Morning Briefing: Greece, data in focus for Wall Street

Greece, data in focus for Wall Street... JP Morgan about to settle with SEC... Facebook in HBO deal... Whole Foods investigated by NYC in over-charging claims...

Steve Randall
Greece, data in focus for Wall Street
The world awaits the latest developments in the seemingly endless saga of Greece’s debt talks. Last night Eurozone finance ministers met to discuss option following a Greek official’s revelation that creditors had dismissed his country’s proposals for reform. Thursday sees the start of two-day summit in Europe where Greece will be one topic on the agenda but there are also other headwinds for the region including the UK’s demands for change within the EU ahead of an ‘in/out’ referendum in the country. Asian markets have closed lower on Greece but also as a sell-off in Shanghai continues to punish the Chinese market; the main index was down almost 3.5 per cent Thursday.
US stock futures are trending higher. Oil is trending mixed (Brent up at $63.72, WTI down at $60.18 at 6.20am ET). Gold is trending higher.
 
Today’s data
Jobless claims at 8.30am ET
Personal income and outlays at 8.30am ET
PMI services flash at 9.45am ET
Kansas City Fed manufacturing index at 11am ET
Barnes & Noble, Mexco Energy and Nike are among the companies reporting earnings today.
 
JP Morgan about to settle with SEC
JP Morgan Chase is in talks to settle an investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Wall Street Journal says that the probe centers on investment product sales and whether the bank steered private-banking clients towards its own products.
 
Facebook in HBO deal
Facebook has moved a long way from being a way to connect with friends towards being a fully-fledge media company-come-search engine. Following the recent deal for publishers to use the platform for their stories, Facebook has now agreed a deal with HBO which will see the first two episodes of new comedies ‘Ballers’ starring The Rock and ‘The Brink’ with Tim Robbins appearing for a limited time on Facebook. The shows have already been on TV but this new twist sees Facebook move into a space currently dominated by Google’s YouTube.
 
Whole Foods investigated by NYC in over-charging claims
Whole Foods may have been overcharging consumers for pre-packaged foods says New York’s Department of Consumer Affairs. The regulator is investigating and commissioner Julie Menin said in a statement: “Our inspectors tell me this is the worst case of mislabeling they have seen in their careers, which DCA and New Yorkers will not tolerate.”
 

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