- EU to weigh extensive sanctions on Russia (FT)
- U.S. lifts flight ban to Israel (Reuters)
- Russia says will cooperate with MH17 probe led by Netherlands (Reuters)
- Norway faces ‘concrete and credible’ terrorist threat (FT)
- Don’t Tell Anybody About This Story on HFT Power Jump Trading (BBG)
- But… but… PMI: Unilever Sales Growth Misses Estimates on Asian Slowdown (BBG)
- World’s Biggest Wealth Fund Reviews $8 Billion Russian Stake (BBG)
- Qualcomm latest US tech company to reverse in China (FT)
- Hamptons Home Sales Rise as Buyers Find More Inventory (BBG)
- Ex-Goldman Trader’s Bitcoin Exchange to Fill Mt. Gox Void (BBG)
- Mutiny at the BOJ: Bank of Japan Majority Won’t Be Swayed by Kuroda Ideology (BBG)
- Singapore Home Prices Set to Extend Drop, Keppel Land Says (BBG)
Overnight Media Digest
WSJ
* Two Ukrainian fighter jets were shot down Wednesday over separatist-held territory not far from the site of the Malaysia Airlines crash as international outrage over the tragedy has done little to slow fighting in eastern Ukraine. (http://on.wsj.com/1pc31qs)
* The Obama administration, Israel and other Middle East allies are refashioning an Egyptian cease-fire proposal to assure Hamas that Gaza’s economic interests would be addressed if the Islamist group stops rocket attacks, senior U.S. and Arab officials said. (http://on.wsj.com/1sUzA2G)
* The largest public pension fund in the U.S., the California Public Employees’ Retirement System, or Calpers is expected to cut its hedge-fund investments this year by 40 percent to $3 billion. Public pensions from California to Ohio are backing away from hedge funds because of concerns about high fees and lackluster returns. (http://on.wsj.com/1nWeo4p)
* A number of major banks are looking to simultaneously settle probes into allegations of foreign-exchange rate-rigging with the U.K.’s Financial Conduct Authority, according to people familiar with the matter. Banks like Barclays PLC and UBS AG are aiming to reach individual settlements with regulators that will be announced at the same time, these people say. (http://on.wsj.com/1oeuZ8p)
* The U.S. airline industry’s newfound health is breeding something not seen in years: a flock of startups. Two fledging carriers already have taken off. One is a reincarnation of the old People Express Airlines. Others are still in various stages of incubation, hoping to raise sufficient funds and receive government clearance to take wing. (http://on.wsj.com/1jWkYwU)
* Gilead Sciences Inc’s Hepatitis C pill, Sovaldi, notched $3.5 billion in second-quarter sales, catapulting Gilead into the ranks of the top-selling pharmaceutical companies.(http://on.wsj.com/1z5gIi5)
* The U.S. government has asked big banks whether it should issue bonds that mature in more than 30 years. The treasury department asked 22 primary dealer banks, which underwrite U.S. government debt sales, about possible demand for ultra-long-term sovereign bonds. (http://on.wsj.com/1tDbW8r)
* Cable magnate John Malone said in an interview that Twenty-First Century Fox has long been eyeing a takeover bid for Time Warner Inc and isn’t likely to face competing bidders, pouring cold water on speculation that tech companies could emerge as rival suitors for the TV and movie company. (http://on.wsj.com/1z5upNS)
* J.P. Morgan Chase & Co has sharply pulled back from a popular mortgage-lending program this year, blaming Obama administration’s zeal for litigation. (http://on.wsj.com/1pdsn7k)
* The Securities and Exchange Commission told Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services that it could face an enforcement action for alleged securities fraud regarding six commercial real-estate deals in 2011, according to a Wednesday filing by S&P parent McGraw Hill Financial Inc (http://on.wsj.com/1lxLKXn)
FT
BSkyB is expected to announce its European expansion on Friday, by buying Rupert Murdoch’s pay-TV assets in Italy and Germany, two people familiar with the deal said.
Standard Chartered Plc Chairman Sir John Peace is weighing a succession plan, and has been urged to conduct a search both internally and externally over the next 12 months, three people familiar with the matter said.
Britain’s Department of Energy and Climate Change will appeal a High Court decision which overruled its plans to drop one of Drax Group’s coal-to-biomass conversion projects from a new renewable energy subsidy scheme.
UK wealth managers are facing “considerable uncertainty” as lower trading commissions in the last quarter hurt managers including Brewin Dolphin and Charles Stanley.
The Bank of England is weighing up conflicting data on Britain’s labour market as it prepares to start raising interest rates off their record low of the last five years, BoE Governor Mark Carney said.
