IN THE NEWS
BENZINGA
Facebook Inc FB poached Snap Inc SNAP’s Story function last year and added it to its Instagram platform. On Thursday, the company announced the availability of a new Snapchat-like feature on its Messenger platform: Link
American infrastructure has earned another D average grade from the American Society of Civil Engineers, according to the group's latest report card: Link
It seems as though U.S. oil producers and investors may have gotten a bit ahead of themselves by betting on a quick recovery. Despite OPEC delivering on its pledge to cut production by 1 million bpd, U.S. crude oil stockpiles remain at record levels: Link
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
The stock-market rally presents a difficult choice for some individual investors: Miss out, or risk getting in at the top: Link
Royal Dutch Shell PLC (NYSE: RDS-A) is selling nearly all of its Canadian oil-sands developments in deals worth $7.25 billion, deserting a region that has come to symbolize the risks for energy companies in high-cost, carbon-intensive sources of oil: Link
American International Group AIG Chief Executive Peter Hancock, apparently having lost the faith of the insurer’s directors, quit at a board meeting Wednesday where his future was being discussed, according to people familiar with the matter: Link
REUTERS
One of two current members of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission raised questions on Thursday for companies like Snap Inc (SNAP) that offer shareholders unequal voting rights, saying the agency should "focus on how some innovations may prove detrimental to investors: Link
The Department of Justice is deploying 50 judges to immigration detention facilities across the United States, according to two sources and a letter seen by Reuters and sent to judges on Thursday: Link
The Republican plan backed by President Donald Trump to overhaul the U.S. healthcare system cleared its first hurdles in Congress on Thursday, but its chances for passage looked uncertain and top Republicans scrambled to bring disgruntled conservatives aboard: Link
BLOOMBERG
Billionaire Elon Musk bets he can solve a looming energy crisis in Australia within 100 days by deploying Tesla Inc. TSLA technology to plug a supply gap which has caused power blackouts: Link
Since Donald Trump’s surprise election victory, the president and Republican leaders in Congress have described tax reform as a top priority: Link
NEW YORK POST
While department, discount and specialty stores of every stripe are in an arms race to increase their online revenue, one retail sector stands blissfully firm on just brick-and-mortar stores — off-price chains: Link
ECONOMIC DATA
- Nonfarm Payrolls for Feb 235.0K vs 200.0K estimate. Private Payrolls for Feb 227.0K vs 193.0K estimate.
- Unemployment Rate fro Feb 4.7%
- The Baker Hughes North American rig count report for the latest week is schedule for release at 1:00 p.m. ET.
- The U.S. Treasury budget report for February will be released at 2:00 p.m. ET.
ANALYST RATINGS
- KeyBanc upgraded Actuant ATU from Sector Weight to Overweight
- Goldman Sachs upgraded Camden Property Trust CPT from Neutral to Buy
- JMP Securities upgraded IBERIABANK Corp IBKC from Market Perform to Market Outperform
- B. Riley downgraded Guess? GES from Buy to Neutral
- Goldman Sachs downgraded Ionis Pharmaceuticals IONS from Netural to Sell
- BTIG Research downgraded VeriFone Systems PAY from Buy to Neutral
NOTABLE OPTION ALERTS
- ETP Energy Tr Part Mar 45.0 Puts Sweep: 778 @ ASK $8.595: 1432 traded vs 1945 OI: Earnings 5/3 After Close (est) $36.54 Ref
- ECA Encana Jul 11.0 Calls Sweep: 900 @ ASK $1.00: 24k traded vs 28k OI: Earnings 5/3 Before Open (est) $10.47 Ref
- CPE Callon Pet Mar 12.0 Calls Sweep: 516 @ ASK $0.10: 1979 traded vs 180 OI: Earnings 5/3 After Close (est) $11.26 Ref
- LUV Southwest Mar 10th 56.5 Puts Sweep: 577 @ ASK $0.45: 887 traded vs 562 OI: Earnings 4/27 Before Open (est) $56.51 Ref
- SBUX Starbucks Jan18 50.0 Puts: 5000 @ ASK $2.28: 5100 traded vs 16k OI: Earnings 4/27 After Close (est) $55.06 Ref
- MU Micron Mar 31st 22.0 Calls Sweep: 8000 @ ASK $3.35: 8000 traded vs 153 OI: Earnings 3/23 After Close $24.92 Ref
- TPX Tempur Sealy Apr 55.0 Calls: 640 @ ASK $0.45: 646 traded vs 495 OI: Earnings 4/27 Before Open (est) $44.96 Ref
- TRN Trinity Ind Apr 25.0 Calls: 875 @ ASK $1.95: 1750 traded vs 179 OI: Earnings 4/20 After Close (est) $26.01 Ref
- STX Seagate Mar 46.0 Puts Sweep: 1045 @ ASK $0.65: 2046 traded vs 1096 OI: Earnings 4/28 After Close (est) $46.60 Ref
- WFM Whole Foods Apr 30.0 Calls: 11200 @ ASK $0.58: 11k traded vs 416 OI: Earnings 5/3 After Close (est) $29.33 Ref
- HLF Herbalife Mar 54.0 Calls Sweep: 2223 @ ASK $0.294: 2239 traded vs 116 OI: Earnings 5/4 After Close (est) $51.87 Ref
- BBRY Blackberry Mar 24th 7.0 Calls: 500 @ ASK $0.07: 500 traded vs 319 OI: Earnings 3/31 Before Open $6.72 Ref
- MYL Mylan Mar 10th 43.5 Calls Sweep: 500 @ ASK $0.18: 516 traded vs 213 OI: Earnings 5/2 Before Open (est) $43.19 Ref
- EPD Enterprise Prod Part June $29 Call; 5000 @Bid @ $0.33
- QCOM Qualcomm Mar 56.5 Puts: 11000 @ ASK $0.24: 11k traded vs 855 OI: Earnings 4/19 After Close $57.91 Ref
- MYL Mylan Mar 44.0 Calls Sweep: 501 @ ASK $0.348: 509 traded vs 677 OI: Earnings 5/2 Before Open (est) $43.09 Ref
- MDLZ Mondelez Sep17 43.0 Calls Sweep: 1441 @ ASK $3.35: 1441 traded vs 125 OI: Earnings 4/26 Before Open (est) $43.56 Ref
- SIG SIG Mar $60 Put; Mar $60 Put; 3000 at Bid @$0.30
- STM STMicro Oct17 15.0 Calls Sweep: 2418 @ ASK $2.15: 2500 traded vs 1197 OI: Earnings 4/26 Before Open (est) $15.13 Ref
- AIG AIG Mar 65.0 Calls Sweep: 1776 @ ASK $0.36: 2144 traded vs 11k OI: Earnings 5/2 After Close (est) $64.40 Ref
This is a tool used by the Benzinga News Desk each trading day — it's a look at everything happening in the market, in five minutes. Apply for daily AM access by clicking here or email minutes@benzinga.com.
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