Datasets:

BEE-spoke-data

/

financial-news-articles-filtered

like 0

Quantum Corporation Names Patrick Dennis as CEO

SAN JOSE, Calif., Quantum Corp. (NYSE: QTM) today announced that its board of directors has appointed Patrick Dennis as president and CEO, effective today. Dennis was most recently president and CEO of Guidance Software and has also held senior executive roles in strategy, operations, sales, services and engineering at EMC. He succeeds Adalio Sanchez, a member of Quantum's board who had served as interim CEO since early November 2017. Sanchez will remain on the board and assist with the transition. "Patrick has been a successful public company CEO and brings a broad range of experience in storage and software, including a proven track record leading business transformations," said Raghu Rau, Quantum's chairman. "The other board members and I look forward to working closely with him to drive growth, cost reductions, and profitability and deliver long-term shareholder value. We also want to thank Adalio for stepping in and leading the company during a critical transition period." "During my time as CEO, I've greatly appreciated the commitment to change I've seen from team members across Quantum and will be supporting Patrick in any way I can to build on the important work we started," said Sanchez. Dennis served as president and CEO of Guidance Software, a provider of cyber security software solutions, from May 2015 until its acquisition by OpenText last September. During his tenure, he turned the company around, growing revenue and significantly improving profitability. Before joining Guidance Software, Dennis was senior vice president and chief operating officer, Products and Marketing, at EMC, where he led the business operations of its $10.5 billion enterprise and mid-range systems division, including management of its cloud storage business. Dennis spent 12 years at EMC, including as vice president and chief operating officer of EMC Global Services, overseeing a 3,500-person technical sales force. In addition to his time at EMC, he served as group vice president, North American Storage Sales, at Oracle, where he turned around a declining business. "With its long-standing expertise in addressing the most demanding data management challenges, Quantum is well-positioned to help customers maximize the strategic value of their ever-growing digital assets in a rapidly changing environment," said Dennis. "I'm excited to be joining the company as it looks to capitalize on this market opportunity by leveraging its strong solutions portfolio in a more focused way, improving its cost structure and execution, and continuing to innovate." About Quantum Quantum is a leading expert in scale-out tiered storage, archive and data protection, providing solutions for capturing, sharing, managing and preserving digital assets over the entire data lifecycle. From small businesses to major enterprises, more than 100,000 customers have trusted Quantum to address their most demanding data workflow challenges. Quantum's end-to-end, tiered storage foundation enables customers to maximize the value of their data by making it accessible whenever and wherever needed, retaining it indefinitely and reducing total cost and complexity. See how at www.quantum.com/customerstories . Quantum and the Quantum logo are registered trademarks of Quantum Corporation and its affiliates in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. "Safe Harbor" Statement: This press release contains "forward-looking" statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements. Specifically, but without limitation, statements relating to: i) Mr. Sanchez remaining on the board, assisting with the transition and supporting Mr. Dennis in building upon the work already started; ii) the board members working with Mr. Dennis to drive growth, cost reductions, and profitability and deliver long-term shareholder value; iii) Quantum being well-positioned to help customers maximize the strategic value of their ever-growing digital assets in a rapidly changing environment; and iv) Quantum looking to capitalize on market opportunities by leveraging its strong solutions portfolio in a more focused way, improving its cost structure and execution, and continuing to innovate, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Safe Harbor. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to Quantum on the date hereof. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Quantum's actual results to differ materially from those implied by the forward-looking statements. More detailed information about these risk factors are set forth in Quantum's periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, those risks and uncertainties listed in the section entitled "Risk Factors," in Quantum's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 1, 2017 and in Quantum's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 9, 2017. Quantum expressly disclaims any obligation to update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Contact: Brad Cohen Public Relations Quantum Corp. 408-944-4044 brad.cohen@quantum.com Brinlea Johnson or Allise Furlani Investor Relations The Blueshirt Group 212-331-8424 or 212-331-8433 brinlea@blueshirtgroup.com or allise@blueshirtgroup.com with multimedia: releases/quantum-corporation-names-patrick-dennis-as-ceo-300583483.html SOURCE Quantum Corp.

http://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/16/pr-newswire-quantum-corporation-names-patrick-dennis-as-ceo.html

Kala Pharma posts mixed results from dry eye disease drug studies

23 PM / in 4 minutes Kala Pharma posts mixed results from dry eye disease drug studies Reuters Staff 1 Min Read Dec 28 (Reuters) - Kala Pharmaceuticals Inc on Friday reported mixed results from two late-stage trials testing its drug to provide temporary relief from the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease. The drug, KPI-121, met the main goals of reducing redness and discomfort in the eye in one trial, but failed to show statistical significance on a scale that tested patients’ eyes using a corneal staining technique. The second trial met the main goal of reducing a sign of dry eye, but failed another main goal of reducing discomfort in the eye, a symptom of the disorder. Reporting by Manas Mishra and Tamara Mathias in Bengaluru; Editing by Martina D'Couto

https://www.reuters.com/article/kala-pharms-study/kala-pharma-posts-mixed-results-from-dry-eye-disease-drug-studies-idUSL4N1OS4H0

West Brom complain to Premier League about fixtures - reports

January 2, 2018 / 8:55 AM / Updated an hour ago West Brom complain to Premier League about fixtures - reports Reuters Staff 2 Min Read (Reuters) - West Bromwich Albion have complained to the Premier League, urging them to reschedule Tuesday’s clash at West Ham United because of the vast difference in recovery periods for the two teams, British media reported. Soccer Football - Premier League - West Bromwich Albion vs Crystal Palace - The Hawthorns, West Bromwich, Britain - December 2, 2017 West Bromwich Albion manager Alan Pardew reacts as a West Brom player lies injured REUTERS/Phil Noble West Brom snatched a 1-1 home draw against Arsenal on Sunday and while they are set for a second game in 48 hours, West Ham have not played since last week’s 3-3 draw at Bournemouth but are in action again on Thursday against Tottenham Hotspur. Reports said West Brom chairman John Williams spoke to Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore about Tuesday’s match with 18th-placed West Ham at the London stadium. “We all know there’s pressure on TV companies for ratings and everything else and games -- I understand that. But the league’s got to be stronger and say two days is not right,” West Brom manager Alan Pardew said. West Ham’s televised fixture at Spurs was scheduled for New Year’s eve but moved because of safety concerns over the reduced capacity at underground stations around Wembley Stadium which meant the arena would only accommodate 43,000 spectators. Asked if he was forced to make changes to his side because of the frequency of games, Pardew said: “Of course I am. There’s some players who won’t be able to cope with that. I’d be putting them at risk.” West Brom are 19th in the table with 16 points from 21 games and are winless in 19 games. Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; Editing by John O'Brien

https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-england-whu-wba-pardew/west-brom-complain-to-premier-league-about-fixtures-reports-idUKKBN1ER0IM

'They directed us to jump': Passengers react to Florida boat fire

'They directed us to jump': Passengers react to Florida boat fire Monday, January 15, 2018 - 00:37 At least one woman was killed and fifteen people were injured when a fire engulfed a boat off the coast of Florida on Sunday. The incident, which started from an apparent engine issue, forced the 50 people aboard to jump into the Gulf of Mexico and swim to shore, according to authorities. Rough Cut (no reporter narration). At least one woman was killed and fifteen people were injured when a fire engulfed a boat off the coast of Florida on Sunday. The incident, which started from an apparent engine issue, forced the 50 people aboard to jump into the Gulf of Mexico and swim to shore, according to authorities. Rough Cut (no reporter narration). //reut.rs/2B4g61Y

https://uk.reuters.com/video/2018/01/15/they-directed-us-to-jump-passengers-reac?videoId=386285738

LPGA Rankings

January 15, 2018 / 4:10 PM / Updated 11 minutes ago LPGA Rankings Reuters Staff 2 Min Read Dec 18 (Opta) - The LPGA Rankings Rnk Prv Total 1. (1) Shanshan Feng (China PR) 399.90 2. (2) Sung Hyun Park (Korea Republic) 418.51 3. (3) So-Yeon Ryu (Korea Republic) 368.06 4. (4) Lexi Thompson (US) 332.00 5. (5) In Gee Chun (Korea Republic) 307.61 6. (6) Ariya Jutanugarn (Thailand) 369.45 7. (7) Anna Nordqvist (Sweden) 307.01 8. (8) I.K. Kim (Korea Republic) 241.14 9. (9) Lydia Ko (New Zealand) 296.82 10. (10) Cristie Kerr (US) 267.05 11. (11) Sei Young Kim (Korea Republic) 257.45 12. (12) Inbee Park (Korea Republic) 166.72 13. (13) Hye Jin Choi (Korea Republic) 166.20 14. (14) Brooke Henderson (Canada) 293.06 15. (15) Amy Yang (Korea Republic) 204.00 16. (16) Stacy Lewis (US) 203.01 17. (17) Mirim Lee (Korea Republic) 192.21 18. (18) Minjee Lee (Australia) 206.43 19. (19) Jin Young ko (Korea Republic) 213.85 20. (20) Carlota Ciganda (Spain) 193.39 21. (21) Danielle Kang (US) 191.31 22. (22) Moriya Jutanugarn (Thailand) 203.07 23. (23) Jeong-Eun Lee (Korea Republic) 193.27 24. (24) Mi Jung Hur (Korea Republic) 171.10 25. (25) Jiyai Shin (Korea Republic) 184.51

https://uk.reuters.com/article/golf-lpga-rankings/lpga-rankings-idUKMTZXEE1FLRAGJP

South Korea launches WTO challenge over U.S. tariffs

January 25, 2018 / 12:47 PM / in a minute South Korea hits back at U.S. tariffs with WTO challenge Tom Miles 3 Min Read GENEVA (Reuters) - South Korea has hit back rapidly at U.S. tariffs on washing machines and solar panels, filing challenges and demands for compensation at the World Trade Organization. The WTO published the South Korean complaints on Thursday two days after U.S. President Donald Trump signed the steep tariffs into law. He billed the move as a way to protect American jobs but the solar industry said it would lead to thousands of layoffs and raise consumer prices. The 30 percent tariff on solar panels was among the first unilateral trade restrictions imposed by the Trump administration as part of a broader protectionist agenda aimed at helping U.S. manufacturers, but which has alarmed Asian trading partners that produce lower cost goods. South Korea challenged the U.S. tariffs under the WTO’s Safeguard Agreement, leaving open the possibility of a full trade dispute later. The agreement gives the United States 30 days to settle the matter, after which South Korea has a 60-day window to impose trade sanctions, if the U.S. measures break WTO rules. It was not clear if the United States could challenge that assumption. Seoul is already seeking WTO trade sanctions to retaliate for Washington’s failure to comply with an earlier WTO ruling. On Wednesday U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross brushed off the threat of South Korea going to the WTO. “The fact that they may get a favorable decision (at the WTO) doesn’t mean that it’s a correct decision,“ he said. ”But in any event there’s been no decision yet so it’s a little bit too early to assume that the safeguards will be knocked out.” No country has ever negotiated a settlement under the WTO safeguard rules, and it was not clear if they could provide a quicker result than a full dispute, which could take three years or more, giving U.S. manufacturers a long period of protection from competition by their South Korean rivals. Under WTO rules, a country can impose safeguards - temporary emergency tariffs - to shield its domestic industry from an sudden, unforeseen and damaging surge in imports. Ricardo Meléndez-Ortiz, head of the International Center for Trade and Sustainable Development, said the solar tariffs would fail to boost U.S. solar manufacturing and would destroy U.S. jobs while impeding the fight against climate change. “These tariffs are insufficient to really generate enough stimulus to create the manufacturing capacity that they are trying to stimulate,” he told Reuters. “It’s just going to slow down the production of sustainable energy and solar in the U.S., in a big way.” Reporting by Tom Miles; editing by Stephanie Nebehay and Mark Heinrich

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trade-tariffs-southkorea-wto/south-korea-launches-wto-challenge-over-u-s-tariffs-idUSKBN1FE1PZ

Box Office: 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' Holds Off 'Jumanji' on New Year's Weekend

Weekend@ LOS ANGELES, ( Variety.com ) - In a battle of box office heavyweights, Luke Skywalker just managed to hold off Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as the world rang in another year. Disney and LucasFilm's ""Star Wars: The Last Jedi" retained first place for the four-day New Year's holiday weekend despite steep competition from Sony's "Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle." "Last Jedi" picked up an estimated $68.4 million, bringing its domestic haul to $533.1 million. Don't weep for "Jumanji," however. The fantasy reboot, which finds Johnson, Jack Black, and Kevin Hart transported into a video game world, has outperformed expectations, picking up a lordly $66.5 million over the holiday weekend. It now has a hefty $185.7 million domestic gross and should continue to draw crowds in 2018. The "Jumanji" sequel has also done well internationally, racking up $350 million worldwide, and has provided a much-needed hit for a studio that has struggled to keep pace with the Disney's and Warner Bros.'s of the world. Sony claims the film has a $90 million budget. Those alleged production costs have raised eyebrows around town as to their veracity given the film's Hawaii location and starry cast, but regardless of creative accounting and aggressive spinning, the result is impressive. A sequel seems preordained. "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" closed 2017 as the year's highest-grossing release and the seventh highest-grossing domestic movie of all time with $517.1 million. It will bypass its fellow franchisee "Rogue One" at some point on New Year's Day to take the seventh spot on the stateside charts and has already blown past the $1 billion mark globally. The film carries a $200 million price tag, and has generated controversy for a series of creative decisions by director and writer Rian Johnson that have, depending on your perspective, either infused new energy into decades-old series or deviated dangerously from the Jedi canon. It's been a dismal year for the domestic box office, which ends 2017 with $11.12 billion in sales, down 2.3% from last year's $11.38 billion and off slightly from 2015's $11.14 billion, according to comScore. After a bruising summer, when revenues plummeted more than 6% in the wake of costly flops such as "The Mummy" and "Transformer: The Last Knight," the gap did narrow. Fall and winter hits such as "It," "Thor: Ragnarok," "Coco," and "Murder on the Orient Express," helped make up the difference. The industry was also aided by record ticket prices. Empirically, fewer people made it to the multiplexes. Attendance is expected to hit a 27-year low when official numbers are tallied. Universal's "Pitch Perfect 3" took third place on the stateside charts, grossing $22.7 million for the four-day period and pushing its domestic total to just under $70 million. The a Cappella comedy carries a $45 million production budget and has been billed as the final installment in the franchise. Hugh Jackman's musical drama "The Greatest Showman" is finishing a close fourth with $20.7 million. The Fox-Chernin Entertainment production chronicles the rise of circus impresario P.T. Barnum. It got a boost from the holidays, and showed the biggest gain in the top 10 movies from the Christmas Eve weekend with an impressive 73% surge. The domestic total should hit $54.3 million through Monday. It's a pricey movie, though. All that singing and dancing didn't come cheap and "The Greatest Showman" cost $84 million to make. Fox's second weekend of "Ferdinand" rounded out the top five with $14.6 million, giving the animated comedy $56.8 million domestically. Not every film was feeling the holiday spirit. Paramount's "Downsizing" is a costly bomb. The comedy about a man (Matt Damon) who shrinks to the size of thimble in order to live in a materialistic utopia collapsed at the box office, eking out $6.1 million over the long weekend. Its total stands at $18.5 million -- a paltry result given its $65 million budget. It also prolongs a box office losing streak for Damon. The actor also struck out with "Suburbicon" and "The Great Wall," both of which opened during and flopped in 2017. Warner Bros. and Alcon's comedy "Father Figures" was another casualty of the Christmas crunch. The story of two twin brothers (Ed Helms and Owen Wilson) on a quest to find their biological father netted $5.1 million over the four-day weekend. Its total tops out at $14.1 million, making it unlikely that it will recoup its $25 million production budget as well its marketing costs. And Sony's "All the Money in the World" struggled to appeal to older audiences. The drama about the kidnapping of John Paul Getty III attracted lots of attention for the filmmakers' last minute decision to re-cast a key role played by disgraced actor Kevin Spacey. The breakneck reshoots took place in a matter of weeks, with Christopher Plummer assuming the Spacey part as parsimonious billionaire J. Paul Getty, and added $10 million to the film's $40 million budget. Alas, audiences failed to show up. The movie grossed $7.5 million over the holiday weekend, bringing its domestic total to $14.7 million. Foreign audiences picked up the slack as domestic attendance sputtered in 2017. The global box office is projected to hit $40 billion for the first time in history, propelled by the return of China. Total ticket sales in the Middle Kingdom grew by 22.3%, ending the year with $8.6 billion in revenues. That, at least, gives a beleaguered movie business some cause for celebration.

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/01/reuters-america-box-office-star-wars-the-last-jedi-holds-off-jumanji-on-new-years-weekend.html

Motor racing: Rosenqvist leads Formula E championship after Marrakesh win

January 13, 2018 / 6:33 PM / Updated 11 minutes ago Motor racing: Rosenqvist leads Formula E championship after Marrakesh win Reuters Staff 1 Min Read (Reuters) - Sweden’s Felix Rosenqvist took the lead in the Formula E championship for the first time on Saturday after winning the third race of the season in Marrakesh for India’s Mahindra Racing. Switzerland’s Sebastien Buemi, last year’s winner in the Moroccan city after Rosenqvist had started on pole, finished second for Renault e.dams with Britain’s Sam Bird third for DS Virgin Racing. Buemi led from pole this time but it was the Swede, starting in third place, who took his third career win in the all-electric series. “Last year was the point where we learnt what we needed to do to and this year we did it,” said Rosenqvist, who took second from Bird just before the change of cars and then passed Buemi with four laps to go. Defending champion Lucas di Grassi of Brazil retired from the race with a battery problem. Rosenqvist has 54 points to Bird’s 50 with Techeetah’s Jean-Eric Vergne third on 43. The next Formula E race is in the Chilean capital Santiago on Feb. 3. Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Pritha Sarkar

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-motor-electric-morocco/motor-racing-rosenqvist-leads-formula-e-championship-after-marrakesh-win-idUSKBN1F20T6

Mexicans mark feast of the Three Kings with giant cake

Mexicans mark feast of the Three Kings with giant cake 12:36am IST - 00:37 Thousands of Mexicans gathered to enjoy a piece of a mammoth King Cake provided by Mexico City's government for the New Year and ahead of Three Kings Day. Rough cut (no reporter narration) Thousands of Mexicans gathered to enjoy a piece of a mammoth King Cake provided by Mexico City's government for the New Year and ahead of Three Kings Day. Rough cut (no reporter narration) //in.reuters.com/video/2018/01/06/mexicans-mark-feast-of-the-three-kings-w?videoId=379488170&videoChannel=117762

https://in.reuters.com/video/2018/01/06/mexicans-mark-feast-of-the-three-kings-w?videoId=379488170

Hexcel Schedules Fourth Quarter 2017 Earnings Release and Conference Call

STAMFORD, Conn., Jan. 11, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hexcel Corporation (NYSE:HXL) announced today that it will report results for its fiscal 2017 fourth quarter on Wednesday, January 24, 2018 after the market close. The company will host a webcast and conference call to discuss highlights of its financial results on Thursday, January 25, at 10 a.m. ET. The call will be hosted by Chairman, CEO and President Nick Stanage and Chief Financial Officer Patrick Winterlich. The event will be webcast via the investor relations webpage at www.Hexcel.com . A replay of the call will be available on the investor relations page of the Hexcel website approximately two hours after the conclusion of the call. The event can also be accessed by dialing +1 (409) 350-3491. The conference ID is 9299630. About Hexcel Hexcel Corporation is a leading advanced composites company. It develops, manufactures and markets lightweight, high-performance structural materials including carbon fibers, specialty reinforcements, prepregs and other fiber-reinforced matrix materials, honeycomb, adhesives, engineered core and composite structures for use in commercial aerospace, space and defense and industrial applications. Learn more at www.Hexcel.com . Contact Information Kurt Goddard, Vice President - Investor Relations +1 (203) 352-6826 Kurt.Goddard@Hexcel.com Source:Hexcel Corporation

http://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/11/globe-newswire-hexcel-schedules-fourth-quarter-2017-earnings-release-and-conference-call.html

Palestinian youth killed in clash with Israeli troops in West Bank

RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) - Israeli troops shot dead a Palestinian youth during a confrontation in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, a Palestinian official said. An Israeli spokeswoman said a large crowd of Palestinians set tyres ablaze and threw rocks at the troops, who responded with “dispersal means”. She could not confirm initially whether troops had used live rounds but said the military was aware of the Palestinian fatality and that the incident was being investigated. The Palestinian health ministry named the dead youth as Layth Abu Naeem and said he was 16-years-old. Faraj al-Nassan, the head of al-Mugheir village, said a confrontation had erupted after Israeli troops entered his village and that the youth was hit from close range. He was taken to hospital in nearby Ramallah. Tensions in the region have risen since U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement on Dec. 6 recognizing disputed Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, and at least 19 Palestinians and one Israeli have been killed since. Reporting by Ali Sawafta, Writing by Ori Lewis, Editing by Angus MacSwan

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-israel-palestinians-violence/palestinian-youth-killed-in-clash-with-israeli-troops-in-west-bank-idUSKBN1FJ2MB

Canada's Aurora to sell medical marijuana to Italy

January 18, 2018 / 5:14 PM / Updated 4 hours ago Canada's Aurora to sell medical marijuana to Italy Reuters Staff 2 Min Read (Reuters) - Canada’s Aurora Cannabis Inc said on Thursday its German unit Pedanios won a contract to supply medical marijuana to the Italian market. Aurora, Canada’s second largest pot producer, will export medical cannabis into Germany through Pedanios, which will supply the Italian market through the Italian Ministry of Defence. Cannabis-based medicines are legal in several European Union countries including Italy as a treatment for chronic pain, post-traumatic stress disorder, side effects from cancer therapy and other ailments. While the Italian Ministry of Defence currently produces medical cannabis for the Italian market, a sharp rise in demand led the government to seek external parties for more supply, Aurora said. The company said earlier this month it would partner with Danish tomato and pepper producer Alfred Pedersen & Son to produce and sell cannabis in Europe. Its expansion plans come as Canada prepares to legalize the sale of recreational marijuana by July, becoming only the second country to do so after Uruguay. Reporting by Taenaz Shakir in Bengaluru

https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-aurora-cannabis-italy/canadas-aurora-to-sell-medical-marijuana-to-italy-idUKKBN1F72EC

ViralGains Appoints Vic Pierni as Chief Financial Officer

BOSTON, Jan. 11, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ViralGains , the industry's only digital video advertising journey platform, today announced the appointment of Vic Pierni as Chief Financial Officer. Pierni will be responsible for all aspects of the company’s infrastructure, running the finance, legal and human resources departments. As chief architect of ViralGains’ financial strategy, he will be responsible for driving one of the fastest growing startups in the country towards greater growth, market presence and success. Pierni’s appointment follows ViralGains’ recent Series B equity and debt funding . “Vic is one of the strongest CFOs in New England,” said Tod Loofbourrow, CEO, ViralGains. “He brings a tremendous amount of financial and operational leadership expertise that will prove valuable to our team as our highly successful technology and Fortune 2000 customer base continues to grow in size and scope.” Pierni previously served as CFO of Global Capacity, Verivo Software and Macgregor, in addition to senior roles at KPMG. He is a highly regarded CFO, having been named a CFO of the Year by Boston Business Journal in 2010. He earned his MBA from Babson College, a BS in Accounting from Boston College and is a CPA. “ViralGains is uniquely positioned within the fast-growing digital video advertising area to help brands facilitate and manage authentic connections with consumers,” said Pierni. “Through the power of interactive video technology and machine learning, brands and agencies can better target their ideal audiences, gain unique consumer insights and drive those consumers to tangible business outcomes. I am excited to help drive continued major and strategic growth to ViralGains in 2018 and beyond.” About ViralGains ViralGains is a digital video ad journey platform that enables marketers to engage targeted audiences with relevant brand stories in the contexts they most favor. Using the platform to engage in two-way conversations, brands and agencies discover exactly what people want — and how they feel — and leverage those insights to build unique, full-funnel ad journeys that can generate increased awareness, motivate intent, and drive purchasing decisions. ViralGains is headquartered in Boston, with regional offices in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Atlanta and Detroit. please contact us at www.viralgains.com . Media Contact Brook Terran Blast PR for ViralGains 805-570-3309 brook@blastpr.com Source: ViralGains

http://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/11/globe-newswire-viralgains-appoints-vic-pierni-as-chief-financial-officer.html

Iraq's exports from southern oilfields hit record 3.535 million bpd in December

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Oil exports from Iraq’s southern Basra ports rose to a record high of 3.535 million barrels per day (bpd) in December from 3.5 million bpd the previous month, two oil officials said on Monday. Southern exports are on the rise as Iraq seeks to offset the halting of shipments from its Kirkuk oilfields in the north in mid-October after Iraqi forces took back control of fields from Kurdish fighters. The bulk of Iraq’s oil is exported via the southern terminals. The December figure for southern exports beat the previous record of 3.51 million bpd set in December 2016, the last month before an output cut agreement led by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries took effect. Rising output from small oilfields developed by the state-run Basra Oil Company helped push up December exports, an oil official told Reuters. The increase last month, though, has not completely offset the halt of shipments from the north. “Our plan is to keep boosting exports from the southern oilfields to make up for the lost Kirkuk shipments,” said another oil official with the state-run Basra Oil Company. Iraq is OPEC’s second-largest producer after Saudi Arabia with an output capacity of 4.8 million bpd which Baghdad aims to increase to 5 million bpd. Reporting by Aref Mohammed and Ahmed Rasheed; editing by Jason Neely and Adrian Croft

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iraq-oil-exports/iraqs-exports-from-southern-oilfields-hit-record-3-535-million-bpd-in-december-idUSKBN1EQ110

Jokic posts triple-double as Nuggets top Mavs

Nikola Jokic recorded his eighth career triple-double and hit the tiebreaking jumper with 1:12 remaining as the host Denver Nuggets held on for a 91-89 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday night. Jokic finished with 11 points, 16 rebounds and 11 assists. He sealed his second triple-double of the season when he hit a 19-foot jumper above the right elbow after getting a pass from Jamal Murray to give Denver the final margin. After Jokic’s big shot, Harrison Barnes missed a 3-pointer with 56.5 seconds left, giving the Nuggets a chance to extend the lead. Jokic, however, missed a 3-pointer with 35.8 seconds left and was called for a charge with 12.7 seconds left, giving Dallas an opportunity. The Mavericks actually had two chances. First, they went for the tie by giving the ball to rookie guard Dennis Smith. Smith’s layup attempt was blocked out of bounds by Will Barton with 4.8 seconds to go. After Dallas called its final timeout, Wesley Matthews’ 3-pointer off an inbounds pass was short just before time expired. Denver guard Gary Harris led all scorers with 24 points, including seven straight for the Nuggets before Jokic’s tiebreaking shot. Murray added 15 points after not starting because of a violation of team rules. Reserve Trey Lyles contributed 13 while Barton chipped in 11 as Denver won its third straight and improved to 5-0 at home in games decided by two points or fewer. Barnes led Dallas with 22 points while Smith added 13. Barnes shot 9 of 19 but Smith was 5 of 18. Yogi Ferrell added 12 and Dirk Nowitzki contributed 11 for the Mavericks, who shot 40 percent and missed nine of 19 free throws. Denver cooled off after taking a 15-4 lead and a 50-42 edge by halftime. The Mavericks held a 74-68 lead going into the fourth after closing the third with a 16-1 run. The Mavericks went nearly 5 1/2 minutes without a basket after Matthews gave them an 82-77 lead with 7:13 left. Barnes ended the drought, and Matthews forged an 89-89 deadlock with a 3-pointer with 1:33 remaining. --Field Level Media

https://www.reuters.com/article/basketball-nba-den-dal-recap/jokic-posts-triple-double-as-nuggets-top-mavs-idUSMTZEE1S91F9X5

Ageing Gambians race for justice over ex-leader's fake AIDS cure

BANJUL (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - The president had found a cure for AIDS. That was the news that reached Ousman Sowe, the head of a Gambian AIDS support network, one day in 2007. He was overjoyed. “We all went with the hope that we were going to take a drop of some wonderful medication and be cured,” Sowe, 64, a tall man with greying hair, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation in an office outside Gambia’s rundown seaside capital. But he was not allowed to go home after showing up at the state house that day. Gambia’s ex-president Yahya Jammeh forced him to drink herbal concoctions morning and night for seven months until he was declared cured - but in reality, near death. Jammeh, whose 22-year rule over the tiny West African country was marked by accusations of human rights abuses, fled into exile last year after losing an election. Now survivors of Jammeh’s bogus AIDS treatment are doing what once seemed impossible - speaking out about their suffering and pursuing justice against the man who endangered their lives. An estimated 9,000 Gambians, most with HIV, passed through Jammeh’s treatment programs and were forced to give up conventional medicine in favor of his homemade cures, said AIDS-Free World, a U.S.-based charity working with survivors. The fake AIDS treatment not only had grave health consequences for the patients, some of whom died, but hindered real HIV/AIDS prevention efforts in the country, UNAIDS said. “There was sort of a blackout of information on HIV, because everything was related to the president’s treatment,” said the U.N. agency’s country director Sirra Ndow. “There was the perception that if there was a cure, you didn’t need support.” Although HIV death rates are falling and treatment rates rising globally, Gambia is trailing. Its infection rate - of about two percent - is much lower than many African countries. But only 30 percent of Gambians with HIV were on antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) in 2016, while the target is 90 percent by 2020, according to UNAIDS. THE GLASS HOUSE Sowe and two other outspoken survivors, Fatou Jatta and Lamin Ceesay, are working with lawyers and activists to gather evidence against Jammeh. But all three are in their 50s or 60s and struggling with poor health, discrimination and poverty. “We believe they should be compensated, but time is really against us,” said Agasha Tabaro, a legal fellow with AIDS-Free World. “This is a health issue, and it’s urgent.” The patients never knew what Jammeh was feeding them. Sometimes it came in a bottle, sometimes powdered, sometimes mixed with canned milk or honey. If they sipped the concoctions, he would yell, forcing them to drink it all at once, they said. “I would vomit every time,” said Jatta, 51, a social worker who spent nine months in the program after publicly disclosing that she had HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Every day, Jammeh’s patients were taken to a glass building in the state house complex where the president administered the treatment, they said. They were not allowed to contact their families, or allowed to opt out. Sometimes the president would rub ointments on their bodies. The sessions were filmed and broadcast on state television. “The psychological effect on me was such that after the program I felt it very difficult to integrate again into society,” said Sowe. Severely weakened by Jammeh’s treatment, Sowe and Ceesay went back on ARVs after Jammeh discharged them, and Jatta started taking them. Ceesay’s wife, also in the program, died. After Jammeh’s treatment program, survivors lost their jobs and struggled to feed their families, they said. They could not escape the fact that their faces had been broadcast on TV. “I think their dignity needs to be restored,” said Ndow. Ceesay, who was the first man in Gambia to openly declare his status, said he has been forced to move houses frequently because landlords evict him when they find out he has HIV. “I want my own home for my family,” he said. “That’s what I‘m struggling with now.” FIGHT FOR JUSTICE The survivors know that bringing Jammeh to justice may be a far-flung hope. He fled to Equatorial Guinea and it is unclear whether President Teodoro Obiang would extradite him. A truth and reconciliation commission is expected to start work in Gambia later this year. “It’s not going to be easy to get Jammeh to trial, but it can certainly be done,” said Reed Brody, a U.S. lawyer steering the campaign for victims of alleged rights abuses under Jammeh. “As the victims tell their stories and more and more information comes out, the demand for justice could become overwhelming,” he said. Brody, nicknamed the “dictator hunter”, helped victims of Chad’s Hissene Habre jail their former president for life last year for war crimes and crimes against humanity. But it was a 17-year battle. “Even if the compensation comes when we are not here, it will be for our children,” Jatta said. Reporting by Nellie Peyton, Editing by Kieran Guilbert and Katy Migiro. Please credit Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's rights, trafficking, property rights, and climate change. Visit www.trust.org

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-gambia-hiv-justice/ageing-gambians-race-for-justice-over-ex-leaders-fake-aids-cure-idUSKBN1FE043

Saudi Arabia says depositing $2 billion in Yemen central bank to back currency

January 17, 2018 / 9:14 AM / Updated 20 minutes ago Saudi Arabia says depositing $2 billion in Yemen central bank to back currency Reuters Staff 1 Min Read RIYADH (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia’s King Salman ordered a deposit of $2 billion (£1.4 billion) into Yemen’s central bank on Wednesday to shore up the weak Yemeni currency, the Saudi government’s media office said. The move comes a day after the Yemeni prime minister issued a public plea for funds to prop up the rial and help stave off hunger in the war-torn country. Reporting by Sarah Dadouch; Writing by Noah Browning; Editing by Andrew Torchia

https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-yemen-security-saudi-currency/saudi-arabia-says-depositing-2-billion-in-yemen-central-bank-to-back-currency-idUKKBN1F60YO

Force India and Sauber withdraw EU complaint

January 25, 2018 / 11:55 AM / Updated 9 minutes ago Force India and Sauber withdraw EU complaint Reuters Staff 1 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - Force India and Sauber have withdrawn a complaint to the European Commission about alleged anti-competitive practices in Formula One, the teams said in a joint statement on Thursday. The two privately-owned teams had made their complaint in 2015, before the sport’s current U.S.-based owners Liberty Media took over and replaced former commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone last year. The complaint had focused on how the sport was run and revenues distributed, with Force India and Sauber arguing that Formula One was in breach of articles prohibiting cartels and the abuse of dominant market positions. The two teams said they had been reassured by Formula One’s approach under chairman Chase Carey and his new management team, who had “brought a new culture of transparency to the sport”. Reporting by Alan Baldwin; editing by Alexander Smith

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-motor-f1-europe-complaint/force-india-and-sauber-withdraw-eu-complaint-idUSKBN1FE1IE

German leader Merkel says the current world order is under threat

German leader Angela Merkel said that multilateralism was under threat and said that protectionism is not the answer to the world's problems. "Frankly speaking, the country I have the honor to represent and where I am chancellor has difficulties. And polarization is something that we see in our country as well, which we haven't had for decades," Merkel said. She attributed increasing populism and polarization to both the euro zone crisis and migration crisis seen in Europe over the last few years following an influx of refugees, but said Germany would not shrink from the world stage. "Germany wishes to be a country that lends its contribution in the future to solve the problems of the world together, we think that shutting ourselves off and isolating ourselves will not lead us into a good future. Protectionism is not the proper answer," she said. show chapters Germany needs 'new political blood': Pro 3 Hours Ago | 03:22 Merkel is just the latest leader at Davos to criticize a protectionist and isolationist stance towards the world's problems . Such comments appear to be directed towards President Donald Trump who has adopted an "America First" stance in his foreign and economic policies. 'Not learned the lessons from history' In contrast, Merkel said the answer to the world's problems was to see multilateral solutions instead of a "unilateral, protectionist course" of action. At the start of her address, Merkel referenced both world wars in the 20th century, saying that the "political actors involved had almost sleepwalked into a horrendous situation." She said there was a danger that the world had not learned the lessons from history. She said the foundation of the United Nations (UN) was a multilateral and cooperative solution that was borne out of World War II, adding that a multilateral response helped to resolve the global financial crisis of 2008-2009. Check out the world leaders and celebrities who are at Davos this year Larry Busacca | Getty Images Entertainment | Getty Images German coalition talks Merkel's comments come amid continued speculation over Germany, and indeed Merkel's, political future after months of negotiations aimed at forming a coalition government. This after no one party gained a majority in last September's election. Merkel's conservative alliance of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Christian Social Union (CSU) first attempted to form a coalition with the Green party and pro-business Free Democratic Party (FDP), but it failed after the parties couldn't agree on various policies ranging from immigration to euro zone integration. With no prospect of an alliance, Merkel's coalition partner in several former governments, the Social Democratic party (SPD) led by Martin Schulz, did a U-turn on an earlier pledge to voters not to go into government with the CDU-CSU again and began talks with Merkel's conservative alliance in January. The decision could backfire on the SPD which performed badly in the last election due to its supporters' disapproval of its alliance with the CDU-CSU. As such, the SPD is likely to extract many concessions from the CDU-CSU during upcoming negotiations in return for its support in government. There is also doubt over whether Merkel, known as "Mutti" (mother) in Germany, will see out the whole of what will be her fourth term as chancellor and there is speculation on who her successor might be. Merkel said Wednesday that she would continue to hold talks aimed at forming a government "as quickly as possible." Speaking on Germany's economy, she said it had enjoyed 11 years of consecutive growth but needed to modernize and make more progress in terms of digitization.

