Reuters - Before the Bell

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Thursday, August 17, 2017

Wal-Mart comparable sales beat estimates, margins dip

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc on Thursday reported its 12th straight quarterly increase in comparable sales, but margins fell as the retailer continued to cut prices and invest in its e-commerce operations.

Sixt CEO hints at car-sharing merger talks between BMW and Daimler

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - German carmakers Daimler and BMW may be in talks to combine their car-sharing services Car2Go and DriveNow, the chief executive of car rental company and DriveNow partner Sixt hinted on Thursday.

Futures lower on weak inflation concerns

(Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures were lower on Thursday, a day after the release of minutes from the Federal Reserve's meeting showed policymakers appeared wary about weak inflation, muddying the path of future interest rate hikes.

Wisconsin lawmakers debate billions in incentives for Foxconn plant

(Reuters) - The Wisconsin State Assembly on Thursday will consider a $3 billion incentive package for a proposed liquid-crystal display factory by Taiwan's Foxconn, the first vote on the deal by a chamber of the state's Republican-controlled legislature.

China's Alibaba outstrips revenue estimates with online sales growth

(Reuters) - Alibaba, China's top e-commerce firm, beat analyst's estimates with a 56 percent rise in first-quarter revenue, driven by growth in online sales which make up most of its business.

Apple's Cook says he disagrees with Trump, vows donations to rights groups

(Reuters) - Apple Inc (AAPL.O) CEO Tim Cook has joined a chorus of business leaders who have voiced their opposition to President Donald Trump after he blamed white nationalists and anti-racism activists equally for violence in Virginia over the weekend.

European stocks and bond yields fall after Fed flags weak inflation

LONDON (Reuters) - European stocks and bond yields fell in early trade on Thursday after the Federal Reserve expressed concern over weak U.S. inflation, a trend which has clouded the outlook for the world's largest economy.

Fed's Fischer says move to unwind bank regulation 'dangerous': FT

LONDON (Reuters) - Efforts by the United States government to loosen regulations on banks are "dangerous and extremely short-sighted", one of the U.S. central bank's top policymakers said in an interview with the Financial Times published late on Wednesday.

Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway will not increase its Oncor offer

(Reuters) - The energy unit of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc said on Wednesday it will "stand firm" on its $9 billion offer to acquire 80 percent of Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC and will not increase its offer.

Cisco's security business revenue misses estimates, shares drop

(Reuters) - Cisco Systems Inc's quarterly revenue in its closely-watched security business missed analysts' estimates, raising concerns about the world's largest networking gear maker's efforts to transform into a software-focused company.