NYT
* From factory inspections to product recalls, laboratory testing to prosecutions, China’s emergent food-quality apparatus has turned into reform on the fly, with ever-changing threats and setbacks. (http://nyti.ms/1sVA3la)
* Facebook Inc posted higher revenue and profit for the second quarter, driven by revenue from apps on mobile devices and advertisements shown in the news feeds. Mobile devices accounted for nearly two-thirds of the company’s revenue, which rose 61 percent over the same quarter last year. (http://nyti.ms/1x33wHJ)
* The White House Rural Council will announce plans on Thursday to start a $10 billion investment fund that will give pension funds and large investors the opportunity to invest in agricultural projects. Those include wastewater systems, energy projects and infrastructure development in rural America. (http://nyti.ms/1sVilhy)
* General Motors Co recall covers 800,000 more vehicles. The auto company announced six more recalls on Wednesday for various flaws, and its worldwide recall total for 2014 is 29 million.(http://nyti.ms/1ravFed)
* For years, the wind industry has been hampered by such a severe lack of transmission lines that when the wind is strong, a local power surplus forces some machines to be shut down. Now, Texas is out to change that by conducting a vast experiment that might hold lessons for the rest of the United States. Supporters say the experiment is essential if states want to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and meet new federal rules on carbon emissions. (http://nyti.ms/1rw5Mre)
* The new rules by the U.S. Transportation Department would include measures to enhance the safety of oil trains, some of which had already been adopted by railroads on a voluntary basis in recent months, like notifying state emergency responders about train traffic, reducing speed limits or picking the safest route. (http://nyti.ms/1kcXjst)
* The resignation of Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski and his cabinet comes as Bulgaria’s worst banking crisis since the 1990s threatens to take an economic toll on local businesses and foreign investors. And there may be no quick resolution of a rescue plan for troubled Corporate Commercial Bank. (http://nyti.ms/1pdV0nN)
* Nearly six years since the panic after the collapse of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc, the Securities and Exchange Commission’s new rules are intended to prevent investors from dumping their shares in funds during times of stress. (http://nyti.ms/1rMIJHU)
* After a riveting corporate shake-up that began last month after the firing of its controversial founder and chief executive, Dov Charney, American Apparel named four new members to its board. (http://nyti.ms/1sVCLqT)
Canada
THE GLOBE AND MAIL
* Canada is facing criticism over provincial jails bursting with prisoners who are presumed innocent, creating in effect a system of punishment without trial. (http://bit.ly/1pewcvI)
* The Arctic may be a hot commodity, with remarkable resource and tourism opportunities, but a conference has heard that Canada and the United States are barely out of the ice age when it comes to harnessing its growth. (http://bit.ly/WF26IL)
Reports in the business section:
* Bombardier Inc is reorganizing its operations into four divisions in a move that will cause 1,800 job losses and the retirement of Bombardier Aerospace president Guy Hachey, who held overall responsibility for the struggling C Series airplane program. (http://bit.ly/1pKtDQQ)
NATIONAL POST
* An international alert accusing a man living north of Toronto of being a mob boss went ignored by Canadian police because Canada does not recognize the crime of Mafia association, the tool used by the Italian government to tackle powerful organized crime groups, an immigration hearing heard on Wednesday. (http://bit.ly/WIsUHN)
* A Canadian group is planning to bring about 1,000 litres of water from Windsor to Detroit to protest thousands of residential service shutoffs by Detroit’s water department. (http://bit.ly/1kXgS2E)
FINANCIAL POST
* Calgary, Canada’s oil capital, has surpassed Ottawa as the city with the nation’s highest family incomes, new data show. The median family income in the southern Alberta city rose 5.2 percent to C$98,300 ($91,700) in 2012, the most-recent reporting period, to snag top spot in the nation, Statistics Canada said on Wednesday. (http://bit.ly/1rDi4zN)
* Bombardier Inc’s chief operating officer and president of the aerospace division Guy Hachey is retiring as part of a sweeping restructuring, the company said late on Wednesday. The move comes amid multiple delays in development of the flagship CSeries jet. (http://bit.ly/1peDwVB)
Britain
The Times
ANGRY STANDARD CHARTERED INVESTORS HEAP PRESSURE ON SANDS
One top-ten shareholder of the Standard Chartered, speaking on condition of anonymity, voiced a growing frustration that the bank needed a hands-on manager rather than a high-level thinker.
BG GROUP PONDERS 1 BLN STG NORTH SEA SALE
BG Group is understood to have appointed Rothschild to advise on a restructuring in a move that could result in the sale of its Armada, Everest and Lomond platforms.