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/24/germany-has-difficulties-and-polarization-that-we-havent-seen-for-decades-merkel-tells-davos.html

UPDATE 1-Chile's Corfo, SQM strike deal in lithium dispute

(Adds details of deal, comment by Corfo director, background on dispute) By Felipe Iturrieta SANTIAGO, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Chilean development agency Corfo said on Wednesday that it had struck a deal with lithium company SQM , ending a long dispute over royalties in Chile’s Salar de Atacama, home to one of the world’s richest lithium deposits. The deal frees the miner to apply for an increase in its production quota amid a demand boom and surging prices for lithium, which is used in the batteries that power electric cars. Corfo chief Eduardo Bitran said SQM had agreed to overhaul its corporate governance board to ensure adherence to global standards, a key condition put forward by Chilean authorities. The deal also hikes the royalties paid by SQM to equal those established in a similar contract between Chile and SQM competitor and lithium producer Albemarle. SQM, like the U.S.-based Albemarle, would be required to supply Chile with lithium at a favorable price, a stipulation intended to incentivize value-added production in Chile. The deal also includes an option that would permit SQM to work with state miner Codelco to begin developing the Maricunga lithium deposit. Codelco, one of the world’s largest copper producers, has lithium assets in Chile but is currently not producing the metal. “Our intention is to make it available for Codelco so it can ... make viable the development of a new activity in this area,” Bitran told reporters. Under the new contract, SQM would be able to produce up to 216,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate a year through 2025 in the Salar de Atacama, the source of half the company’s revenue, if it makes certain investments and obtains the relevant permits. The arbitration began in May 2014, after Chilean authorities accused SQM of underpaying royalties and violating environmental regulations. The dispute had threatened to complicate Nutrien Ltd’s bid to divest its stake in SQM. The fertilizer company, formed earlier this year by the merger of Canadian Potash Corp of Saskatchewan and Agrium, must sell its shares in the Chilean lithium miner as part of an agreement with Indian regulators. After talks collapsed in October last year, Corfo announced in December that representatives of SQM and Potash had met with Chilean authorities to reopen negotiations. The deal removes the miner’s former chairman Julio Ponce, who has been fined for market manipulation, from control of the company. Bitran had previously said Chile could earn up to $7.5 billion in royalties by 2030 from a new contract with SQM. (Reporting by Felipe Iturrieta; Writing by Dave Sherwood; Editing by Lisa Shumaker and Matthew Lewis)

https://www.reuters.com/article/sqm-arbitration/update-1-chiles-corfo-sqm-strike-deal-in-lithium-dispute-idUSL1N1PC2D6

Nvidia partners with Uber, Volkswagen in self-driving technology

LAS VEGAS, Jan 7 (Reuters) - Nvidia Corp will partner with Uber Technologies Inc and Volkswagen AG as the graphics chipmaker’s artificial intelligence platforms make further gains in the autonomous vehicle industry. The company, which already has partnerships in the industy with companies such as carmaker Tesla and China’s Baidu , makes computer graphics chips and has also been expanding into technology for self-driving cars. CEO Jensen Huang told an audience at the CES technology conference in Las Vegas that Uber’s self-driving car fleet was using Nvidia technology to help its autonomous cars perceive the world and make split-second decisions. Uber has been using Nvidia’s GPU computing technology since its first test fleet of Volvo SC90 SUVS were deployed in 2016 in Pittsburgh and Phoenix. Uber’s autonomous driving program has been shaken this year by a lawsuit filed in San Francisco by rival Waymo alleging trade secret theft. Nevertheless, Nvidia said development of the Uber self-driving program had gained steam, with one million autonomous miles being driven in just the past 100 days. With Volkswagen, Nvidia said it was infusing its artificial intelligence technology into the German automakers’ future lineup, using Nvidia’s new Drive IX platform. The technology will enable so-called “intelligent co-pilot” capabilities based on processing sensor data inside and outside the car. So far, 320 companies involved in self-driving cars - whether software developers, automakers and their suppliers, sensor and mapping companies - are using Nvidia Drive, formerly branded as the Drive PX2, the company said. Nvidia also said its first Xavier processors would be delivered to customers this quarter. The system on a chip delivers 30 trillion operations per second using 30 watts of power. Bets that Nvidia will become a leader in chips for driverless cars, data centers and artificial intelligence have more than doubled its stock price in the past 12 months, making the Silicon Valley company the third-strongest perfomer in the S&P 500 during that time. (Reporting By Alexandria Sage; Editing by Susan Thomas)

https://www.reuters.com/article/tech-ces-nvidia/nvidia-partners-with-uber-volkswagen-in-self-driving-technology-idUSL8N1OU00N

Rexford Industrial Announces 2017 Tax Treatment Of Dividend Distributions

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 24, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Rexford Industrial Realty, Inc. (the "Company" or "Rexford Industrial") (NYSE:REXR), a real estate investment trust focused on owning and operating industrial properties located in Southern California infill markets, today announced the 2017 tax treatment of the Company's common stock and preferred stock dividend distributions, as described below. Shareholders are encouraged to consult with their personal tax advisors as to their specific tax treatment of the Company's dividend distributions. Common Stock - CUSIP Number 76169C100 Distribution Per Share 2017 Tax Treatment Record Date Payable Date Total Taxable in 2017 Total Ordinary Dividends Qualified Dividends (1) Total Capital Gain Distributions Unrecaptured Section 1250 Gain (2) Return of Capital (Nondividend Distributions) 12/30/2016 1/17/2017 $ 0.135000 $ 0.086353 $ 0.082622 $ 0. $ 0. $ 0. $ 0.003731 3/31/2017 4/17/2017 $ 0.145000 $ 0.145000 $ 0.138735 $ 0. $ 0. $ 0. $ 0.006265 6/30/2017 7/17/2017 $ 0.145000 $ 0.145000 $ 0.138735 $ 0. $ 0. $ 0. $ 0.006265 9/29/2017 10/16/2017 $ 0.145000 $ 0.145000 $ 0.138735 $ 0. $ 0. $ 0. $ 0.006265 Totals: $ 0.570000 $ 0.521353 $ 0.498827 $ 0. $ 0. $ 0. $ 0.022526 Form 1099-DIV Box: 1a 1b 2a 2b 3 (1) Qualified Dividends (Box 1b) are a subset of, and are included in, the Total Ordinary Dividends reported in Box 1a. (2) Unrecaptured Section 1250 Gain (Box 2b) is a subset of, and is included in, the Total Capital Gain Distributions reported in box 2a. The common stock distribution of $0.135 per share payable on January 17, 2017, to shareholders of record as of December 30, 2016, was treated as paid in two tax years for income tax purposes, with approximately 64%, or $0.086353 per share, allocable to 2017 for federal income tax purposes. The common stock distribution of $0.145 per share payable on January 15, 2018, to shareholders of record as of December 29, 2017, is considered a 2018 distribution for federal income tax purposes. Series A Preferred Stock - CUSIP Number 76169C209 Distribution Per Share 2017 Tax Treatment Record Date Payable Date Total Taxable in 2017 Total Ordinary Dividends Qualified Dividends (1) Total Capital Gain Distributions Unrecaptured Section 1250 Gain (2) Return of Capital (Nondividend Distributions) 3/15/2017 3/31/2017 $ 0.367188 $ 0.367188 $ 0.367188 $ 0. $ 0. $ 0. $ 0. 6/15/2017 6/30/2017 $ 0.367188 $ 0.367188 $ 0.367188 $ 0. $ 0. $ 0. $ 0. 9/15/2017 9/29/2017 $ 0.367188 $ 0.367188 $ 0.367188 $ 0. $ 0. $ 0. $ 0. 12/15/2017 12/29/2017 $ 0.367188 $ 0.367188 $ 0.367188 $ 0. $ 0. $ 0. $ 0. Totals: $ 1.468752 $ 1.468752 $ 1.468752 $ 0. $ 0. $ 0. $ 0. Form 1099-DIV Box: 1a 1b 2a 2b 3 (1) Qualified Dividends (Box 1b) are a subset of, and are included in, the Total Ordinary Dividends reported in Box 1a. (2) Unrecaptured Section 1250 Gain (Box 2b) is a subset of, and is included in, the Total Capital Gain Distributions reported in box 2a. About Rexford Industrial Rexford Industrial is a real estate investment trust focused on owning and operating industrial properties in Southern California infill markets. The Company owns interests in 151 properties with approximately 18.5 million rentable square feet and manages an additional 19 properties with approximately 1.2 million rentable square feet. For additional information, visit www.rexfordindustrial.com . Forward Looking Statements This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, which are based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially. Forward-looking statements relate to expectations, beliefs, projections, future plans and strategies, anticipated events or trends and similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "will," "should," "expects," "intends," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," or "potential" or the negative of these words and phrases or similar words or phrases which are predictions of or indicate future events or trends and which do not relate solely to historical matters. While forward-looking statements reflect the Company's good faith beliefs, assumptions and expectations, they are not guarantees of future performance. For a further discussion of these and other factors that could cause the Company's future results to differ materially from any forward-looking statements, see the reports and other filings by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016. The Company disclaims any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect changes in underlying assumptions or factors, of new information, data or methods, future events or other changes. Contact: Investor Relations: Stephen Swett 424-256-2153 ext. 401 investorrelations@rexfordindustrial.com View original content: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rexford-industrial-announces-2017-tax-treatment-of-dividend-distributions-300587794.html SOURCE Rexford Industrial Realty, Inc.

http://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/24/pr-newswire-rexford-industrial-announces-2017-tax-treatment-of-dividend-distributions.html

Ryanair applies for UK licence to shore up routes before Brexit

Reuters TV United States January 2, 2018 / 4:29 PM / a minute ago Ryanair applies for UK license to shore up routes before Brexit Reuters Staff 2 Min Read DUBLIN (Reuters) - Ryanair ( RYA.I ) recently applied for a British air operating license in a move it said on Tuesday may be required to keep its small domestic UK service operating in the event of a hard Brexit. FILE PHOTO: A pilot disembarks a Ryanair flight at Stansted airport in London, Britain September 27, 2017. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne Flying rights are currently governed by EU-wide deals and because it is not part of the World Trade Organization, the aviation sector has no natural fallback arrangement to protect flights if there is no deal between Britain and the European Union. Ryanair, Europe’s largest airline by passenger numbers, follows fellow budget airline Wizz Air in applying for a separate license in Britain via a UK subsidiary. “A subsidiary company Ryanair UK filed an application on Dec 21 last for an Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) with the Civil Aviation Authority in the UK. This may be required for Ryanair’s three UK domestic routes in the event of a hard Brexit in March 2019,” the airline said in a statement. Ryanair said last year that it planned to pivot its growth away from Britain over the next two years as it fears the lack of clarity over Brexit will cause major travel disruption and hit demand. The Dublin-based airline’s three intra-UK routes only account for around 2 percent of its business. Reporting by Padraic Halpin; Editing by Adrian Croft

https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-ryanair-licence/ryanair-applies-for-uk-license-to-shore-up-routes-before-brexit-idUKKBN1ER1EE

BRIEF-Apple Anticipates Repatriation Tax Payments Of About $38 Bln

Jan 17 (Reuters) - Apple Inc: * APPLE ACCELERATES US INVESTMENT AND JOB CREATION * $350 BILLION CONTRIBUTION TO US ECONOMY OVER NEXT FIVE YEARS * ANTICIPATES REPATRIATION TAX PAYMENTS OF APPROXIMATELY $38 BILLION AS REQUIRED BY RECENT CHANGES TO TAX LAW * COMPANY PLANS TO ESTABLISH APPLE CAMPUS IN A NEW LOCATION, WHICH WILL INITIALLY HOUSE TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR CUSTOMERS * APPLE INC - EXPECTS TO INVEST OVER $30 BILLION IN CAPEX IN U.S. OVER NEXT 5 YEARS * EXPECTS TO CREATE OVER 20,000 NEW JOBS THROUGH HIRING AT EXISTING CAMPUSES AND OPENING A NEW ONE * OVER $10 BILLION OF APPLE‘S EXPANDED CAPITAL EXPENDITURES WILL BE INVESTMENTS IN DATA CENTERS ACROSS U.S. * ANNOUNCED A NEW SET OF INVESTMENTS TO BUILD ON COMMITMENT TO SUPPORT AMERICAN ECONOMY AND WORKFORCE, CONCENTRATED IN THREE AREAS * IS BREAKING GROUND ON A NEW FACILITY IN DOWNTOWN RENO, WHICH WILL SUPPORT ITS EXISTING NEVADA FACILITIES * APPLE INC SAYS IS INCREASING SIZE OF ADVANCED MANUFACTURING FUND FROM $1 BILLION TO $5 BILLION * LOCATION OF NEW APPLE CAMPUS FACILITY WILL BE ANNOUNCED LATER IN YEAR * “COMPANY IS ALSO INCREASING FUNDING FOR ITS CONNECTED PROGRAM” * INVESTMENTS TO BE CONCENTRATED IN DIRECT EMPLOYMENT, SPENDING & INVESTMENT WITH DOMESTIC SUPPLIERS & MANUFACTURERS, AND FUELING APP ECONOMY Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage:

https://www.reuters.com/article/brief-apple-anticipates-repatriation-tax/brief-apple-anticipates-repatriation-tax-payments-of-about-38-bln-idUSFWN1PC17V

SoftBank Vision Fund Invests $300M in Dog Walking App Wag | Fortune

By Rachel King January 30, 2018 Wag, the nation’s largest on-demand mobile dog walking and care app , is taking some major steps forward with a new chief executive and a fresh infusion of cash from the SoftBank Vision Fund . SoftBank’s Vision Fund, the world’s largest private equity fund that counts Apple and Saudi Arabia’s main sovereign wealth fund among its investors , has committed $300 million to the Los Angeles-based tech startup. That would provide SoftBank with a roughly 45% stake in the company, according to Recode . Wag also announced on Tuesday that it has hired tech industry veteran Hilary Schneider to join the company as its new chief executive officer. Schneider is replacing Josh Viner, one of the company’s co-founding brothers. Both of the co-founders are expected to remain with the company in undisclosed senior roles. Schneider previously served as CEO of identity theft protection firm LifeLock, through the company’s sale to Symantec for $2.3 billion in March 2017. Prior to LifeLock, Schneider also served as executive vice president at both Yahoo Americas and at Knight Ridder, once the second-largest newspaper publisher in the United States. (Schneider also has two dogs of her own: a pair of Russian Black Terriers named Sadie and Zoe.) Along with the major financial stake, SoftBank is installing some more new leadership of its own. Under the deal, SoftBank Investment Advisers Managing Partner Jeffrey Housenbold will become chairman of Wag’s board of directors. Ted Fike, a senior investor at SoftBank Investment Advisers, will also join the board. Wag’s services range from providing on-demand walks to overnight boarding, with services available 24 hours per day, seven days per week. The company has expanded considerably since launching in 2015 from Los Angeles and New York City to more than 100 cities nationwide. Prior to the Vision Fund’s investment, Wag said it had already generated approximately $68 million during previous fundraising rounds. Investors include Battery Ventures, General Catalyst, Sherpa Capital, Bullpen Capital, and Freestyle Capital. More recently, Battery led a previous $40 million round in April 2017. SPONSORED FINANCIAL CONTENT

http://fortune.com/2018/01/30/dog-walking-app-wag-softbank-vision-fund/

Philippines seeks tougher charges for Aquino over commandos' deaths

January 25, 2018 / 12:24 PM / in 8 minutes Philippines seeks tougher charges for Aquino over commandos' deaths Reuters Staff 2 Min Read MANILA (Reuters) - Former Philippine President Benigno Aquino must be held criminally accountable for negligence that led to the deaths of 44 police commandos in 2015, the government’s top lawyer said in a petition filed at the Supreme Court on Thursday. The solicitor general asked the court to direct the ombudsman to file 44 counts of “reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide” against the former president over the botched raid. A mission to arrest two al Qaeda-linked militants on the southern island of Mindanao went disastrously wrong when police Special Action Force commandos were ambushed and outnumbered by rebel gunmen in what was the biggest crisis of Aquino’s 2010-2016 presidency. Given that Aquino had full knowledge and approved the January 2015 raid in Mamasapano, Maguindanao province, he “acted with inexcusable negligence, which was the direct proximate cause in the massacre of SAF 44,” the office of the Solicitor General said. In November, the ombudsman filed charges against Aquino, but for a lesser crimes of usurpation of authority and corruption. President Rodrigo Duterte has described those charges as “silly”, while Aquino’s spokeswoman, Abigal Valte, has said the full facts surrounding the deaths have yet to be presented. The Mamasapano killings also dealt a blow to Aquino’s vaunted peace efforts with separatists of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which had agreed to disarm in return for self-rule over predominantly Muslim parts of Mindanao. Duterte has urged Congress to pass a bill granting self-rule to the country’s Muslim minority, warning that its collapse would see separatist rebels abandon a peace process and declare war again. Duterte’s spokesman, Harry Roque, said the government was committed to providing justice to the police commandos who died to prevent a “repeat of the waste of lives or promising future of gallant Filipinos”. Reporting by Karen Lema

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-philippines-security/philippines-seeks-tougher-charges-for-aquino-over-commandos-deaths-idUSKBN1FE1MX

Fifth Third Announces Fourth Quarter 2017 Net Income to Common Shareholders of $486 Million, or $0.67 Per Diluted Share

2017 Earnings Per Diluted Share of $2.83 4Q17 net income available to common shareholders of $486 million, or $0.67 per diluted common share Results included a net positive $0.15 impact on reported 4Q17 EPS: ― Items primarily resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (a) : $220 million income tax reduction from a remeasurement of the deferred tax liability $68 million pre-tax (~$44 million after-tax) (b) impairment related to affordable housing investments within noninterest expense $27 million pre-tax (~$18 million after-tax) (b) remeasurement related to the tax treatment of leveraged leases reducing interest income $15 million pre-tax (~$10 million after-tax) (b) expense related to one-time employee bonuses $15 million pre-tax (~$10 million after-tax) (b) contribution to the Fifth Third Foundation ― $20 million tax expense related to a gain on the sale of Vantiv (c) shares sold in 3Q17 ― $11 million pre-tax (~$7 million after-tax) (b) charge related to the valuation of the Visa total return swap Net interest income (NII) of $956 million; taxable equivalent NII of $963 million (d) , down 1% from 3Q17 and up 6% from 4Q16 Reported results were negatively impacted by the $27 million leveraged lease remeasurement in 4Q17 and $16 million estimated card refund charge in 4Q16 Adjusted taxable equivalent NII (d) of $990 million, up 1% from 3Q17 and up 7% from 4Q16, driven by higher interest earning asset yields and higher yielding consumer loans Taxable equivalent net interest margin (NIM) of 3.02% (d) , down 5 bps from 3Q17 and up 16 bps from 4Q16 Reported results were negatively impacted by 8 bps from the leveraged lease remeasurement in 4Q17 and 5 bps from the estimated card refund charge in 4Q16 Adjusted taxable equivalent NIM (d) of 3.10%, up 3 bps from 3Q17 and up 19 bps from 4Q16, impacted by higher securities portfolio and consumer loan yields Noninterest income of $577 million, compared with $1.561 billion in 3Q17 and $620 million in 4Q16 Sequential decrease primarily reflected a gain on the sale of Vantiv shares in 3Q17 Excluding the Vantiv gain, Visa total return swap charges and securities gains, noninterest income increased 3% from 3Q17 reflecting a $44 million Vantiv TRA payment and higher wealth and asset management revenue Noninterest expense of $1.073 billion, up 10% from 3Q17 and up 12 percent from 4Q16 Sequential increase was driven primarily by the affordable housing impairment, one-time employee bonuses, and contribution to the Fifth Third Foundation in 4Q17 Excluding these items, noninterest expense of $975 million was flat from 3Q17 reflecting lower other noninterest expense offset by higher employee benefits Average portfolio loans and leases of $92.3 billion, flat from 3Q17 and down 1% from 4Q16 Portfolio nonperforming asset (NPA) ratio of 0.53%, down 7 bps from 3Q17 and down 27 bps from 4Q16 Net charge-offs (NCOs) of $76 million, up $8 million from 3Q17 and up $3 million from 4Q16; NCO ratio of 0.33% compared to 0.29% in 3Q17 and 0.31% in 4Q16 4Q17 provision expense of $67 million flat from 3Q17 and up $13 million from 4Q16 Common equity Tier 1 (CET1) (e) ratio of 10.61% Tangible common equity ratio of 8.99% (d) ; 8.94% excluding unrealized gains/losses (d) Book value per share of $21.67, up 2% from 3Q17 and up 9% 4Q16; tangible book value per share (d) of $18.10 up 1% from 3Q17 and up 9% from 4Q16 CINCINNATI--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Fifth Third Bancorp (Nasdaq:FITB) today reported full year 2017 net income of $2.2 billion, up 41 percent from net income of $1.6 billion in 2016. After preferred dividends, 2017 net income available to common shareholders was $2.1 billion, or $2.83 per diluted share, compared with 2016 net income available to common shareholders of $1.5 billion, or $1.93 per diluted share. Results were significantly impacted by Vantiv-related transactions throughout 2016 and 2017 and items resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in 2017. Fourth quarter 2017 net income was $509 million, a decrease of 50 percent from net income of $1.014 billion in the third quarter of 2017 and an increase of 29 percent from net income of $395 million in the fourth quarter of 2016. After preferred dividends, net income available to common shareholders was $486 million, or $0.67 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter 2017, compared with $999 million, or $1.35 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2017, and $372 million, or $0.49 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2016. Results were significantly impacted by a Vantiv-related transaction in the third quarter of 2017 and items resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in the fourth quarter of 2017. “Our strong fourth quarter and full year 2017 results reflect continued progress toward achieving our long term financial goals. Our business strategies are well aligned with the interests of our shareholders, our customers, our employees, and the communities we serve. Our balance sheet remains strong and positions us well for growth in 2018,” said Greg D. Carmichael, President and CEO of Fifth Third Bancorp. “The investments that we have made following the passage of the new tax law demonstrate our commitment to improving the lives of our employees and our communities. In addition to the immediate positive impact of lower corporate taxes on our company’s results, we are optimistic that the new tax law will help to reinvigorate the economy and support further growth in our businesses.” “Underlying quarterly performance showed continued NIM expansion, disciplined expense management, and another quarter of strong credit metrics. As we discussed at our recent Investor Day, we have continued to generate positive momentum over the past year. We remain focused on driving improved shareholder returns in 2018 and beyond as we execute on our strategic initiatives under Project North Star.” Earnings Highlights For the Three Months Ended % Change December September June March December 2017 2017 2017 2017 2016 Seq Yr/Yr Income Statement Data ($ in millions) Net income attributable to Bancorp $509 $1,014 $367 $305 $395 (50%) 29% Net income available to common shareholders $486 $999 $344 $290 $372 (51%) 31% Earnings Per Share Data Average common shares outstanding (in thousands): Basic 703,372 721,280 741,401 747,668 746,367 (2%) (6%) Diluted 716,908 733,285 752,328 760,809 757,704 (2%) (5%) Earnings per share, basic $0.68 $1.37 $0.46 $0.38 $0.49 (50%) 39% Earnings per share, diluted 0.67 1.35 0.45 0.38 0.49 (50%) 37% Common Share Data Cash dividends per common share $0.16 $0.16 $0.14 $0.14 $0.14 - 14% Book value per share 21.67 21.30 20.42 20.13 19.82 2% 9% Tangible book value per share (d) 18.10 17.86 17.11 16.89 16.60 1% 9% Common shares outstanding (in thousands) 693,805 705,474 738,873 750,145 750,479 (2%) (8%) Financial Ratios bps Change Return on average assets 1.43 % 2.85 % 1.05 % 0.88 % 1.11 % (142) 32 Return on average common equity 12.7 25.6 9.0 7.8 9.7 (1290) 300 Return on average tangible common equity (d) 15.2 30.4 10.7 9.3 11.6 (1520) 360 CET1 capital (e) 10.61 10.59 10.63 10.76 10.39 2 22 Tier I risk-based capital (e) 11.74 11.72 11.76 11.90 11.50 2 24 Net interest margin (taxable equivalent) (d) 3.02 3.07 3.01 3.02 2.86 (5) 16 Efficiency (taxable equivalent) (d) 69.7 38.4 63.4 67.4 62.8 3130 690 Net Interest Income (Taxable equivalent basis; $ in millions) (d) For the Three Months Ended % Change December September June March December 2017 2017 2017 2017 2016 Seq Yr/Yr Interest Income Total interest income $1,151 $1,159 $1,112 $1,092 $1,058 (1%) 9% Total interest expense 188 182 167 153 149 3% 26% Net interest income $963 $977 $945 $939 $909 (1%) 6% Average Yield bps Change Yield on interest-earning assets 3.61% 3.64% 3.54% 3.51% 3.33% (3) 28 Adjusted yield on interest-earning assets 3.69% 3.64% 3.54% 3.51% 3.33% 5 36 Rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities 0.88% 0.85% 0.79% 0.73% 0.70% 3 18 Ratios Net interest rate spread 2.73% 2.79% 2.75% 2.78% 2.63% (6) 10 Net interest margin 3.02% 3.07% 3.01% 3.02% 2.86% (5) 16 Adjusted net interest margin 3.10% 3.07% 3.01% 2.98% 2.91% 3 19 Average Balances % Change Loans and leases, including held for sale $92,865 $92,617 $92,653 $92,791 $93,981 - (1%) Total securities and other short-term investments 33,756 33,826 33,481 33,177 32,567 - 4% Total interest-earning assets 126,621 126,443 126,134 125,968 126,548 - - Total interest-bearing liabilities 84,820 85,328 85,320 84,890 84,552 (1%) - Bancorp shareholders' equity 16,493 16,820 16,615 16,429 16,545 (2%) - Income Statement Highlights ($ in millions, except per-share data) For the Three Months Ended % Change December September June March December 2017 2017 2017 2017 2016 Seq Yr/Yr Condensed Statements of Income Net interest income (taxable equivalent) (d) $963 $977 $945 $939 $909 (1%) 6% Provision for loan and lease losses 67 67 52 74 54 - 24% Total noninterest income 577 1,561 564 523 620 (63%) (7%) Total noninterest expense 1,073 975 957 986 960 10% 12% Income before income taxes (taxable equivalent) (d) $400 $1,496 $500 $402 $515 (73%) (22%) Taxable equivalent adjustment 7 7 6 6 6 - 17% Applicable income tax (benefit) expense (116) 475 127 91 114 NM NM Net income $509 $1,014 $367 $305 $395 (50%) 29% Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests - - - - - NM NM Net income attributable to Bancorp $509 $1,014 $367 $305 $395 (50%) 29% Dividends on preferred stock 23 15 23 15 23 53% - Net income available to common shareholders $486 $999 $344 $290 $372 (51%) 31% Earnings per share, diluted $0.67 $1.35 $0.45 $0.38 $0.49 (50%) 37% Taxable equivalent net interest income of $963 million in the fourth quarter of 2017 was down $14 million, or 1 percent from the prior quarter, primarily due to the $27 million impact from the leveraged lease remeasurement described on page 1. Excluding the remeasurement, taxable equivalent net interest income of $990 million in the fourth quarter of 2017 was up $13 million, or 1 percent from the prior quarter, reflecting higher interest earning asset yields as well as the continued shift into higher yielding consumer loans. The taxable equivalent net interest margin of 3.02 percent was negatively impacted 8 bps from the aforementioned remeasurement. The adjusted taxable equivalent net interest margin was 3.10 percent, up 3 bps sequentially, primarily driven by higher securities portfolio and consumer loan yields, partially offset by an increase in funding costs associated with deposit rate changes and the full quarter impact of an auto securitization executed in third quarter of 2017. Compared to the fourth quarter of 2016, taxable equivalent net interest income was up $54 million, or 6 percent, primarily driven by higher short-term market rates and the $16 million estimated card refund charge during the fourth quarter of 2016, partially offset by the aforementioned leveraged lease remeasurement. Excluding the leveraged lease remeasurement and the estimated card refund charge, adjusted taxable equivalent net interest income was up 7 percent. The year-over-year increase was primarily driven by higher short-term market rates. The taxable equivalent net interest margin increased 16 bps from the fourth quarter of 2016, primarily driven by higher short-term market rates and a 5 bps positive impact from the estimated card refund charge, partially offset by a negative 8 bps impact from the leveraged lease remeasurement. Excluding the remeasurement and card refunds impact, adjusted taxable equivalent net interest margin was up 19 bps from the fourth quarter of 2016. The year-over-year increase was primarily driven by higher-short-term market rates. Securities Average securities and other short-term investments were $33.8 billion in the fourth quarter of 2017 compared to $33.8 billion in the previous quarter and $32.6 billion in the fourth quarter of 2016. Available-for-sale securities were $31.8 billion in the fourth quarter of 2017 up $340 million, or 1 percent, sequentially and up $637 million, or 2 percent, from the fourth quarter of 2016. Loans ($ in millions) For the Three Months Ended % Change December September June March December 2017 2017 2017 2017 2016 Seq Yr/Yr Average Portfolio Loans and Leases Commercial loans and leases: Commercial and industrial loans $41,438 $41,302 $41,601 $41,854 $42,548 - (3%) Commercial mortgage loans 6,751 6,807 6,845 6,941 6,957 (1%) (3%) Commercial construction loans 4,660 4,533 4,306 3,987 3,890 3% 20% Commercial leases 4,016 4,072 4,036 3,901 3,921 (1%) 2% Total commercial loans and leases $56,865 $56,714 $56,788 $56,683 $57,316 - (1%) Consumer loans and leases: Residential mortgage loans $15,590 $15,523 $15,417 $15,200 $14,854 - 5% Home equity 7,066 7,207 7,385 7,581 7,779 (2%) (9%) Automobile loans 9,175 9,267 9,410 9,786 10,162 (1%) (10%) Credit card 2,202 2,140 2,080 2,141 2,180 3% 1% Other consumer loans and leases 1,352 1,055 892 755 673 28% NM Total consumer loans and leases $35,385 $35,192 $35,184 $35,463 $35,648 1% (1%) Total average portfolio loans and leases $92,250 $91,906 $91,972 $92,146 $92,964 - (1%) Average loans held for sale $615 $711 $681 $645 $1,017 (14%) (40%) Average portfolio loan and lease balances were flat sequentially and decreased 1 percent from the fourth quarter of 2016. Sequential performance was primarily driven by increases in commercial real estate and other consumer loans and leases, offset by decreases in home equity and automobile loans. The year-over-year decrease was primarily driven by declines in commercial and industrial (C&I) and automobile loans, partially offset by increases in commercial real estate and other consumer loans and leases. Period end portfolio loans and leases of $92.0 billion were flat sequentially and year-over-year. Average commercial portfolio loan and lease balances were flat sequentially, and decreased 1 percent from the fourth quarter of 2016. Sequential performance was primarily driven by an increase in commercial real estate loans, offset by a decrease in commercial leases. Average C&I loans were flat sequentially and decreased 3 percent from the fourth quarter of 2016. The year-over-year decline in C&I loans was primarily due to deliberate exits from certain C&I loans that did not meet our targeted risk or return profile. Average commercial real estate loans increased $71 million, or 1 percent, from the prior quarter and increased $564 million, or 5 percent, from the fourth quarter of 2016. Period end commercial line utilization of 34 percent was flat from both the third quarter of 2017 and the fourth quarter of 2016. Average consumer portfolio loan and lease balances were up 1 percent sequentially and decreased 1 percent from the fourth quarter of 2016. The sequential increase was primarily driven by the increase in other consumer loans and leases, partially offset by a decline in average home equity loans. The year-over-year decrease was primarily driven by the decline in average automobile loans which continues to reflect a decision to reduce lower-return originations to improve returns on capital. Deposits ($ in millions) For the Three Months Ended % Change December September June March December 2017 2017 2017 2017 2016 Seq Yr/Yr Average Deposits Demand $35,519 $34,850 $34,915 $35,084 $36,412 2% (2%) Interest checking 26,992 25,765 26,014 26,760 25,644 5% 5% Savings 13,593 13,889 14,238 14,117 13,979 (2%) (3%) Money market 20,023 20,028 20,278 20,603 20,476 - (2%) Foreign office (f) 323 395 380 454 497 (18%) (35%) Total transaction deposits $96,450 $94,927 $95,825 $97,018 $97,008 2% (1%) Other time 3,792 3,722 3,745 3,827 3,941 2% (4%) Total core deposits $100,242 $98,649 $99,570 $100,845 $100,949 2% (1%) Certificates - $100,000 and over 2,429 2,625 2,623 2,579 2,539 (7%) (4%) Other 119 560 264 162 115 (79%) 3% Total average deposits $102,790 $101,834 $102,457 $103,586 $103,603 1% (1%) Average core deposits increased 2 percent sequentially and decreased 1 percent from the fourth quarter of 2016. Average transaction deposits increased 2 percent sequentially and decreased 1 percent from the fourth quarter of 2016. The sequential increase was primarily driven by increases in commercial interest checking deposit and commercial demand deposit account balances, partially offset by lower consumer savings and commercial money market account balances. Year-over-year performance was primarily driven by lower commercial money market and commercial demand deposit account balances, largely offset by higher consumer money market and commercial interest checking deposit account balances. Other time deposits increased by 2 percent sequentially and decreased 4 percent year-over-year. Average total commercial transaction deposits of $43 billion increased 4 percent sequentially and decreased 4 percent from the fourth quarter of 2016. Average total consumer transaction deposits of $53 billion were flat sequentially and increased 3 percent from the fourth quarter of 2016. Wholesale Funding ($ in millions) For the Three Months Ended % Change December September June March December 2017 2017 2017 2017 2016 Seq Yr/Yr Average Wholesale Funding Certificates - $100,000 and over $2,429 $2,625 $2,623 $2,579 $2,539 (7%) (4%) Other deposits 119 560 264 162 115 (79%) 3% Federal funds purchased 602 675 311 639 280 (11%) NM Other short-term borrowings 2,316 4,212 4,194 1,893 1,908 (45%) 21% Long-term debt 14,631 13,457 13,273 13,856 15,173 9% (4%) Total average wholesale funding $20,097 $21,529 $20,665 $19,129 $20,015 (7%) - Average wholesale funding of $20.1 billion decreased $1.4 billion, or 7 percent, sequentially and was flat compared with the fourth quarter of 2016. The sequential decline was primarily due to a decrease in other short-term borrowings reflecting higher core deposit balances, partially offset by an increase in long-term debt from 3-year bank debt issued in October of 2017. The year-over-year results reflect an increase in other short-term borrowings, largely offset by a decrease in long-term debt. Noninterest Income ($ in millions) For the Three Months Ended % Change December September June March December 2017 2017 2017 2017 2016 Seq Yr/Yr Noninterest Income Service charges on deposits $138 $138 $139 $138 $141 - (2%) Corporate banking revenue 77 101 101 74 101 (24%) (24%) Mortgage banking net revenue 54 63 55 52 65 (14%) (17%) Wealth and asset management revenue 106 102 103 108 100 4% 6% Card and processing revenue 80 79 79 74 79 1% 1% Other noninterest income 123 1,076 85 77 137 (89%) (10%) Securities gains (losses), net 1 - - - (3) NM NM Securities gains (losses), net - non-qualifying hedges on mortgage servicing rights (2) 2 2 - - NM NM Total noninterest income $577 $1,561 $564 $523 $620 (63%) (7%) Noninterest income of $577 million decreased $984 million sequentially and decreased $43 million compared with prior year results. The sequential and year-over-year comparisons reflect the impact of the following items. Noninterest Income excluding certain items ($ in millions) For the Three Months Ended % Change December September December 2017 2017 2016 Seq Yr/Yr Noninterest Income excluding certain items Noninterest income (U.S. GAAP) $577 $1,561 $620 Valuation of Visa total return swap 11 47 (6) Gain on sale of Vantiv shares - (1,037) - Vantiv warrant valuation - - (9) Securities (gains) / losses (1) - 3 Noninterest income excluding certain items (d) $587 $571 $608 3% (3%) Excluding the items in the table above, noninterest income of $587 million was up 3 percent from the previous quarter and decreased 3 percent from the fourth quarter of 2016. The sequential increase was primarily due to $44 million in revenue recognized from Vantiv related to the tax receivable agreement in the fourth quarter of 2017, and an increase in wealth and asset management revenue. This was partially offset by declines in corporate banking and mortgage banking revenue. Corporate banking revenue was negatively impacted by a $25 million lease remarketing impairment in the fourth quarter of 2017. The year-over-year decrease was driven by lower corporate banking and mortgage banking revenue. Corporate banking revenue of $77 million was down 24 percent both sequentially and year-over-year. The sequential and year-over-year decreases were primarily driven by the aforementioned lease remarketing impairment. Excluding the impact of the lease impairment, corporate banking revenue was flat sequentially and year-over-year. Mortgage Banking Net Revenue ($ in millions) For the Three Months Ended % Change December September June March December 2017 2017 2017 2017 2016 Seq Yr/Yr Mortgage Banking Net Revenue Origination fees and gains on loan sales $32 $40 $37 $29 $30 (20%) 7% Net mortgage servicing revenue: Gross mortgage servicing fees 54 56 49 47 48 (4%) 13% MSR amortization - - - - (35) NM NM Net valuation adjustments on MSRs and (32) (33) (31) (24) 22 (3%) NM free-standing derivatives purchased to economically hedge MSRs Net mortgage servicing revenue 22 23 18 23 35 (4%) (37%) Total mortgage banking net revenue $54 $63 $55 $52 $65 (14%) (17%) Mortgage banking net revenue was $54 million in the fourth quarter of 2017, down $9 million from the third quarter of 2017 and down $11 million from the fourth quarter of 2016. The sequential decrease was driven by lower origination fees and gains on loan sales. The year-over-year decrease was driven by a reduction in net valuation adjustments (including MSR amortization) of $19 million. Originations of $1.9 billion in the current quarter decreased 10 percent sequentially and decreased 30 percent from the fourth quarter of 2016. Wealth and asset management revenue of $106 million increased 4 percent from the third quarter of 2017 and increased 6 percent from the fourth quarter of 2016. The sequential and year-over-year increase was primarily driven by higher personal asset management revenue. Card and processing revenue of $80 million in the fourth quarter of 2017 was up 1 percent both sequentially and year-over-year. The sequential and year-over-year performance reflected increased credit card spend volume, largely offset by higher rewards. Other noninterest income totaled $123 million in the fourth quarter of 2017, compared with $1.076 billion in the previous quarter and $137 million in the fourth quarter of 2016. The reported results included Vantiv-related transactions and adjustments and the valuation of the Visa total return swap in the table on page 8. For the fourth quarter of 2017, excluding these items, other noninterest income of $134 million increased approximately $48 million, or 56 percent, from the third quarter of 2017 and increased $12 million, or 10 percent, from the fourth quarter of 2016. The sequential increase was primarily due to the $44 million in revenue recognized from Vantiv related to the tax receivable agreement in the fourth quarter of 2017. The year-over-year increase was due to an $11 million increase in the aforementioned tax receivable agreement. Net gains on investment securities were $1 million in the fourth quarter of 2017, compared with no gains or losses in the third quarter of 2017 and a $3 million net loss in the fourth quarter of 2016. Net gains/losses on securities held as non-qualifying hedges for the MSR portfolio were net losses of $2 million in the fourth quarter of 2017 and net gains of $2 million in the third quarter of 2017. Noninterest Expense ($ in millions) For the Three Months Ended % Change December September June March December 2017 2017 2017 2017 2016 Seq Yr/Yr Noninterest Expense Salaries, wages and incentives $418 $407 $397 $411 $403 3% 4% Employee benefits 82 77 86 111 76 6% 8% Net occupancy expense 74 74 70 78 73 - 1% Technology and communications 68 62 57 58 56 10% 21% Equipment expense 29 30 29 28 29 (3%) - Card and processing expense 34 32 33 30 31 6% 10% Other noninterest expense 368 293 285 270 292 26% 26% Total noninterest expense $1,073 $975 $957 $986 $960 10% 12% Noninterest expense of $1.073 billion increased $98 million, or 10 percent, compared with the third quarter of 2017, and increased $113 million, or 12 percent, compared with the fourth quarter of 2016. Results reflected the affordable housing impairment, one-time employee bonuses, and the Fifth Third Foundation contribution referenced on page 2. Excluding these items, noninterest expense of $975 million was flat compared with the third quarter of 2017, impacted by lower other noninterest expense and salaries, wages and incentives, offset by higher employee benefits and technology and communications expense. Excluding the aforementioned items, noninterest expense increased 2 percent compared to the fourth quarter of 2016, impacted by higher employee benefits and technology and communications expense, offset by lower other noninterest expense. Summary of Credit Loss Experience ($ in millions) For the Three Months Ended December September June March December 2017 2017 2017 2017 2016 Net losses charged-off Commercial and industrial loans ($32) ($27) ($18) ($36) ($25) Commercial mortgage loans 1 (3) (5) (5) (2) Commercial leases (1) - (1) (1) (1) Residential mortgage loans (1) 1 (2) (5) (2) Home equity (4) (3) (5) (6) (6) Automobile loans (10) (8) (6) (11) (11) Credit card (20) (20) (22) (22) (19) Other consumer loans and leases (9) (8) (5) (3) (7) Total net losses charged-off ($76) ($68) ($64) ($89) ($73) Total losses charged-off ($94) ($85) ($95) ($107) ($97) Total recoveries of losses previously charged-off 18 17 31 18 24 Total net losses charged-off ($76) ($68) ($64) ($89) ($73) Ratios (annualized) Net losses charged-off as a percent of average portfolio loans and leases (excluding held for sale) 0.33% 0.29% 0.28% 0.40% 0.31% Commercial 0.22% 0.21% 0.17% 0.29% 0.20% Consumer 0.51% 0.43% 0.46% 0.56% 0.49% Net charge-offs were $76 million, or 33 bps of average portfolio loans and leases on an annualized basis, in the fourth quarter of 2017 compared with net charge-offs of $68 million, or 29 bps, in the third quarter of 2017 and $73 million, or 31 bps, in the fourth quarter of 2016. Commercial net charge-offs of $32 million, or 22 bps, increased $2 million sequentially. This primarily reflected a $5 million increase in net charge-offs of C&I loans, partially offset by a $4 million reduction in net charge-offs of commercial mortgage loans. Consumer net charge-offs of $44 million, or 51 bps, increased $6 million sequentially. This primarily reflected a $2 million increase in net charge-offs on residential mortgage loans and the automobile loans. ($ in millions) For the Three Months Ended December September June March December 2017 2017 2017 2017 2016 Allowance for Credit Losses Allowance for loan and lease losses, beginning $1,205 $1,226 $1,238 $1,253 $1,272 Total net losses charged-off (76) (68) (64) (89) (73) Provision for loan and lease losses 67 67 52 74 54 Deconsolidation of a variable interest entity - (20) - - - Allowance for loan and lease losses, ending $1,196 $1,205 $1,226 $1,238 $1,253 Reserve for unfunded commitments, beginning $157 $162 $159 $161 $162 Provision for unfunded commitments 4 (5) 3 (2) (1) Reserve for unfunded commitments, ending $161 $157 $162 $159 $161 Components of allowance for credit losses: Allowance for loan and lease losses $1,196 $1,205 $1,226 $1,238 $1,253 Reserve for unfunded commitments 161 157 162 159 161 Total allowance for credit losses $1,357 $1,362 $1,388 $1,397 $1,414 Allowance for loan and lease losses ratio As a percent of portfolio loans and leases 1.30% 1.31% 1.34% 1.35% 1.36% As a percent of nonperforming portfolio loans and leases (g) 274% 238% 200% 188% 190% As a percent of nonperforming portfolio assets (g) 245% 217% 185% 172% 170% The provision for loan and lease losses totaled $67 million in the fourth quarter of 2017, flat sequentially, reflecting improvement in criticized assets and nonperforming loans, offset by an increase in net charge-offs and higher period-end portfolio loan balances. Provision expense increased $13 million from the fourth quarter of 2016. As of quarter end, the allowance for loan and lease loss ratio represented 1.30 percent of total portfolio loans and leases outstanding, compared with 1.31 percent last quarter, and represented 274 percent of nonperforming loans and leases, and 245 percent of nonperforming assets. ($ in millions) As of December September June March December Nonperforming Assets and Delinquent Loans 2017 2017 2017 2017 2016 Nonaccrual portfolio loans and leases: Commercial and industrial loans $144 $144 $225 $251 $302 Commercial mortgage loans 12 14 15 21 27 Commercial leases - 1 1 - 2 Residential mortgage loans 17 19 19 21 17 Home equity 56 56 52 53 55 Total nonaccrual portfolio loans and leases (excludes restructured loans) $229 $234 $312 $346 $403 Nonaccrual restructured portfolio commercial loans and leases (h) 150 214 244 251 192 Nonaccrual restructured portfolio consumer loans and leases 58 58 58 60 65 Total nonaccrual portfolio loans and leases $437 $506 $614 $657 $660 Repossessed property 9 10 11 14 15 OREO 43 39i 37i 50i 63i Total nonperforming portfolio assets (g) $489 $555 $662 $721 $738 Nonaccrual loans held for sale 5 18 7 7 4 Nonaccrual restructured loans held for sale 1 2 1 2 9 Total nonperforming assets $495 $575 $670 $730 $751 Restructured portfolio consumer loans and leases (accrual) $927 $929 $933 $950 $959 Restructured portfolio commercial loans and leases (accrual) (h) $249 $232 $224 $277 $321 Total loans and leases 30-89 days past due (accrual) $280 $252 $190 $180 $231 Total loans and leases 90 days past due (accrual) $97 $77 $75 $75 $84 Nonperforming portfolio loans and leases as a percent of portfolio loans and leases and OREO (g) 0.48% 0.55% 0.67% 0.72% 0.72% Nonperforming portfolio assets as a percent of portfolio loans and leases and OREO (g) 0.53% 0.60% 0.72% 0.79% 0.80% Total nonperforming portfolio assets decreased $66 million, or 12 percent, from the previous quarter to $489 million. Portfolio nonperforming loans and leases (NPLs) at quarter-end decreased $69 million from the previous quarter to $437 million. NPLs as a percent of total loans, leases and OREO at quarter end decreased 7 bps from the previous quarter to 0.48 percent. Commercial portfolio NPLs decreased $67 million from last quarter to $306 million, or 0.54 percent of commercial portfolio loans, leases and OREO. Consumer portfolio NPLs decreased $2 million from last quarter to $131 million, or 0.37 percent of consumer portfolio loans, leases and OREO. OREO balances increased $4 million from the prior quarter to $43 million, and included $18 million in commercial OREO and $25 million in consumer OREO. Repossessed personal property decreased $1 million from the prior quarter to $9 million. Loans over 90 days past due and still accruing increased $20 million from the third quarter of 2017 at $97 million. Loans 30-89 days past due of $280 million increased $28 million from the previous quarter. Capital and Liquidity Position For the Three Months Ended December September June March December 2017 2017 2017 2017 2016 Capital Position Average total Bancorp shareholders' equity to average assets 11.69% 11.93% 11.84% 11.72% 11.66% Tangible equity (d) 9.90% 9.84% 9.98% 10.12% 9.82% Tangible common equity (excluding unrealized gains/losses) (d) 8.94% 8.89% 9.02% 9.15% 8.87% Tangible common equity (including unrealized gains/losses) (d) 8.99% 9.00% 9.12% 9.20% 8.91% Regulatory Capital and Liquidity Ratios CET1 capital (e) 10.61% 10.59% 10.63% 10.76% 10.39% Tier I risk-based capital (e) 11.74% 11.72% 11.76% 11.90% 11.50% Total risk-based capital (e) 15.16% 15.16% 15.22% 15.45% 15.02% Tier I leverage 10.01% 9.97% 10.07% 10.15% 9.90% Modified liquidity coverage ratio (LCR) (i) 129% 124% 115% 119% 128% Capital ratios remained strong during the quarter. The CET1 ratio was 10.61 percent, the tangible common equity to tangible assets ratio (d) was 8.94 percent (excluding unrealized gains/losses), and 8.99 percent (including unrealized gains/losses). The Tier I risk-based capital ratio was 11.74 percent, the Total risk-based capital ratio was 15.16 percent, and the Tier I leverage ratio was 10.01 percent. Fifth Third entered into or completed multiple share repurchases during the quarter. Below is a summary of those share repurchases. On December 18, 2017, Fifth Third settled the forward contract related to the August 15, 2017 $990 million share repurchase agreement. An additional 4.3 million shares were repurchased in connection with the completion of this agreement. On December 19, 2017, Fifth Third initially settled a share repurchase agreement whereby Fifth Third would purchase $273 million of its outstanding stock. This reduced fourth quarter common shares outstanding by 7.7 million shares. Settlement of the forward contract related to this agreement is expected to occur on or before March 19, 2018. In total, common shares outstanding decreased by approximately 11.7 million shares in the fourth quarter of 2017 from the third quarter of 2017. Tax Rate An income tax benefit was recognized in the fourth quarter of 2017. This was a result of the new tax legislation and was primarily due to the remeasurement of deferred tax liabilities at the lower statutory rate. The benefit was partially offset by a tax expense related to a gain on the sale of Vantiv shares sold in the prior quarter. The prior quarter’s tax rate was also impacted by the aforementioned gain on the sale of Vantiv shares. On a full year basis, the 2017 effective rate was 20.8 percent compared with 24.4 percent for the full year of 2016. Other As of December 31, 2017, Fifth Third Bank owned approximately 15 million units representing an 8.6 percent interest in Vantiv Holding, LLC, convertible into shares of Vantiv, Inc., a publicly traded firm. Based upon Vantiv’s closing price of $73.55 on December 31, 2017, our interest in Vantiv was valued at approximately $1.1 billion. The difference between the market value and the book value of Fifth Third’s interest in Vantiv’s shares is not recognized in Fifth Third’s equity or capital. Conference Call Fifth Third will host a conference call to discuss these financial results at 9:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) today. This conference call will be webcast live and may be accessed through the Fifth Third Investor Relations website at www.53.com (click on “About Us” then “Investor Relations”). Those unable to listen to the live webcast may access a webcast replay through the Fifth Third Investor Relations website at the same web address. Additionally, a telephone replay of the conference call will be available after the conference call until approximately February 6, 2018 by dialing 800-585-8367 for domestic access or 404-537-3406 for international access (passcode 8195768#). Corporate Profile Fifth Third Bancorp is a diversified financial services company headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. As of December 31, 2017, the Company had $142 billion in assets and operates 1,154 full-service Banking Centers, and 2,469 Fifth Third branded ATMs in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Florida, Tennessee, West Virginia, Georgia and North Carolina. In total, Fifth Third provides its customers with access to more than 54,000 fee-free ATMs across the United States. Fifth Third operates four main businesses: Commercial Banking, Branch Banking, Consumer Lending, and Wealth & Asset Management. As of December 31, 2017, Fifth Third also had an 8.6% interest in Vantiv Holding, LLC. Fifth Third is among the largest money managers in the Midwest and, as of December 31, 2017, had $362 billion in assets under care, of which it managed $37 billion for individuals, corporations and not-for-profit organizations through its Trust and Registered Investment Advisory businesses. Investor information and press releases can be viewed at www.53.com . Fifth Third’s common stock is traded on the NASDAQ® Global Select Market under the symbol “FITB.” Earnings Release End Notes (a) Certain tax legislation amounts are considered reasonable estimates as of December 31, 2017. As a result, the amounts could be adjusted during the measurement period, which will end in December 2018. (b) Assumes a 35% tax rate. (c) On January 16, 2018, Vantiv, Inc. changed its name to Worldpay, Inc. and completed the previously announced acquisition of Worldpay Group Limited, formerly Worldpay Group plc. (d) Non-GAAP measure; see discussion of non-GAAP and Reg. G reconciliation beginning on page 30 in Exhibit 99.1 of 8-K filing dated 1/23/2018. (e) Under the banking agencies' Basel III Final Rule, assets and credit equivalent amounts of off-balance sheet exposures are calculated according to the standardized approach for risk-weighted assets. The resulting weighted values are added together resulting in the total risk-weighted assets. Under the banking agencies’ Final Rule published in November 2017 pertaining to certain regulatory capital items for banks subject to the standardized approach, the Bancorp is no longer subject to certain transition provisions and phase-outs beyond 2017. Current period regulatory capital ratios are estimated. (f) Includes commercial customer Eurodollar sweep balances for which the Bancorp pays rates comparable to other commercial deposit accounts. (g) Excludes nonaccrual loans held for sale. (h) As of June 30, 2017, March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, excludes $7 million of restructured accruing loans and $19 million of restructured nonaccrual loans associated with a consolidated VIE in which the Bancorp has no continuing credit risk due to the risk being assumed by a third party. (i) The Bancorp became subject to the Modified LCR regulations effective January 1, 2016. Current period LCR is estimated. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This release contains statements that we believe are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Rule 175 promulgated thereunder, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Rule 3b-6 promulgated thereunder. These statements relate to our financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance or business. They usually can be identified by the use of forward-looking language such as “will likely result,” “may,” “are expected to,” “anticipates,” “potential,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “projected,” “intends to,” or may include other similar words or phrases such as “believes,” “plans,” “trend,” “objective,” “continue,” “remain,” or similar expressions, or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “might,” “can,” or similar verbs. You should not place undue reliance on these statements, as they are subject to risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to the risk factors set forth in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K as updated from time to time by our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. When considering these forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind these risks and uncertainties, as well as any cautionary statements we may make. Moreover, you should treat these statements as speaking only as of the date they are made and based only on information then actually known to us. There is a risk that additional information may become known during the company’s quarterly closing process or as a result of subsequent events that could affect the accuracy of the statements and financial information contained herein. There are a number of important factors that could cause future results to differ materially from historical performance and these forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to: (1) general economic or real estate market conditions, either nationally or in the states in which Fifth Third, one or more acquired entities and/or the combined company do business, weaken or are less favorable than expected; (2) deteriorating credit quality; (3) political developments, wars or other hostilities may disrupt or increase volatility in securities markets or other economic conditions; (4) changes in the interest rate environment reduce interest margins; (5) prepayment speeds, loan origination and sale volumes, charge-offs and loan loss provisions; (6) Fifth Third’s ability to maintain required capital levels and adequate sources of funding and liquidity; (7) maintaining capital requirements and adequate sources of funding and liquidity may limit Fifth Third’s operations and potential growth; (8) changes and trends in capital markets; (9) problems encountered by larger or similar financial institutions may adversely affect the banking industry and/or Fifth Third; (10) competitive pressures among depository institutions increase significantly; (11) changes in customer preferences or information technology systems; (12) effects of critical accounting policies and judgments; (13) changes in accounting policies or procedures as may be required by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) or other regulatory agencies; (14) legislative or regulatory changes or actions, or significant litigation, adversely affect Fifth Third, one or more acquired entities and/or the combined company or the businesses in which Fifth Third, one or more acquired entities and/or the combined company are engaged, including the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act; (15) ability to maintain favorable ratings from rating agencies; (16) failure of models or risk management systems or controls; (17) fluctuation of Fifth Third’s stock price; (18) ability to attract and retain key personnel; (19) ability to receive dividends from its subsidiaries; (20) potentially dilutive effect of future acquisitions on current shareholders’ ownership of Fifth Third; (21) declines in the value of Fifth Third’s goodwill or other intangible assets; (22) effects of accounting or financial results of one or more acquired entities; (23) loss of income from any sale or potential sale of businesses (24) difficulties in separating the operations of any branches or other assets divested; (25) losses or adverse impacts on the carrying values of branches and long-lived assets in connection with their sales or anticipated sales; (26) inability to achieve expected benefits from branch consolidations and planned sales within desired timeframes, if at all; (27) ability to secure confidential information and deliver products and services through the use of computer systems and telecommunications networks; (28) the acquisition of Worldpay Group Limited, formerly Worldpay Group plc. by Worldpay, Inc., formerly Vantiv, Inc.; and(29)difficulties from Fifth Third’s investment in, relationship with, and nature of operations of Worldpay, Inc. and (30) the impact of reputational risk created by these developments on such matters as business generation and retention, funding and liquidity. You should refer to our periodic and current reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or “SEC,” for further information on other factors, which could cause actual results to be significantly different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. In this release, we may sometimes provide non-GAAP financial information. Please note that although non-GAAP financial measures provide useful insight to analysts, investors and regulators, they should not be considered in isolation or relied upon as a substitute for analysis using GAAP measures. We provide a discussion of these non-GAAP measures and reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP measures beginning on page 31 in Exhibit 99.1 of 8-K filing dated 1/23/2018. View source version on businesswire.com : http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180123005527/en/ Fifth Third Bancorp Investors Sameer Gokhale, 513-534-2219 or Media Katrina Booker, 513-534-6858 Source: Fifth Third Bancorp

