecast as it benefits from its $69 billion purchase of health insurer Aetna, sending its shares up 5 percent.

Pilgrimage to see Warren Buffett out of step with populist mood

When Warren Buffett takes the stage at Berkshire Hathaway Inc's shareholders' meeting on Saturday, the 88-year-old billionaire will be greeted, as usual, by tens of thousands of adoring followers from around the world.

U.S. education groups McGraw-Hill, Cengage plan all-stock merger

Educational publishers McGraw-Hill Education Inc and Cengage Learning Holdings II Inc are planning an all-stock merger, McGraw-Hill said on Wednesday.

Factbox: Warren Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway at a glance

Warren Buffett will host tens of thousands of people in Omaha, Nebraska from May 3-5 at what he calls "Woodstock for Capitalists," the annual shareholder weekend for his company, Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

SAS cancels more flights as parties in pilot strike meet for talks

Scandinavian airlines SAS said it would cancel more flights on Thursday as parties involved in a pilot strike held talks on Wednesday to try to resolve a six-day dispute that has left hundreds of thousands of passengers stranded.