The Guardian
RYANAIR TOLD TO PAY BACK 10M IN ILLEGAL STATE AID FROM FRANCE
Low-cost airline Ryanair must repay nearly 10 million euros ($13.46 million) in illegal state aid it received from France for operating at three small regional airports, European Union regulators said.
BANK OF ENGLAND HOLDS INTEREST RATES AMID CONCERN FOR WAGE GROWTH
Bank of England policymakers are growing increasingly uneasy about the UK’s record low interest rates – but signalled on Wednesday that the first rise will not come until real wages start to recover.
The Telegraph
ENERGY COMPETITION PROBE TURNS UP HEAT ON THE BIG SIX
Britain’s top competition watchdog will on Thursday set out a catalogue of concerns about the UK energy sector as it begins an 18-month investigation that could result in the Big Six suppliers being broken up.
SFO TO CHARGE ALSTOM OVER ‘CORRUPTION’ AND MOVES AGAINST UK ARM
The Serious Fraud Office has said it will file corruption charges against Alstom “imminently”, after starting proceedings against two of the French engineering giant’s companies in the UK.
Sky News
SCOTTISH REFERENDUM: BANKS WEIGH NEW WARNINGS
Britain’s biggest banks are weighing up plans to outline further risks associated with Scottish independence when they unveil half-year results with less than 50 days to go before the crucial vote.
UKTI CEO HAILS ‘OPEN’ EXPORTS AMID RUSSIA ROW
The head of the Government’s trade promotion agency has hailed Britain’s “clear and transparent” export control regime amid a growing row over the number of UK licences allowing arms sales to Russia.
Fly On The Wall Pre-Market Buzz
ECONOMIC REPORTS
Domestic economic reports scheduled for today include:
Jobless claims for week of July 19 at 8:30–consensus 310K
Markit U.S. manufacturing PMI for July at 9:45–consensus 57.5
New home sales for June at 10:00–consensus down 5.8% to 475K rate
ANALYST RESEARCH
Upgrades
Carmike Cinemas (CKEC) upgraded to Buy from Hold at Topeka
Health Net (HNT) upgraded to Buy from Underperform at BofA/Merrill
MarketAxess (MKTX) upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at Raymond James
PepsiCo (PEP) upgraded to Buy from Hold at Stifel
SEI upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at Keefe Bruyette
Western Refining Logistics (WNRL) upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Goldman
Wilshire Bancorp (WIBC) upgraded to Strong Buy from Outperform at Raymond James
Downgrades
Angie’s List (ANGI) downgraded to Equal Weight from Overweight at First Analysis
Angie’s List (ANGI) downgraded to Neutral from Buy at BofA/Merrill
Angie’s List (ANGI) downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Janney Capital
Angie’s List (ANGI) downgraded to Neutral from Buy at MKM Partners
Angie’s List (ANGI) downgraded to Perform from Outperform at Oppenheimer
Angie’s List (ANGI) downgraded to Sector Perform from Outperform at RBC Capital
Boeing (BA) downgraded to Neutral from Buy at BofA/Merrill
Freeport McMoRan (FCX) downgraded to Neutral from Buy at BofA/Merrill
IDEX Corp. (IEX) downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Janney Capital
Magellan Midstream (MMP) downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Goldman
Owens Corning (OC) downgraded to Hold from Buy at Stifel
Pacific Coast Oil (ROYT) downgraded to Market Perform from Outperform at Wells Fargo
Praxair (PX) downgraded to Market Perform from Outperform at William Blair
Qualcomm (QCOM) downgraded to Equal-Weight from Overweight at Evercore
Qualcomm (QCOM) downgraded to Neutral from Positive at Susquehanna
Questar (STR) downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Citigroup
TAL International (TAL) downgraded to Underperform from Neutral at BofA/Merrill
Theravance (THRX) downgraded to Neutral from Buy at BofA/Merrill
Tractor Supply (TSCO) downgraded to Market Perform from Outperform at William Blair
TripAdvisor (TRIP) downgraded to Hold from Buy at Cantor
Initiations
CECO Environmental (CECE) initiated with a Buy at Canaccord
CyrusOne (CONE) initiated with an Equal Weight at Barclays
Equinix (EQIX) initiated with an Equal Weight at Barclays
Markit (MRKT) initiated with a Hold at Jefferies
Zafgen (ZFGN) initiated with an Outperform at Leerink