http://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/23/business-wire-fifth-third-announces-fourth-quarter-2017-net-income-to-common-shareholders-of-486-million-or-0-point-67-per-diluted-share.html

Highlights of Australian Open day one

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Highlights of Monday’s opening day of the Australian Open, the first grand slam tournament of the year: 0015 PLAY UNDERWAY AT MELBOURNE Play got underway on schedule under sunny skies at 11 am local time (0000) GMT with temperatures hovering just under the 20 degrees Celsius mark. READ MORE Order of play Venus to battle Bencic as Australian Open gets underway FACTBOX-Venus Williams v Belinda Bencic Federer says he should not be favorite at 36 Kyrgios can become global superstar, says Becker Tomic slide continues with Australian Open failure Compiled by Nick Mulvenney and Hardik Vyas, editing by Greg Stutchbury

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tennis-ausopen-highlights/highlights-of-australian-open-day-one-idUSKBN1F4017

Cryptocurrencies stage big comeback after trading ban fears wane; bitcoin surges 8% from low

SHARES Seung-il Ryu | NurPhoto | Getty Images Seoul, South Korea-A Screen shows the prices of bitcoin at a virtual currency exchange store in Seoul, South Korea. South Korean is studying ways to regulate speculative trading in crypto currencies as the latest surge in prices stokes a craze over bitcoins. The world may not be ending for digital currencies after all. South Korea's Justice Minister Park Sang-ki said on Thursday that a bill is being prepared to ban all cryptocurrency trading on the country's exchanges, which drove digital currency prices sharply lower.The price of bitcoin tumbled more than 12 percent from its day's high following Park's remarks, according to Coinbase data. The cryptocurrency then rallied more than 7 percent off its low after Reuters reported South Korea's presidential office said the ban plan "had not yet been finalized" and is just one of the things being considered. After the 7 percent comeback, bitcoin was down 5 percent Thursday, according to Coinbase. The news agency added a ban bill "could take months or even years" to pass the country's legislative body. show chapters 2:34 PM ET Wed, 10 Jan 2018 | 00:59 Industry experts said fears over the South Korean ban proposal are overblown. Cedric Jeanson, founder and CEO of BitSpread, one of the largest digital currency market makers in the world, downplayed the developments in the Asian country. "It is understandable why the authorities are acting in Korea, which is different to other digital currency markets in several respects. Prices of digital currencies there are much higher than the rest of the world because of local circumstances," he said. "Developments like this should be seen in the broader context of the continued evolution and development of digital currencies globally." Jeanson explained the authorities in Korea are making sure the country's digital currency exchanges have the "proper AML/KYC customer identification, and suitable cyber-security, tax reporting procedures and accounting." "It is also natural to align the requirements of digital currency exchanges with the requirements of online financial platforms by regulators, as the trading nature of the activity is similar," he added. South Korea is one of the major cryptocurrency trading markets. It accounts for between 6 and 12 percent of bitcoin trading, according to industry website CryptoCompare. "In both China and South Korea, what they are doing, they are bringing operations, exchanges and mines, into regulatory compliance. They are not shutting everything down," Malachi Salcido, CEO of bitcoin mining company Salcido Enterprises said on CNBC's " Power Lunch " Thursday. "They are shutting people down [people] that are skirting the system ... tax evading. The things they should be doing. The industry is growing up." Digital currency fund manager Brian Kelly predicts South Korea's moves will just be another bump in the road for the relentless rise of cryptocurrencies. "The ultimate outcome in Korea is still unclear, but if they move to regulate similar to Japan then it would be very positive for crypto," Kelly wrote in an email. "The change in the market over the last few months is that the incremental buyer is US investors and Korea has become less of a driver." Ripple's cryptocurrency XRP also surged off its low as much as 15 percent after it announced it is teaming up with U.S. money transfer giant MoneyGram. XRP is up 3 percent Thursday, according to CoinMarketCap. — CNBC's Jeff Cox and Arjun Kharpal contributed to this report. WATCH: Here's why every industry should be looking at blockchain show chapters

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/11/cryptocurrencies-stage-big-comeback-after-trading-ban-fears-wane-bitcoin-surges-8-percent-from-low.html

Daily Briefing: Mixed Brexit backdrop as May heads east

January 30, 2018 / 8:54 AM / Updated 34 minutes ago Daily Briefing: Mixed Brexit backdrop as May heads east Reuters Staff 10 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - There are mixed messages on what sort of economic impact Brexit is having as legislation to deliver Britain's departure arrives in the House of Lords upper house of parliament today. “There is no mandate for this hard and destructive Brexit. No one voted to make themselves or their families worse off” Labour MP Chris Leslie On the one hand, BuzzFeed has leaked what it says is a UK government analysis concluding that all local industry sectors across the board will be hurt by leaving the European Union - even in the event of a comprehensive free trade deal between the two; on the other, new data shows the confidence of British households rose at the fastest pace in a year in January, suggesting the economy could hold up better than expected again this year. Such thoughts will be in the back of PM Theresa May's mind as she heads to China for what could be a crucial trade visit. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is due to meet the leaders of Austria's new ruling coalition of conservatives and the far right, who share his hard-line views on immigration and are open to forging closer ties with him in a divided EU. Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has promised his government will be fundamentally pro-EU, even though he wants it to focus on fewer tasks. Far-right leader Heinz-Christian Strache - his vice-chancellor - has gone further by suggesting Austria should move away from its usual western European allies like Germany by joining the Visegrad group of eastern European states. Catalonia's parliament gathers today to appoint a new president for the region , with the name of former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont as the candidate. The snag is that Spain's Constitutional Court has ruled that Puigdemont - living in exile in Belgium and facing charges of sedition and rebellion in Spain - could only be sworn in if he were physically present in the parliament. MARKETS World stocks have pulled back for the second day in a row, weighed down by several factors – for one, the bond selloff has been gathering steam with US 10-year yields hitting new 3-1/2 year highs earlier today in Asia, German 10-year yields hovering just below the 0.7 percent hit yesterday and Japanese yields at the highest since last July. Second, there was last night’s tech selloff in New York that took Apple shares more than 2.5 percent down at one point on reports that it would halve iPhone production and also concerns of weak iPhone X sales (The company reports for Q4 on Thursday, along with Amazon and Google-owner Alphabet). Then there is Donald Trump’s State of the union speech tonight and markets are obviously bracing for any unpleasant surprises, especially on trade. Finally the U.S. Fed meeting kicks off and while no action is expected, hawkish language would make markets re-assess the number of rate hikes expected this year. So last night’s Wall Street falls, the biggest one-day declines in five months, have fed into Asia, in particular hitting shares in Apple suppliers across the region. The Nikkei has fallen 1.4 percent to one-month lows while Korea, HK and Taiwan have all lost more than 1 percent. Two men hold Spanish flags while they walk past the parliament building in Barcelona, January 29, 2018 Still, MSCI’s all-country world index is on course for a record 15th straight month of gains and clocking the longest winning streak of weekly gains since 1999. What would it take to derail all this? UBS analysts reckon another 35-40 bps rise in global bond yields will do the trick. The other story is the dollar, which is being buoyed by rising yields and has jumped 1.3 percent in two days against a basket of currencies. That’s taken down the euro further from $1.25 while sterling extends its losses by almost half a percent after suffering its biggest one-day fall since November on doubts about a smooth Brexit process, which tempted profit-takers. It has just fallen below $1.40 for the first time in a week. The stronger dollar has also taken the edge off oil and metals (crude is down 0.7 cent) in turn hurting the commodity currencies such as AUD and ZAR. A lot to watch out for today in Europe on the data and events front: Q4 euro zone GDP is expected to come in solid around 0.6 percent, plus there is German inflation. For sterling watchers there is BoE’s Mark Carney speaking at 1530 GMT and consumer spending data at 0930 GMT. In Spain, the investiture of the Catalan president could cause some fresh ructions with Madrid and moves on bond markets. Taking its cue from Wall Street and Asia, Europe’s stock market opened weaker, with the pan-European STOXX600 down half a percent and Germany’s DAX, heavier in tech down 0.7 percent. Monday’s slide in Apple shares came during European trading hours and weighed on European iPhone suppliers including AMS, Dialog Semiconductor and STMicro, but chipmakers and tech stocks appear to be modestly firmer. However, investors may be growing skittish about high valuations and the equity ‘melt-up’ with the MSCI World entering its longest ever period without a correction of more than 5 percent. Mining stocks opened 1.6 percent lower. Europe’s top tech company, SAP, will be a focus after its results came in shy of expectations and it bought a U.S. software firm for $2.4 billion. The stock is down almost 1 percent. Swatch meanwhile is seen rising 3 to 4 percent after impressive guidance and accelerating sales . In emerging markets, Russian stocks eased to two-week lows after the U.S. Treasury department named major Russian businessmen including the heads of the two biggest banks, metals magnates and the boss of the state gas monopoly on a list of oligarchs close to the Kremlin . However, the Trump administration said it would not immediately impose additional sanctions on Russia. Norilsk Nickel, Rusal, Severstal and VTB Bank all opened lower, some falling over 1 percent in early trading. The rouble was slightly firmer against the dollar. Emerging equities fell over 1 percent, set for their biggest one day fall since early December, with Asian markets a sea of red. Investor sentiment was hit by a sell off in Apple shares and a spike in bond yields. Hong Kong, Chinese mainland shares, South Korea, Taiwan and Indonesia all tumbled over 1 percent. Emerging currencies struggled to make headway in the face of a stronger dollar, with the South African rand and the Mexican peso among the biggest fallers, down 0.3 percent. In South Africa investors are waiting for cash-strapped power utility Eskom to post its financial results. The firm has been embroiled in a governance crisis. The Hungarian central bank meets today but is expected to keep rates on hold at 0.9 percent. The bank is regarded as one of the most dovish in the world and is employing unconventional easing methods. Editing by Peter Graff

https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-europe-view-tuesday/daily-briefing-mixed-brexit-backdrop-as-may-heads-east-idUKKBN1FJ0ZQ

Empire Bancorp Announces Write Down of Deferred Tax Asset and Balance Sheet Restructuring; Year End Assets at $900 Million

ISLANDIA, N.Y., Jan. 22, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Empire Bancorp, Inc. (OTCQB:EMPK), today announced its financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2017. “Our earnings for the quarter and year end reflect a substantial one-time downward revaluation of our deferred tax assets resulting from the recent reduction of the U.S. corporate tax rate. Upon enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act last month, the value of these assets was reduced to align with the lower current tax rate of 21%. This adjustment reduced net income by approximately $1.8 million and was recorded as additional income tax expense for the fourth quarter of 2017. Year end assets totaled approximately $900 million. Our capital ratios remained well above all minimum regulatory capital requirements.” “Additionally, during the fourth quarter of 2017, to restructure our balance sheet and to take advantage of the tax benefit associated with a higher corporate tax rate in 2017, we sold approximately $41.6 million of investment securities out of the available for sale portfolio, incurring losses, net of tax, of $1.0 million. Our plan is to re-leverage the balance sheet for future periods using the proceeds principally to fund loans. Going forward, net interest income earned on replacement of the assets will be subject to the new 21% marginal corporate federal income tax rate. We expect this strategy to be accretive to earnings in 2018. With the solid economy, the corporate tax cut and this repositioning of the balance sheet, we anticipate stronger shareholder returns in 2018 and beyond,” stated Douglas C. Manditch, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “Net income for 2017 decreased $1.3 million, or 48.1%, to $1.4 million, as compared to 2016. Adjusted for the impact of the deferred tax asset revaluation and the balance sheet restructure, net income totaled $4.2 million. Execution of this strategy made sense as the return from the considerable, double digit decline in the corporate tax rate in the New Year is projected to boost the rate of future earnings expanding our capacity to produce capital.” Year-to-Date Highlights Financial Results Net income, measured on a consolidated basis for 2017 decreased $1.3 million, or 48.1%, to $1.4 million, as compared to 2016. This reduction in net income was largely attributable to the impact of sales of investment securities, as well as an increase in income tax expense for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 as the Company revalued its deferred tax assets to align with the lowered U.S. corporate tax rate. Net income, adjusted for the impact of tax reform, measured on a consolidated basis for 2017 increased $416 thousand, or 14.9%, to $3.2 million, as compared to 2016. Net income, adjusted for the impact of tax reform and the Company’s balance sheet restructuring, measured on a consolidated basis for 2017 increased $1.5 million, or 52.7%, to $4.3 million, as compared to 2016. Diluted earnings per common share for 2017 were $0.20 compared with $0.40 for 2016. Return on average assets and average common stockholders' equity for 2017 were 0.17% and 2.16%, respectively, compared with 0.39% and 4.19%, for 2016. Quarterly Highlights Financial Results Net loss, measured on a consolidated basis, for the fourth quarter of 2017 was $1.4 million, compared to net income of $923 thousand for the third quarter of 2017 and net income of $843 thousand for the fourth quarter of 2016. Net income, adjusted for the impact of tax reform, measured on a consolidated basis for the fourth quarter of 2017 decreased $502 thousand, or 59.5%, to $341 thousand, as compared to 2016. Net income, adjusted for the impact of tax reform and the Company’s balance sheet restructuring, measured on a consolidated basis for the fourth quarter of 2017 increased $533 thousand, or 63.2 %, to $1.4 million, as compared to 2016. Diluted (loss) earnings per common share for the fourth quarter of 2017 were ($0.20), compared with $0.12 for both the third quarter of 2017 and the fourth quarter of 2016. Franchise Development Total assets were $900.0 million at December 31, 2017, up from $781.4 million or 15.2% at December 31, 2016. Loans outstanding totaled $519.5 million at December 31, 2017, up from $494.3 million or 5.1% at December 31, 2016. Deposits totaled $812.5 million at December 31, 2017, up from $670.7 million or 21.1% at December 31, 2016. Continued Financial and Credit Strength Strong asset quality with an allowance for loan and lease losses of 1.13% of total loans and a ratio of non-performing loans to total loans of 1.14%. The provision for loan losses was $644 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2017, as compared to $632 thousand for the prior year. “Well capitalized” regulatory capital levels at Empire National Bank, as of December 31, 2017: Tier 1 leverage capital ratio of 9.06% Common equity tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 14.93% Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 14.93% Total risk-based capital ratio of 16.01% “Tax reform promotes future after-tax earnings of the Company. We also foresee business owners reinvesting a portion of their tax savings by expanding into new technologies, markets and products, which would spark commercial lending markets. Our Small Business Administration loan program, specifically SBA 7(a) lending, as well as the expansion of our residential lending into jumbo mortgages, diversifies our revenue streams and broadens prospects in the loan market," commented Thomas M. Buonaiuto, President and Chief Operating Officer. Balance Sheet Assets totaled $900.0 million at December 31, 2017, up $24.3 million, or 2.8%, from September 30, 2017 and up $118.6 million, or 15.2%, from December 31, 2016. Investment securities available for sale were $300.0 million at the most recent quarter-end, down $38.6 million, or 11.4%, from September 30, 2017 and up $35.2 million or 13.3% from December 31, 2016. Gross loans were $519.5 million at December 31, 2017, up 5.8% from $490.8 million at September 30, 2017 and up 5.1% from $494.3 million from December 31, 2016. Total deposits were $812.5 million at December 31, 2017, up $47.2 million, or 6.2%, from September 30, 2017 and up $141.8 million, or 21.1%, from December 31, 2016. Demand deposits were $164.8 million, a decrease of $6.3 million, or 3.7% from September 30, 2017, and down $12.5 million, or 7.1%, from December 31, 2016. Savings, N.O.W. and money market deposits totaled $621.7 million at December 31, 2017, an increase of $45.5 million, or 7.9%, over September 30, 2017, and $155.9 million, or 33.5%, from December 31, 2016. The growth in these deposits was driven in large part by new and existing municipal banking relationships. Certificates of deposit of $100,000 or more and other time deposits were $25.9 million at December 31, 2017, up $8.0 million or 44.6% from September 30, 2017 and down $1.6 million or 5.7%. Stockholders’ equity decreased to $67.6 million at December 31, 2017 from $70.1 million at September 30, 2017 and increased $4.6 million from $63.0 million at December 31, 2016. The linked quarter decrease was primarily attributable to the net loss of $1.4 million and the increased net unrealized loss on securities available for sale, net of taxes, of $1.0 million. The year over year increase in stockholders’ equity resulted from net income of $1.4 million, $935 thousand associated with stock compensation plans and the exercise of both warrants and stock options, and net decrease in the net unrealized loss on securities available for sale, net of taxes of $2.2 million. At December 31, 2017, the bank was “well capitalized” as defined by OCC regulation, with tier 1 leverage, common equity tier 1 risk-based, tier 1 risk-based and total risk-based capital ratios of 9.06%, 14.93%, 14.93% and 16.01%, respectively. Net Interest Margin/Net Interest Income Net interest income for the fourth quarter of 2017 decreased $158 thousand, or 2.5%, over the third quarter of 2017, and increased $389 thousand, or 6.9%, over the fourth quarter of 2016. Net interest margin was 2.77% for the three months ended December 31, 2017, a decrease from 2.91% for the three months ended September 30, 2017, and from 3.00% for the three months ended December 31, 2016. Interest income increased $38 thousand, or 0.5% for the fourth quarter of 2017, from the third quarter of 2017, and $1.1 million, or 16.4%, from the fourth quarter of 2016. The increase was attributable to an increase in income from securities available for sale, loans, and securities held to maturity taxable, of $680 thousand, $313 thousand and $54 thousand, respectively. The yield on interest earning assets decreased to 3.49% for the fourth quarter of 2017, compared to 3.55% for the third quarter of 2017 and increased from 3.46% for the fourth quarter of 2016. The linked quarter over quarter decrease was attributable to a decrease in prepayment fees to $123 thousand in the fourth quarter of 2017 from $291 thousand in the third quarter of 2017. The increase over the fourth quarter of 2016 was attributed to an increase in the average rate of return of all interest earning assets. Interest expense was $1.6 million in the most recent quarter and $1.4 million for the third quarter of 2017, as compared to $880 thousand for the fourth quarter of 2016. The cost of interest bearing liabilities was 0.96% for the three months ended December 31, 2017, an increase from 0.88% from the three months ended September 30, 2017, and an increase from 0.69% for the three months ended December 31, 2016. Generally the cost of retail deposits has remained steady, but in the fourth quarter of 2017 the Company began to see competitive pressure on the cost of funds on municipal deposits. Net interest income increased $3.1 million, or 14.6%, for year ended 2017 over year ended 2016. Net interest margin was 2.98% for 2017, a decrease from 3.05% for 2016. Interest income increased $4.8 million, or 19.2% for year ended 2017 over the year ended December 31, 2016. The increase was principally attributed to an increase in income from both investment securities and loans by $2.9 million and $1.7 million, respectively. Average interest earning assets increased $122.1 million for year ended 2017 over 2016. In addition, the yield on interest earning assets increased five basis points to 3.57% for year ended 2017 as compared to the prior fiscal year. Both the average volume and average yield on loans increased in 2017 as compared to 2016. The average yield on loans increased to 4.42% for 2017 from 4.31% in 2016, partially due to higher prepayment fees in 2017. Additionally, investment securities represented a greater percentage of the earning asset mix in 2017 as compared to the prior year, and the average rate of return for investment securities increased by 41 points over 2016. The decrease in net interest margin was impacted by an increase of 10 basis points in the cost of average interest-bearing liabilities to 0.82% for the year ended 2017 from 0.72% for 2016. Generally the cost of retail deposits remained steady throughout 2017 but competitive pressure on the cost of funds on municipal deposits increased the cost of funds in the last quarter of the year. Noninterest Income and Expense The Company recognized net securities losses of $1.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2017 compared to losses of $28 thousand in the third quarter of 2017 and gains for $131 thousand in the fourth quarter of 2016. For the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company recognized a net loss of $1.6 million on sale of investment securities as the Company sold a portion of its available for sale securities portfolio to execute specific tax strategies and better position the balance sheet under the lowered corporate tax rate. Comparatively, for the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company recognized net securities gains of $346 thousand on the sales of investment securities. Excluding net gains and losses on sales of investment securities, other noninterest income of $440 thousand for the fourth quarter of 2017 represented an increase of $54 thousand over the linked quarter and an increase of $172 million over the same period in 2016. The linked quarter increase resulted primarily from income on bank-owned life insurance of $69 thousand offset by decreased collection of miscellaneous loan charges of $18 thousand. The increase in the fourth quarter of 2017 over the fourth quarter of 2016 resulted from increase in both income on bank-owned life insurance of $162 thousand and customer related fees and services offset by decreases in both professional practice revenue and collection of miscellaneous loan charges. Excluding net gains and losses on sales of investment securities, other noninterest income increased $347 thousand, or 30.7% to $1.5 million, for the year ended December 31, 2017 as compared to the prior fiscal year. The net increase resulted from increases in bank-owned life insurance of $254 thousand and collection of miscellaneous loan charges offset by decreases in both professional practice revenue and customer related fees and service charges. Other expense in the fourth quarter of 2017 totaled $4.6 million, compared with $5.0 million in the third quarter of 2017 and $4.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2016. The linked quarter decrease was primarily attributable to a decrease of $319 thousand in salary and benefits expense. The increase in the fourth quarter of 2017 over the fourth quarter of 2016 was primarily attributable to an increase in other operating expenses of $78 thousand or 15.2% and increase in salaries and employee benefits expense of $74 thousand, or 3.2%, and an increase in professional fees of $68 thousand or 50.4%, or 1.7% partially offset by a lower FDIC expense of $40 thousand or 69.0%. Other expense in 2017 totaled $19.5 million, compared with $18.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. The increase in other expense was primarily attributable to an increase in salaries and employee benefits expense of $806 thousand, or 8.4%, over the previous year, largely due to base salary increases and benefit plans to support strategic plans and employee recognition and retention. Advertising and business development expense increased $246 thousand, or 25.0%, and professional fees increased $125 thousand or 18.8% as compared to the prior fiscal year. Costs associated with the collateralization of municipal deposits increased $69 thousand over last year. Income Tax Rate On December 22, 2017, H.R.1, also known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, was enacted into law. Beginning in 2018, this legislation reduces the federal marginal tax rate for corporations from 34% to 21% and changes or limits certain tax deductions. Contributing to the increase in effective income tax rate for 2017 was a substantial one-time downward revaluation of deferred tax assets resulting from this recent reduction of the U.S. corporate tax rate. This adjustment was recorded as additional income tax expense reducing net income by approximately $1.8 million in the quarter ended December 31, 2017. This expense of approximately $1.8 million partially derived from the write down of deferred tax assets, resulting primarily from temporary differences between tax and financial reporting totaling of approximately $1.2 million, as well as an additional write down of approximately $0.6 million of the net deferred tax asset associated with the unrealized loss on the fair market value of securities available for sale. The year to date 2017 effective income tax rate was 67.6% as compared to 35.8% for the year ended December 31, 2016. Notwithstanding the additional income tax recorded on the revaluation of the deferred tax assets, the effective tax rate for 2017 would have been 28.2%. Additionally, the Company recognized excess tax benefits relative to the exercise of stock options by employees in the fourth quarter of 2017. There were no excess tax benefits recognized by the Company in 2016. Strong Asset Quality/Provision for Loan Losses Based on management’s assessment of the adequacy of the allowance for loan and lease losses, a provision of $210 thousand was recorded for the fourth quarter of 2017, as compared with $164 thousand for the third quarter of 2017 and $300 thousand for the fourth quarter of 2016. For the year ended 2017 a provision of $644 thousand was recorded as compared to $632 thousand for 2016. Expressed as a percentage of outstanding loans, the allowance for loan and lease losses was 1.13% at December 31, 2017, compared with 1.16% at September 30, 2017, and 1.17% at December 31, 2016. Credit quality remained sound as the Company has not wavered from its rigorous underwriting standards despite improving economic conditions. At December 31, 2017 the Company had no delinquencies over thirty days past due in the loan portfolio. In addition, the overall number of criticized and classified loans declined as compared to December 31, 2016. Loans classified as nonaccrual totaled $5.9 million, or 1.14% of total loans outstanding at December 31, 2017, compared with $1.6 million, or 0.33%, at September 30, 2017 and $2.4 million, or 0.48%, at December 31, 2016. This increase in nonaccrual loans is principally caused by our relationship with one borrower whose loan is current and secured by commercial real estate and other collateral. In the fourth quarter of 2017 there were net charge-offs of $17 thousand as compared to net charge-offs of $352 thousand in the third quarter of 2017 and net recoveries of $10 thousand in the fourth quarter of 2016. Net charge-offs for the year ended 2017 were $568 thousand, less than 1% of average loans outstanding for 2017, as compared to $101 thousand for the year ended 2016. About Empire Bancorp, Inc. Empire Bancorp, Inc. is a bank holding company for Empire National Bank, a Long Island-based independent bank that specializes in serving the financial needs of small and medium sized businesses, professionals, nonprofit organizations, municipalities, real estate investors, and consumers. The bank has four full-service banking offices located in Islandia, Shirley, Port Jefferson Station, Mineola and a private banking branch office in Manhattan. Our bankers take pride in understanding the needs of each customer so the bank can deliver the highest quality service with a sense of urgency. This release may contain certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. For this purpose, any statements contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Without limiting the foregoing, words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “estimate” or “continue,” or comparable terminology, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements by their nature involve substantial risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially depending on a variety of factors, many of which are not within the control of the Company. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date of this press release. The Company has no intention, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements. Consolidated Statements of Condition (unaudi ted) (dollars in thousands, except per share data) December 31, September 30, December 31, 2017 2017 2016 ASSETS Total cash and cash equivalents $ 45,879 $ 10,486 $ 6,354 Securities available for sale, at fair value 299,969 338,531 264,734 Securities held to maturity 4,750 4,750 3,000 Securities, restricted 2,946 3,390 4,131 Loans 519,540 490,843 494,274 Allowance for loan losses (5,875 ) (5,682 ) (5,799 ) Loans, net 513,665 485,161 488,475 Premises and equipment, net 5,506 5,628 6,052 Bank-owned life insurance 20,254 20,092 - Other assets and accrued interest receivable 7,062 7,648 8,689 Total Assets $ 900,031 $ 875,686 $ 781,435 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Demand Deposits $ 164,790 $ 171,111 $ 177,299 Savings, N.O.W. and money market deposits 621,742 576,237 465,890 Certificates of deposit of $100,000 or more and other time deposits 25,932 17,936 27,494 Total Deposits 812,464 765,284 670,683 Short-term borrowings - 9,975 26,477 Subordinated debentures, net 14,778 14,767 14,735 Other liabilities and accrued expenses 5,204 15,605 6,548 Total Liabilities 832,446 805,631 718,443 Total Stockholders' Equity 67,585 70,055 62,992 Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity $ 900,031 $ 875,686 $ 781,435 Selected Financial Data (unaudited) Allowance for Loan Losses to Total Loans 1.13 % 1.16 % 1.17 % Non-performing Loans to Total Loans 1.14 % 0.33 % 0.48 % Non-performing Assets to Total Assets 0.66 % 0.18 % 0.30 % Book Value per Share $ 9.26 $ 9.75 $ 9.07 Capital Ratios (unaudited) (1) Tier 1 Leverage Ratio 9.06 % 9.46 % 10.22 % Common Equity Tier 1 Risk-Based Capital Ratio 14.93 % 15.80 % 16.26 % Tier 1 Risk-Based Capital Ratio 14.93 % 15.80 % 16.26 % Total Risk-Based Capital Ratio 16.01 % 16.89 % 17.46 % (1) Regulatory capital ratios presented on bank-only basis Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaud ited) (dollars in thousands, except per share data) For the three months ended For the year ended December 31, September 30, December 31, December 31, December 31, 2017 2017 2016 2017 2016 Interest income $ 7,618 $ 7,580 $ 6,546 $ 29,632 $ 24,868 Interest expense 1,563 1,367 880 4,916 3,301 Net interest income 6,055 6,213 5,666 24,716 21,567 Provision for loan losses 210 164 300 644 632 Net interest income after provision for loan losses 5,845 6,049 5,366 24,072 20,935 Net securities (losses) gains (1,568 ) (28 ) 131 (1,596 ) 346 Other income 440 386 268 1,478 1,131 Other expense 4,599 5,031 4,449 19,492 18,068 Income before income taxes 118 1,376 1,316 4,462 4,344 Income tax expense 1,536 453 473 3,015 1,554 Net (loss) income $ (1,418 ) $ 923 $ 843 $ 1,447 $ 2,790 Basic (loss) earnings per share $ (0.20 ) $ 0.13 $ 0.12 $ 0.20 $ 0.40 Diluted (loss) earnings per share $ (0.20 ) $ 0.12 $ 0.12 $ 0.20 $ 0.40 Weighted average common and equivalent shares outstanding 7,273,077 7,271,145 7,080,205 7,214,399 6,899,655 Selected Financial Data (unaudited) Return on Average Assets (0.63 )% 0.42 % 0.44 % 0.17 % 0.39 % Return on Average Equity (8.16 )% 5.34 % 5.04 % 2.16 % 4.19 % Net Interest Margin 2.77 % 2.91 % 3.00 % 2.98 % 3.05 % Efficiency Ratio 70.81 % 76.24 % 74.99 % 74.42 % 79.60 % Contact: William Franz SVP, Director of Marketing & Investor Relations (631) 348-4444 Source:Empire National Bank

http://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/22/globe-newswire-empire-bancorp-announces-write-down-of-deferred-tax-asset-and-balance-sheet-restructuringayear-end-assets-at-900-million.html

Returning Djokovic still managing elbow injury

January 13, 2018 / 8:36 AM / Updated 8 hours ago Returning Djokovic still managing elbow injury Simon cambers 3 Min Read MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Former world number one Novak Djokovic admits his elbow is not yet 100 percent as the Serb prepares to return from six months out at the Australian Open. Tennis - Australian Open - Kids Tennis Day - Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, Australia, January 13, 2018. Novak Djokovic of Serbia signs autographs during Kids Tennis Day before the Australian Open tennis tournament. REUTERS/Thomas Peter The six-times champion, who last played competitively at Wimbledon in July, says he is still managing the injury, which has caused him to abbreviate his service action. “It hasn’t been 100 percent yet healed,” Djokovic told reporters at Melbourne Park on Saturday. “But right now it’s at the level where I can compete, and every day is getting better.” Djokovic said he had been convinced by doctors that he would not be doing the injury any more damage by playing in Melbourne. “I‘m hoping that it can be 100 percent at the start of the tournament. I don’t know how it’s going to behave. Even if it’s 100 percent healed, after six months of no competition, you never know how you’re going to react,” the 30-year-old added. “So let’s see. There’s not much more I can do. I’ve done really everything in my power, with a team of people around me, to enable me to be right here in front of you guys, and to compete in Australian Open.” Djokovic said the injury had been bothering him for about 18 months before the pain, which he felt on his serve, became too much. The Serb confirmed the injury had not needed surgery but would not answer a question as to whether he required a pain-killing injection to play. Djokovic tested out his elbow, and his new serve, in an exhibition match earlier this week, beating Austria’s Dominic Thiem, in straight sets. ”I‘m happy with the new service motion,“ he said. ”I don’t want to say ‘new serve’, but new service motion. “I feel like I spend less energy but I‘m more efficient. I‘m really looking forward to trying out my new serve here.” Seeded 14th having dropped down the rankings during his injury hiatus, Djokovic said he was confident he could still compete. “I still know what I‘m capable of and I believe in my own abilities to win against the best players in the world,” he said. “I know that if I get myself to desired level of performance -- mental and physical -- that I can actually have a good chance to go far in the tournament.” Reporting by Simon Cambers; Editing by John O'Brien

https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-tennis-ausopen-djokovic/returning-djokovic-still-managing-elbow-injury-idUKKBN1F208Q

Sprague Resources LP Announces Cash Distribution for the Fourth Quarter of 2017 and Earnings Conference Call Schedule

PORTSMOUTH, N.H., Jan. 26, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sprague Resources LP (“Sprague”) (NYSE:SRLP) announced today that the Board of Directors of its general partner, Sprague Resources GP LLC, has declared a cash distribution of $0.6375 per unit ($2.55 per unit on an annualized basis) for the quarter ended December 31, 2017. The fourth quarter distribution represents a 2% increase over the distribution declared for the quarter ended September 30, 2017 and an increase of 10% over the quarterly distribution of $0.5775 per unit paid in February 2017. The announced distribution will be paid on February 12, 2018 to unitholders of record as of the close of business on February 6, 2018. “I am pleased to announce that for the fifteenth consecutive quarter Sprague has increased distributions to our unitholders,” said David Glendon, President and Chief Executive Officer. “We’re confirming previous guidance that distributions will continue to grow by $0.015 per unit, per quarter at least through the end of 2019.” Sprague will release its fourth quarter 2017 financial results before the opening of trading on the NYSE on Wednesday, March 14, 2018 and will host a conference call that day at 1 p.m. Eastern time to discuss its financial results. Those interested in hearing the discussion can access the call by dialing (866) 516-2130, and using participation code 3095754. International callers may join by dialing (678) 509-7612. The conference call may also be accessed by a webcast available on the "Investor Relations" page of Sprague's website at www.spragueenergy.com and will be archived on our website for one year. About Sprague Resources LP Sprague Resources LP is engaged in the purchase, storage, distribution and sale of refined petroleum products and natural gas. The company also provides storage and handling services for a broad range of materials. More information concerning Sprague can be found at www.spragueenergy.com . Any statements in this press release about Sprague Resources LP’s future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans or prospects, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Any statements that are not statements of historical fact (including statements containing the words “believes,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “estimates” and similar expressions) should also be considered forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and other factors that are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond management’s control. Although Sprague believes that the assumptions underlying these statements are reasonable, investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and involve risks that may affect our business prospects and performance causing actual results to differ from those discussed in the foregoing release. Such risks and uncertainties include, by way of example and not of limitation: increased competition for our products or services; adverse weather conditions; changes in supply or demand for our products or services; changes in operating conditions and costs; changes in the level of environmental remediation spending; potential equipment malfunction and unexpected capital expenditures; our ability to complete organic growth and acquisition projects; our ability to integrate acquired assets; potential labor issues; the legislative or regulatory environment; terminal construction/repair delays; nonperformance by major customers or suppliers; political and economic conditions; and, the impact of security risks including terrorism, international hostilities and cyber-risk. These are not all of the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in forward looking statements. Other applicable risks and uncertainties have been described more fully in Sprague’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 10, 2017 and in the Partnership's subsequent Form 10-Q, Form 8-K and other documents filed with the SEC. Sprague undertakes no obligation and does not intend to update any forward-looking statements to reflect new information or future events. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. This release is intended to be a qualified notice under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1446-4(b). Brokers and nominees should treat one hundred percent (100.0%) of Sprague’s distributions to non-U.S. investors as being attributable to income that is effectively connected with a United States trade or business. Accordingly, Sprague’s distributions to non-U.S. investors are subject to federal income tax withholding at the highest applicable effective tax rate. Investor Contact: Kory Arthur +1 603.766.7401 karthur@spragueenergy.com Source:Sprague Resources LP

http://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/26/globe-newswire-sprague-resources-lp-announces-cash-distribution-for-the-fourth-quarter-of-2017-and-earnings-conference-call-schedule.html

Dollar starts new year in doldrums, Asia stocks in good cheer

January 2, 2018 / 12:38 AM Dollar starts new year in doldrums, Asia stocks in good cheer Wayne Cole 4 Min Read SYDNEY (Reuters) - The euro stood within striking distance of its 2017 peak on an ailing U.S. dollar on Tuesday, while Asian stocks began the new year close to their highest in a decade. FILE PHOTO: A man walks past an electronic stock quotation board outside a brokerage in Tokyo, Japan, September 22, 2017. REUTERS/Toru Hanai Sentiment was helped by news that North Korea had offered an olive branch to South Korea, with Kim Jong Un saying he was “open to dialogue” with Seoul. Yet activity was sparse, with Japan on holiday and many investors on an extended break. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was a fraction firmer after rising by one-third in value last year to heights last visited in 2007. Japan’s Nikkei also had a bright 2017 with gains of 19 percent. While Wall Street had ended Friday with modest losses, it was still a bumper year for U.S. stocks. The benchmark S&P 500 climbed 19.5 percent during 2017, while the Dow added 25.2 percent and the Nasdaq 28.2 percent, all the best yearly performances since 2013. Still to come on Tuesday was the Caixin survey of Chinese manufacturing which is expected to show a slight slowdown as a punishing crackdown on air pollution and a cooling property market weigh on the world’s second-largest economy. The official Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) released on Sunday dipped to 51.6 in December, from 51.8 in November, though the index of non-manufacturing rose to a three-month high of 55 from 54.8 in November. In currency markets, the dollar remained out of favor having hit a three-month low against a basket of its peers on Friday. That brought its losses for 2017 to 9.8 percent, its worse performance since 2003. Its pain was the euro’s gain, with the single currency enjoying its strongest year against the dollar in 14 years. Early Tuesday, the euro was firm at $1.2013 and just off a three-month top of $1.2028. Bulls were now eyeing the September peak of $1.2092, a break of which would take the euro to ground last trod in late 2014. The euro had already broken major resistance on the yen to reach highs not seen since late 2015 at 135.51, leaving the dollar struggling at 112.74 yen. A major hurdle for the dollar will be Wednesday’s release of minutes from the Federal Reserve’s December meeting when it raised interest rates. Two policymakers voted against the move amid doubts inflation would accelerate as hoped. “With the market pricing in a 68 percent chance of a March hike and two hikes for 2018, there will close inspection to assess just how shaky their confidence is for any pick-up in inflationary trends,” said Chris Weston, chief markets strategist at broker IG in Sydney. “That said, the U.S. dollar is underloved and oversold and it won’t take much to promote a bout of profit-taking from the shorts.” The skid in the dollar, combined with strength in Chinese demand, has benefited commodities priced in the currency. Copper stood tall at $7,251.50 a ton, having risen 31 percent in 2017 to a four-year top, while aluminum amassed gains of 34 percent. Gold was 0.2 percent firmer at $1,305.62 an ounce, after advancing by 13 percent in 2017 for its best performance in seven years. Brent crude oil futures ended the year with a 17 percent rise, while U.S. crude rose 12 percent on strong demand and declining global inventories. [O/R] Early Tuesday, Brent was steady at $66.62 a barrel while U.S. crude eased 17 cents to $60.25. Editing by Richard Borsuk

https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-global-markets/dollar-starts-new-year-in-doldrums-asia-stocks-in-good-cheer-idUKKBN1ER00R

Pagano fired by Colts after six seasons in Indianapolis

(Reuters) - Jack Del Rio was close to tears as he revealed he had been fired as head coach by the Oakland Raiders on Sunday, shortly after the National Football League (NFL) team completed their final game of the season. Del Rio’s departure came just three hours after the Indianapolis Colts said they also had sacked their head coach Chuck Pagano. The 57-year-old Pagano, who had been in charge of Indianapolis for six seasons, was widely expected to be sacked after the Colts posted a 4-12 record that ended with a 22-13 win over the Houston Texans. But Del Rio’s sacking after three seasons was less predictable, coming less than a year after he signed a four-year contract extension following a successful 2016, when the Raiders went 12-4 and finally made the playoffs after a 13-season drought. But the team regressed in 2017, going 6-10. An emotional Del Rio, 54, said it had been a dream to coach his “childhood team” but he acknowledged the reality of the business. “It’s a results business, I understand,” he told a press conference, his voice cracking. Del Rio went 25-24 in his three seasons with the Raiders. Local media reported that former Raiders coach Jon Gruden was likely to replace Del Rio. Gruden coached the Raiders from 1998-2001, before guiding the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to victory in the 2002 season Super Bowl. He most recently has been working as a television analyst. The Colts, meanwhile, thanked Pagano for his body of work, while at the same time showing him the door. “Chuck’s first season was one of the more inspirational stories in NFL history as he courageously battled and overcame leukemia,” Colts Owner & CEO Jim Irsay said in a statement. Pagano, speaking before his firing had been announced, said: “I‘m just grateful I‘m on this side of the dirt,” referring to his recovery from leukemia. Pagano guided the Colts to a 56-46 overall record (including the post-season) after joining the team in 2012. He led them to three consecutive 11-5 seasons and playoff appearances from 2012-14, which included the 2014 AFC Championship game. But the team failed to compile a winning record the past three seasons as they were hampered by multiple injuries to quarterback Andrew Luck. Del Rio and Pagano are likely to be joined by several other sacked head coaches over the next couple of days. Ben McAdoo of the New York Giants was the only head coach fired during the season. Reporting by Andrew Both in Cary, North Carolina; Editing by Greg Stutchbury

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-football-nfl-coaches/pagano-fired-by-colts-after-six-seasons-in-indianapolis-idUSKBN1EP0MX

UPDATE 3-Dell considering acquisitions or possible IPO - sources

(Adds more sources, adds background on Dell) Jan 25 (Reuters) - U.S. computer maker Dell Technologies Inc is exploring a range of options that could see the world's largest privately held technology company grow further through acquisitions or going public, people familiar with the matter said on Thursday. Dell's board of directors will meet later this month to consider the biggest shakeup in the company's history since it acquired data storage provider EMC Corp for $67 billion in 2016, the sources said. The Round Rock, Texas-based company, headed by its founder Michael Dell, is under pressure to boost its profitability after the EMC deal failed to deliver the cost savings and performance it projected, while higher manufacturing costs have eroded its margins. Dell is reviewing a list of several possible acquisition targets that would boost its cash flow and expand its offerings, the sources said. Dell's review is at its very early stages and no deal is certain. It is also considering a sale or IPO of its faster growing software unit, Pivotal Software Inc, the sources added. It may also consider a transaction with its majority-owned VMware Inc , a public virtualization software maker. VMware shares, which have gained more than 62 percent in the past 12 months, touched an all-time high on Thursday. As part of Dell's takeover of EMC in 2016, shareholders received VMware tracking stock, a move intended to give investors exposure to VMware, which is growing faster than EMC. Dell and VMware were not immediately available for comment outside regular U.S. business hours. The news was first reported by Bloomberg. (Additional reporting by Ismail Shakil in Bengaluru; Editing by Amrutha Gayathri and Jacqueline Wong)

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/25/reuters-america-update-3-dell-considering-acquisitions-or-possible-ipo--sources.html

EU review of Bayer's Monsanto bid postponed further

January 29, 2018 / 2:18 PM / Updated 33 minutes ago EU review of Bayer's Monsanto bid postponed further Ludwig Burger , Foo Yun Chee 3 Min Read FRANKFURT/BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Bayer’s ( BAYGn.DE ) quest to win regulatory approval for its planned takeover of Monsanto ( MON.N ) ran into further delays on Monday as European Union antitrust investigators extended their investigation by five working days until March 12. The ongoing proceedings would have given the German drugs and pesticides maker until midnight on Monday to offer further concessions to EU regulators - or request another extension of up to 10 working days. The EU did not state a reason for the extension to March 12 to deliver its verdict on the merger, which effectively gives Bayer a new deadline at midnight Feb. 5 to propose concessions such as asset sales. A Bayer spokesman declined to comment, beyond confirming the EU’s statement. FILE PHOTO: A Monsanto logo is pictured in the company headquarters in Morges, Switzerland, May 25, 2016. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo The transaction, opposed by environmentalist groups and by some farmers’ associations, would make Bayer the largest supplier of seeds and crop chemicals, surpassing ChemChina’s Syngenta, DowDuPont ( DWDP.N ) and BASF ( BASFn.DE ). Late last year, the EU Commission granted Bayer more time to provide information, which pushed the deadline for the EU to decide over the deal back to March 5 from Jan. 22. Bayer had initially hoped to wrap up the deal by end-2017. Bayer’s Chief Executive Werner Baumann has described antitrust procedures as going to “unimaginable depths”, with more than 4 million pages of documents provided to EU investigators, but the delays have also allowed the target company to cut its debt, lessening the financial burden for Bayer. The Monsanto deal’s value last year was cut to $63.5 billion including debt, down from an initial $66 billion, because the U.S. seeds giant had lowered its financial liabilities. Bayer has already agreed to sell certain seed and herbicide businesses for 5.9 billion euro (£5.2 billion) to domestic rival BASF but has said it was bracing for antitrust authorities to demand more asset sales. Editing by Robert-Jan Bartunek and Alison Williams

https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-monsanto-m-a-bayer-eu/eu-extends-antitrust-study-of-bayer-bid-for-monsanto-to-march-12-idUKKBN1FI1RJ

Kim Kardashian announces birth of 3rd child, this one by surrogate

January 16, 2018 / 5:26 PM / Updated 3 hours ago Kim Kardashian announces birth of 3rd child, this one by surrogate Reuters Staff 2 Min Kim Kardashian and her rapper husband Kanye West announced their third child on Tuesday, a girl born to a surrogate. FILE PHOTO - Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala - Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons: Art of the In-Between - Arrivals - New York City, U.S. - 01/05/17 - Socialite Kim Kardashian. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson “Kanye and I are happy to announce the arrival of our healthy, beautiful baby girl,” Kardashian said in a message on her app. The couple thanked the unidentified surrogate “who made our dreams come true with the greatest gift one could give.” They said the baby was born on Monday but they did not announce a name. Kardashian, 37, and West are already parents to North, 4, and Saint, 2. The “Keeping Up with the Kadashians” reality and social media star has said she decided to use a surrogate after doctors warned of serious health risks if she became pregnant again. Kardashian has given detailed accounts on her blog about the difficulties she experienced during her two labors. Two of Kardashian’s sisters are also expecting babies. Khloe Kardashian, 33, announced in December that she is six months pregnant with her basketball player boyfriend Tristan Thomas, while their half-sister Kylie Jenner, 20, is reported to be expecting her first child soon. The arrival of Kardashian and West’s third child swiftly became on of the top five trending topics on Twitter. David Gregorio and Bill Trott

https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-people-kim-kardashian/kim-kardashian-announces-birth-of-third-child-this-one-by-surrogate-idUKKBN1F527L

Drone Registrations Have Soared to One Million, Says FAA | Fortune

By Jonathan Vanian January 11, 2018 There are now one million drone registration with the Federal Aviation Administration, marking a new milestone for the two-year old registration program. The registration total, announced on Wednesday during the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, include both hobbyists and businesses that use drones for tasks like inspecting rooftops for damage or taking pictures of farmland. Hobbyists account for 878,000 of the registrations, each of which can include multiple drones. Meanwhile, businesses, which must register each drone they use separately, account another for 122,000. The federal government’s drone registration system has had a turbulent past few years. The system debuted in December 2015 after drones caused a growing number of problems like flying too near commercial aircraft. Registrants must pay a $5 fee and display a corresponding identification number the body of their drones. In May 2017, a federal appeals court in Washington D.C. overturned the rule requiring hobbyists to register their drones. It cited previous federal legislation that designated drones as “model aircraft,” which the agency does not oversee. Businesses, however, were still required to register their drones because of a separate ruling in August 2016 that was intended to make it easier for companies to use drones. Get Data Sheet , Fortune’s technology newsletter. President Donald Trump restored the requirement in December 2017 that hobbyists register their drones through the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act . Speaking at CES, Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao announced the one million drone registration figure and explained the government’s next step in revamping national drone rules, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal . Current rules do not let people fly drones beyond the line of sight of human operators and over people’s heads in public places, which limits companies like Amazon (amzn) and Google (goog) from using drones to deliver goods, among other business uses, beyond testing. In October, the Trump Administration debuted a program in which the FAA would work with local governments and companies to create a set of rules that would expand how businesses could use drones. SPONSORED FINANCIAL CONTENT

http://fortune.com/2018/01/11/drone-registrations-million-faa/

French prison guards end nationwide strike

(This version of the story corrects to show one of three unions accepted the proposal.) PARIS (Reuters) - The largest of three French prison guard unions spearheading a nationwide strike said on Friday it would accept a government proposal on better pay and staff safety. The UFAP-Unsa union said its acceptance would end picketing and work stoppages by its members. Two other labor unions have rejected the government offer of more hires, pay bonuses and measures to better contain inmate violence. President Emmanuel Macron is under pressure to bring an end to industrial action, sparked by inmate attacks on guards, as tension among prisoners rises in France’s crowded jails. Reporting by Emmanuel Jarry; writing by John Irish; editing by Leigh Thomas

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-france-security/french-jails-at-brink-of-explosion-strike-must-end-ombudsman-idUSKBN1FF1JF

Mexican hotel keeping Hotel California name after Eagles settlement

January 19, 2018 / 2:40 PM / Updated 3 hours ago Mexican hotel keeping Hotel California name after Eagles settlement Reuters Staff 2 Min Read (Reuters) - A hotel in Mexico named Hotel California plans to continue using the name in that country after settling a lawsuit brought by the Eagles over rights related to the country-rock band’s classic 1976 song. Hotel California Baja LLC said on Friday it will “continue to use the service mark and trademark ‘Hotel California’ in Mexico,” where it owns about 28 valid trademark registrations for the name and variants. The settlement with the Eagles was made public on Thursday, after the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office accepted Hotel California Baja’s request to abandon a trademark application in the United States. In a federal lawsuit filed in Los Angeles, the Eagles had accused the hotel of improperly encouraging guests to believe the band had authorized its use of the song’s name, in part to sell T-shirts and other merchandise. FILE PHOTO: American rock group The Eagles, shown performing in 1998 in London, Britain. REUTERS/David McNew/File Photo The hotel is located in the town of Todos Santos on Baja California Sur, about 1,000 miles (1,609 km) south of San Diego and 48 miles (77 km) north of Cabo San Lucas. “Hotel California” is known for abstract lyrics that lead singer Don Henley has said describe excess in America. The song appears on an album with the same title. Hotel California Baja said the hotel “claims no association with the Eagles or with their song and record album ‘Hotel California.'” The hotel’s owners are not affiliated with the Eagles, the hotel’s website says, although “many visitors are mesmerized by the ‘coincidences’ between the lyrics of the hit song and the physicality of the hotel and its surroundings.” Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe

https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-music-eagles-hotelcalifornia/mexican-hotel-keeping-hotel-california-name-after-eagles-settlement-idUKKBN1F81PM

Germany plans temporary nationalisation of truck toll company

January 29, 2018 / 7:17 PM / in 2 hours Germany plans temporary nationalisation of truck toll company Reuters Staff 2 Min Read BERLIN, Jan 29 (Reuters) - The German government plans to nationalise lorry motorway toll company Toll Collect temporarily until a new operator has been found, a transport ministry spokesman said on Monday. Toll Collect, the world’s first satellite-based truck toll system, is 45 percent-owned by German carmaker Daimler , 45 percent by Deutsche Telekom and 10 percent by Vinci unit Cofiroute. Confirming a pre-released report by business daily Handelsblatt, the transport ministry spokesman said that the federal government intends to take over the Toll Collect in September before starting the bidding process to renew the operating contract, which expires this year. “It is not intended that the government will hold the shares in the operating company permanently,” the spokesman said. Handelsblatt’s report said the reason for the planned nationalisation was unresolved legal disputes between the federal government, Toll Collect and its shareholders. There are currently two arbitration proceedings involving Toll Collect. In the first case, the government is claiming damages from Toll Collect and its consortium for the late introduction of the truck toll and for contractual penalties. In the second case, Toll Collect is seeking compensation from the government for operation of the toll system. The Handelsblatt report said that Berlin is still in negotiations with the shareholders in an effort to resolve the disputes and ensure that potential liabilities arising from the cases do not hinder a sale. The ministry spokesman declined to comment further on the matter. Daimler and Deutsche Telekom did not immediately respond to calls or emails seeking comment outside business hours. (Reporting by Michael Nienaber in Berlin and Tom Sims in Frankfurt; Editing by David Goodman)

https://www.reuters.com/article/germany-transportation-toll-collect/germany-plans-temporary-nationalisation-of-truck-toll-company-idUSL8N1PO5IQ

French police clash with prison guards in protest over jail conditions

January 19, 2018 / 3:33 PM / Updated 7 minutes ago French police clash with prison guards in protest over jail conditions Reuters Staff 3 Min Read PARIS (Reuters) - French riot police clashed on Friday with striking prison guards who accuse the government of doing little to counter spiraling violence and Islamist activism inside the country’s overcrowded jails. The scuffles outside Fleury Merogis prison, one of Europe’s largest with 3,800 inmates, coincided with news from a jail in Corsica that two security guards were attacked and injured by inmates. It is the latest in a series of assaults that have overshadowed France’s prison system in the past week. “We’re fed up. We’re taking a thumping inside and now we’re being thumped outside,” jail guard Thibault Capelle said after police advancing with shields and using tear gas broke up a picket at the entrance of Fleury Merogis, on the southern outskirts of Paris. The protests there and at many other prisons began a week ago, after an Islamist militant jailed over the killing of 21 people in Tunisia in 2000 slashed guards on the head and torso with a pair of scissors in northern France. With pressure mounting, President Emmanuel Macron said last week a plan would be presented in February to tackle the issue. It would go beyond an existing promise to build thousands of new prison cells, he said. France’s prison population has more than doubled since the 1970s, to around 70,000, making it one of the highest in Europe. INTERNATIONAL CRITICISM The incident in Corsica prompted rapid publication of a statement of sympathy by Justice Minister Nicole Belloubet, who was accused of responding sluggishly to earlier assaults. Maxime Coustie, representative of staff at Corsica’s Borgo jail, said several inmates struck one guard in the back with a sharp instrument and another in the face. Both were hospitalized. One of the assailants had attracted the attention of prison authorities after beginning to practise a more extreme form of Islam. Radicalization among petty criminals is a growing concern in France after Islamist attacks that have killed close to 250 people in Paris and other cities over the past three years. In addition to more staff and resources, prison guards want the country’s 504 convicted Islamist militants isolated from other prisoners, said Wilfried Fonck, a jailguard unionist. Fleury Merogis, a sprawl of gloomy gray concrete dating to the 1960s, houses far more prisoners that it was built to take, making it a frequent target of international criticism. It is also the solitary-confinement home of Salah Abdeslam, suspected of being the sole survivor of an Islamist hit-squad that killed 130 people in Paris in late 2015. Reporting By Brian Love; editing by Ralph Boulton

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-france-security-prison/french-police-clash-with-prison-guards-in-protest-over-jail-conditions-idUSKBN1F81W7

Tunisia deploys army in several cities as violent protests intensify

January 11, 2018 / 9:07 AM / Updated an hour ago Tunisia deploys army, makes 300 arrests as violent unrest persists Tarek Amara 4 Min Read TUNIS (Reuters) - Tunisian protesters burned down a regional national security headquarters near the Algerian border, prompting authorities to send in troops after police retreated, witnesses said, as unrest over prices and taxes raged on nationwide. But the government, under pressure to cut a ballooning deficit and satisfy international lenders, will not revise austerity measures in the 2018 budget despite the spate of protests, Tunisia’s investment minister said on Thursday. Army troops have been deployed in several cities to help quell the unrest, seven years after the overthrow of autocrat Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali in the first of the Arab Spring revolts. In Thala, near the Algerian border, soldiers were sent in late on Wednesday after crowds torched the region’s national security building, forcing police to retreat from the town, witnesses told Reuters. Tunisia’s unity government - which includes Islamists, secular parties and independents - has portrayed the unrest as driven by criminal elements. “The government will not revise the budget or even some of its articles because some troublemakers have come out in the street,” Investment Minister Zied Ladhari told Mosaique FM radio. Tunisia’s 2025 dollar bond fell more than one cent to a seven-week low of 98.75 cents, Reuters data showed on Wednesday.. The Football Association said it was postponing all weekend matches because of the disturbances. Prime Minister Youssef Chahed has accused the opposition of inciting unrest. Rejecting the charge, the main opposition bloc, the Popular Front, called for a major protest in Tunis on Sunday to coincide with the seventh anniversary of Ben Ali’s fall. Anti-government protests have flared in a number of cities and towns since Monday against price and tax increases. While Tunisia is regarded as the only democratic success story among countries swept up in the Arab Spring, it has had nine governments since Ben Ali’s overthrow, none of which have been able to resolve deep-rooted economic problems. Riot policemen stand guard, in Tebourba, Tunisia January 11, 2018. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi “SABOTAGE AND ROBBERY” The army has been deployed in Kebeli, Bizerte and the seaside resort city of Sousse among other towns to protect government buildings that have been targeted by protesters. Around 600 people have been arrested, including more than 300 overnight between Wednesday and Thursday. “Three hundred and thirty people involved in acts of sabotage and robbery were arrested last night,” Interior Ministry spokesman Khelifa Chibani said. “What is happening is crime, not protests. They steal, intimidate people and threaten private and public property.” Slideshow (5 Images) Many of the protests have been peaceful, however, with demonstrators expressing their anger and frustration over deepening economic hardship since the 2011 uprising. “It is true that some protesters burned and stole during last night’s protests, but the rulers steal and destroy Tunisia in the morning and at night with their frustrating decisions,” said a teacher who was shopping in the capital and only gave his first name, Mohamed. “We expected things to improve after Ben Ali was ousted, but it seems that after seven years of the revolution, we’ll give our salaries each month to Prime Minister Chahed for him to spend them,” he said. Price rises for fuel and some goods and services from Jan. 1 have increased public anger. The 2018 budget also raises customs taxes on some imports, and the government is trying to cut the public sector wage bill through voluntary redundancies. The 2011 revolt and deadly Islamist militant attacks in Tunis and Sousse in 2015 damaged foreign investment and tourism, which accounts for eight percent of Tunisia’s economic activity. Tunisia’s state statistics institute showed the trade deficit widening in December to 15.592 billion Tunisian dinars ($6.25 billion), a record. Unemployment nationally exceeds 15 percent, and is much higher in some marginalized regions of the interior. Reporting By Tarek Amara; Editing by Aidan Lewis and Mark Heinrich

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tunisia-protests/tunisia-deploys-army-in-several-cities-as-violent-protests-intensify-idUSKBN1F00WJ

Why New York Giant Victor Cruz didn't spend his first NFL paycheck

4 Hours Ago CNBC.com Professional athletes are known for splurging on the finer things in life, especially when they get their first big paycheck. Former NBA player Shaquille O'Neal admitted that after signing his first professional contract, he went on an expensive shopping spree and blew through $1 million in an hour. Philadelphia 76ers player Ben Simmons said on a recent episode of " Kneading Dough ," that after becoming a millionaire he regretfully spent $10,000 on two Savannah Cats. But one athlete who took a more conservative route with his first big check is former New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz. In a recent interview with Uninterrupted, Cruz admitted that he put his first big paycheck into savings and didn't spend a dime. Twitter In 2010, Cruz signed a three-year $1.215 million contract with the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent. In 2013, he signed a five-year contract with the team worth $43 million. "That first check was probably the largest check I've ever seen with my own eyes at that time," he said. "So I saved it. I wanted to make sure that this isn't the last check that I receive. I wanted to make sure every check from here on out I saved and multiplied." He tells CNN Money that it was the early advice he received from Giants staffer Charles Way for helping him to stay on track financially throughout his career. show chapters 10:36 AM ET Fri, 14 July 2017 | 01:01 "He was like, 'Man, make sure you understand what your money is doing and understand what's happening with your money. Don't just give it to some accountant and just let him do whatever he wants with it,'" said Cruz. After a Super Bowl win, a few injuries and a seven-year run in the league, Cruz's NFL career came to an end when he was released by the Giants in February 2017. Since receiving that first paycheck, Cruz says he's always thought about the future and how he can make his money last. "It's not about the right now. It's about the longevity and making sure that your finances are taking care of you not just right now, but forever," he says. "And making that money last for yourself, for your family and for the people that you care about."

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/26/why-new-york-giant-victor-cruz-didnt-spend-his-first-nfl-paycheck.html

Skyline Medical Completes Purchase of Preferred Stock in Helomics Corporation

MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 16, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Skyline Medical Inc . (NASDAQ:SKLN) (“Skyline” or the “Company”), producer of the FDA-approved STREAMWAY® System for automated, direct-to-drain medical fluid disposal, today announced it has completed the purchase of preferred stock convertible into 20% of the outstanding common stock of Helomics Corporation , in exchange for total consideration of 1.1 million shares of newly issued Skyline Medical common stock. In addition, Skyline has the right to convert a previous $500,000 loan to Helomics into a further 5% equity stake, which would bring its total ownership to 25%. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Helomics has established operations that bridge two emerging areas of the healthcare industry: precision medicine and big data. Helomics’ competitive advantage lies in its proprietary D-CHIP™ database, which contains de-identified data compiled from more than a decade of clinical testing of tumor responses to drugs coupled to an Artificial Intelligence (AI) -powered bioinformatics engine which generates actionable scientific insights from this rich data. These insights are used by BioPharma companies in the research and development of targeted cancer treatments for any given patient profile. Skyline has an agreement in principle with Helomics to form a Skyline-Helomics joint venture. “We are pleased to move forward with our investment in Helomics,” stated Dr. Carl Schwartz, CEO of Skyline Medical. “Precision medicine is emerging as a credible research area that could greatly improve the current state of cancer diagnosis and stimulate the development of oncological therapies. Helomics’ D-CHIP™ database supports pharmaceutical companies in the development of novel therapies that have the potential to expand the range of cancer treatment options on the market today by providing actionable insights which can be used to improve the clinical outcomes for patients. We believe this investment in Helomics presents an exciting opportunity for Skyline to participate in the growth of the precision medicine industry and look forward to working closely with the company to expand their business.” About Helomics Corporation Helomics® is a precision diagnostic company and integrated clinical contract research organization whose mission is to improve patient care by partnering with pharmaceutical, diagnostic, and academic organizations to bring innovative clinical products and technologies to the marketplace. In addition to its proprietary precision diagnostics for oncology, Helomics offers boutique CRO services that leverage our patient-derived tumor models, coupled to a wide range of multi-omics assays (genomics, proteomics and biochemical), and a proprietary bioinformatics platform (D-CHIP) to provide a tailored solution to our client’s specific needs. Helomics® is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where the company maintains state-of-the-art, CLIA-certified, clinical and research laboratories. For more information, please visit: www.Helomics.com . About Skyline Medical Skyline Medical produces a fully automated, patented, FDA-cleared waste fluid disposal system that virtually eliminates staff exposure to blood, irrigation fluid and other potentially infectious fluids found in the healthcare environment. Antiquated manual fluid handling methods that require hand carrying and emptying filled fluid canisters present an exposure risk and potential liability. Skyline Medical's STREAMWAY System fully automates the collection, measurement and disposal of waste fluids and is designed to: 1) reduce overhead costs to hospitals and surgical centers; 2) improve compliance with OSHA and other regulatory agency safety guidelines; 3) improve efficiency in the operating room, and radiology and endoscopy departments, thereby leading to greater profitability; and 4) provide greater environmental stewardship by helping to eliminate the approximately 50 million potentially disease-infected canisters that go into landfills each year in the U.S. For additional information, please visit www.skylinemedical.com . Forward-looking Statements Certain of the matters discussed in this announcement contain forward-looking statements that involve material risks to and uncertainties in the Company's business that may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the statements made herein. Such risks and uncertainties include risks related to the proposed joint ventures, including the need to negotiate the definitive agreements for the joint ventures; possible failure to realize anticipated benefits of the joint ventures; and costs of providing funding to the joint ventures. Other risks and uncertainties relating to the Company include, among other things, current negative operating cash flows and a need for additional funding to finance our operating plan; the terms of any further financing, which may be highly dilutive and may include onerous terms; unexpected costs and operating deficits, and lower than expected sales and revenues; uncertain willingness and ability of customers to adopt new technologies and other factors that may affect further market acceptance, if our product is not accepted by our potential customers, it is unlikely that we will ever become profitable; adverse economic conditions; adverse results of any legal proceedings; the volatility of our operating results and financial condition; inability to attract or retain qualified senior management personnel, including sales and marketing personnel; our ability to establish and maintain the proprietary nature of our technology through the patent process, as well as our ability to possibly license from others patents and patent applications necessary to develop products; the Company's ability to implement its long range business plan for various applications of its technology; the Company's ability to enter into agreements with any necessary marketing and/or distribution partners and with any strategic or joint venture partners; the impact of competition, the obtaining and maintenance of any necessary regulatory clearances applicable to applications of the Company's technology; and management of growth and other risks and uncertainties that may be detailed from time to time in the Company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available for review at www.sec.gov . This is not a solicitation to buy or sell securities and does not purport to be an analysis of the Company's financial position. See the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, and subsequent reports and other filings at www.sec.gov . Contacts: Skyline Medical Carl Schwartz, Chief Executive Officer (651) 389-4800 cschwartz@skylinemedical.com Investors KCSA Strategic Communications Elizabeth Barker (212) 896-1203 skln@kcsa.com Source:Skyline Medical Inc.

http://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/16/globe-newswire-skyline-medical-completes-purchase-of-preferred-stock-in-helomics-corporation.html

Insured losses in 2017 most ever at $135 billion after hurricanes

FRANKFURT/MUNICH (Reuters) - Insurers will have to pay claims of around $135 billion for 2017, the most ever, following a spate of hurricanes, earthquakes and fires in North America, according to a report published on Thursday. German reinsurer Munich Re ( MUVGn.DE ), in its annual natural catastrophe review, also said last year’s total losses, including those not insured, were $330 billion, the second-worst in history after 2011 when an earthquake and tsunami wreaked havoc in Japan. Although individual events could not be linked directly to climate change, global warming is playing a role, Munich Re said. It expected more frequent extreme events in future. “We have a new normal,” said Ernst Rauch, head of Munich Re’s Corporate Climate Center, which monitors climate change risks. “2017 was not an outlier,” he said, noting insured losses have surpassed $100 billion multiple times since 2005. “We must have on our radar the trend of new magnitudes.” Last year’s hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria in the United States and Caribbean, wildfires in California and earthquakes in Mexico destroyed homes, infrastructure and numerous lives. The disasters also rocked global insurers. Munich Re and Hannover Re ( HNRGn.DE ) both issued profit warnings. That dealt a blow to a sector already struggling with thin margins, stiff competition and falling prices. Munich Re’s tally for the industry comes on the back of other estimates that underscored the severity of 2017. In December, Swiss Re ( SRENH.S ) estimated global insured losses from catastrophes would hit $136 billion in 2017, the third-highest on record for the sector, with the United States hardest hit. That figure is not directly comparable to Munich Re’s estimates as it includes man-made disasters. Reinsurers, which are in the business of insuring insurance, are experts in managing risk and rarely get caught off guard. Analysts have said reinsurers may need to take a fresh look at their risk models as the planet warms and storms become more intense. A big question for the industry has been whether the run of catastrophes would allow them to achieve higher prices for their coverage, which have been in decline for years. Early indications suggest modest increases. Global property reinsurance prices rose less than expected in the key Jan. 1 renewal season, with strong competition limiting increases to single digit percentages, brokers said this week. A turnaround in prices would be the first major reversal since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Editing by Maria Sheahan and Mark Potter

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-disaster-insurance/insured-losses-in-2017-most-ever-at-135-billion-after-hurricanes-idUSKBN1ET0ZT

Health investors roll out unwelcome mat for Amazon's arrival

January 30, 2018 / 8:15 PM / in 36 minutes Health investors roll out unwelcome mat for Amazon's arrival Lewis Krauskopf 4 Min Read NEW YORK, Jan 30 (Reuters) - As press releases go, it was vague and brief - six paragraphs, 394 words in all. In general terms, it described the beginnings of an effort by three big U.S. companies to team up to improve their employees’ healthcare services and save money. But it delivered a $69 billion body blow to stocks across the healthcare sector, driven in large part because of the first word: “Amazon.” The day long feared by executives and investors alike in the $3.47 trillion U.S. healthcare sector had arrived. And with an unsettling lack of specificity. “Everyone is still terrified of Amazon,” said Jeff Jonas, a portfolio manager focusing on healthcare for Gabelli Funds. Earlier on Tuesday, Amazon.com Inc, Berkshire Hathaway and JPMorgan Chase & Co announced they will form a healthcare company aimed at cutting costs for their more than 500,000 U.S. employees. Investors for months have fretted over a potential Amazon entry into healthcare delivery, particularly selling prescription drugs, with stocks periodically selling off on headlines anticipating a move by the massive online retailer. But Tuesday’s news was short on details, creating the potential for the uncertainty over Amazon’s healthcare aims to linger over the sector. “The release that we have today is very cryptic and broad,” said John Schroer, U.S. healthcare sector head for Allianz Global Investors in San Francisco. “This is just one move amongst perhaps many more that Amazon could take in moving into the retail chain of drug delivery. I doubt it’s the only thing they are going to do,” he said. Among stocks in the drug supply chain, pharmacy benefit manager Express Scripts Holding Co was down 3.3 percent in midafternoon, drug-store chain CVS Health Corp was down 4.1 percent, and pharmaceutical distributor McKesson Corp was down 3 percent. Health insurers, which had been relatively immune from previous Amazon-related jitters, were clobbered. Cigna Corp was down 7.2 percent, Anthem Inc slumped 5.3 percent and UnitedHealth Group declined 4.2 percent, making it the biggest single drag on the blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average. The news sent the S&P 500 healthcare sector down 2 percent in Tuesday afternoon trading, putting the group on pace for its biggest single-day decline since October 2016 and blunting the sector’s strong momentum to start the year. Through Monday, healthcare had risen 10.5 percent already in 2018, the best performance among all major sectors and well ahead of the 6.7 percent rise for the overall S&P 500. ”Healthcare had been outperforming the market, at least year to date,“ Jonas said. ”It’s always a good excuse to sell and take some profit.” Jonas and others pointed to reasons the healthcare sector should be able to move past the Amazon threat, including a healthy climate for dealmaking that has particularly boosted biotech shares, benefits from U.S. tax reform, and a solid economy leading to use of medical services. Others shrugged off the Amazon announcement. RBC Capital Markets analyst George Hill, who covers drug distributors, said the initiative at first glance seems to have little market clout to impact healthcare costs and did not seem to be able to displace established players. “If this was the Amazon announcement drug supply chain investors have been fearing since early 2017,” Hill wrote in a research note, “consider us relieved.” Reporting by Lewis Krauskopf; Editing by Matthew Lewis

https://www.reuters.com/article/amazon-healthcare-stocks/health-investors-roll-out-unwelcome-mat-for-amazons-arrival-idUSL2N1PP1JG