COMPANY NEWS
Facebook (FB) reported mobile daily active users up 31% year-over-year
Standard Chartered (SCBFF) board dismissed succession plan rumors
McGraw Hill Financial (MHFI) announced that on July 22, it received a “Wells Notice” from the SEC stating that the agency’s staff made a preliminary determination to recommend that the Commission institute an enforcement action against Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, alleging violations of federal securities laws with respect to S&P’s ratings of six commercial mortgage backed securities transactions issued in 2011
Spectranetics (SPNC) received FDA clearance for atherectomy products, Turbo-Tandem and Turbo Elite
Engaged Capital reported a 7% stake in Jamba (JMBA) and announced that they had discussions with management
American Apparel (APP) named four new board members, including one woman
Cliffs Natural (CLF) lowered U.S. iron ore production view to low end of prior outlook
EARNINGS
Companies that beat consensus earnings expectations last night and today include:
Facebook (FB), Qualcomm (QCOM), Ford (F), Wyndham (WYN), Eli Lilly (LLY), Diamond Offshore (DO), Carter’s (CRI), Patterson-UTI Energy (PTEN), Starwood (HOT), Proto Labs (PRLB), Potash (POT), Logitech (LOGI), Weatherford (WFT), CoStar Group (CSGP), O’Reilly Automotive (ORLY), PTC Inc. (PTC), CVB Financial (CVBF), Ethan Allen (ETH), Core Laboratories (CLB), Oceaneering (OII), Teradyne (TER), Horizon Bancorp (HBNC), IPC The Hospitalist Co. (IPCM), Graco (GGG), Cliffs Natural (CLF), Susquehanna (SUSQ), Astoria Financial (AF), Equifax (EFX), Berkshire Hills Bancorp (BHLB), Raymond James (RJF), Fortinet (FTNT), Tyler Technologies (TYL), WesBanco (WSBC), Quantum (QTM), Financial Institutions (FISI), Everest Re (RE), Allegiant Travel (ALGT), Assurant (AIZ), Polycom (PLCM), E-Trade (ETFC), Umpqua Holdings (UMPQ), Illumina (ILMN), Covenant Transportation (CVTI), Skechers (SKX), Citrix (CTXS), CA Technologies (CA), NeuStar (NSR), Sangamo (SGMO), F5 Networks (FFIV), TriQuint (TQNT), Healthways (HWAY), QCR Holdings (QCRH), AngioDynamics (ANGO), Hanesbrands (HBI), Gilead (GILD), Banner Corp. (BANR), Chemed (CHE), Cirrus Logic (CRUS)
Companies that missed consensus earnings expectations include:
AT&T (T), TripAdvisor (TRIP), Encana (ECA), NorthWestern (NWE), NorthWestern (NWE), WESCO (WCC), Cabot Microelectronics (CCMP), Quality Systems (QSII), Precision Castparts (PCP), The Bancorp (TBBK), MSA (MSA), Heritage-Crystal Clean (HCCI), Terex (TEX), TAL International (TAL), TriState Capital (TSC), Old Second Bancorp (OSBC), Morningstar (MORN), TESSCO (TESS), Interface (TILE), Horace Mann (HMN), Allied World (AWH), CoreLogic (CLGX), Cheesecake Factory (CAKE), InspireMD (NSPR), Flowserve (FLS), StanCorp (SFG), Torchmark (TMK), Angie’s List (ANGI)
Companies that matched consensus earnings expectations include:
Sequans (SQNS), Dunkin’ Brands (DNKN), Capital Bank (CBF), Radware (RDWR), United Community Banks (UCBI), Sallie Mae (SLM), Guaranty Bancorp (GBNK), United Financial (UBNK), OFG Bancorp (OFG), United Stationers (USTR), Allison Transmission (ALSN), 8×8, Inc. (EGHT), Datawatch (DWCH), Tractor Supply (TSCO)
NEWSPAPERS/WEBSITES
Qualcomm (QCOM) confirmed in China as having monopoly, China Daily reports
Watchdog says Google (GOOG) evokes memories meant to be omitted, Bloomberg reports
Bombardier (BDRBF) to cut 1,800 aerospace jobs in revamp, Reuters reports
Carlyle (CG) to be last PE firm to face bid-rigging trial, NY Post reports
Deutsche Bank (DB) CFO faces internal criticism following financial reporting exposure, WSJ reports
Police arrest seven in connection to StubHub (EBAY) cyberfraud case, Re/code reports
Investors shouldn’t wait too long to buy Apple (AAPL), Barron’s says
SYNDICATE
Government Properties (GOV) 13.5M share Spot Secondary priced at $23.50
Immune Design (IMDZ) 5M share IPO priced at $12.00
Intersect ENT (XENT) 5M share IPO priced at $11.00
JMP Group (JMP) files $100M mixed securities shelf
NRG Yield (NYLD) 10.5M share Secondary priced at $54.00
Pfenex (PFNX) 8.33M share IPO priced at $6.00
Townsquare Media (TSQ) 8.3M share IPO priced at $11.00
via Zero Hedge http://ift.tt/1ohnygO Tyler Durden