SunTrust Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2017 Results

ATLANTA, Jan. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- For the fourth quarter of 2017, SunTrust Banks, Inc. (NYSE: STI) reported net income available to common shareholders of $710 million, or $1.48 per average common diluted share, which includes $0.39 per share of net discrete benefits from Form 8-K items announced on December 4, 2017 and the impacts of tax reform-related items summarized below. For the full year, diluted earnings per share was $4.47, up 24% relative to 2016. When excluding the impact of the aforementioned net discrete benefits, earnings per share was up 14% relative to 2016 as a result of strong revenue growth, improved profitability, and reduced shares outstanding. Form 8-K and Tax Reform-related Items Impacting 4th Quarter 2017 Results Impacted Line Item in the Consolidated Statements of Income (Dollars in millions) (Unaudited) Form 8-K items previously announced on December 4, 2017: Gain on sale of Premium Assignment Corporation ("PAC") subsidiary $107 Other noninterest income Net charge related to efficiency actions (36) Other noninterest expense Tax impact of above items (tax expense) (29) 1 Benefit/provision for income taxes SunTrust Mortgage ("STM") state NOL valuation allowance adjustment (tax expense) (27) 1 Benefit/provision for income taxes Net benefit of Form 8-K items (after-tax) $16 2 Tax reform-related items: Charitable contribution to SunTrust Foundation ($50) Marketing and customer development Discretionary 401(k) contribution and other employee benefits (25) Employee compensation and benefits Securities available for sale ("securities AFS") portfolio restructuring losses (109) Net securities (losses)/gains Loss on sale of servicing rights (5) Mortgage servicing related income Tax impact of above items (tax benefit) 70 1 Benefit/provision for income taxes Revaluation of net deferred tax liability and other discrete tax items (tax benefit) 291 Benefit/provision for income taxes Net benefit of tax reform-related items (after-tax) $172 Net benefit of Form 8-K and tax reform-related items (after-tax) $188 1 Amounts are calculated using a federal statutory rate of 35% and are adjusted for permanent items, if applicable. 2 Amount does not foot as presented due to rounding. "Our performance this quarter rounded out a very strong year for SunTrust where we continued to deliver on the commitments we have made to our owners," said William H. Rogers, Jr., chairman and CEO of SunTrust Banks, Inc. "Specifically, 2017 marked the sixth consecutive year in which we grew earnings per share, improved efficiency, and increased capital return. We also took significant actions this quarter which better position the company for success and give me increased confidence that 2018 will be another great year for SunTrust." Fourth Quarter 2017 Financial Highlights (Commentary is on a fully taxable-equivalent basis unless otherwise noted. Consistent with SEC guidance in Industry Guide 3 that contemplates the calculation of tax-exempt income on a tax equivalent basis, net interest income, net interest margin, total revenue, and efficiency ratios are provided on a fully taxable-equivalent basis, which generally assumes a 35% marginal federal tax rate and state income taxes, where applicable. We provide unadjusted amounts in the table on page 3 of this news release and detailed reconciliations and additional information in Appendix A on pages 12 through 13.) Income Statement Net income available to common shareholders was $710 million, or $1.48 per average common diluted share, compared to $1.06 for the prior quarter and $0.90 for the fourth quarter of 2016. This quarter was favorably impacted by $0.39 per share of net discrete benefits in connection with the items announced in the December 4, 2017 Form 8-K and tax reform-related items. Total revenue was stable compared to the prior quarter and increased 5% compared to the fourth quarter of 2016. The year-over-year increase was driven primarily by higher net interest income and slightly higher noninterest income. Net interest margin was 3.17% in the current quarter, up 2 basis points sequentially and up 17 basis points compared to the prior year. The year-over-year increase was driven by higher earning asset yields arising from higher benchmark interest rates, positive mix shift in the loans held for investment ("LHFI") portfolio, and higher securities AFS yields given lower premium amortization expense. Provision for credit losses decreased $41 million sequentially due to the prior quarter reserve build related to hurricanes, and decreased $22 million year-over-year due to lower net charge-offs. Noninterest expense increased 9% sequentially and year-over-year. The December 4, 2017 Form 8-K and tax reform-related items impacted noninterest expense by a net $111 million ($50 million charitable contribution to the SunTrust Foundation, $36 million net charges related to efficiency initiatives, and $25 million discretionary 401(k) contribution and other employee benefits). Excluding these discrete items, noninterest expense was relatively stable compared to the prior quarter and prior year. The efficiency and tangible efficiency ratios for the current quarter were 65.9% and 64.8%, respectively, which were unfavorably impacted by the effect of Form 8-K and tax reform-related items presented in the table on page 1. Excluding these items, the adjusted tangible efficiency ratio was 59.9% for the current quarter, compared to 59.2% for the prior quarter and 63.1% for the fourth quarter of 2016. For the full year, the efficiency and tangible efficiency ratios were 63.1% and 62.3%, respectively. The adjusted tangible efficiency ratio was 61.0%, down approximately 100 bps from 2016 as a result of positive operating leverage. Balance Sheet Average performing LHFI were stable sequentially and grew 1% year-over-year, driven primarily by growth in consumer lending. Average consumer and commercial deposits increased modestly compared to the prior quarter and 2% compared to the fourth quarter of 2016, driven largely by growth in NOW and time deposit account balances. Capital Estimated capital ratios continue to be well above regulatory requirements. The Common Equity Tier 1 ("CET1") ratio was estimated to be 9.8% as of December 31, 2017, and 9.6% on a fully phased-in basis, slightly higher than the prior quarter. During the quarter, the Company repurchased $330 million of its outstanding common stock in accordance with its 2017 Capital Plan and issued $500 million of 5.125% noncumulative perpetual preferred stock, Series H. Book value per common share was $47.94 and tangible book value per common share was $34.82, up 2% and 1%, respectively, from September 30, 2017, driven primarily by growth in retained earnings. Asset Quality Nonperforming loans ("NPLs") decreased $23 million from the prior quarter and represented 0.47% of period-end LHFI at December 31, 2017. The sequential decrease was driven primarily by continued improvements in the energy portfolio. Net charge-offs for the current quarter were $107 million, or 0.29% of total average LHFI on an annualized basis, up $29 million sequentially and down $29 million year-over-year. The sequential increase was driven by higher net charge-offs associated with C&I and consumer loans, while the year-over-year reduction was driven by overall asset quality improvements and lower energ

http://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/19/pr-newswire-suntrust-reports-fourth-quarter-and-full-year-2017-results.html

MIDEAST - Factors to watch - January 30

DUBAI, Jan 30 (Reuters) - Here are some factors that may affect Middle East stock markets on Tuesday. Reuters has not verified the press reports and does not vouch for their accuracy. INTERNATIONAL/REGIONAL * GLOBAL MARKETS-Asia stocks off record highs as Wall St flags, dollar firms on higher yields * MIDEAST STOCKS-Region mixed, Saudi’s Kingdom continues rebound after Alwaleed release * U.S. oil extends decline, weighed down by dollar, rising output * PRECIOUS-Gold drops on firmer dollar, higher bond yields * Iraq to comply with OPEC deal despite oil export capacity rise - minister * Old enmity tips Lebanon into new crisis * U.S. to resume refugee admissions from 11 ‘high-risk’ countries * Morocco’s currency move a step in right direction - IMF * Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan hope to break Nile dam talks deadlock in one month * Kremlin unfazed by Syrian opposition boycott of peace conference * Death toll rises on second day of clashes in Yemeni port of Aden EGYPT * Egyptian politician emerges as sole election challenger to Sisi * Egypt arranges five LNG cargo deliveries for Q2 -trade sources * Fossil of school bus-sized dinosaur dug up in Egyptian desert * Egypt sees growth for FY 2018-19 at 5.8 percent -minister * Eni sees East Med as key to diversifying Europe’s gas imports * Egypt orders detention of three men accused of attacking ex-anti-corruption watchdog SAUDI ARABIA * Guilt, fines remain hazy as Saudi corruption purge draws to close * BRIEF-Saudi’s Tasnee Gets Approval For Sale Of Cristal’s Titanium Dioxide Business * BRIEF-Saudi’s Mouwasat Medical Services Board Proposes FY Dividend * Saudi Arabia’s Ibrahim to keep control of broadcaster MBC - executive * Arcapita appointed advisor to HSBC Saudi for $150 mln logistics fund * BRIEF-Saudi’s Sipchem Q4 Profit Rises * BREAKINGVIEWS-MbS gains either way from Saudi anti-graft endgame * TABLE-Saudi Arabia Q4 earnings estimates (2) * TABLE-Saudi Arabia Q4 earnings estimates (1) UNITED ARAB EMIRATES * MEDIA-Abu Dhabi Investment Authority plans to expand India presence, hire country head - Mint * UAE goes to WTO over Pakistan’s duties on BOPP food packaging * First Abu Dhabi Bank’s 2017 profit crimped by merger costs * BRIEF-Dubai Islamic Bank Calls AGM to Approve Capital Increase * BRIEF-Mashreqbank Board Proposes FY Cash Dividend * Australian fund buys UAE oil storage terminal -sources * UAE’s ADNOC cuts March Murban crude allocation by 25 pct - sources * TABLE-Dubai Q4 earnings estimates * TABLE-Abu Dhabi Q4 earnings estimates QATAR * Qatar’s Commercial Bank reports Q4 profit jump, beating two forecasts * TABLE-Qatar Q4 earnings estimates KUWAIT * Kuwait projects $17 billion deficit in 2018/2019 budget * TABLE-Kuwait Q4 earnings estimates BAHRAIN * Bahrain’s Ithmaar Bank plans aggressive expansion in Pakistan * TABLE-Bahrain Q4 earnings estimates OMAN * MEDIA-Oman slaps six-month ban on hiring foreigners in 10 industries-The National * BRIEF-Bank Muscat Board Proposes FY Dividend * BRIEF-Oman’s Bank Dhofar Board Proposes FY Dividend * BRIEF-National Bank Of Oman Board Proposes FY Dividend * TABLE-Oman Q4 earnings estimates (Compiled by Dubai newsroom)

https://www.reuters.com/article/mideast-factors/mideast-factors-to-watch-january-30-idUSL8N1PP0D2

Aryzta's problems deepen as Europe, U.S. weakness leads to profit warning

January 25, 2018 / 6:34 AM / Updated 6 minutes ago Aryzta's problems deepen as Europe, U.S. weakness leads to profit warning Reuters Staff 1 Min Read Jan 25 (Reuters) - Swiss-Irish baked goods maker Aryzta AG said on Thursday 2018 core profit was expected to fall 15 percent on a like-for-like basis as recent weakness in the European and U.S. markets was not likely to improve this year. The profit warning comes two weeks after it announced the appointment of a new chief in North America, where issues with undocumented workers and a failed strategy led to Aryzta’s record $1 billion loss in 2017. The company had previously forecast 2018 earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) to be broadly in line with 2017. In Europe, Brexit-related pressures hurt its UK business, while double-digit inflation in distribution costs and higher-than-expected labour costs dent U.S. profits. (Reporting by Thyagaraju Adinarayan in Gdynia; Editing by Amrutha Gayathri)

https://www.reuters.com/article/aryzta-outlook/aryztas-problems-deepen-as-europe-u-s-weakness-leads-to-profit-warning-idUSL8N1PK0RU

Closed roof for Australian Open final draws criticism

January 28, 2018 / 9:27 AM / Updated an hour ago Cilic blames closed roof for slow start against Federer Ian Ransom 4 Min Read MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Australian Open runner-up Marin Cilic queried the decision to close the roof at Rod Laver Arena for the men’s final on Sunday and said it had contributed to his slow start in defeat to Roger Federer. Having prepared for the match exposed to the elements on a scorching hot day, Croatian Cilic lost 6-2 6-7(5) 6-3 3-6 6-1 in the much cooler indoor conditions in the evening match. Federer, who trained indoors earlier in the day, wrapped up the opening set in 24 minutes as a flustered Cilic struggled to find his range and fretted about his racket tension. “Throughout the tournament I played all my matches outdoors, also preparing (for) a hot day, 38 degrees,” the sixth seed and former U.S. Open champion Cilic told reporters. ”Then (for) the first match for the final to play with the roof closed, it’s difficult. ”I have to say that decision, could it have been different? ”I guess so. I think that it was just little bit difficult to adjust, especially the beginning of the match. “With the roof closed, it was way, way cooler than I expected. That was very, very difficult, especially for the final to be in that kind of a situation.” The retractable roofs of the main showcourts at Melbourne Park are usually kept open unless the tournament’s extreme heat policy is invoked when the temperature exceeds 40 degrees Celsius (104 F) and a key humidity threshold has been surpassed. Tournament organisers cited the ‘wet bulb globe temperature’, its humidity measure, as being above the threshold of 32.5 as their reason for the roof closure. The temperature outside, however, was 37 degrees Celsius (98.6 F) when Cilic and Federer walked out on court. Tennis - Australian Open - Men's singles final - Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, Australia, January 28, 2018. Croatia's Marin Cilic during the final against Switzerland's Roger Federer. REUTERS/Edgar Su The roof closure triggered a barrage of criticism from current and former players, with former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash saying it played right into 36-year-old Federer’s hands. “It’s an outdoor tournament -- it’s like Wimbledon. Why is the roof closed?” the Australian said during commentary for BBC radio. “The way Roger plays, he swings so hard at the ball and takes it so early, any wind or variation of the ball moving will take it away from him. It’s why he’s one of the best players ever indoors.” Other players expressed similar disdain. Slideshow (3 Images) “I can’t believe they’ve closed the roof,” British doubles player Jamie Murray, the brother of three-times grand slam champion Andy Murray, tweeted. “Absolutely ridiculous that the roof is closed for the Australian Open. GS are outdoor events. Yes it’s hot but the court is under shade and an evening match,” tweeted British former U.S. Open finalist Greg Rusedski. During the first week of the grand slam, players battled through two days of searing 40-degree heat fully exposed to the elements, as organisers declined to invoke the heat policy. A number of players criticised the policy, saying it had placed their health at risk. Federer, who claimed his sixth Australian Open title and 20th in grand slams, said he was “surprised” organisers had the heat rule in place for the night final. “I never heard that before,” he said. ”Of course, I backed myself in, sort of, indoor conditions. “I do think back that usually when I play indoors, it’s good for me. But I didn’t mind the heat, to be honest.” Editing by Amlan Chakraborty and Pritha Sarkar

https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-tennis-ausopen-roof/closed-roof-for-australian-open-final-draws-criticism-idUKKBN1FH08S

Ford's Chariot bus shuttle service to launch in London

LONDON (Reuters) - London approved on Monday Ford’s ( F.N ) plans to operate its Chariot minibus services as the automaker expands its mobility service designed to tap into growing demand in cities among those wishing to make trips rather than buy cars. Chariot will be able to operate its pre-bookable only services in Britain’s capital city for a year on three routes and nine months on a fourth route on a trial basis. Ford is trying to diversify into other modes of transportation from vehicles sold to consumers as new competitors from Alphabet’s Google ( GOOGL.O ) to Uber shake up the traditional automotive industry. Major carmakers are experimenting with mobility services, partnering with existing tech apps or developing their own offerings such as car clubs as they seek to appeal to young urbanites who have increasingly shunned vehicle ownership. “This service has the potential to provide useful transport links in the areas they will serve, largely outside central London, and we will carefully monitor this trial,” said a spokesman at regulator Transport for London (TfL). The U.S. carmaker already operates its bus service in U.S. cities such as San Francisco and Seattle, allowing passengers to book seats for journeys generally between transport hubs and to and from park and ride facilities for the last mile of a trip. The firm’s proposed routes in London include areas south of the River Thames which are not close to underground stations including near the Battersea Power Station redevelopment, according to TfL’s website. Ford welcomed TfL’s approval and said it would provide further details of the service soon. “Chariot’s commuter ride-share service will complement the existing public transport system by offering in-app ride booking for first- and last-mile commuting solutions, and the potential to reach underserved areas,” the firm said in a statement. Reporting by Costas Pitas; Editing by Alison Williams

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ford-britain-chariot/fords-chariot-bus-shuttle-service-to-launch-in-london-idUSKBN1FI24U

BioClin Therapeutics Appoints Graeme Currie, Ph.D., as Chief Operating Officer and Esteban (Steve) Abella, M.D., as Chief Medical Officer

SAN RAMON, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- BioClin Therapeutics, Inc. (BioClin), a privately-held clinical stage biotechnology company developing a first-in-class anti-FGFR3 (fibroblast growth factor receptor 3) monoclonal antibody to treat solid tumors, specifically metastatic bladder cancer, announced today the appointments of Graeme Currie, Ph.D., as Chief Operating Officer and Esteban (Steve) Abella, M.D., as Chief Medical Officer. This build out of the executive team follows the closing of a $30 million Series B financing announced last year. Dr. Currie has over 25 years of drug development experience in both pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, having held senior leadership roles at Dynavax Technologies Corp., Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Sepracor Inc. and PDL Biopharma. Dr. Abella has been actively involved in cancer clinical trials research for nearly 30 years, most recently at Gilead Sciences, Inc. and Amgen, Inc. “Graeme and Steve are tremendous additions to our team,” said Stephen Lau, Chief Executive Officer of BioClin. “Their experience in building and leading organizations, combined with their extensive work in developing and commercializing products that address important patient needs will be instrumental as we enter our next phase of growth.” “I am thrilled to join BioClin at this important time during the company’s evolution,” said Graeme Currie, Ph.D, BioClin’s Chief Operating Officer. “Developing and implementing the clinical development strategy and planning for registrational studies for B-701 for metastatic bladder cancer is our top priority. I look forward to helping advance this important therapeutic.” “I am excited to join this team of professionals who are scientifically driven to improve treatment options for patients,” said Steve Abella, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of BioClin. “I was impressed by the team’s expertise and energy, and I look forward to taking a leadership role in shaping BioClin’s clinical development strategy as we advance B-701 in the clinic.” Graeme Currie was most recently Vice President of Clinical Science and Operations at Dynavax Technologies Corp. Prior to that, he spent six years at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals as the Vice President of Clinical Project Management and Operations and oversaw operations for 16 molecules and multiple therapeutic areas. During his tenure, Graeme was closely associated with the development programs for Eylea® for Wet AMD and DME, Praluent® for hypercholesterolemia and Dupixent® for Atopic Dermatitis. Prior to Regeneron, Graeme was Vice President of Clinical Operations at Sepracor Inc. and at PDL Biopharma. Graeme also spent 6 years as a Director at Gilead Sciences Inc., working in Hepatitis developing Hepsera™ for Chronic Hepatitis B. Prior to Gilead, he had roles at IPSEN Biopharmaceuticals Inc. and Glaxo Wellcome. Graeme received a BSc from the University of Salford, and a Ph.D. in Oncology from Aston University. Esteban (Steve) Abella has been actively involved in cancer clinical trials research for nearly 30 years including most recently at Gilead Sciences Inc. At Gilead, Steve was a Senior Director leading non-hodgkin’s lymphoma and leukemia efforts, as well as serving as a core member of the oncology senior leadership team. Prior to that, he served as the Executive Director at Amgen Inc., predominately responsible for the white cell franchise (Neulasta®/Neupogen®) global development efforts across clinical research and medical affairs. His clinical experiences prior to joining industry include 15 years in academic oncology, serving as Professor of Pediatric Oncology, and Medicine at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, focused on stem cell transplantation and oncology clinical trials. Steve completed his fellowship and residency training at Wayne State University School of Medicine after graduating with a degree in medicine from the Universidad Central del Este. He attended the University of Pennsylvania for undergraduate studies. About BioClin Therapeutics, Inc. BioClin Therapeutics, Inc. is a privately-held clinical stage biotechnology company developing biologics to address medical conditions in areas of high unmet need. The company is focused on FGFR3 (fibroblast growth factor receptor 3), a driver mutation in metastatic bladder cancer and potentially other cancers. The company’s lead program, B-701, is the only targeted biologic specific for FGFR3 in clinical development. BioClin has ongoing clinical studies in metastatic bladder cancer using multiple therapeutic approaches (as B-701 monotherapy, and in combination therapies with standard-of-care chemotherapy, as well as with pembrolizumab, an immune checkpoint inhibitor). For more information, please visit BioClin’s website: www.bioclintherapeutics.com View source version on businesswire.com : http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180109005522/en/ BioClin Therapeutics, Inc. Stephen Lau Chief Executive Officer info@bioclintherapeutics.com Source: BioClin Therapeutics, Inc.

http://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/09/business-wire-bioclin-therapeutics-appoints-graeme-currie-ph-d-as-chief-operating-officer-and-esteban-steve-abella-m-d-as-chief-medical.html

Two Major Shareholders Push Apple to Study Harmful Effects of Smartphone Addiction in Children

Two Major Shareholders Push Apple to Study Harmful Effects of Smartphone Addiction in Children Christina Kilgour—Getty Images By Bloomberg 9:49 PM EST Two big shareholders of Apple (aapl) are concerned that the entrancing qualities of the iPhone have fostered a public health crisis that could hurt children—and the company as well. In a letter to the smartphone maker dated Jan. 6, activist investor Jana Partners LLC and the California State Teachers’ Retirement System urged Apple to create ways for parents to restrict children’s access to their mobile phones. They also want the company to study the effects of heavy usage on mental health. “There is a growing body of evidence that, for at least some of the most frequent young users, this may be having unintentional negative consequences,” according to the letter from the investors, who combined own about $2 billion in Apple shares. The “growing societal unease” is “at some point is likely to impact even Apple.” “Addressing this issue now will enhance long-term value for all shareholders,” the letter said. An Apple spokesman declined to comment on the letter, which was reported earlier by the Wall Street Journal . Parental Controls It’s problem most companies would kill to have: Young people liking a product too much. But as smartphones become ubiquitous, government leaders and Silicon Valley alike have wrestled for ways to limit their inherent intrusiveness. France, for instance, has moved to ban the use of smartphones in its primary and middle schools. Meanwhile, Android co-founder Andy Rubin is seeking to apply artificial intelligence to phones so that they perform relatively routine tasks without needing to be physically handled. Apple already offers some parental controls, such as the Ask to Buy feature, which requires parental approval to buy goods and services. Restrictions can also be placed on access to some apps, content and data usage. The activist pressure is the latest in a series of challenges for the tech giant. Last week, Cupertino, California-based Apple said that all of its Mac computers and iOS devices, which include both the iPhones and iPads, faced security vulnerabilities due to flawed chips made by Intel (intc) . At the tail end of 2017, the company apologized to customers for software changes that resulted in older versions of its iPhones running slower than newly introduced editions. SPONSORED FINANCIAL CONTENT

http://fortune.com/2018/01/07/apple-iphone-addiction-children-health/

THC Therapeutics becomes Millennium Blockchain

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 18, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- THC Therapeutics, Inc. (“THCT” or the “Company,”) (OTC:THCT) is pleased to announce that it is changing its direction to blockchain technology. The Company is changing its name to Millennium Blockchain ( www.mblockchain.io ) and has brought on key executives to partner with current CEO Brandon Romanek to shepherd the Company in its new direction. Millennium Blockchain is being formed as a holding company investing and developing in decentralized systems and distributed ledger technologies. As part of the transition, the Company is in preliminary discussions for legacy cannabis-related assets to be sold or spun-out. Additionally, Millennium Blockchain is forming a new board of directors and has elected a new Chairman of the Board of Directors, Enzo Villani, who has acquired a significant stake in Millennium Blockchain to become the second-largest shareholder in the Company. He is currently the Managing Director for the prestigious blockchain advisory and communications company, Transform Group International ( www.transformgroup.io ). Mr. Villani is the former Managing Director of Nasdaq and was co-founder of Nasdaq Global Corporate Solutions and has completed over $500 million in mergers and acquisitions in the technology and communications sectors. Mr. Villani was also CEO and Board Member of Equities.com . Brandon Romanek will continue as CEO and remain a member of the Board of Directors. An experienced equities and commodities trader, Mr. Romanek will focus on leading the organization, strategy, and execution. He has over 25 years of experience managing a significant healthcare business and over 20 years of experience in financial markets including money management, trading/investing of equities, options and commodities, and he was a broker/dealer in the precious metals market. A significant portion of Mr. Romanek’s net worth is held in physical precious metals. “We are excited about the new direction and the opportunity that blockchain technology will bring to our shareholders. Millennium Blockchain will focus on investing in blockchain technologies and crypto-assets focused on financial markets, healthcare, crypto-mining and high-technology,” said Brandon Romanek, CEO. Enzo Villani commented, “Our approach will be disciplined and focus on the best-of-breed companies with excellent management teams in verticals that demonstrate promise from decentralization and frictionless markets.” Millennium Blockchain will be in attendance at the North American Bitcoin Conference in Miami, Florida from January 18 th to the 19 th . About Millennium Blockchain The Company is an international holding company focused on investing in blockchain technologies and crypto-assets focused on financial markets, healthcare, crypto-mining and high-technology. The Company filed an amendment to change its name from “THC Therapeutics, Inc.” to “Millennium Blockchain, Inc.” on January 17, 2018, and filed a corporate action notification form with FINRA thereafter. http://www.mblockchain.io/ The Company has historically been focused on developing their patent-pending product, the dHydronator®, a sanitizing herb dryer. The main function of the dHydronator is to greatly accelerate the drying time of a herb while sanitizing it. The dHydronator can be used to dry a variety of herbs, and it has been specifically tested for use with cannabis, and it will reduce the drying time for cannabis from 10-14 days to less than 14 hours. For more information, visit THCTherapeutics.com . Safe Harbor Statement This press release may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws. In this context, forward-looking statements may address the Company’s expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as “anticipates”, “beliefs”, “estimates”, “expects”, “intends”, “plans”, “seeks”, “will”, and other terms with similar meaning. These forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain. Although the Company believes that the assumptions upon which its forward-looking statements based are reasonable, it can provide no assurances that these assumptions will prove to be correct. All forward-looking statements in this press release are expressly qualified by such cautionary statements, risk, and uncertainties, and by reference to the underlying assumptions. Media/Investors contact: (702) 602-8422 info@mblockchain.io Source: THC Therapeutics

http://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/18/globe-newswire-thc-therapeutics-becomes-millennium-blockchain.html

Grammy Awards TV audience drops sharply, nears record low

January 29, 2018 / 4:59 PM / Updated 34 minutes ago Grammy Awards TV audience drops sharply, nears record low Reuters Staff 2 Min Read LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The U.S. television audience for Sunday’s Grammy Awards show on CBS Corp. fell by more than eight million viewers and could be one of the lowest audiences on record, early Nielsen ratings data showed on Monday. Variety and TVLine.com reported that 17.6 million Americans tuned in for the three and a half hour broadcast, a more than 30 percent drop from 2017 when some 26.1 million television viewers watched. If the early figures are confirmed when final data comes out later on Monday, it will be the least-watched Grammy Awards show since 2008, when 17.2 million people saw the television broadcast. The lowest audience for any Grammy Awards show came in 2006, which drew an audience of 17 million. Sunday’s 60th anniversary Grammy Awards, staged in New York over three and a half hours, saw R&B singer Bruno Mars win six statuettes, while rapper Kendrick Lamar won five. Jay-Z, who had gone into the show with eight nominations, won nothing. Audiences for the Grammys had risen in 2016 and 2017. Final, official audience data for the show will be released later on Monday. Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Andrew Hay

https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-awards-grammys-ratings/grammy-awards-tv-audience-falls-sharply-to-17-6-million-viewers-idUKKBN1FI25Q

Ex-EU lawmaker Goulard to be named to French central bank post

January 17, 2018 / 9:14 AM / Updated 2 hours ago Ex-EU lawmaker Goulard to be named to French central bank post Reuters Staff 2 Min Read PARIS, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Former EU lawmaker Sylvie Goulard is set to be named deputy governor of the French central bank on Wednesday, two sources said, putting her in the frontline of European Central Bank policymaking. Goulard, 53, was a member of the European Parliament from 2009 until French President Emmanuel Macron named her defence minister following his 2017 election victory. She quit weeks into the job saying that she did not want to stay on in light of an investigation into her centre-right Modem party’s affairs in the EU parliament. In the European Parliament, Goulard was a member of the economic and monetary affairs committee and played a central role in drafting legislation on financial supervision and surveillance of fiscal discipline. Goulard is set to replace Anne Le Lorier, who along with Bank of France Governor Francois Villeroy de Galhau often represented France at the European Central Bank. Goulard’s nomination is expected to be confirmed at a French government cabinet meeting later on Wednesday, the sources said. The appointment comes ahead of an important period of decision-making in the euro zone with ECB President Mario Draghi scheduled to end his second term in November next year and changes to be made to the bank’s powerful executive board. At a time when the ECB is under pressure to appoint more women, the move could position Goulard to take over from France’s Benoit Coeure when he leaves the board in 2019. There are just two women on the ECB’s 25-member governing council and one on its six-member board. (Reporting by Leigh Thomas; additional reporting by Noah Barkin in Berlin)

https://www.reuters.com/article/france-bankoffrance/ex-eu-lawmaker-goulard-to-be-named-to-french-central-bank-post-idUSL8N1PC1VC

Procter & Gamble earnings Q2 2018

Procter & Gamble beat expectations on both the top and bottom line in its second quarter of 2018, showing recovery after organic sales lost steam in the first quarter of its fiscal year. But the company still found itself victim to the intensifying retail landscape, which contributed to declines in both its diaper and Gillette shaving business. P&G backed its sales forecast for the year but raised its estimate for core earnings per share growth for fiscal 2018 to a range of 5 percent to 8 percent from a prior range of 5 percent to 7 percent. Shares were down 1.28 percent in premarket trading. Here's how P&G did compared with what Wall Street expected: EPS: $1.19 vs. $1.14 expected according to Thomson Reuters Revenue: $17.40 billion vs. $17.39 billion expected according to Thomson Reuters "We accelerated organic sales growth and delivered strong productivity cost savings and cash flow," said David Taylor, P&G's chairman and CEO. Total net sales for the quarter were $17.4 billion, a 3 percent increase over the year prior. Reported gross margin, though, decreased 60 basis points. As competition amid retailers intensifies in the U.S., they are putting increasing pressure on products manufacturers. P&G told analysts on Tuesday it is still coping with retailers buying less inventory and discounting products, which has impacted its sales. "There continues to be significant retail competition [in the U.S.] which is forcing prices down to consumers," the company told analysts. "While that doesn't change the price that we necessarily sell products through to these retail channels, it starts driving price points in the marketplace." Net sales in P&G's grooming business, which includes Gillette shaving, dropped 3 percent. Within the segment, shave care dropped at a mid-single-digit pace, still an improvement over last quarter , when net sales of the business fell 5 percent. Sales in its baby, feminine and family care business, which includes Pampers diapers, dropped 1 percent. The business is pressured more broadly as the U.S. birth rate declines. Kimberly-Clark, which competes with P&G in diapers and paper towels, on Tuesday announced it is slashing about 13 percent of its workforce globally in a bid to cut costs as sales wane. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, CEO Tom Falk pointed to P&G's price-cutting to regain sales as part of the industry's challenge. P&G saw its strongest sales growth in beauty, which jumped 9 percent, and health care, which jumped 4 percent. Within health care, its oral care sales growth clocked in at the low single digits and its personal health care jumped high single digits. The Vicks owner said the latter was driven in part by an early and intense cold season. P&G said the recent change in U.S. tax law resulted in a net benefit of roughly $135 million in the latest period. It expects that to continue for fiscal 2018 and increase in the future. It also took a provisional net charge of $628 million for the quarter, due to the new tax law. Core earnings per share, which excludes certain items such as the temporary impact of the tax law, were $1.19, an increase of 10 percent versus the prior year. P&G attributed this increase to a jump in net sales and a lower core effective tax rate.

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/23/procter-gamble-earnings-q2-2018.html

Kellermeyer Bergensons Services Announces Acquisition of East Coast/National Maintenance Services

OCEANSIDE, Calif., Jan. 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Kellermeyer Bergensons Services, LLC (KBS), the largest provider of technology-enabled, integrated interior and exterior property services to multi-region and multi-site customers in North America, today announced the acquisition of East Coast Lot and Pavement Maintenance (East Coast)/National Maintenance Systems (NMS), an independently-owned exterior facility services company headquartered in Rhode Island. The transaction closed on Jan. 5, 2018. Mark Minasian, Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of KBS stated, "We are very excited about the acquisition of East Coast/NMS. They are a leader in snow and ice management, landscaping and parking lot maintenance services primarily in the Northeast and Midwest regions. This expansion by KBS into complementary exterior services in very attractive end markets further strengthens our commercial value proposition, offering our customers the largest, most reliable integrated facility support solutions platform for interior, exterior or bundled services across North America." East Coast/NMS offers a full line of on-site maintenance services including regenerative air and brush truck sweeping, snow and ice removal, landscaping, power washing, asphalt repair, line striping and crack filling. Minasian continued, "Uri Ben-Yashar, the Founder-CEO of East Coast/NMS, is a top tier operator who, after nearly three decades of dedication, has refined the predictive, efficient, simultaneous and scaled delivery of on-demand snow and ice management services. He will continue to lead the division going forward and we are very excited to welcome Uri and his talented team to the KBS family of companies." Ben-Yashar said, "I am very happy to be partnering with KBS. I've had the opportunity to get to know Mark and his team over the past two years. After decades of operating independently and establishing our brand identity, I became very excited about the opportunities that a merger with KBS would provide for our people and customers. We will keep our brand identity while having the coverage and access to KBS's resources. With KBS's support and our knowledge of the exterior services market, we have now entered the next phase in our growth and development, and I am very excited about the future." Minasian added, "Ice and snow management services are mission critical for customers who depend on East Coast/NMS to do the toughest jobs in the very toughest conditions to keep their properties safe and operating during major weather events. By merging with KBS, East Coast/NMS customers can now have even greater confidence that the service support as well as financial and operational underpinnings of East Coast/NMS are stronger than ever. Major hospitals with emergency vehicle flows, massive regional U.S. Postal Service distribution centers moving millions of parcels per day, major regional banks and commercial clients all depend on the expert team at East Coast/NMS. During spring and summer, East Coast/NMS's plows give way to exterior landscape and parking lot maintenance services in a very efficient cycle of year-round stewardship for exterior property environments." Hoon Cho, Managing Director at GI Partners, a leading San Francisco-based private equity firm and KBS sponsor, stated, "East Coast/NMS marks the fourth acquisition by KBS in the past year, with more expected to close as we progress through 2018. The serial completion of these deals comes as a result of a very focused and disciplined strategic and operational path the company undertook over the past three years resulting in KBS becoming the acquirer of choice for regional facility support service providers. We congratulate Mark and the KBS team on the acquisition of East Coast/National Maintenance Systems and welcome Uri and his team into KBS." About East Coast / National Maintenance Services East Coast Lot and Pavement Maintenance (East Coast) and National Maintenance Systems (NMS) deliver complete exterior maintenance services for clients nationwide. Our services concentrate on exterior maintenance such as snow plowing, snow displacement, de-icing, landscaping, irrigation systems, power washing, parking lot sweeping and more. We have a dedicated staff with more than 25 years of experience who provide dedicated oversight of our own employees as well as a network of vendors to ensure your property is maintained to the highest standards and your business remains open, even during inclement weather. Headquartered in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, East Coast/NMS has satellite offices in Connecticut, New Hampshire and New York. For more information, visit econsite.com and nationalmaintsys.com . About KBS Kellermeyer Bergensons Services, LLC (KBS) is the largest provider of technology-enabled, integrated interior and exterior property services to multi-region and multi-site customers in North America. With more than 41,000 active customer locations in all 50 U.S. states, Canada, and Puerto Rico, KBS sets the industry standard for delivering consistently high quality, compliant and cost-effective service solutions. Based in Oceanside, Calif., the company is majority owned by GI Partners. For more information, visit kbs-services.com . About GI Partners GI Partners is a leading private investment firm based in San Francisco. The firm has raised over $16 billion in capital through private equity and real estate strategies from recognized institutional investors across the globe. GI Partners' private equity team is active in several sectors, including IT Infrastructure, Healthcare, Software, and Services. For more information on GI Partners and its entire portfolio, please visit gipartners.com . Contacts: Andi Murray, 760-477-9207 (o), 202-329-7798 (c) or amurray@kbs-services.com Nathaniel Shaw, 828-244-7042 or nshaw@kbs-services.com View original content: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kellermeyer-bergensons-services-announces-acquisition-of-east-coastnational-maintenance-services-300580777.html SOURCE Kellermeyer Bergensons Services, LLC

http://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/10/pr-newswire-kellermeyer-bergensons-services-announces-acquisition-of-east-coastnational-maintenance-services.html

Canada debates new harassment legislation amid #MeToo storm

January 29, 2018 / 11:55 PM / Updated 41 minutes ago Canada debates new harassment legislation amid #MeToo storm Reuters Staff 3 Min Read OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada’s parliament began debate on Monday on new legislation to tighten workplace harassment rules, including those governing politicians, as allegations of sexual misconduct mounted against lawmakers on both sides of the political spectrum. The bill, introduced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government in November, gained a new prominence after a federal cabinet minister and two provincial party leaders stepped down last week after being accused of inappropriate behaviour. While the proposed law will govern all federal workplaces, including private businesses, the environment among political staffers in Ottawa was in focus as the #MeToo social media movement gained momentum in Canada. “It clearly is a crisis in this workplace,” Employment Minister Patty Hajdu told reporters outside the House of Commons. “We talk a lot about getting women into politics, and if we can’t actually protect the women staffers in our own workplaces, we have a long ways to go.” Last week, Trudeau announced that federal Cabinet Minister Kent Hehr, 48, had resigned pending an investigation into allegations that he made inappropriate comments to women. That announcement followed the resignation of Patrick Brown and Jamie Baillie, the leaders of the Progressive Conservatives in the provinces of Ontario and Nova Scotia, respectively. The president of Ontario’s Progressive Conservative party, Rick Dykstra, also quit Sunday after Maclean’s magazine published a story containing allegations that Dykstra had sexually assaulted a young political staff member during his time as a federal member of parliament. “[O]ver the next couple of months we will see the party coalesce around a new Leader. As this process unfolds, I have made the decision to step aside as President and take a step back for someone else to lead us through the hard work,” Dykstra said on Twitter. He did not respond to a Reuters request for comment Monday. The government’s legislation would outline procedures from employers to deal with allegations of harassment and bullying, add the option of an outside investigator, and enforce privacy rules to protect victims. Previously, if an employee had a complaint about a member of Parliament, they had to work through the party or the speaker of the House of Commons to resolve the issue. In the United States, sexual harassment allegations have also engulfed men in politics, business and the workplace, inspired by the #MeToo social media movement supported by victims of sexual harassment or abuse. Reporting by Andrea Hopkins in Ottawa and Anna Mehler Paperny in Toronto; editing by Clive McKeef

https://in.reuters.com/article/canada-politics-misconduct/canada-debates-new-harassment-legislation-amid-metoo-storm-idINKBN1FI2V9

Reuters Business News Schedule at 1600 GMT/11 AM ET

Editor: Steve Orlofsky +1 646 223 6200 Global Picture Desk: +65 6870 3775 Global Graphics Desk: + 65 6870 3595 (All times GMT / ET) Receive this schedule by email: mediaexpress.reuters.com TOP STORIES JPMorgan profit beats on higher interest rates; debt trading down JPMorgan Chase & Co beats Wall Street’s fourth-quarter earnings expectations and says tax law changes will help future profits by not only reducing the amount it pays the federal government but also by stimulating business. (JPMORGAN-RESULTS/ (UPDATE 4), moving shortly, by Sweta Singh and David Henry, 670 words) Wells Fargo adds $3.25 bln to consumer legal bill in 4th qtr Wells Fargo & Co set aside $3.25 billion in the fourth quarter to cover legal expenses related to probes into its mortgage and sales practices, but its 2018 cost outlook meets analyst expectations as the bank tries to rebound from the scandal in its consumer banking business. (WELLS FARGO-RESULTS/ (UPDATE 3), moved, by Sweta Singh and David Henry, 580 words) Rents boosted U.S. core CPI; retail sales rose solidly WASHINGTON - Underlying U.S. consumer prices increased the most in 11 months in December amid rising costs of rental accommodations and healthcare, bolstering expectations that inflation will accelerate this year. (USA-ECONOMY/ (WRAPUP 2), moving shortly, by Lucia Mutikani, 720 words) EXPLAINER-Investors to scour outlooks for U.S. companies’ tax cut plans Corporate results for 2017’s final quarter will start pouring in next week and are expected to be laden with one-time charges as U.S. companies begin to cope with tax code changes, including a one-time tax on trillions of dollars in profits held overseas. (USA-RESULTS/OUTLOOK (EXPLAINER, GRAPHIC), moved, 710 words) Corporations may dodge billions in U.S. taxes through new loophole -experts A loophole in the new U.S. tax law could allow multinational corporations like Apple Inc to avoid paying billions of dollars in taxes on profits stashed overseas, according to experts. (USA-TAX/REPATRIATION (REPEAT), moved, by David Morgan, 650 words) MARKETS Euro soars to 3-year high, stocks shatter records LONDON - Record high world stocks head for an eighth straight week of gains, while the euro sails to a three-year high as progress on forming a German government added to signs the ECB may accelerate an end to its stimulus. (GLOBAL-MARKETS/ (WRAPUP 7, PIX), updated throughout the day, 810 words) + See also: - USA-STOCKS/ (UPDATE 2), updated throughout the day, 420 words) Oil retreats from $70 highs but set for fourth week of gains LONDON - Oil prices ease after hitting a three-year high of more than $70 a barrel the previous day, but the remained on track for a fourth straight week of gains. (GLOBAL-OIL/ (UPDATE 7), updated throughout the day, 400 words) ANALYSIS Drugmakers see a pricing blueprint in an $850,000 gene therapy Global drugmakers are looking to a tiny biotech’s $850,000 therapy for a rare type of blindness as a model for getting paid for highly expensive – and effective – new medicines. (HEALTHCARE-CONFERENCE/PRICING (ANALYSIS), moved, by Caroline Humer, 920 words) ECONOMY China’s trade boom hits speed bump as Dec import growth slows sharply BEIJING - China’s export and import growth slowed in December after surging in the previous month, adding to signs of ebbing economic momentum as the government extends a crackdown on financial risks and factory pollution. (CHINA-ECONOMY/TRADE (UPDATE 2, PIX), moved, 740 words) Japan’s retailers struggle to raise prices, even as economy gains momentum TOKYO - Japan’s economy is gathering steam, profits are at record levels and companies are poised to raise wages — yet retailers and restaurant chains are struggling to lift prices for fear of losing customers conditioned by nearly two decades of deflation. (JAPAN-PRICES/, moved, by Sam Nussey and Stanley White, 790 words) COMPANIES BlackRock hits record $6 trillion, helped by Trump tax law NEW YORK - BlackRock Inc charges past a record $6 trillion in assets, its profit beating Wall Street forecasts, as investors flood into the relatively low-cost funds of the world’s largest asset manager. (BLACKROCK-RESULTS/ (UPDATE 4), moved, by Trevor Hunnicutt, 450 words) No pedal to the metal in GM’s planned self-driving Cruise AV car General Motors Co is seeking U.S. government approval for a fully autonomous car - one without a steering wheel, brake pedal or accelerator pedal - to enter the automaker’s first commercial ride-sharing fleet in 2019. (GM-SELFDRIVING/ (PIX), moved, by Nick Carey and Paul Lienert, 570 words) Puma shares slump as luxury group Kering plans spin-off PARIS/BERLIN - Puma shares tumble after French parent Kering says it will spin off the German sportswear group to its shareholders and focus solely on its luxury fashion and jewelry labels. (KERING-PUMA DE/SPIN-OFF (UPDATE 2, PIX), moved, by Sarah White and Emma Thomasson, 620 words) Facebook to emphasize friends, not news, in series of changes SAN FRANCISCO/LONDON - Facebook Inc begins to change the way it filters posts and videos on its centerpiece News Feed, the start of what Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg says will be a series of changes in the design of the world’s largest social network. (FACEBOOK-ZUCKERBERG/ (UPDATE 1, PIX), moved, by David Ingram and Paul Sandle, 500 words) ALSO IN THE NEWS Uproar over crackdown on cryptocurrencies divides South Korea SEOUL - With a tech-savvy population quick to adopt the latest gadgets and a young generation facing dim prospects in the conventional workplace, South Korea has been a fertile ground for virtual currencies. (SOUTHKOREA-BITCOIN/ (PIX), moved, by Cynthia Kim and Heekyong Yang, 790 words) + See also: CANADA-BITCOIN/CHINA (PIX), moved, by Allison Lampert, Alexandra Harney and Brenda Goh, 830 words

https://www.reuters.com/article/business-news-schedule-at-1600-gmt-11-am/reuters-business-news-schedule-at-1600-gmt-11-am-et-idUSL1N1P70WO

Trump should apologize for any vulgar language, says Haiti's ambassador to U.S.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Haiti’s ambassador to Washington on Friday called on U.S. President Donald Trump to apologize if he used vulgar language to describe Haitians and other immigrants in a White House meeting with U.S. lawmakers over an immigration overhaul plan. “We hope he didn’t say those things. If he did, we just hope he apologies, not just to the Haitian community but to the American people,” Ambassador Paul Altidor said in an interview on MSNBC, adding that Trump’s reported comments at Thursday’s meeting were “regrettable” and “counterproductive” to U.S.-Haiti relations. Reporting by Susan Heavey; Editing by David Alexander

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-immigration-haiti-diplomacy/trump-should-apologize-for-any-vulgar-language-says-haitis-ambassador-to-u-s-idUSKBN1F127Z

Next-Generation AI Company Graphen Expands Leadership Team

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Graphen, Inc., a startup building next-generation AI platforms inspired by full brain functionality and generating novel industry solutions, today announced an expansion of its leadership team. Mr. Oscar Tseng, a seasoned technology industry executive, joined the company as the General Manager of Graphen Asia, based in Taiwan. Dr. Terence Lim, a former Managing Director at Goldman Sachs, is joining Graphen as a Distinguished Research Scientist at the global headquarters in New York. Oscar Tseng has 23 years of software leadership experience in Silicon Valley, Taipei, Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Singapore and Seoul. He was the SVP of Technology at Far Eastern Retail Group, driving Smart Retail. Before that, Mr. Tseng was the CTO of Eastern Media Group, leading development of E-commerce, Digital Media and Marketing Automation products, managing over 250 staff. He was a Sr. Director of Product and Engineering at Yahoo, managing Asia Pacific teams and contributed to the construction of Yahoo Global Media and Video Platforms that serve hundreds of millions of users. Mr. Tseng worked in Silicon Valley for over 13 years building internet searches for business intelligence and enterprise applications including online catalogue, procurement, supply chain and database systems. Mr. Tseng holds a B.S. from National Taiwan University, an M.S. from Stanford University (both in Computer Science) and an M.B.A. from Santa Clara University. He brings deep knowledge and rich leadership insights to help Graphen be better positioned for expansion in Asia. Terence Lim previously worked at the Goldman Sachs headquarters for 12 years and held positions including Managing Director, Quantitative Investment Strategies and Senior Portfolio Manager in global market-neutral and emerging-market quantitative equities. He was a Visiting Assistant Professor at Dartmouth College, teaching M.B.A. courses on Quantitative Analysis of Financial Markets, and was a Manager at Koeneman Capital Management developing codes to automate quantitative investment analysis. Dr. Lim was the Manager of Standards and Measurement at the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy, a member of the MIT Sloan School of Management, Finance Group Advisory Board and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Investments Committee. He holds a Ph.D. in Finance from MIT, an M.S. in Computer Science and Machine Learning from Columbia University, an M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University and a dual B.S. in Engineering and Economics from UPenn Wharton School. With his extensive experience in finance and machine intelligence, he will lead advanced research at Graphen for AI investment solutions. “We are excited to have these two leaders join Graphen. Oscar brings a strong history of building and managing cross-culture teams in product engineering and supporting hundreds of millions of worldwide customers. Terence has an exceptional track record in the finance industry and AI, particularly in Investment Strategy, modern Machine Learning and advanced Big Data technologies. They will play key roles in helping us achieve our goals of advancing fundamental Artificial Intelligence science and technologies, ensuring Graphen’s state-of-the-art work meets world-class expectations,” says Dr. Ching-Yung Lin, Founder and CEO of Graphen, Inc., Fellow of IEEE and Adjunct Professor of Columbia University. “I look forward to working with both Oscar and Terrence as we continue our mission to understand intelligence and create solutions that impact real life.” About Graphen Graphen builds next-generation artificial intelligence platforms based on network graphs to mimic full brain functionality and create novel industry solutions. Headquartered in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, the company is currently focused on finance and health care. Graphen's three main offerings are the Ardi AI platform, the Anita AI trader and the Adam AI robot. They are built upon advanced R&D of Graphen technologies in Linked Big Data, Advanced Visualization, Autonomous Learning, Cognitive Feeling, Machine Reasoning, Strategic Thinking, Human Understanding and Prediction. Graphen strives to make innovative AI solutions available to its clients and aims to solve real-life challenges and make a difference in the world. Current solutions include core-banking-monitoring, cognitive cybersecurity, non-performing-loan prediction, anti-money-laundering, market intelligence, predictive maintenance, etc. Learn more at www.graphen.ai . View source version on businesswire.com : http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180117005423/en/ Graphen, Inc. US : Elaine Tapia, +1 212-221-0092 elan@graphen.ai or China : Shuang Yu, +86 132 4874 8969 shuangyu@graphen.ai or Taiwan : Eagle Chu, +886 70-1010-3775 eaglechu@graphen.ai or HK : Edward Shen, +852 5392 6568 edshen@graphen.ai Source: Graphen, Inc.

http://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/17/business-wire-next-generation-ai-company-graphen-expands-leadership-team.html

Two shells from Syria hit southeastern Turkey: Anadolu

January 2, 2018 / 3:19 PM / in 5 hours Two shells from Syria hit southeastern Turkey: Anadolu Reuters Staff 2 Min Read ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Two artillery shells from Syria hit Turkey’s southeastern province of Hatay on Tuesday and Turkish border troops fired back, the state-run Anadolu agency said. The shells came from an area of Syria controlled by forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Anadolu said, adding that there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties after the shells hit a rural area of the border district of Yayladagi. Last week, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan called Syrian President Assad a terrorist and said it was impossible for peace efforts in Syria to continue if he did not leave power. Turkey has demanded the removal of Assad from power and backed rebels fighting to overthrow him, but it had toned down its rhetoric since it started working with Assad’s allies Russia and Iran for a political resolution. Turkey now says its main concerns in Syria are combating both Islamist militants and Kurdish YPG militia fighters it considers allies of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) which has fought a decades-long insurgency in southeastern Turkey. Writing by Ezgi Erkoyun; Editing by Peter Graff

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-turkey/two-shells-from-syria-hit-southeastern-turkey-anadolu-idUSKBN1ER19A

Chinese high-speed train fire triggers evacuation

46 AM / Updated 16 minutes ago Chinese high-speed train fire triggers evacuation BEIJING (Reuters) - A fire onboard a Chinese high-speed train forced passengers to evacuate on Thursday, the Shanghai Railway Bureau said, with an electrical installation thought to be at fault. No one was hurt. A video clip posted on state-run Xinhua News Agency’s microblog account showed flames and black smoke rising from the second car of the train which was en route to the scenic eastern city of Hangzhou from coastal Qingdao to the north. Passengers evacuated at the station in Dingyuan, in Anhui province. The railway bureau declined to comment on how many passengers were on board or whether the fire led to delays or cancellations. China National Radio said at least 17 trains were delayed. Reporting by Lusha Zhang and Se Young Lee; Editing by Nick Macfie

https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-china-accidents-train/chinese-high-speed-train-fire-triggers-evacuation-idUKKBN1FE12C

Exclusive: India's mountain of soured bank loans shrinks from record peak

MUMBAI (Reuters) - India’s stock of soured bank loans shrank slightly in the quarter to September last year, the first pullback since a drive to clean up record levels of bad debt began in 2015 and signaling that tighter rules and a new bankruptcy code may be starting to show results. Stressed loans - which include non-performing as well as restructured or rolled-over loans - eased 0.4 percent from three months earlier to 9.46 trillion rupees ($148.3 billion) at the end of September, according to unpublished central bank data reviewed by Reuters. The last data seen by Reuters showed soured loans hit a record 9.5 trillion rupees as of end-June last year, accounting for 12.6 percent of total loans. The new data shows that the ratio declined to 12.2 percent in the period to end-September. That would be the first decline in soured assets since at least 2015, according to quarterly data collected by Reuters. On an annual basis, stressed assets have risen steadily since the year to March 2006. Banks have seen their soured loans nearly double in the past four years as a prolonged economic slowdown took its toll on the ability of companies to repay debt. Profligate lending and poor due diligence have also been blamed for the surge. In late 2015, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) began a major asset quality review amid allegations that banks were hiding the extent of the bad debts on their books. The central bank last year ordered banks to push some 40 of the country’s biggest corporate defaulters into bankruptcy proceedings through greater powers given to it as part of the government’s banking sector reforms program. The government has also announced a $33 billion recapitalization of the state-run banks that account for the bulk for the soured loans. “The view is that the stressed assets ratio will not go up sharply from current levels. We expect asset-quality parameters to stabilize in due course before moving lower,” said Jobin Jacob, an associate director at Fitch Ratings. “The capital that has come in is a big positive and will bolster state banks’ ability to absorb losses that are likely to ensue from non-performing loan resolution”, Jacob said, adding the rating agency would be watching the asset quality closely. The government on Wednesday announced the first tranche of the capital injection program, pledging to inject nearly $14 billion into 20 state banks by March. [nL4N1PJ3UJ] Stressed loans at the country’s 21 state-run banks were 8.25 trillion rupees at end-September, or 16.2 percent of their total loans, according to the data received through a right-to-information request. Private sector banks had 4.65 percent of their total loans classified as stressed amounting to 1.06 trillion rupees as of Sept. 30. Bad loans at foreign banks’ Indian operations amounted to 148.52 billion rupees, or 4.2 percent of their total loans. Loans that had been overdue for between 60 days and 90 days, and are at the highest risk of default, also eased to 1.53 trillion rupees as of end-September, from 1.63 trillion rupees at end-June, the data showed. ($1 = 63.8050 Indian rupees) Reporting by Devidutta Tripathy; Editing by Euan Rocha and Alex Richardson

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-banks-badloans-exclusive/exclusive-indias-mountain-of-soured-bank-loans-shrinks-from-record-peak-idUSKBN1FE1V9

Tupperware Brands Reports Fourth Quarter 2017 Results; Declares Regular Quarterly Dividend

ORLANDO, Fla., Jan. 31, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- (NYSE: TUP) Tupperware Brands Corporation today announced fourth quarter 2017 operating results. Rick Goings, Chairman and CEO, commented, "Our local currency sales came in 1-point under our October guidance range. Overall, our top-line did accelerate on a sequential basis after adjusting for calendar shifts, in connection with having an additional week in the fourth quarter of 2016, and the closure of Beauticontrol. China's significant growth trajectory continued, while Brazil and Tupperware Mexico grew nicely, demonstrating resilience in the face of tough externals coming out of the third quarter of 2017. Adjusted earnings per share was 6-cents above the high-end of our range in local currency after a 1-cent drag from foreign exchange rates versus October guidance." Goings continued, "Our re-engineering program to revitalize operations and improve the cost structure, primarily in Europe, continues to progress. Globally, we continue efforts to evolve our relationship-selling business model to include greater access to our powerful brands and innovative products through the use of digital tools, branded contact points and a relevant earning opportunity for our growing sales force of 3.2 million." Fourth Quarter Executive Summary - (Comparisons with Fourth Quarter 2016) Net sales were $588.6 million, down 2% (4% local currency). On a Comparable Basis, adjusting for the impacts of the 53rd week in 2016 and the closure of Beauticontrol, local currency sales were estimated to be up 3% ++ . Emerging markets**, accounting for 67% of sales, were up 2% (1% local currency). On a Comparable Basis, local currency sales in the emerging markets increased 7% ++ . The most significant contributions to the fourth quarter growth in local currency sales were in Brazil, China and Tupperware Mexico, partially offset by India and Indonesia. Established market sales decreased 9% (14% local currency). On a Comparable Basis, local currency sales in the established markets decreased 5% ++ . The local currency sales decreases were most significant in France, Germany and Italy. GAAP net loss and diluted loss per share were $326.5 million and $6.41, versus net income and diluted earnings per share of $79.0 million and $1.55 in 2016, respectively. "Items" in the 2017 quarter included non-cash, income tax charges related to the enactment of the new U.S. tax law of $375 million, or $7.36 per share, and pre-tax costs in connection with the Company's re-engineering program of $22 million, or $0.40 in 2017, versus $0.04 in 2016. Adjusted, diluted earnings per share of $1.59 was 10% higher (6% local currency). This was 6-cents above the high-end of the October guidance range. Versus the October guidance, there was a 1-cent negative impact on adjusted, diluted earnings per share comparison from net weaker foreign exchange rates, while there was a 5-cent benefit versus the same period in 2016. Total sales force of 3.2 million was up 3%, including a 1-point negative impact from removing the Beauticontrol sales force. Average active sellers in the fourth quarter was down 3%, including a negative 3-point impact related to Beauticontrol. This was a 3-point improvement from the third quarter after adjusting for Beauticontrol. Fourth Quarter Business Highlights - (Comparisons with Fourth Quarter 2016) Europe: Segment sales were down 3% (10% local currency). Comparable Basis: down 5% ++ . Emerging markets in Europe were down 2% (3% local currency), mainly in Tupperware South Africa, down 7% (10% local currency), partially offset by CIS, up 18% (13% local currency). Established markets were down 4% (13% local currency), in part, due to service issues in connection with the pending closure of the French supply chain facility, most significantly in Germany, up 1% (down 9% local currency), France, down 6% (15% local currency), and Italy, down 12% (20% local currency). Asia Pacific: Segment sales were down 2% (4% local currency). Comparable Basis: up 2% ++ . Emerging markets in Asia Pacific were down 1% (3% local currency), reflecting sales in China, up 33% (28% local currency) on the strength of significantly more members and continued leveraging of the product portfolio, digital technologies and its 6,100 studios (11% advantage over 2016). India was down 19% (23% local currency), reflecting continued challenges with the sales force size in light of the government direct selling guidelines, along with a negative 6% impact from the goods and services tax effective in July 2017. Indonesia was down 21% (20% local currency) from fewer active sellers. North America: Segment sales were down 7% (8% local currency), including 8-points of an impact from Beauticontrol closure. Comparable Basis: up 4% ++ . Tupperware United States and Canada sales were down 2% (3% local currency), including a negative timing shift. Tupperware Mexico sales were up 13% (10% local currency) and Fuller Mexico sales were down 1% (5% local currency), despite impacts from natural disasters at the end of the third quarter 2017. South America: Segment sales grew 6% (10% local currency). Comparable Basis: up 16% ++ . Brazil was up 4% (5% local currency), leveraging a 16% sales force size advantage to overcome challenges in the consumer spending environment. Sales in Argentina were even with 2016 (up 16% local currency). Local currency comparison mainly reflected price increases related to the highly inflationary environment. Revitalization Program Under the Company's revitalization plan announced in July 2017, it expects to incur a total of $100 to $110 million in pretax costs, of which $65 million was recorded in 2017. The Company expects to incur an additional $30 million in 2018. Cash outflows associated with the overall program are expected to total $90 to $100 million, including $13 million paid in 2017 and $70 million expected in 2018. Both the cost and cash flow are before related asset sales that could bring proceeds of up to $50 to $60 million over time. The program is expected to generate about $35 million of annualized benefits once fully implemented. Other than an increase in expected proceeds from the sale of related assets, the amounts associated with the program have not changed since it was announced. The Company realized a small benefit in 2017 and expects to realize about two-thirds of the annualized benefit in 2018. After reinvestment, a mid-teen dollar benefit is expected in 2018. In addition, there will be a $2.6 million benefit versus 2017, of not having operating losses from Beauticontrol in the first half of 2018. U.S Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the "Tax Act") In December 2017, the U.S. government enacted the Tax Act that significantly changed the U.S. corporate income tax system by, among other things, lowering the U. S. corporate income tax rate and implementing a territorial tax system. Upon enactment in the fourth quarter of 2017, the Company recorded an estimate of non-cash, income tax charges of $375 million. The changes included in the Tax Act are broad and complex. The final transition impacts may differ from the above estimate, possibly materially, due to, among other things, changes in interpretations; legislative action, including U.S. Treasury regulations and guidance; changes in accounting standards or related interpretations; and updates or changes to estimates the Company has utilized to calculate the transition impacts, including impacts from changes to earnings estimates. A different amount than reflected in this release could be recorded related to transition impacts in the Company's 2017 audited financial statements included in its Form 10-K expected to be filed in late February, and/or additional transition-related amounts could be recorded in the Company's 2018 financial statements. 2018 Outlook Based on current business trends and foreign currency rates, the Company's first quarter and fiscal 2018 full year outlook is provided below. Company Level 13 Weeks Ended 13 Weeks 52 Weeks Ended 52 Weeks Mar. 31, 2018 Ended Dec. 29, 2018 Ended Low High Apr. 1, 2017 Low High Dec 30, 2017 USD Sales Growth vs Prior Year 1 % 3 % 6 % 2 % 4 % 2 % GAAP EPS $0.77 $0.82 $0.93 $4.50 $4.65 ($5.22) GAAP Pre-Tax ROS 9.9 % 10.4 % 11.6 % 13.9 % 14.1 % 8.2 % Local Currency + Sales Growth vs Prior Year (3) % (1) % 6 % — % 2 % 1 % EPS Excluding Items* $1.01 $1.06 $1.01 $5.09 $5.24 $4.84 Pre-Tax ROS Excluding Items* 12.7 % 13.1 % 12.5 % 15.5 % 15.7 % 14.6 % FX Impact on EPS Comparison (a) $0.06 $0.06 $0.14 $0.14 (a) Impact of changes in foreign currency versus prior year is updated monthly and posted at: Tupperware Brands Foreign Exchange Translation Impact Update. Full Year 2018 There is a negative 1.7 and 1.4 point impact in the 2018 first quarter and full year sales comparisons, respectively, from the closure of Beauticontrol in 2017. Tax rate estimated at 27.8% on a U.S. GAAP basis and 27.0% excluding items. Excludes Orlando, Florida land sales and revitalization program related asset sales that may occur. Segment Level For the full year, sales are expected to be up by a mid-single digit in dollars (down 1 to 3% local currency) in Europe; up by a low-single digit in dollars (down 1 to 3% local currency) in Asia Pacific; about even in dollars (even to down 2% local currency) in North America, including a 6% negative impact from the closure of Beauticontrol; and up by a mid-single digit in dollars (11 to 13% local currency) in South America. Segment profit return on sales, excluding items, is expected to be up about 1½ points in Europe, to increase a ½ point Asia Pacific, to increase almost 2 points in North America and to be about even in South America. Dividend Declaration The Company's Board of Directors declared today the Company's regular quarterly dividend. The dividend declared was 68 cents per share, even with the previous quarter. It is payable on April 5, 2018 to shareholders of record as of March 20, 2018. * See Non-GAAP Financial Measures Reconciliation Schedules. ** The Company classifies established market units as those operating in Western Europe, including Scandinavia, the United States, Canada, Australia and Japan and its remaining units as emerging market units. + Local currency changes are measured by comparing current year results with those of the prior year translated at the current year's foreign exchange rates. ++ Includes the Company's assessment of the impact on the comparison of fourth quarter 2016 sales results having one additional week and the related calendar shift benefit into the first quarter, from the fourth quarter, of 2017, as well as the impact of no longer having Beauticontrol sales after the closure in the third quarter of 2017 (defined as Comparable Basis). Fourth Quarter Earnings Conference Call Tupperware Brands will conduct a conference call today, Wednesday, January 31, 2018, at 8:30 am Eastern time. The conference call will be webcast and accessible, along with a copy of this news release and slides presented during the conference call, on www.tupperwarebrands.com . Tupperware Brands Corporation, through an independent sales force of 3.2 million, is the leading global marketer of innovative, premium products across multiple brands utilizing social selling. Product brands and categories include design-centric preparation, storage and serving solutions for the kitchen and home through the Tupperware brand and beauty and personal care products through the Avroy Shlain, Fuller Cosmetics, NaturCare, Nutrimetics and Nuvo brands. The Company's stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: TUP). Statements contained in this release, which are not historical fact and use predictive words such as "estimates", "outlook", "guidance", "expects", "target" or "will" are forward-looking statements. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that include impairment and other charges related to purchase accounting goodwill and restructuring actions, enactment related and ongoing impacts related to the Tax Act, recruiting and activity of the Company's independent sales forces relating to governmental actions and otherwise, the success of new product introductions and promotional programs, governmental approvals of materials for use in food containers and beauty, personal care nutraceutical products, the success of buyers in obtaining financing or attracting tenants for commercial and residential developments, the effects of economic and political conditions generally and foreign exchange risk in particular and other risks detailed in the Company's periodic reports as filed in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Company updates each month the impact of changes in foreign exchange rates versus the prior year, posting it on Tupperware Brands Foreign Exchange Translation Impact Update . Other than updating for changes in foreign currency exchange rates, the Company does not intend to update forward-looking information, except through its quarterly earnings releases, unless it expects diluted earnings per share for the current quarter, excluding items impacting comparability and changes versus its guidance of the impact of changes in foreign exchange rates, to be significantly below its previous guidance. Non-GAAP Financial Measures The Company has utilized non-GAAP financial measures in this release, which are provided to assist readers' understanding of the Company's results of operations. These amounts exclude certain items that at times materially impact the comparability of the Company's results of operations. The adjusted information is intended to be indicative of the Company's primary operations, and to assist readers in evaluating performance and analyzing trends across periods. These results should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, results reported in accordance with GAAP. The non-GAAP financial measures include related to sales adjustments to remove the impact of the 53 rd week in the Company's 2016 fiscal calendar and the impact of the 2017 closure of Beauticontrol. On comparisons related to profit, the non-GAAP financial measures exclude gains from the sale of property, plant and equipment and insurance settlements related to casualty losses, other income in connection with real estate related operations, inventory obsolescence and operating losses in conjunction with decisions to exit, wind-down or significantly restructure businesses along with asset sales related to exited businesses, certain asset retirement obligations, re-engineering including the exit of businesses and fixed asset impairment charges, pension settlements and significant discrete impacts of new tax laws upon adoption. While the Company is engaged in a multi-year program to sell land adjacent to its Orlando, Florida headquarters, and also disposes of other excess land and facilities periodically, these activities are not part of its primary business operations. Additionally, amounts recognized in any given period are not indicative of amounts that may be recognized in any particular future period. For this reason, these amounts are excluded as indicated. The Company excludes significant charges related to casualty losses caused by significant weather events, fires or similar circumstances. It also excludes any related gains resulting from the settlement of associated insurance claims. While these types of events can and do recur periodically, they are excluded from indicated financial information due to their distinction from ongoing business operations, inherent volatility and impact on the comparability of earnings across periods. The Company periodically records exit costs accounted for using the applicable accounting guidance for exit or disposal cost obligations and other amounts related to rationalizing its supply chain operations and other re-engineering activities, including the exit of businesses and upon liquidation of operations in a country, the recognition in income of amounts previously recorded in equity as a cumulative translation adjustment. Also, the Company excludes the impact of changes in tax laws on cumulative deferred taxes from items previously recorded as cumulative translation adjustments. The Company believes these amounts are similarly volatile and impact the comparability of earnings across periods. Therefore, they are also excluded from indicated financial information to provide what the Company believes represents a useful measure for analysis and predictive purposes. The Company believes that excluding from reported financial information costs incurred in connection with a significant change in its capital structure that is of a nature that would be expected to recur sporadically, also provides a useful measure for analysis and predictive purposes. The Venezuelan government over the last several years has severely restricted the ability to translate bolivars into U.S. dollars. Due to volatility in changes in the mandated exchange rates, the Company's non-GAAP measures exclude for analysis and predictive purposes, the impact from devaluations on the bolivar denominated net monetary assets and other balance sheet positions that impact near term income, since they appear in the income statement at the exchange rate at which they were originally translated rather than the exchange rate at which current operating activity is being translated. The Company has also elected to present financial measures excluding the impact of amortizing the purchase accounting carrying value of certain definite-lived intangible assets, primarily the value of its Fuller trade name recorded in connection with the Company's December 2005 acquisition of the direct selling businesses of Sara Lee Corporation. The amortization expense related to these assets will continue for several years. Similarly, in connection with its evaluation of the carrying value of acquired intangible assets and goodwill, the Company has periodically recognized impairment charges. The Company believes that these types of non-cash charges will not be representative in any single reporting period of amounts recorded in prior reporting periods or expected to be recorded in future reporting periods. Therefore, they are excluded from indicated financial information to also provide a useful measure for analysis and predictive purposes. As the impact of changes in exchange rates is an important factor in understanding period-to-period comparisons, the Company believes the presentation of results on a local currency basis, in addition to reported results, helps improve readers' ability to understand the Company's operating results and evaluate performance in comparison with prior periods. The Company presents local currency information that compares results between periods as if current period exchange rates had been the exchange rates in the prior period. The Company uses results on a local currency basis as one measure to evaluate performance. The Company generally refers to such amounts as calculated on a local currency basis, as restated or excluding the impact of foreign currency. These results should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, results reported in accordance with GAAP. Results on a local currency basis may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies and are not measures of performance presented in accordance with GAAP. In information included with this release, the Company has referred to Adjusted EBITDA and a Debt/Adjusted EBITDA ratio, which are non-GAAP financial measures used in the Company's credit agreement. The Company uses these measures in its capital allocation decision process and in discussions with investors, analysts and other interested parties, and therefore believes it is useful to disclose this amount and ratio. The Company's calculation of these measures is in accordance with its credit agreement, and is set forth in the reconciliation from GAAP amounts in an attachment to this release; however, the reader is cautioned that other companies define these measures in different ways, and consequently they may not be comparable with similarly labeled amounts disclosed by others. TUPPERWARE BRANDS CORPORATION FOURTH QUARTER 2017 SALES FORCE STATISTICS* (UNAUDITED) Sales All Units Reported Inc/(Dec) vs. Q4 '16 % Restated + Inc/(Dec) vs. Q4 '16 % g Active Sales Force Inc/(Dec) vs. Q4 '16 % g Total Sales Force Inc/(Dec) vs. Q4 '16 % g Europe (3) (10) b 102,078 4 e 823,958 10 Asia Pacific (2) (4) 204,719 (7) f 1,071,492 (1) North America (7) (8) — 200,415 (11) (2) 750,750 (6) 1 South America 6 10 141,048 12 549,485 14 Total All Units (2) (4) (2) a 648,260 (3) — 3,195,685 3 4 Emerging Market Units Europe (2) (3) b 75,609 10 e 644,714 17 Asia Pacific (1) (3) 178,667 (4) 965,742 — North America 5 2 185,818 (3) 641,523 — South America 6 10 141,048 12 549,485 14 Total Emerging Market Units 2 1 581,142 2 2,801,464 6 Established Market Units Europe (4) (13) 26,469 (11) 179,244 (9) Asia Pacific (7) (8) c 26,052 (23) f 105,750 (8) North America (18) (19) (3) d 14,597 (55) 5 109,227 (30) 6 South America — — — — — — Total Established Market Units (9) (14) (9) 67,118 (30) (13) 394,221 (16) (5) * Sales force statistics as collected by the Company and, in some cases, provided by distributors and sales force. The Company classifies Established Market Units as those operating in Western Europe, including Scandinavia, the United States, Canada, Australia and Japan, and its remaining units as Emerging Market Units. Active Sales Force is defined as the average number of people ordering in each cycle over the course of the quarter, and Total Sales Force is defined as the number of sales force members of the units as of the end of the quarter. + Local currency, or restated, changes are measured by comparing current year results with those of the prior year, translated at the current year's foreign exchange rates. Notes a Overall the lower active sellers than local currency sales comparison reflects 5pp benefit on productivity from a 14 th week in fiscal year 2016, offset by 2.8pp negative impact from Beauticontrol closure and negative 1pp related to unit mix. b The better active sellers than local currency sales comparison for Europe reflects 6pp of unit mix, and for emerging markets a decrease in productivity in Tupperware South Africa. c The larger active sellers than local currency sales decrease comparison for Asia Pacific in the established markets came primarily from improved productivity from TW Australia/New Zealand, and a ramp up in order size of the subscription program for NaturCare Japan prior to the completion of its integration with TW Japan in Q1 2018. d The 8pp difference in total local currency sales versus active sellers in North America established markets, excluding Beauticontrol, relates to a decrease in productivity in Tupperware U.S. and Canada. e The better total than active sellers comparison in Europe emerging markets, came from TW CIS and South Africa's high number of sales force additions under relatively low qualification standards. f The worse active than total sellers comparison in Asia Pacific established markets was mainly from Nutrimetics Australia/New Zealand due to lower number of sales force managers to stimulate activity, and lower activity from NaturCare Japan as no new sales force members were added in the quarter as a result of its integration with the Tupperware Japan business in Q1 2018. g Comparison excluding Beauticontrol amounts from last year TUPPERWARE BRANDS CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED) (In millions, except per share data) 13 Weeks Ended 14 Weeks Ended 52 Weeks Ended 53 Weeks Ended Dec 30, 2017 Dec 31, 2016 Dec 30, 2017 Dec 31, 2016 Net sales $ 588.6 $ 600.9 $ 2,255.8 $ 2,213.1 Cost of products sold 201.6 196.7 744.6 715.0 Gross margin 387.0 404.2 1,511.2 1,498.1 Delivery, sales and administrative expense 279.8 299.7 1,162.3 1,170.8 Re-engineering and impairment charges 22.1 2.2 66.0 7.6 Impairment of goodwill — — 62.9 — Gains on disposal of assets 1.8 2.2 9.1 27.3 Operating income 86.9 104.5 229.1 347.0 Interest income 0.9 1.1 2.9 3.4 Interest expense 11.4 12.7 46.1 48.8 Other expense (income), net (0.8) (0.7) 0.8 0.3 Income before income taxes 77.2 93.6 185.1 301.3 Provision for income taxes 403.7 14.6 450.5 77.7 Net income (loss) $ (326.5) $ 79.0 $ (265.4) $ 223.6 Net income (loss) per common share: Basic income (loss) per share $ (6.41) $ 1.56 $ (5.22) $ 4.43 Diluted income (loss) per share $ (6.41) $ 1.55 $ (5.22) $ 4.41 TUPPERWARE BRANDS CORPORATION CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED) (In millions, except per share data) 13 Weeks Ended 14 Weeks Ended Reported Restated* Foreign 52 Weeks Ended 53 Weeks Ended Reported Restated* Foreign Dec 30, 2017 Dec 31, 2016 % % Exchange Dec 30, 2017 Dec 31, 2016 % % Exchange Inc (Dec) Inc (Dec) Impact* Inc (Dec) Inc (Dec) Impact* Net Sales: Europe $ 154.7 $ 159.8 (3) (10) $ 11.9 $ 550.4 $ 559.4 (2) (4) $ 16.0 Asia Pacific 189.6 193.8 (2) (4) 3.8 734.8 748.6 (2) (1) (3.8) North America 129.3 138.4 (7) (8) 3.0 541.5 548.3 (1) (1) (0.6) South America 115.0 108.9 6 10 (4.8) 429.1 356.8 20 19 5.1 $ 588.6 $ 600.9 (2) (4) $ 13.9 $ 2,255.8 $ 2,213.1 2 1 $ 16.7 Segment profit: Europe $ 25.1 $ 27.3 (8) (14) $ 2.1 $ 54.5 $ 65.3 (16) (21) $ 3.7 Asia Pacific 53.6 50.6 6 3 1.4 189.3 181.0 5 5 (0.2) North America 17.5 17.2 2 (1) 0.5 69.7 66.1 6 6 (0.3) South America 29.0 29.7 (2) 2 (1.3) 98.7 82.2 20 19 1.2 125.2 124.8 — (2) 2.7 412.2 394.6 5 3 4.4 Unallocated expenses (17.2) (19.6) (12) (11) 0.1 (64.1) (67.6) (5) (5) 0.1 Gains on disposal of assets 1.8 2.2 (18) (18) — 9.1 27.3 (67) (67) — Re-engineering and impairment charges (22.1) (2.2) + + — (66.0) (7.6) + + — Impairment of goodwill — — — — — (62.9) — + + — Interest expense, net (10.5) (11.6) (9) (9) — (43.2) (45.4) (5) (5) — Income before taxes 77.2 93.6 (18) (20) 2.8 185.1 301.3 (39) (39) 4.5 Provision for income taxes 403.7 14.6 + + 0.7 450.5 77.7 + + 1.1 Net income (loss) $ (326.5) $ 79.0 — — $ 2.1 $ (265.4) $ 223.6 — + $ 3.4 Net income (loss) per share (diluted) $ (6.41) $ 1.55 — — $ 0.05 $ (5.22) $ 4.41 + — $ 0.06 Weighted average number of diluted shares 51.0 50.8 50.8 50.7 * 2017 actual compared with 2016 translated at 2017 exchange rates + Greater than 100% increase TUPPERWARE BRANDS CORPORATION NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (UNAUDITED) (In millions, except per share data) 13 Weeks Ended Dec 30, 2017 14 Weeks Ended Dec 31, 2016 Reported Adj's Excl Adj's Reported Foreign Exchange Impact Adj's Restated* Excl Adj's Segment profit: Europe $ 25.1 $ — $ 25.1 $ 27.3 $ 2.1 $ 0.2 b $ 29.6 Asia Pacific 53.6 0.5 a, f 54.1 50.6 1.4 0.6 a,b 52.6 North America 17.5 4.1 a,b,h 21.6 17.2 0.5 2.6 a,b 20.3 South America 29.0 3.4 a,c 32.4 29.7 (1.3) 0.2 a,c 28.6 125.2 8.0 133.2 124.8 2.7 3.6 131.1 Unallocated expenses (17.2) (0.6) b (17.8) (19.6) 0.1 0.9 b (18.6) Gains on disposal of assets 1.8 (1.8) d — 2.2 — (2.2) d — Re-engineering and impairment charges (22.1) 22.1 e — (2.2) — 2.2 e — Interest expense, net (10.5) — (10.5) (11.6) — — (11.6) Income before taxes 77.2 27.7 104.9 93.6 2.8 4.5 100.9 Provision for income taxes 403.7 (380.3) j 23.4 14.6 0.7 9.8 j 25.1 Net income (loss) $ (326.5) $ 408.0 $ 81.5 $ 79.0 $ 2.1 $ (5.3) $ 75.8 Net income (loss) per share (diluted) $ (6.41) $ 8.00 $ 1.59 $ 1.55 $ 0.05 $ (0.10) $ 1.50 52 Weeks Ended Dec 30, 2017 53 Weeks Ended Dec 31, 2016 Reported Adj's Excl Adj's Reported Foreign Exchange Impact Adj's Restated* Excl Adj's Segment profit: Europe $ 54.5 $ 1.2 b,f $ 55.7 $ 65.3 $ 3.7 $ 0.5 a,b $ 69.5 Asia Pacific 189.3 1.9 a,f 191.2 181.0 (0.2) 1.9 a,b 182.7 North America 69.7 13.1 a,b,h 82.8 66.1 (0.3) 7.6 a,b 73.4 South America 98.7 8.1 a,c 106.8 82.2 1.2 4.6 a,c 88.0 412.2 24.3 436.5 394.6 4.4 14.6 413.6 Unallocated expenses (64.1) (0.6) b (64.7) (67.6) 0.1 0.7 b,i (66.8) Gains on disposal of assets 9.1 (9.1) d — 27.3 — (27.3) d — Re-engineering and impairment charges (66.0) 66.0 e — (7.6) — 7.6 e — Impairment of goodwill (62.9) 62.9 g — — — — — Interest expense, net (43.2) — (43.2) (45.4) — — (45.4) Income before taxes 185.1 143.5 328.6 301.3 4.5 (4.4) 301.4 Provision for income taxes 450.5 (370.2) j 80.3 77.7 1.1 (3.3) j 75.5 Net income (loss) $ (265.4) $ 513.7 $ 248.3 $ 223.6 $ 3.4 $ (1.1) $ 225.9 Net income (loss) per share (diluted) $ (5.22) $ 10.06 $ 4.84 $ 4.41 $ 0.06 $ (0.02) $ 4.45 * 2017 actual compared with 2016 translated at 2017 exchange rates. a Amortization of intangibles of acquired beauty units. b Pension settlement costs. c As a result of devaluations in the Venezuelan bolivar, the Company had negative impacts of $3.3 million and $7.4 million in the fourth quarter and year-to-date periods of 2017, respectively, and $0.1 million and $4.3 million in the fourth quarter and year-to-date periods of 2016, respectively. These amounts are related to expense from re-measuring bolivar denominated net monetary assets, along with the impact of recording in income amounts on the balance sheet when the devaluations occurred, primarily inventory, at the exchange rates at the time the amounts were made or purchased, rather than the exchange rates in use when they were included in income, and in 2017 a write-down of inventory reflecting its lower fair market value based in the most recent devaluation. d Gains on disposal of assets in 2017 relates to an insurance settlement, sale of assets and transactions related to land held near the Orlando, FL headquarters, and in 2016 to transactions related to land held near the Orlando, FL headquarters. e In both years, re-engineering and impairment charges related mainly to severance costs incurred for headcount reduction in several of the Company's operations in connection with changes in its management and organizational structures, as well as in 2017 the costs associated with the closure of Beauticontrol, the pending closure of the French manufacturing facility and a fixed asset impairment in Venezuela related to currency devaluation. f Write-off of inventory associated with closing units. g Impairment of goodwill of Fuller Mexico. h Beauticontrol loss during wind-down period and inventory write-off. i Other income from real estate related operations in 2016. j Provision for income taxes represents the net tax impact of adjusted amounts, as well as the impact of implementing the U.S. tax reform. See note regarding non-GAAP financial measures in the attached press release. TUPPERWARE BRANDS CORPORATION CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED) (In millions) 52 Weeks Ended 53 Weeks Ended December 30, 2017 December 31, 2016 Operating Activities: Net cash provided by operating activities $ 217.0 $ 238.6 Investing Activities: Capital expenditures (72.3) (61.6) Proceeds from disposal of property, plant & equipment 14.7 35.9 Net cash used in investing activities (57.6) (25.7) Financing Activities: Dividend payments to shareholders (139.5) (138.8) Repurchase of common stock (2.5) (1.7) Repayment of long-term debt and capital lease obligations (2.0) (2.2) Net change in short-term debt 15.6 (52.0) Proceeds from exercise of stock options 11.8 0.8 Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements — 0.6 Net cash used in financing activities (116.6) (193.3) Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents 8.1 (6.2) Net change in cash and cash equivalents 50.9 13.4 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 93.2 79.8 Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 144.1 $ 93.2 TUPPERWARE BRANDS CORPORATION CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED) (In millions) Dec 30, 2017 Dec 31, 2016 Assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 144.1 $ 93.2 Other current assets 486.4 452.1 Total current assets 630.5 545.3 Property, plant and equipment, net 278.2 259.8 Other assets 389.4 782.7 Total assets $ 1,298.1 $ 1,587.8 Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity: Short-term borrowings and current portion of long-term debt $ 133.0 $ 105.9 Accounts payable and other current liabilities 462.4 441.7 Total current liabilities 595.4 547.6 Long-term debt 605.1 606.0 Other liabilities 214.1 221.4 Total shareholders' equity (116.5) 212.8 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 1,298.1 $ 1,587.8 TUPPERWARE BRANDS CORPORATION NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES OUTLOOK RECONCILIATION SCHEDULE January 31, 2018 (UNAUDITED) First Quarter First Quarter (In millions, except per share data) 2017 Actual 2018 Outlook Range Low High Income before income taxes $ 64.2 $ 55.6 $ 59.3 Income tax $ 16.8 $ 16.1 $ 17.1 Effective Rate 26 % 29 % 29 % Net Income (GAAP) $ 47.4 $ 39.5 $ 42.2 % change from prior year (17) % (11) % Adjustments (1) : Gains on disposal of assets (0.1) — — Re-engineering and pension settlements 3.1 13.4 13.4 Net impact of Venezuelan bolivar devaluations 0.2 — — Acquired intangible asset amortization 1.9 1.9 1.9 Income tax (2) (0.8) (3.1) (3.0) Net Income (adjusted) $ 51.7 $ 51.7 $ 54.5 Exchange rate impact (3) 2.9 — — Net Income (adjusted and 2017 restated for currency changes) $ 54.6 $ 51.7 $ 54.5 % change from prior year (5) % — % Net income (GAAP) per common share (diluted) $ 0.93 $ 0.77 $ 0.82 % change from prior year (17) % (12) % Net Income (adjusted) per common share (diluted) $ 1.01 $ 1.01 $ 1.06 Net Income (adjusted & restated) per common share (diluted) $ 1.07 $ 1.01 $ 1.06 % change from prior year (6) % (1) % Average number of diluted shares (millions) 51.0 51.4 51.4 (1) Refer to Non-GAAP Financial Measures section of attached release for description of the general nature of adjustment items (2) Represents income tax impact of adjustments on an item-by-item basis. (3) Difference between 2017 actual and 2017 translated at current currency exchange rates TUPPERWARE BRANDS CORPORATION NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES OUTLOOK RECONCILIATION SCHEDULE January 31, 2018 (UNAUDITED) Full Year Full Year (In millions, except per share data) 2017 Actual 2018 Outlook Range Low High Income before income taxes $ 185.1 $ 320.6 $ 331.2 Income tax $ 450.5 $ 89.2 $ 92.0 Effective Rate 243 % 28 % 28 % Net Income, (loss) (GAAP) $ (265.4) $ 231.4 $ 239.2 Adjustments (1) : Gains on disposal of assets $ (9.1) $ — $ — Purchase accounting intangibles impairment 62.9 — — Re-engineering and pension settlements 74.4 29.9 29.9 Net impact of Venezuelan bolivar devaluations 7.4 — — Acquired intangible asset amortization 7.9 7.6 7.6 Income tax (2) 370.2 (7.5) (7.5) Net Income (adjusted) $ 248.3 $ 261.4 $ 269.2 Exchange rate impact (3) 7.1 — — Net Income (adjusted and 2017 restated for currency changes) $ 255.4 $ 261.4 $ 269.2 % change from prior year 2 % 5 % Net income, (loss) (GAAP) per common share (diluted) $ (5.22) $ 4.50 $ 4.65 Net Income (adjusted) per common share (diluted) $ 4.84 $ 5.09 $ 5.24 Net Income (adjusted & restated) per common share (diluted) $ 4.98 $ 5.09 $ 5.24 % change from prior year 2 % 5 % Average number of diluted shares (millions) 51.3 51.4 51.4 (1) Refer to Non-GAAP Financial Measures section of attached release for description of the general nature of adjustment items (2) Represents income tax impact of adjustments on an item-by-item basis, as well as $375 million impact from adoption of new tax law in the United States. (3) Difference between 2017 actual and 2017 translated at current currency exchange rates TUPPERWARE BRANDS CORPORATION ADJUSTED EBITDA AND DEBT/ADJUSTED EBITDA* (UNAUDITED) As of and for the four quarters ended December 30, 2017 Adjusted EBITDA: Net income $ (265.4) Add: Depreciation and amortization 60.5 Gross interest expense 46.1 Provision for income taxes 450.5 Equity compensation 22.6 Pre-tax re-engineering and impairment charges 69.1 Other non-cash extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring charges 57.4 Deduct: Cash paid for re-engineering (12.6) Gains on land sales, insurance recoveries, etc. (9.1) Total Adjusted EBITDA $ 419.1 Consolidated total debt $ 738.1 Divided by adjusted EBITDA 419.1 Debt to Adjusted EBITDA Ratio 1.76 * Amounts and calculations are based on the definitions and provisions of the Company's $600 million Credit Agreement dated September 11, 2013, as amended and restated ("Credit Agreement") and, where applicable, are based on the trailing four quarter amounts. "Adjusted EBITDA" is calculated as defined for "Consolidated EBITDA" in the Credit Agreement. View original content with multimedia: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tupperware-brands-reports-fourth-quarter-2017-results-declares-regular-quarterly-dividend-300590725.html SOURCE Tupperware Brands Corporation

http://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/31/pr-newswire-tupperware-brands-reports-fourth-quarter-2017-results-declares-regular-quarterly-dividend.html

Facebook buys Boston software company that authenticates IDs - source

January 23, 2018 / 9:35 PM / Updated 7 hours ago Facebook buys Boston software company that authenticates IDs Liana B. Baker , David Ingram 2 Min Read NEW YORK/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Facebook Inc ( FB.O ) is buying a software firm that specializes in authenticating government-issued identification cards, the two companies said on Tuesday, a step that may help the social media company learn more about the people who buy ads on its network. U.S. lawmakers have expressed alarm at Facebook’s limited ability to know who is buying advertisements, including election-related ads, on the world’s largest social network. Boston-based Confirm Inc, which is privately held, said on its website that the acquisition was the culmination of three years of work to build technology to keep people safe online. Facebook said in a statement Confirm’s “technology and expertise will support our ongoing efforts to keep our community safe.” Terms of the deal and how Facebook would apply Confirm’s software were not revealed. Confirm will wind down its operations and its employees will join Facebook in Boston, a person familiar with the acquisition told Reuters. Confirm’s website listed 26 employees earlier this month, according to a version archived by the Google search engine. It says on its website that it has more than 750 clients. Last year, Facebook said that suspected Russian agents had been paying to boost Facebook posts in the United States in an attempt to divide the electorate around the 2016 presidential election. Moscow denies the allegations. The company later said it would begin requiring organizations running election-related ads to confirm their identities. Facebook has more than 6 million different advertisers, and buying ads has historically required little more than a Facebook page and a credit card. Confirm says that its software allows for proof of identity for online transactions, allowing users to detect potentially fraudulent activity. Moelis & Co and Goodwin Procter advised Confirm on the transaction. Hogan Lovells advised Facebook. Reporting by Liana B. Baker in New York and David Ingram in San Francisco; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien and James Dalgleish

https://in.reuters.com/article/facebook-deals/facebook-buys-boston-software-company-that-authenticates-ids-source-idINKBN1FC31I

LIVE MARKETS-Is the risk of a stock market correction rising?

January 25, 2018 / 7:24 AM / in an hour LIVE MARKETS-Is the risk of a stock market correction rising? Reuters Staff 3 Min Read Jan 25 (Reuters) - Welcome to the home for real time coverage of European equity markets brought to you by Reuters stocks reporters and anchored today by Julien Ponthus. Reach him on Messenger to share your thoughts on market moves: julien.ponthus.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net IS THE RISK OF A STOCK MARKET CORRECTION RISING? (0715 GMT) On the theme of if/when we see a market pullback, economists at Oxford Economics say that short-term risks are broadly balanced between a downward correction and a further 'melt-up' rally, according to their analysis. But a continued 'melt-up' could risk an equity correction of "well over 10%". Oxford Economics reckons a stock market correction of 25 percent could cut U.S. growth to around 1 percent by 2019. (Kit Rees) EUROPEAN STOCK FUTURES POINT TO A START IN THE RED (0703 GMT) Earlier financial spreadbetters' indications made it hard to call in what direction European markets would open but futures now seem to point downward. (Julien Ponthus) WANTED: "HEALTHY PULLBACK" (0630 GMT) Just spotted an interesting quote in Chuck Mikolajczak's Wall Street report which highlights the fact that the continuous rise of markets is actually making some investors so nervous that a slight correction would be greeted with relief. "The trend is higher and it is so universally, and with such conviction believed that any meaningful pullback is going to be aborted because investors simply don’t want to miss out," said Peter Kenny, senior market strategist at Global Markets Advisory Group in New York. "So we are not seeing that healthy pullback that most investors would actually welcome." (Julien Ponthus)

https://www.reuters.com/article/europe-stocks/live-markets-is-the-risk-of-a-stock-market-correction-rising-idUSL8N1PK1B9

Nigerian Shi'ite leader, rumoured dead, makes first public appearance in two years

January 13, 2018 / 5:51 PM / Updated 31 minutes ago Nigerian Shi'ite leader, rumoured dead, makes first public appearance in two years Reuters Staff 3 Min Read ABUJA (Reuters) - The leader of Nigeria’s Shi‘ite Muslim sect, rumoured to have died in detention, made his first public appearance in two years on Saturday, after police arrested dozens of members of the group during protests calling for his release this week. Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky, the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), has been imprisoned at an unknown location without charge since December 2015 after his followers clashed with the army in the northern city of Zaria. A judicial inquiry the following year said 347 IMN members were killed by the military and buried in mass graves. The violent repression of IMN and detention of Zakzaky, despite a court ruling that he could not be held without charge and should be released, drew accusations of human rights abuses by President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. In a brief exchange in the capital Abuja, Zakzaky told reporters that authorities had allowed him to see his doctor for treatment of an unspecified condition. “For the first time at least the security (officers) have allowed me to see my own doctors,” he said, according to footage of the exchange. “I am getting better.” This week, Nigerian social media had been awash with rumours that Zakzaky had died. From Monday to Wednesday, IMN members protested in the capital, with police arresting 52 people without specifying charges. In 2016, Nigeria’s northern state of Kaduna declared IMN - a minority sect in the mainly Sunni Muslim north - unlawful on security grounds, angering its adherents as anyone convicted of being a member could be imprisoned for up to seven years. The ban triggered a wave of attacks on IMN members, worsening sectarian rivalries in northern Nigeria, where the army is also fighting Boko Haram, Sunni Islamist militants who have killed tens of thousands and caused a humanitarian crisis. Security analysts have drawn parallels between the Shi‘ite group and Boko Haram, whose insurgency began in 2009 after security forces killed hundreds of its members and its leader Mohammed Yusuf died in custody. Zakzaky was badly wounded in the 2015 clashes. Nigeria, with a population of 190 million, combines a predominantly Christian south and mainly Sunni Muslim north. Shi‘ites are estimated at less than 4 million, although there are no official figures. Human Rights Watch estimates that IMN has around 3 million members. IMN was founded in the 1980s after an Islamic revolution in mainly Shi‘ite Iran in 1979, which inspired the sect’s founders. Reporting by Paul Carsten; Additional reporting by Alexis Akwagyiram in Lagos; Editing by Ros Russell

https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-nigeria-security/nigerian-shiite-leader-rumoured-dead-makes-first-public-appearance-in-two-years-idUKKBN1F20QZ

Spotify reaches 70 million subscribers

January 4, 2018 / 9:35 PM / Updated 23 minutes ago Spotify reaches 70 million subscribers Reuters Staff 1 Min Read (Reuters) - Music streaming service Spotify, which filed confidentially with U.S. regulators for an initial public offering on Wednesday, has 70 million subscribers, it said in a tweet on Thursday. Headphones are seen in front of a logo of online music streaming service Spotify in this February 18, 2014 illustration picture. REUTERS/Christian Hartmann/File Photo Spotify, valued at as much as $19 billion last year, is targeting a direct listing in the first half of 2018. ( bit.ly/2Ar9PwY ) Spotify is the biggest global music streaming company and counts Apple Inc and Amazon.com Inc as its main rivals. Apple in September told Billboard magazine it has 30 million subscribers to Apple music. Reporting by Sonam Rai in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel

https://in.reuters.com/article/us-spotify-subscribers/spotify-reaches-70-million-subscribers-idINKBN1ET2EY

Britain able to have bespoke deal with EU: Macron

LONDON (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron said on Saturday Britain would be able to have a bespoke deal with the European Union after Brexit, one of Prime Minister Theresa May’s objectives. But in an interview with the BBC, Macron said London’s financial center could not enjoy the same level of access to the EU under May’s current Brexit plan, which envisages Britain leaving the EU’s single market and customs union. Macron has said in the past Britain could have pacts with the EU along the lines of those with Canada or Norway but not its own, special deal. But asked in the interview whether that was fair, given how long Britain had been part of the EU, Macron said: “No, it’s not a question to be fair or unfair. I take that as a reference. But for sure, you will have your own solution.” Asked whether there would be a bespoke, special solution for Britain, he replied: ”Sure, but you will ... I take these two references because this special way should be consistent with the preservation of the single market and our collective interests. “And you should understand that you cannot by definition have the full access to the single market if you don’t tick the box.” Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May and France's President Emmanuel Macron hold a news conference at the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst, Britain, January 18, 2018. REUTERS/Stefan Rousseau/Pool Macron insisted Britain would not get full access to the EU’s single market without accepting its basic principles of freedom of movement and willingness to abide by EU jurisdiction. “As soon as you decide not to join these preconditions, it’s not full access,” he said. “So it’s something perhaps between this full access ... and a trade agreement.” Slideshow (2 Images) Macron repeated a warning he made during a visit to Britain on Thursday that full access to the EU single market for Britain’s financial services was not possible. [nL8N1PD1PY] “It depends on the proposals made by the UK,” he said. “But for sure, full access for financial services to the single market is not feasible, given the functioning of the single market - so by definition it’s not a full access.” Britain and the EU struck a divorce deal last month that paved the way for talks on future trade ties and boosted hopes of an orderly Brexit. The BBC released extracts on Saturday of the Macron interview which it will broadcast in full in the Andrew Marr Show on Sunday. Reporting by Stephen Addison; Editing by Janet Lawrence

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-eu-macron/britain-able-to-have-bespoke-deal-with-eu-macron-idUSKBN1F90HF

Six West Bromwich players hit by flu ahead of Liverpool clash

January 26, 2018 / 6:29 PM / Updated 39 minutes ago Six West Bromwich players hit by flu ahead of Liverpool clash Reuters Staff 2 Min Read (Reuters) - Six West Bromwich Albion players have been struck down by a flu bug ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup fourth-round match against Liverpool, manager Alan Pardew said. Ben Foster, Ahmed Hegazi, Gareth McAuley, Jay Rodriguez, Sam Field and James McClean are all struggling, but Pardew wants to field a strong side and will wait until few hours before the kick off to assess their fitness levels. ”We’ve got a little bit of a flu bug in terms of a few players,“ Pardew told reporters on Friday. ”McClean, Rodriguez, Foster, Hegazi and G-Mac, so there’s a few. But certainly there’s enough players available to not make too many changes. “I’d rather be in a stronger position in the league to attack the cup. Having said that we take less pressure into this game.” Pardew celebrated his first win as West Brom manager in the FA Cup third round against Exeter City and followed up with a 2-0 Premier League victory against Brighton and Hove Albion earlier this month. FILE PHOTO - Soccer Football - Premier League - West Bromwich Albion vs Brighton & Hove Albion - The Hawthorns, West Bromwich, Britain - January 13, 2018 West Bromwich Albion's Ben Foster celebrates after Craig Dawson scores their second goal Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine However, they remain in the relegation zone and three points from safety after 24 matches. With Hegazi and McAuley struggling with illness, Pardew confirmed Jonny Evans will feature in the weekend’s clash at Anfield. Slideshow (4 Images) British media reports have linked Evans with a move to Arsenal in a swap deal, which includes Mathieu Debuchy going the other way. But Pardew dismissed the reports, saying no official bids have been made for the player. “That’s not a deal that’s been put to us... we haven’t had a bid put to us that is anywhere near acceptable,” he added. “What I will confirm is what you already know, Jonny Evans is a target for other clubs, we might sell if the price is right, that’s that deal, everything else is pure speculation.” Reporting by Hardik Vyas in Bengaluru, editing by Pritha Sarkar

https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-england-liv-wba-pardew/six-west-bromwich-players-hit-by-flu-ahead-of-liverpool-clash-idUKKBN1FF2FY

Banks chosen for car parts company Autodis - sources

January 29, 2018 / 3:24 PM / Updated 14 minutes ago Banks chosen for car parts company Autodis - sources Arno Schuetze , Dasha Afanasieva 3 Min Read FRANKFURT/LONDON (Reuters) - U.S. buyout firm Bain is moving ahead with preparations for the initial float of French vehicle spare parts distributor Autodis, which could take place in March or April, sources familiar with the matter said. BNP Paribas ( BNPP.PA ) and Goldman Sachs ( GS.N ) are organising the deal as so called global coordinators, with Citi ( C.N ), HSBC ( HSBA.L ) and Natixis ( CNAT.PA ) acting as bookrunners and Rothschild as independent adviser on the Paris listing, they said. BNP Paribas, HSBC, Citi and Rothschild declined to comment. Bain, Goldman Sachs and Natixis were not immediately available for comment. Bankers are hoping the IPO will value the company at more than 1.2 billion euros (£1.1 billion) including debt, based on a valuation of 12 times earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation which is forecast at just above 100 million euros for 2018, one of the sources said. German peer Stahlgruber was sold to Chicago-based LKQ ( LKQ.O ) at that multiple in late 2017. The issue volume will be around 25-50 percent, depending on investor feedback with a mix of new shares and existing ones from Bain, the source said. Some of the proceeds will be used to reduce Autodis’ leverage, which stands at around five times its core earnings. Based in Arcueil, on the edge of Paris, Autodis specialises in selling spare parts for light vehicles and trucks and has a history of private equity ownership as buyout funds have repeatedly injected capital for more than a decade. In 2006, Bahrain-based Investcorp acquired the firm, also known as Autodistribution Group, but struggled to make profits as the industry suffered a dramatic fall in demand, with manufacturers, dealers and suppliers all affected. Autodis went through a long restructuring with private equity firm TowerBrook Capital taking a majority stake in 2009 as part of a debt-for-equity swap deal and managing its turnaround until 2015 when it sold it to Bain. As part of its buy-and-build strategy Bain made several bolt-on acquisitions to take Autodis into other European markets, including the purchase of three Italian businesses - Ovam, Top Car and Ricauto. Editing by Alison Williams

https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-autodis-ipo-mandates/banks-chosen-for-car-parts-company-autodis-sources-idUKKBN1FI1X8

FOREX-Dollar hits 4-month low vs yen, remains on defensive

* Dollar/yen touches lowest level since mid-September * Speculation of eventual BOJ stimulus exit supports yen * Recent broad-based dollar weakness also dents dollar/yen By Masayuki Kitano SINGAPORE, Jan 24 (Reuters) - The dollar touched a four-month low against the yen on Wednesday, pressured by simmering concerns that the U.S. currency’s yield advantage will start to erode as major central banks head toward unwinding their massive stimulus. The yen has gained a lift in recent weeks, after the Bank of Japan trimmed its buying of long-dated government bonds in market operations earlier this month, sparking speculation of an eventual exit from its large stimulus. Analysts said such speculation continued to support the yen, even after BOJ Governor Haruhiko Kuroda on Tuesday stressed the importance of patiently continuing with powerful monetary easing. “The dilemma here for the Bank of Japan is how do they temper investor expectations?” said Stephen Innes, head of trading in Asia-Pacific for Oanda in Singapore. “This is the issue that’s on the table right now beyond the broader negative downtrend in the dollar,” Innes said. The dollar slipped to as low as 110.06 yen at one point, its lowest level since Sept. 15. It later pared some losses and was last down 0.1 percent at 110.16 yen. The greenback has shed nearly 2.3 percent against the yen so far this month, putting it on track for its biggest monthly drop since January last year. “On the BOJ, they have just reaffirmed pretty much what we already know and what the market already knows, that they’ll continue to maintain an aggressive, powerful easing stance,” said Peter Dragicevich, G10 FX strategist for Nomura in Singapore. That stance, however, has been factored in and market players are looking ahead to what the BOJ might do next, Dragicevich said. “They are looking at the next potential, kind of incremental steps, whenever they may come,” he added. Analysts said the euro’s firm tone also helped weigh on the dollar. The euro last changed hands at $1.2306, up 0.1 percent on the day and near a three-year high of $1.2323 set last week. Euro zone consumer confidence jumped much more than expected in January, data from the European Commission showed on Tuesday, helping to support the common currency. Investors are also focusing on the European Central Bank’s meeting on Thursday for clues on the outlook for monetary policy. The euro has rallied this year, boosted by growing optimism that a strengthening economy would prompt the ECB to signal a quicker end to years of efforts to stimulate the economy than previously forecast. (Reporting by Masayuki Kitano; Editing by Sam Holmes)

https://www.reuters.com/article/global-forex/forex-dollar-hits-4-month-low-vs-yen-remains-on-defensive-idUSL4N1PI13L

India's IOC buys U.S. Light Louisiana Sweet oil via tender

January 11, 2018 / 4:45 PM / Updated an hour ago India's IOC buys U.S. Light Louisiana Sweet oil via tender Reuters Staff 1 Min Read NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India’s top refiner Indian Oil Corp has bought 2 million barrels of U.S. Light Louisiana Sweet (LLS) crude via a tender for April delivery, its head of finance A. K. Sharma said on Thursday. FILE PHOTO: A logo of Indian Oil is seen on the shirt of an employee at a fuel station in New Delhi, India August 29, 2016. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi/File Photo This is the first purchase of LLS crude by an Indian refiner. IOC has purchased the sweet oil from trader Trafigura, he said. IOC will import the cargo at the eastern port of Paradip. IOC will process the crude at its Mathura and Barauni refineries, he said. This is the third purchase of the U.S. oil by IOC, Sharma said. Reporting by Nidhi Verma; Editing by Mark Potter

https://in.reuters.com/article/india-ioc/indias-ioc-buys-u-s-light-louisiana-sweet-oil-via-tender-idINKBN1F027Y

Republican congressman Meehan won't seek re-election after sex scandal: AP

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican U.S. Representative Patrick Meehan, who used taxpayer money to settle a former staffer’s sexual harassment claim, will not run for re-election, a spokesman for House Speaker Paul Ryan said on Thursday. Meehan told Ryan of his decision not to run on Thursday, Ryan spokesman Doug Andres said. Meehan, 62, who has represented his southeastern Pennsylvania district since 2011, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. On Saturday, Ryan removed Meehan from the House Ethics Committee after the New York Times published an article saying Meehan used thousands of dollars of taxpayer funds to settle a sexual misconduct claim from a former female aide who accused him of making unwanted romantic overtures. Meehan, a married father of three, has said in subsequent media interviews that he considered the aide, who is three decades younger than him, his “soul mate,” but he has denied harassing her. In recent months, a wave of women and men have accused high-powered men in entertainment, the news media and government of harassment or abuse. Two other congressmen, Democrat Ruben Kihuen and Republican Blake Farenthold, have said they will not seek re-election next year after they were the subject of sexual misconduct accusations. Both have denied the allegations. Former Democratic Senator Al Franken of Minnesota, Democratic Representative John Conyers and Republican Representative Trent Franks resigned from Congress following misconduct allegations. Those lawmakers have also denied the allegations. Reporting by Eric Beech; Editing by Eric Walsh and Lisa Shumaker

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-congress-meehan/republican-congressman-meehan-wont-seek-re-election-after-sex-scandal-ap-idUSKBN1FF096

Sale of Slotomania Maker Playtika Hits Regulatory Snag in China

0 COMMENTS BEIJING—The sale of a company known for its popular casino-style games for smartphones has hit a regulatory hurdle that could potentially thwart the deal, say people familiar with the matter, and make it the latest high-profile deal to be affected by the country’s clampdown on foreign acquisitions. The company, Playtika, was sold by a unit of casino operator Caesars Entertainment Corp. in 2016 for $4.4 billion in cash to a Chinese consortium that included an offshore affiliate of Giant Interactive Group and a private-equity firm co-founded by Alibaba’s Jack Ma. Giant said its publicly listed unit, Shanghai Giant Network Technology Co., would buy Playtika from the consortium for 30.5 billion yuan ($4.8 billion) in mostly stock pending regulatory approval. The people familiar with the matter say the China Securities Regulatory Commission is reluctant to approve the sale to Shanghai Giant over concerns that Playtika’s games promote gambling, which is illegal in China except for Macau. The CSRC didn’t respond to a request for comment. The Deal Stands Alone Shanghai Giant Network Technology's purchase of Playtika was the 10th biggest overseas acquisition by a Chinese company in 2016. It is the only deal that hasn't closed. Top 10 overseas acquisitions by Chinese companies in 2016 Target Acquirer Deal value* Syngenta ChemChina $44.6 billion CIT Group† Bohai Capital 10.4 CPFL Energia State Grid Corp of China 8.6 Supercell Tencent 8.6 Hilton Worldwide HNA 6.5 Ingram Micro Tianjin Tianhai Investment 6.3 Strategic Hotels & Resorts Anbang 5.5 GE Appliances Haier 5.4 Adama Agricultural Solutions Hubei Sanonda 4.7 Playtika Shanghai Giant Network Technology 4.6 Pending Top 10 overseas acquisitions by Chinese companies in 2016 Target Deal value* Acquirer Syngenta ChemChina $44.6 billion CIT Group† Bohai Capital 10.4 CPFL Energia State Grid Corp of China 8.6 Supercell Tencent 8.6 Hilton Worldwide HNA 6.5 Ingram Micro Tianjin Tianhai Investment 6.3 Strategic Hotels & Resorts Anbang 5.5 GE Appliances Haier 5.4 Adama Agricultural Solutions Hubei Sanonda 4.7 Playtika Shanghai Giant Network Technology 4.6 Pending Top 10 overseas acquisitions by Chinese companies in 2016 Target Acquirer Deal value* Syngenta ChemChina $44.6 billion CIT Group† Bohai Capital 10.4 CPFL Energia State Grid Corp of China 8.6 Supercell Tencent 8.6 Hilton Worldwide HNA 6.5 Ingram Micro Tianjin Tianhai Investment 6.3 Strategic Hotels & Resorts Anbang 5.5 GE Appliances Haier 5.4 Adama Agricultural Solutions Hubei Sanonda 4.7 Playtika Shanghai Giant Network Technology 4.6 Pending Top 10 overseas acquisitions by Chinese companies in 2016 Target Acquirer ChemChina Syngenta $44.6 billion Deal value* CIT Group† Bohai Capital 10.4 CPFL Energia State Grid Corp of China 8.6 Supercell Tencent 8.6 Hilton Worldwide HNA 6.5 Ingram Micro Tianjin Tianhai Investment 6.3 Strategic Hotels & Resorts Anbang 5.5 GE Appliances Haier 5.4 Adama Agricultural Solutions Hubei Sanonda 4.7 Playtika Shanghai Giant Network Technology Pending 4.6 *Exchange rates at time of announcement †Aircraft-leasing business Source: Dealogic The people cautioned the acquisition hasn’t been formally rejected and could still be approved. Giant, one of China’s largest developers of online games, said in a statement that Playtika remains under “normal review” and that regulators haven’t raised specific objections to gambling themes. The company said Playtika’s games don’t meet the legal definition of gambling and aren’t available in China. Even so, Giant representatives met with regulators last year to explain how no money is won or lost in play, one of the people said. Winning money isn’t possible in Playtika’s games, which can be played for free. Its popular slot-machine game, Slotomania, began as a Facebook game before migrating to online app stores run by Apple and Google. The game earns revenue from the small fraction of players who buy virtual coins, which they can bet and trade in for virtual prizes. “Over the past six to nine months, Chinese regulators have said pretty clearly that gambling-specific-type companies are out of bounds,” said Christopher Balding, a professor at the HSBC Business School in Shenzhen. “In 2016, this deal might have been waived through, but in early 2018, it wouldn’t surprise me if it didn’t.” China’s securities regulator received the deal application on Nov. 10, 2016, making it the second-longest among 75 transactions currently in active review. The median time in active review was 75 days as of Jan. 26. Industry analysts and people familiar with the deal say the long delay is a red flag, and a common tactic used by Chinese regulators to kill deals without taking formal action. Playtika was founded in 2010 in Israel and acquired for $100 million the following year by Caesars. Slotomania accounted for one-fifth of global spending on social-casino games in November, the most recent data available, according to SuperData Research Inc. Slotomania is a top-grossing app on mobile platforms run by Google and Apple, according to analytics firm App Annie. This month, it briefly became the third-highest grossing app in the Google Play U.S. store and the ninth-highest in Apple’s U.S. App Store, according to App Annie. Chinese authorities have recently stepped up scrutiny of outbound investments, in particular media and entertainment assets, which tend to be volatile and difficult to price. Amid the clampdown, Dalian Wanda Group abandoned its $1 billion takeover of Golden Globes producer Dick Clark Productions in March 2017. Outbound investments announced by Chinese companies fell by a third last year to $217 billion in deals, according to Dealogic. —Chunying Zhang contributed to this article. Write to Wayne Ma at wayne.ma@wsj.com

https://www.wsj.com/articles/sale-of-slotomania-maker-playtika-hits-regulatory-snag-in-china-1517308208

Berengaria Development Acquires 239,000 Square-Foot Retail Center in Milwaukee, WI.

MILWAUKEE--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Berengaria Development , a portfolio company of Marcus Investments, today announced it has acquired Grafton Commons, a key Power Center in Northern Milwaukee, WI. for an undisclosed price. The 239,177 square-foot regional center is just 19 miles North of Downtown Milwaukee and strategically located adjacent to the I-43/Hwy 60 interchange. The property is made up of four tax parcels, which includes two main buildings and two out-lot buildings. Current tenants include Kohl’s, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Best Buy, PetSmart, Michaels, Aldi, AAA Insurance, Steinhafel’s Mattress, Qdoba and Verizon. Jay Peirick, President of Berengaria Development, said, “We were attracted to Grafton Commons because of its superior location on the north side of Milwaukee. The I-43/Hwy 60 interchange serves as a premier shopping destination in Milwaukee. We value the thoughtfulness of the Grafton residents and officials that put this development together nearly 10 years ago. It is wonderful to invest in their vision." “At Berengaria we are continuing to move forward with our strategy to acquire regional retail shopping centers and senior living facilities throughout the Midwest. Our goal is to acquire between $100 million to $150 million of properties throughout 2018. Our focus is on the long-term value of the asset and increasing its value by applying our experience, business knowledge and patient capital to ensure success for the tenant, landlord and investor,” added Peirick. Berengaria is the real estate platform of Marcus Investments. Christopher Nolte, president of Marcus Investments, said, “We frequently look for opportunities in industries that are out of favor where we can take the longer view. In this case, we were able to buy a property in a community that we know and respect." Christian Williams of CBRE represented the seller on the transaction. About Berengaria Development, LLC Berengaria, the real estate business of Marcus Investments, has developed and/or managed more than $300 million of retail developments nationwide since its inception in 2008. The company’s scalable team of real estate and retail business experts is seeking to accelerate its growth through its proactive, thoughtful and proven approach, with a focus on acquiring retail life-style centers and senior living facilities. Prospective opportunities should be sent to the attention of Bob DelGhingaro, Vice President of Operations, at bobd@berengariadevelopment.com . About Marcus Investments, LLC Marcus Investments is a Midwest-based investment firm formed by the Marcus family of Milwaukee to build and grow the next generation of great companies in Wisconsin. The company focuses on long-term value creation and looks to attract like-minded institutions and individuals. //www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180130006268/en/ Bob DelGhingaro, VP of Operations Berengaria Development Phone: 414-484-8870 Email: bobd@berengariadevelopment.com Source: Berengaria Development, LLC

http://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/30/business-wire-berengaria-development-acquires-239000-square-foot-retail-center-in-milwaukee-wi.html

Brain Corp Names Christian Cornelius-Knudsen as Senior Vice President of Global Sales and Services

San Diego, CA, Brain Corp (“Brain”), an A.I. company specializing in the development of self-driving technology for robots, today announced that Christian Cornelius-Knudsen has joined the company’s management team as Senior Vice President, Global Sales and Services. Cornelius-Knudsen will be responsible for Brain’s robotics technology commercialization, market development and expansion, as well as OEM manufacturing, supplier and customer partnerships. A visionary leader with an impressive record of transforming domestic and global manufacturing and service businesses, Cornelius-Knudsen brings more than 25 years of experience leading organizations through aggressive organic growth, acquisitions, consolidations, sourcing initiatives and technology development. Cornelius-Knudsen was previously engaged with Brain lending his strategic counsel to transition the company from a contract software technology provider to a global industry leader in artificial intelligence, machine learning and indoor and outdoor navigation for robotics. “Working with Christian has been instrumental to the evolution of our organization and its technology platform, BrainOS,” said Brain Corp’s CEO, Dr. Eugene Izhikevich. “He is known for his unwavering commitment to excellence in developing people, strategy and businesses leading to growth and international expansion. As a well-established and respected leader in the commercial cleaning industry, I am extremely pleased to welcome Christian to our management team.” During the past four years, Cornelius-Knudsen has led the C-K Group which has been focused on transforming emerging and established businesses. Prior to founding the C-K Group, Cornelius-Knudsen served as President and CEO of Nilfisk-Advance, Americas for 13 years. He led the company’s successful turnaround to regain its position as one of the industry leaders in design, manufacture and marketing of professional cleaning equipment. “I have known Christian for the past 15 years,” commented John Barrett, Executive Director, ISSA. “Christian is an outstanding addition to the Brain team as he brings adeep blend of leading growth strategies, executing business expansions, and driving efficient market development and strategic customer relationships.” Brain recently announced a $114 million Series C funding round led by the SoftBankVision Fund. The investment will be used to further develop A.I. technology and create brains for multiple types of commercial and consumer robots. Brain Operating System (BrainOS) BrainOS® is the foundation of Brain Corp’s platform technology. It is a proprietary operating system that integrates with off-the- shelf hardware and sensors to provide acost-effective “brain” for robots. It plays the same role as Android OS for smartphones, but also includes computer vision and A.I. libraries that provide advanced self-driving capabilities for cluttered and dynamic indoor and outdoor environments. About Brain Corp Brain Corp is a San Diego-based A.I. company that partners with manufacturers of commercial equipment and consumer electronics, to convert their manually-operated products into autonomous robots. Brain Corp’s technology represents the nextgeneration of artificial brains for robots. Brain Corporation is funded by the SoftBank Vision Fund and Qualcomm Ventures. For more information or to access videos of its robots, please visit www.braincorp.com . Attachments: A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/273cddd4-44ea-4ef7-b226-eb3b04ae9522 Karen Fisher Brain Corp marketing@braincorporation.com Source:Brain Corp

http://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/16/globe-newswire-brain-corp-names-christian-cornelius-knudsen-as-senior-vice-president-of-global-sales-and-services.html

Afghanistan says Taliban will have to be defeated, after Trump rejects talks

January 30, 2018 / 8:12 AM / Updated 2 hours ago Afghanistan says Taliban will have to be defeated, after Trump rejects talks Mirwais Harooni , Jibran Ahmad 4 Min Read KABUL/PESHAWAR, Pakistan (Reuters) - Afghanistan said on Tuesday the Taliban would have to be defeated on the battlefield after U.S. President Donald Trump rejected the idea of talks with the militants following a series of deadly attacks. The Taliban reacted to Trump’s announcement by saying they never wanted to talk to the United States anyway, but one senior member of the group said he suspected efforts would still be made to get negotiations going. Talking to reporters at the White House on Monday, Trump condemned the militant group for recent carnage in Kabul and said the United States was not prepared to talk now. He pledged to “finish what we have to finish”. His comments suggested he sees a military victory over the Taliban, an outcome that U.S. military and diplomatic officials say cannot be achieved with the resources and manpower he has authorized. A spokesman for Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said while the government had encouraged the Taliban to talk, the attacks in Kabul, including a suicide bomb attack on Saturday that killed more than 100 people, was a “red line”. “The Taliban have crossed a red line and lost the chance for peace,” said the spokesman, Shah Hussain Murtazawi. “We have to look for peace on the battlefield. They have to be marginalized.” He declined to comment directly on Trump’s announcement. A spokesman for the Taliban, who are fighting to oust foreign forces, defeat the U.S.-backed government and impose their version of Islamic rule, said they never wanted to hold peace talks with the United States anyway. “Their main strategy is to continue war and occupation,” the spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said in a statement. He said Taliban fighters would respond in kind if the Americans wanted to focus on war: “If you emphasise war then our mujahideen will not welcome you with flowers.” ‘PUBLIC CONSUMPTION’ Trump last year ordered an increase in U.S. troops, air strikes and other assistance to Afghan forces. The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, said this month the strategy was working and pushing the insurgents closer to talks. That was before a suicide bomber penetrated the highly guarded centre of Kabul on Saturday and detonated an ambulance laden with explosives, killing more than 100 people and wounding at least 235. That attack followed a brazen Taliban assault on the city’s Intercontinental Hotel on Jan. 20, in which more than 20 people, including four Americans, were killed. The Taliban said the attacks were a message to Trump that his policy of aggression would not work. Another Taliban member said the United States had been approaching states that have relations with the Taliban to try to get them to push the insurgents to the negotiating table. ”President Trump is saying this for public consumption,“ the ‎Taliban member, who declined to be identified, said of Trump’s rejection of talks. ”He and his team are making every effort to bring us to the negotiating table. “Actually, the latest attack in Kabul awakened President Trump and his puppets in Afghanistan about the capability of the Taliban and their ability to mount big attacks anywhere.” The Taliban refer to the Afghan government as U.S. “puppets”. The United States believes the Haqqani network, a faction within the Taliban, was behind Saturday’s bomb blast in Kabul. It and Afghanistan have long accused Pakistan of supporting the Taliban, and the Haqqani network in particular, as assets to be used in its bid to limit the influence of old rival India in Afghanistan. This month, Trump ordered big cuts in security aid to Pakistan over its failure to crack down on militants. Pakistan denies accusations it fosters the Afghan war, and condemned the recent attacks in Afghanistan. Pakistani officials were not immediately available for comment on Trump’s rejection of talks with the Taliban. Writing by Robert Birsel; Editing by Clarence Fernandez

https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-afghanistan-blast-trump/afghanistan-says-taliban-will-have-to-be-defeated-after-trump-rejects-talks-idUKKBN1FJ0X1

IOC says North Korea to have 22 athletes in 5 Olympic sports

IOC says North Korea to have 22 athletes in 5 Olympic sports Both Korean teams will march together in the opening ceremony next month The North Koreans will compete in five sports, including a unified women's hockey team Published 7 Hours Ago SHARES Getty Images People walk in front of mascots of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games Soohorang (L) and Bandabi (R) on January 5, 2018 in Seoul, South Korea. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) says 22 North Korean athletes will compete in the Pyeongchang Olympics next month and both Korean teams will march together in the opening ceremony. IOC President Thomas Bach says the North Koreans will compete in five sports disciplines, including a unified women's hockey team. The others are figure skating, short track speed skating, Alpine skiing and cross-country skiing. The North Korean delegation will include 24 coaches and officials at the Feb. 9-25 Winter Games. Bach offers "sincere thanks to the governments of North and South Korea." The agreement became possible after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said three weeks ago that a team could cross the border to compete. Bach did not take questions and was flanked by Olympic and government officials from both countries at a brief news conference.

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/20/ioc-says-north-korea-to-have-22-athletes-in-5-olympic-sports.html

Canada's Guay out of Games with back pain

(Reuters) - Erik Guay, a three-time Olympian and Canada’s most successful alpine skier, will miss the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang due to continuing back pain, Alpine Canada said on Wednesday. Guay, the reigning super-G world champion, has been battling back pain the entire World Cup season and ruled himself out just two days after being selected for the Canadian Olympic team. ”It was an incredibly difficult decision to stay home from the Olympics,“ Guay said in a statement. ”Despite everything we did, I do not feel I can attend the Games and be at a competitive performance level that I would proud representing Canada with. “I will be cheering on all of Team Canada from home, especially my team mates at Alpine Canada.” The leader of Canada’s alpine teams that have become known as the Canadian Cowboys, Guay has reached the World Cup podium 25 times and has three world championship medals including downhill gold in 2011 and the super-G in 2017. He also has a world downhill silver from last year’s championships in St Moritz. ”It’s definitely disappointing to have Erik miss out on the Olympics and we know this was a difficult decision for him to make,“ said Martin Rufener, Athletic Director, Alpine Canada. ”He would certainly have been a medal contender if he was healthy. “Despite Erik missing out, I‘m very proud of the contingent of athletes we are sending to the Games and I know we will make Canada proud.” Reporting by Steve Keating in Toronto. Editing by Christian Radnedge

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-olympics-2018-alps-guay/canadas-guay-out-of-games-with-back-pain-idUSKBN1FK2CX

Dollar rises on rate hopes, undeterred by US jobs report

The dollar rose on Friday, after a brief dip, as investors reckoned a weaker-than-expected U.S. December non-farm payrolls report would not deter the Federal Reserve from raising interest rates multiple times this year though at a gradual pace. U.S. nonfarm payrolls increased by 148,000 jobs last month. Economists were forecasting job gains of 190,000. Employment data for October and November data were revised to show 9,000 fewer jobs created than previously reported. The dollar briefly slipped after the softer-than-forecast number, but has since regained momentum. "It was a little disappointing. The market doesn't care. The margin of error on this number is always big," said Paul Nolte, portfolio manager at Kingsview Asset Management in Chicago, referring to the U.S. jobs data. "What we'd be concerned about is if we see a couple of prints below 100,000. Until then we're okay," he added. Fed funds futures still price in a nearly 70 percent chance the U.S. central bank will hike interest rates in March, according to CME's Fedwatch. show chapters Euro will see further strength in 2018, analyst says 5:36 AM ET Tue, 2 Jan 2018 | 01:52 One bright spot in the U.S. December employment report was the rise in wage growth, analysts said. Average hourly earnings rose 9 cents, or 0.3 percent, in December after gaining 0.1 percent in the prior month. That lifted the annual increase in wages to 2.5 percent from 2.4 percent in November. "This provides further evidence that wage gains have become self-sustaining while helping to support interest rate expectations on the front end of the curve," said Karl Schamotta, director of global product and market strategy, at Cambridge Global Payments in Toronto. In mid-morning trading, the dollar gained 0.37 percent against the yen to 113.16, while the euro fell 0.18 percent versus the dollar to $1.2045. That put the dollar index , a measure of the greenback's value against six major currencies, up 0.2 percent on the day. The dollar index was last up 0.11 percent at 91.95.

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/04/inflation-subdued-but-euro-still-set-for-3rd-week-of-gains.html

Britain's FTSE dips as jobs data boosts sterling

* Sterling at highest level since Brexit vote * Employment data posts surprise surge * Sage Q1 disappoints By Julien Ponthus LONDON, Jan 24 (Reuters) - Britain’s top share index fell on Wednesday as sterling was pushed to a new post-Brexit-vote high by data that showed the number of people in work had surged unexpectedly. At 0950 GMT, the FTSE was down 0.5 percent, slightly underperforming other European markets as the pound rose 0.7 percent to about $1.41, a level not seen since June 2016. The UK jobs data boosted gilt yields, dimming the appeal of consumer staples stocks that are a favourite among income investors, such as BAT and Reckitt Benckiser, which contributed the most to the FTSE’s fall. The slow recovery of sterling since the June 2016 Brexit vote has given an accounting boost to UK blue chips with revenue in dollars. A weak pound typically supports the FTSE while its rise usually puts a drag on the index. “It is becoming increasingly difficult for the BoE to justify its ultra-accommodative policy stance”, said Kallum Pickering, a senior economist at Berenberg, who expects, given the buoyant employment data, two interest rates hikes in 2018, which may provide yet further support to the pound. Miners were the only group gaining ground, with Fresnillo up 2.7 percent after it posted record annual silver production. Anglo American and Rangold Resources were up 2.6 percent and 1.5 percent respectively. Chilean copper producer Antofagasta on the other hand fell 1.7 percent after it reported lower fourth-quarter production and said it expected its 2018 costs to be higher. Software company Sage Group was by far the worst performing stock after it published first-quarter results. “Q1 is slightly disappointing, even allowing for usually slower growth rates at this juncture”, Investec analysts commented. Books, newspaper and stationery seller WH Smith was down 3 percent after reporting flat sales. British pubs group JD Wetherspoon issued upbeat guidance and strong comparable sales in the Christmas period. Its shares were up 3 percent. (Editing by Tom Pfeiffer)

https://www.reuters.com/article/britain-stocks/britains-ftse-dips-as-jobs-data-boosts-sterling-idUSL8N1PJ2N2

North Korea’s nukes aren’t Trump’s fault, former Clinton advisor says

North Korea's rapidly advancing nuclear capability is not the fault of President Donald Trump, but rather of successive U.S. administrations who've failed to reign in the rogue state, according to a former White House foreign policy director. "Clinton, Bush, Obama, and Trump: this is a 20-year failure of American foreign policy," James Rubin, former assistant secretary of state for public affairs under the Bill Clinton administration, told CNBC Friday. Rubin tempered his criticism, however, stressing it was important to remember that "there are limits to what you can do in a country like that if you aren't prepared to go to war." The comments come on the tail of the first government-level talks between North and South Korea in more than two years, as both countries prepare for the Winter Olympics in South Korea. North Korea has been a constant presence in international headlines, developing nuclear weapons and testing missiles at a faster rate than at any point in its history. KCNA | Reuters A view of the newly developed intercontinental ballistic rocket Hwasong-15's test that was successfully launched is seen in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang November 30, 2017. Pyongyang has fired 23 missiles during 16 tests since the start of 2017, conducting its first intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in July, and claims it is now capable of striking the U.S. mainland. Some observers blame Trump's bellicose words and tweets toward North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for the current spike in tensions. The U.S. president has threatened to "totally destroy" the country and has mocked Kim in tweets, calling him "Little Rocket Man" and deriding attempts at diplomacy. He recently expressed support for the talks with the South , however, which took place Tuesday in the border town of Panmunjom. Tweet1 Asked whether the tough talk might be having a positive effect on spurring talks, Rubin replied: "Possibly, but I think more (than) that is that the North Koreans now have something they never had before, which is the ability, probably, to take a nuclear weapon from Pyongyang to any city in the United States. That's the new part of this, and that hasn't changed yet." Previous administrations' dealings with the North Under Bill Clinton, an agreement called the Agreed Framework was passed whereby an international coalition would replace North Korea's plutonium reactor with two light-water reactors in exchange for 500,000 tons of heavy fuel each year from the U.S. The deal was not popular in Congress, and was scrapped shortly after George W. Bush came to power. In response, the North kicked out its U.N. inspectors and relaunched its nuclear development. The Bush administration focused on multilateral negotiations, launching the Six-Party Talks in 2003 with China's help, which also included Russia, Japan and South Korea. But the talks were impeded by numerous lengthy boycotts by the North. By early 2005, North Korea declared it was in possession of nuclear weapons and would not attend future talks. Finally, Barack Obama stuck with the diplomatic route, first employing a conciliatory approach and later implementing sanctions, but similarly to no avail. Pyongyang would oversee four underground nuclear tests by the time Obama left office. DigitalGlobe | 38 North | Getty Images On December 28, 2017, large numbers of personnel are observed at the Southern Support Area, located south of the Command Center Area. "We've squeezed them, we've sanctioned them, we've tried diplomacy, we've tried agreements, they broke agreements," Rubin said. "Yes, everybody's failed, but it's a pretty tough problem." In late December, the UN Security Council (UNSC) adopted a set of stringent sanctions drafted by the U.S. which cut exports of diesel, gasoline and other oil products by nearly 90 percent. This is the tenth major sanctions resolution imposed by the UNSC on North Korea since 2006. North Korea has called it "an act of war."

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/12/north-koreas-nukes-arent-trumps-fault-former-clinton-advisor-says.html

UPDATE 1-Harley-Davidson shipments disappoint, shares drop

January 30, 2018 / 12:19 PM / Updated 17 minutes ago Harley-Davidson closes Missouri plant as shipments slump, shares fall Rajesh Kumar Singh , Rachit Vats 4 Min Read (Reuters) - Harley-Davidson Inc ( HOG.N ) said on Tuesday it will close a plant in Kansas City, Missouri as it consolidates manufacturing operations after its motorcycle shipments fell to their lowest level in six years, sending its shares down more than 8 percent. The Milwaukee-based company forecast a drop in shipments to dealers this year as it expects retail sales in the United States - the company’s biggest market - to dip. Despite generally higher U.S. consumer spending, Harley is grappling with an ageing customer base and younger, more price-sensitive buyers hesitant to embrace the iconic brand as previous generations have done. Its shares fell 8.5 percent to $50.59 on the New York Stock Exchange. The stock fell nearly 13 percent in 2017. Harley said it expects to ship 231,000 to 236,000 motorcycles this year after shipping 241,498 vehicles in 2017, the lowest number since 2011. That is at the low end of its previous forecast of 241,000 to 246,000 units. In the December quarter, Harley’s U.S. sales declined 11.1 percent from the year before and overseas sales dipped 7.7 percent. Overall sales in the quarter were down 9.6 percent. As it adjusts to lower demand, Harley said it will consolidate work at its motorcycle assembly plant in Kansas City, Missouri, into the one in York, Pennsylvania, eliminating about 800 jobs at the Kansas City plant but adding 450 at the York facility. Harley said the move would result in restructuring costs of $170 million to $200 million through 2019 but would save the company $65 million to $75 million a year after 2020. Slideshow (2 Images) It also announced the closure of its wheel operations in Adelaide, Australia, which will affect 100 employees. “HOG is restructuring the business for the demand reality,” analysts at RBC Capital Markets in a research note. “A big concern of ours had been that the cost structure didn’t seem right-sized for demand.” INTERNATIONAL UP, U.S. DOWN U.S. President Donald Trump last year praised the motorcycle maker for its U.S. manufacturing presence and blamed global tariffs for making it “very hard” for the company to do business overseas. Nevertheless, the company is looking overseas for growth this year. “Our assumptions include U.S. retail dealer retail sales to be down, partially offset by growth in international retail sales,” Harley’s Chief Financial Officer John Olin told analysts on an earnings conference call. The company has set out a turnaround strategy to attract 2 million new riders in the next decade by introducing new models. On Tuesday, Harley said it would invest $25 million to $50 million a year over the next several years to develop electric motorcycle technology and was on target to launch its first electric bike within 18 months. Harley’s adjusted earnings for the fourth quarter, excluding some items, were 47 cents per share, just ahead of Wall Street’s average forecast of 45 cents, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. Revenue from motorcycles and related products rose to $1.05 billion from $933 million. Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe and Bill Rigby

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-harley-davidson-results/harley-davidson-forecasts-drop-in-2018-shipments-idUSKBN1FJ1M9

Mark E. Denman Joins Genesis Financial Solutions as President of Genesis Credit

BEAVERTON, Ore., Jan. 9, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Genesis Financial Solutions announced the appointment of Mark E. Denman as President of Genesis Credit, the private label financing business unit of Genesis Financial Solutions. The programs offered through the Genesis Credit brand allows retailers to provide customers, who are typically turned down by prime lenders, access to high quality financing solutions with flexible payment plans and attractive promotions. As President, Mark will focus on driving Genesis Credit's long term strategic development and immediate incremental growth, while building strong relationships with current and future retail partners. "We are excited to have someone of Mark's stature join our executive team at Genesis," said Bruce Weinstein, President and CEO, Genesis Financial Solutions. "Mark's extensive retail consumer credit expertise and proven ability to increase top line growth, aligns with our long term strategic objectives for our private label business." Mark comes to Genesis Financial Solutions with over 20 years of leadership experience in the consumer leasing industry. Most recently, he served as Executive Vice President at AcceptanceNow (A Rent-A-Center brand). In this role, he drove a 30% revenue increase in their kiosk lease business, a 25% reduction in time to open stores, a 20% increase in store openings, and implemented the company's first virtual kiosks. Prior to his EVP role at AcceptanceNow, Mark was Divisional Vice President at both Rent-A-Center and AcceptanceNow brands as well as Operations Manager at TRS (The Rental Store) who Rent A Center acquired in 2010. About Genesis Financial Solutions Genesis Financial Solutions, Inc. is the leading provider of non-prime consumer financing solutions with over 1.5 million customers, 150,000 new cardholders monthly, and 1,000 team members. Genesis provides top quality financing solutions and respectful service for non-prime consumers through our merchant and direct-to-consumer credit card programs. Our programs offer consumers, who are typically turned down by a prime lender, a second chance to access financing and credit cards with simple terms, competitive rates, and excellent customer service. For more information visit Genesis' website at www.genesis-fs.com . View original content with multimedia: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mark-e-denman-joins-genesis-financial-solutions-as-president-of-genesis-credit-300579724.html SOURCE Genesis Financial Solutions, Inc.

http://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/09/pr-newswire-mark-e-denman-joins-genesis-financial-solutions-as-president-of-genesis-credit.html

UPDATE 2-China's 2017 coal imports from Russia surge after N.Korea ban -customs

* Coal imports from Russia up 36.3 pct yr-o-yr in 2017 * Surge came after China banned coal imports from N.Korea * Australia remains China’s largest coal supplier in 2017 (Updating to add graphic) BEIJING, Jan 25 (Reuters) - China’s coal imports from Russia and Mongolia soared in 2017, customs data showed on Thursday, as the two countries filled a supply gap caused by trade sanctions on North Korea. Arrivals from Russia COA-RUCN-IMP in 2017 surged 36.3 percent from 2016 to 25.3 million tonnes, data from the General Administration of Customs showed, with December figures at 2.14 million tonnes, up 16.2 percent from a year ago and 11.5 percent from November. Imports from Mongolia COA-MNCN-IMP rose to 33.58 million tonnes in 2017, up 27.6 percent from 2016, while December’s imports came in at 2.83 million tonnes, down 18.6 percent from a year ago but up 2.5 percent from November. China issued a ban on coal imports from North Korea in late February, about a week after the country tested an intermediate-range ballistic missile. For the rest of the year, China only reported North Korean coal imports in August and September.COA-KPCN-IMP In 2016, China brought in more than 20 million tonnes of North Korean coal, making it Beijing’s fourth-largest supplier after Australia, Indonesia and Mongolia. “The majority of market share left by North Korea was grabbed by Russia, as mining costs in Russia are cheaper than in China’s northeastern region,” said Cheng Gong, an analyst at the China National Coal Association. In 2017, Australia was China’s largest coal supplier for a sixth year in a row, bolstered by increasing demand for high-grade supplies due to Beijing’s crackdown on air pollution. Coal imports from Australia COA-AUCN-IMP rose 13.4 percent from 2016 to 79.91 million tonnes. In December, China bought 8.07 million tonnes of Australian coal, up 19.4 percent from a year ago. Australian coal, with lower pollutants such as sulphides and ash and a higher energy value, is considered a high-grade fuel compared to Mongolian and Indian supply. Arrivals from Indonesia COA-IDCN-IMP in 2017 fell 9.7 percent from 2016 to 35.28 million tonnes. December imports of 1.71 million tonnes were down 63.1 percent from the same period in 2016. In late November, Beijing eased some restrictions on coal imports to ensure stable coal supplies during the peak winter heating season. Data released earlier this month showed China’s total December coal imports rose 3 percent from November to 22.74 million tonnes. Vessel-tracking and port data compiled by Thomson Reuters Supply Chain and Commodity Forecasts suggest China in January will import around 20.9 million tonnes of seaborne coal, both thermal and coking, up from 17.2 million in December and 19.1 million in November. Reporting by Muyu Xu and Josephine Mason; Editing by Christian Schmollinger

https://www.reuters.com/article/china-economy-trade-coal/update-1-chinas-2017-coal-imports-from-russia-surge-after-n-korea-ban-customs-idUSL4N1PK2JM

UPDATE 7-Oil hits highest since 2015 as Iran unrest spooks market

* Brent touches $68.27, highest since May 2015 * Iran deploys Revolutionary Guards to quell "sedition" * Analyst says market vulnerable to profit-taking * API says U.S. crude inventories fall; EIA supply report due (Updates prices) LONDON, Jan 4 (Reuters) - Oil rose above $68 a barrel to its highest since May 2015 on Thursday after unrest in Iran raised concerns about supply risks, with support also coming from OPEC-led output cuts and demand-boosting cold weather in the United States. Six days of anti-government protests in OPEC's third-largest producer have added a geopolitical risk premium to oil prices, though Iran's production and exports have not been affected. Brent crude, the international benchmark, was down 11 cents at $67.73 a barrel by 1455 GMT but traded as high as $68.27 earlier in the session. U.S. crude rose 4 cents to $61.67 and also touched its highest since May 2015. "There is enough support for prices with the cold in the U.S. and the geopolitical factor," said Petromatrix oil analyst Olivier Jakob. Freezing weather in the United States has spurred short-term demand, especially for heating oil. Apart from the spike in May 2015, oil is trading at its highest since December 2014 - the month after a decision by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries to stop cutting output to support prices. Analysts at JBC Energy said the price reaction to the Iranian unrest was overdone, while Swiss bank Julius Baer said prices projected "an overly rosy picture" that left the market at risk of profit-taking. OPEC, supported by Russia and other non-members, began to reduce output a year ago to remove a glut built up in the previous two years. Compliance has been high, aided by involuntary declines in Venezuela, where the economy is collapsing, plus unrest in Nigeria and Libya. Producers have decided to extend the supply pact until the end of 2018. OPEC's cuts are helping reduce global inventories. In the United States crude stocks fell by 5 million barrels in the latest week, the American Petroleum Institute said on Wednesday before the government's supply report later on Thursday. Byron Wien of Blackstone listed the prospect of U.S. crude topping $80 as one of 10 potential shockers for investors in 2018 in his annual list of surprises. Balancing the trend towards a tighter market is higher production in the United States, where the OPEC-led effort to push prices up is spurring more shale oil output. (Addtional reporting by Henning Gloystein; Editing by Mark Potter and David Goodman)

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/04/reuters-america-update-7-oil-hits-highest-since-2015-as-iran-unrest-spooks-market.html

FEATURE-Tennis-Volatile times ahead as slams plan return to 16 seeds

January 24, 2018 / 8:00 AM / Updated 22 minutes ago FEATURE-Tennis-Volatile times ahead as slams plan return to 16 seeds Simon Cambers 4 Min Read MELBOURNE, Jan 24 (Reuters) - Roger Federer took on Tomas Berdych in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open on Wednesday, a blockbuster clash at the business end of a grand slam event. But from 2019, under plans to reduce the number of seeds from 32 back to 16 at the four major tournaments, the match could happen in the first or second round instead. In June 2001, Wimbledon instigated the change to 32, having been spooked the previous year when a number of players, angry at being bumped from the seedings in favour of grass-court specialists, boycotted the championships. Since then, the top players have often cruised through the opening rounds, especially in the men’s draw, with the number of early shocks significantly lower than before the change. It is a change that has divided players but Federer gave it his tentative support when the plans were first announced last November. ”Having 16 seeds, that might be interesting,“ Federer said during the ATP Finals in London. ”The draw could be more volatile, better matches in the first week. “The top guys have made a habit of not cruising but getting through the first week quite comfortably for a long period of time. Playing against the numbers 17, 19 or 20 in the world is not something I really want to do, but it is what it is.” Statistically, the change reduced the number of defeats for top-16 seeds in the first two rounds at grand slams, but only really in the men’s draw. At the Australian Open, the average number of top-16 seeds losing in either round one or two averaged 7.2 in the five years before the change, falling to 3.63 between then and 2017. At the French Open, the average went from six to four; at Wimbledon, it fell from 6.5 to 4.65 and at the U.S. Open, it dropped from 6.25 to 4.11. In the women’s draw, in three of the four grand slams, the early exits even went up, marginally. At a time when players are talking about receiving a greater share of tournament revenue through increased prize money, the change should allow more players a better chance to earn more by getting further in the grand slams. Some players, though, are not so sure. “I don’t see much the benefit, for the grand slams,” sixth seed Marin Cilic said at Melbourne Park. “The draw is huge, and I think that the draw, the seeding should be the same as now.” Madison Keys, seeded 17th, joked that the women’s event did not need any more excitement, not least since 10 of the top-16 seeds went out before the third round this year, compared to only six in the men’s event. “I think the 16 seeds, I don’t understand the point of it,” Keys said. “I guess we need more drama and more upsets. It will be interesting, to say the least.” Some former players, on the other hand, are in favour. “With 16 seeds you have more interesting matches earlier, more fun, more excitement,” 2001 Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic told Reuters. ”You should have to work to win a grand slam. You get some parts of the draw where some guys walk to the quarter-final without losing a set, so with 16 seeds you know you could play a guy ranked 17 in the first round. “I think it’s a rule change that is good.” Paul Annacone, once ranked number 12 and a former coach of Pete Sampras, Tim Henman and then Federer, sees it from both sides. “My position as a fan is I’d like to see 16 seeds, but if I put my coach’s hat on, or players’ hat on, I get why they don’t want it,” Annacone told Reuters. ”One year I had to play (John) McEnroe first round of the U.S. Open and I was one of the next few seeded, I think, so ... I understand it, it adds for some excitement, but it also adds for some unnecessary heartbreak too. “In many ways, it would make the beginning potentially more exciting and more dangerous, (so the change is) probably better for the game but not as good for the (top players).” Editing by Greg Stutchbury

https://uk.reuters.com/article/tennis-ausopen-seeds/feature-tennis-volatile-times-ahead-as-slams-plan-return-to-16-seeds-idUKL4N1PJ2B6

EU sets import duties on cast iron products from China

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union has set import duties on certain cast iron articles to counter what it sees as dumping by Chinese producers, the latest in a series of trade measures against China. The European Commission launched a case in December 2016 following a complaint from seven EU producers, including two units of French group Saint Gobain, about imports of products made from lamellar graphite cast iron, known as gray iron, and spheroidal graphite cast iron, known as ductile cast iron. The products in question are wide-ranging and include gratings, drains and manhole covers. The EU has set duties of between 15.5 and 38.1 percent for Chinese manufacturers, the EU said in its official journal on Tuesday. The tariff will enter into force on Wednesday and last for five years. The duties are lower than the provisional duties of between 25.3 and 42.8 percent set in August. The EU said the amounts collected should be held, but the difference refunded. The EU at the same time terminated its investigation into cast iron imports from India, finding there to be no dumping. The case could well lead to a legal challenge as China complained that it should no longer have been treated as a non-market economy from December 2016. The non-market economy status allowed its prices to be compared with those of an “analogue” country, where normal market economics did apply. In this case, India was chosen. The EU has subsequently changed the way it handles anti-dumping cases for China. Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop, editing by Louise Heavens

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-eu-china-iron/eu-sets-import-duties-on-cast-iron-products-from-china-idUSKBN1FJ1D9

Collapse of Colombian bridge kills nine workers, injures five

Collapse of Colombian bridge kills nine workers, injures five Reuters Staff 1 Min Read BOGOTA (Reuters) - At least nine construction workers were killed and five injured when a partially-constructed bridge collapsed in central Colombia on Monday, an official from the disaster response agency said. The bridge, located in Chirajara on the border of Cundinamarca and Meta provinces, was to be part of the highway that connects the capital Bogota and the city of Villavicencio, and was not yet in public use. The cause of the collapse, which sent pieces of the bridge down into a canyon below, is under investigation, Reinaldo Romero, head of disaster response for Meta province, told Reuters. “Up to now there are nine dead and five injured,” Romero said. “We are doing a check to rule out other victims.” Reporting by Bogota newsroom; Editing by Nick Zieminski

https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-colombia-accident/collapse-of-colombian-bridge-kills-nine-workers-injures-five-idUKKBN1F42KC

Tennis: Unhindered Halep dashes past Bouchard into third round

January 18, 2018 / 9:40 AM / Updated an hour ago Unhindered Halep dashes past Bouchard into third round Reuters Staff 3 Min Read MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Top seed Simona Halep eased fears over her fitness with a brisk 6-2 6-2 demolition of Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard to reach the third round of the Australian Open on Thursday. The world number one sprained her ankle in her first round match at Melbourne Park on Tuesday but showed no sign of restricted movement in a 65-minute romp on Margaret Court Arena. Marching around the court like she meant nothing but business, Halep’s confidence appeared to increase as she grew into the match and she broke Bouchard seven of the eight times the Canadian served. ”I felt the pain but I didn’t think about it,“ Halep said. ”I couldn’t practice much but during the match I just forgot about it. I had a very tight tape. I could move. “The most important thing is that I could play my game not thinking about the ankle. I did it great today.” Bouchard beat Halep in the 2014 Wimbledon semi-finals, the same year she reached the last four at Melbourne Park, but is now ranked a lowly 112th in the world. Tennis - Australian Open - Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne, Australia, January 18, 2018. Canada's Eugenie Bouchard waves after losing her match against Romania's Simona Halep. REUTERS/Issei Kato She broke the Romanian at the start of both sets and had her moments in what was at times a hard-fought contest but it was her inability to hold her own serve that put paid to her hopes of advancing. Her faulty forehand did not help her cause and contributed greatly to a tally of 26 unforced errors, the last of which brought defeat after Halep had fired down a huge forehand which she could only balloon wide. Tennis - Australian Open - Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne, Australia, January 18, 2018. Romania's Simona Halep in action during her match against Canada's Eugenie Bouchard. REUTERS/Issei Kato Halep moves on to a third round encounter with American world number 76 Lauren Davies, happy to have avoided the early exits that befell her on her last two visits to Melbourne and with her tenuous grip on the number one ranking still holding. Rather than concern her, the 26-year-old said the injury would actually allow her to play with more freedom. ”For sure I‘m not 100 percent,“ she said. ”But I don’t feel pressure. I feel a little bit more relaxed because I have nothing to lose. “I‘m just trying to stay focused on my game, nothing else. Definitely to be careful with the movement on the court, not forcing anything. I‘m just going out there and feeling the ball.” Reporting by Nick Mulvenney in Sydney, editing by Amlan Chakraborty and Pritha Sarkar

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tennis-ausopen-halep/tennis-unhindered-halep-dashes-past-bouchard-into-third-round-idUSKBN1F7131

With Versailles business summit, Macron seeks to bank on global appeal

January 22, 2018 / 2:25 PM / Updated 25 minutes ago With Versailles business summit, Macron seeks to bank on global appeal Michel Rose 3 Min Read PARIS (Reuters) - President Emmanuel Macron sought on Monday to show that his activity on the world stage and his pro-business reforms were bearing fruit with a highly-publicised summit of global CEOs in Versailles and a flurry of investment announcements. A 300 million euro (264.49 million pounds) investment by Japanese carmaker Toyota ( 7203.T ) to increase capacity at its northern French plant producing the Yaris model was set to be the centrepiece of the day, with 800 new jobs to be added by 2020. Smaller but “emblematic” investment projects would also be unveiled, Macron’s office said, including new research centres by digital giants and new factories in the agrobusiness. Facebook, whose chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg was to meet Macron in Versailles, said on Monday it would double the number of staff at its Paris artificial intelligence hub. “Showcasing these projects will create a snowball effect,” a presidential adviser said. Slideshow (4 Images) Eight months into his presidency, Macron is keen to convince the French that the tax cuts he is providing to corporates and millionaires are not a giveaway to the rich but can yield higher investment and curb an unemployment rate of nearly 10 percent. Some 140 of the world’s most powerful business executives are expected at the gilded Palace of Versailles on Monday afternoon, where they will “speed date” with French ministers and be joined by Macron in the evening. The summit dubbed “Choose France” is held just two days before Macron heads to the global elite’s annual gathering at Davos, making sure the event catches the top executives on their way to the Swiss Alps. If the list of attendees - including Goldman Sachs’s ( GS.N ) Lloyd Blankfein and Google’s Sundar Pichai - is a sign of the 40-year old leader’s pulling power, it is also a reminder of France’s more pressing need for foreign investment to reduce a trade deficit of almost 50 billion euros. In a study published last week, the COE-Rexecode think-tank said French companies had continued to lose market share to their euro zone rivals on global markets, with French goods and services accounting for 12.9 percent of the bloc’s exports last year, down from 13.2 percent in 2016 and 17 percent in 2000. In 2016, France was the 16th highest recipient of foreign direct investments in the world, UN data showed, with $28 billion, well below Europe’s top two inflow hosts, Britain and the Netherlands, with $254 billion and $92 billion respectively. Related Coverage

https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-france-business/with-versailles-business-summit-macron-seeks-to-bank-on-global-appeal-idUKKBN1FB1VK

Turkey's nationalist opposition to back Erdogan in 2019 election

January 8, 2018 / 1:04 PM / Updated 5 minutes ago Turkey's nationalist opposition to back Erdogan in 2019 election Reuters Staff 2 Min Read ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey’s nationalist opposition said on Monday it would back President Tayyip Erdogan in the 2019 election, signaling continued right-wing support crucial to his narrow victory in a constitutional referendum last year. The Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), the smallest of parliament’s four factions, backed the vote to grant Erdogan sweeping executive powers, helping it squeak by with a margin of 51.4 percent. “The MHP will not submit a presidential candidate,” MHP leader Devlet Bahceli told a news conference. “The MHP will take a decision to support Erdogan in the presidential elections.” Turks will vote for both president and parliament next year. Bahceli has said he wants a reduction in the minimum 10 percent vote required for a party to enter parliament. Over the past two decades he has brought the MHP more toward the mainstream and away from its early reputation for ties to rightist street gangs. The party is now looking to fend off a challenge from Meral Aksener, an ex-interior minister and prominent nationalist who last year founded her own party after breaking with the MHP. One recent poll suggested that Aksener’s party could eclipse the MHP and deprive it of the 10 percent threshold. Bahceli said the MHP would consider an alliance with Erdogan’s AK Party if such a request came from the AKP. The MHP won as much as 18 percent in the 1999 parliamentary election but slipped below the threshold with 9.5 percent in 2002. It has exceeded 10 percent in elections since and took 11.9 percent in the November 2015 vote. Founded by an ex-colonel involved in a 1960 military coup, the MHP espouses a mix of Turkish nationalism and scepticism toward the West. It is virulently opposed to autonomy for Turkey’s Kurdish minority. The MHP support base once included sympathizers of the “Grey Wolves”, a nationalist youth group that fought street battles with leftists in the 1970s. Mehmet Ali Agca, who tried to assassinate Pope John Paul II in 1981, was a group member. Reporting by Ercan Gurses and Ezgi Erkoyun; Editing by David Dolan and Mark Heinrich

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-politics-election/turkeys-nationalist-opposition-to-back-erdogan-in-2019-election-idUSKBN1EX170

UPDATE 3-McDonald's robust U.S. sales fail to impress, shares fall

(Recasts, adds context and analyst commentary) Jan 30 (Reuters) - McDonald's Corp on Tuesday reported robust U.S. fourth-quarter restaurant sales, boosted by new buttermilk chicken tenders and cheap value offerings, but that was not enough to match Wall Street's increasing appetite for growth. Investor expectations are high three years into a turnaround led by Chief Executive Steve Easterbrook. Under his guidance, the company is recapturing share from rivals and winning back customers who had defected to fast-casual chains like Panera Bread and Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. Shares in the world's biggest restaurant chain fell 0.6 percent to $176.63 in morning trading. They have climbed 80 percent since Easterbrook was named CEO on March 1, 2015, outperforming a 36 percent rise in the S&P 500. McDonald's is now doubled down on discounting, piling more pricing pressure on rivals with a $1, $2, $3 menu launched earlier this month. It also plans to invest $2.4 billion this year to help open 1,000 new restaurants and renovate and modernize existing units to accommodate self-service kiosks, mobile ordering and delivery. Sales at U.S. restaurants open at least 13 months jumped an enviable 4.5 percent, the fourth straight quarterly rise, but that only matched analysts' estimates. Sales in the region were boosted by higher demand for its McPick 2 $5 combo offer and cheap drinks. The United States is McDonald's biggest market in terms of restaurants, revenue and operating income. Global same-store sales were up 5.5 percent, as it served more customers in regions including Canada, the United Kingdom and China. That exceeded the 5 percent gain analysts expected, "though a bit more modestly than in previous quarters," Bernstein analyst Sara Senatore said in a client note. Net income fell to $698.7 million or 87 cents per share, from $1.19 billion or $1.44 per share, a year earlier, mainly due to a $700 million one-time net charge related to recent changes in U.S. tax law. Excluding items, the company earned $1.71 per share, beating the average analyst estimate of $1.59, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. After crunching the numbers to account for the tax charge and a lower-than-expected effective rate in the fourth quarter, Cowen & Co analyst Andrew Charles said in a client note that he viewed the underlying earnings per share as in-line with expectations. Revenue fell 11.4 percent to $5.3 billion in the quarter ended Dec. 31 as McDonald's stepped up sales of restaurants to franchisees and strategic partners. (Reporting by Siddharth Cavale in Bangalore and Lisa Baertlein in Los Angeles; Editing by Meredith Mazzilli)

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/30/reuters-america-update-3-mcdonalds-robust-u-s-sales-fail-to-impress-shares-fall.html

Nike at two-year high as analysts tout margin benefits of direct sales

(Reuters) - Nike Inc’s ( NKE.N ) shares surged to a two-year high on Friday after two Wall Street brokerages said the footwear maker’s profitability would soon reap the benefits of its recent move to sell directly to consumers. Nike’s shares jumped nearly 5 percent, set for their best day since June 30, 2017, when the company said it would sell more products directly through retailers such as Amazon.com Inc ( AMZN.O ) and its own stores, rather than through wholesalers. Bernstein Research and Wedbush Securities said this direct-to-consumer (DTC) model would boost Nike’s margins once the plans were fully implemented and the business accounted for a larger chunk of total sales from the current 28 percent. In fact, Wedbush estimated Nike’s overall gross margins would expand for the first time in 10 quarters in the March-May quarter. It upgraded Nike’s stock to “outperform.” Analyst Christopher Svezia said the company’s results next fiscal would also get a boost from the launch of new shoe styles and easier comparison with last year, when it took a bit of a beating from weak demand in North America. Bernstein estimated said Nike’s realized retail price was double its wholesale price, suggesting the gross profit contribution of each product it sold directly was more than three times higher than if sold through a wholesaler. “As Nike moves from a wholesale business to a more direct business, we believe there is clear margin upside from this shift,” analyst Jamie Merriman wrote in a note. Merriman estimated gross margins in Nike’s DTC business are 62 percent, compared with 38 percent in its wholesale business. Nike’s overall gross margins could grow by as much as 3.3 percentage points by 2022, Merriman estimated, if the DTC business increased to about 42 percent of total revenue. That growth would be even more if margins in its e-commerce business scale to those in its store business, Merriman said, who rates Nike’s stock “outperform.” The company's shares were up 4.5 percent at $66.98, easily the top gainer on the bluechip Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI . The stock rose to as much as $67.14, its highest since December 2015. Reporting by Siddharth Cavale in Bengaluru; Editing by Savio D'Souza

https://in.reuters.com/article/nike-stocks/nike-at-two-year-high-as-analysts-tout-margin-benefits-of-direct-sales-idINKBN1F82H6

Oil States Announces Offering of $200 Million Principal Amount of Convertible Senior Notes Due 2023

HOUSTON, Jan. 24, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Oil States International, Inc. (NYSE:OIS) (the “Company”) announced today that it intends to offer, subject to market and other conditions, $200 million aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes due 2023 (the “Notes”) in a private offering to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The Notes will be senior, unsecured obligations of the Company, with interest payable semi-annually in arrears, and will be convertible by the holder, subject to various conditions, into cash, shares of the Company's common stock, or a combination thereof, at the Company's election. The Company will have the option to redeem all or any portion of the Notes on or after February 15, 2021, if certain conditions (including the Company’s common stock trading above a specified level) are met, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date. The Notes are expected to mature on February 15, 2023, unless repurchased, redeemed or converted in accordance with their terms prior to such date. The interest rate and initial conversion rate of the Notes will be determined by negotiations between the Company and the initial purchasers. The Company expects to use the net proceeds from the sale of the Notes to repay a portion of the borrowings outstanding under the Company’s revolving credit facility, which were drawn to fund the cash portion of the purchase price in the GEODynamics, Inc. acquisition that closed on January 12, 2018. The offer and sale of the Notes and any shares of the Company’s common stock issuable upon conversion of the Notes have not been and are not expected to be registered under the Securities Act or the securities laws of any other jurisdiction, and the Notes and any such shares may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from such registration requirements. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities, nor shall it constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale is unlawful. Any offer, if at all, will be made only pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act. Forward Looking Statements The foregoing contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements are those that do not state historical facts and are, therefore, inherently subject to risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements included therein are based on then current expectations and entail various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the Company’s ability to consummate the offering on acceptable terms or at all; risks associated with the general nature of the energy service industry; and other factors discussed in the "Business" and "Risk Factors" sections of the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 and in subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. SOURCE: Oil States International, Inc. Source:Oil States International, Inc.

http://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/24/globe-newswire-oil-states-announces-offering-of-200-million-principal-amount-of-convertible-senior-notes-due-2023.html