JCCs can now trace threatening calls after bomb scares

After more than 30 Jewish Community Centers around the country received call-in bomb threats this week, the Federal Communications Commission on Friday granted Sen. Charles Schumer’s request that Jewish organizations that feel targeted be allowed to trace threatening calls. The Joan & Alan Bernikow Jewish Community Center on Manor Road in Sea View was one of 31 around the country that received a threatening phone call Monday.

Tax Reform Becomes a Trending Topic in Earnings

Tax reform is a hot topic in corporate earnings, coming up in hundreds of calls since the summer of 2016. The issue has been discussed in hundreds of earnings calls since House Republicans announced their ” Better Way for Tax Reform ” blueprint in June 2016, according to a new analysis from Businesses United for Interest Loan and Deductibility .

FCC chair wants carriers to block robocalls from spoofed numbers

Blocking robocalls from spoofed numbers may soon become easier, as the Federal Communications Commission is preparing to give carriers authority to take more aggressive action against this type of scam call. The FCC in 2015 made it clear that voice service providers can offer call blocking tools to customers, but commissioners said at the time that more needed to be done about Caller ID spoofing.

Progressive Leans on Flo as Texting Drivers Lead to `Rate Shock’

Progressive Corp., the fourth-largest U.S. auto insurer, boosted spending on marketing this year to win customers after scaling back in the second half of 2016 when increased costs from car accidents threatened the company’s profit goals. “We’re excited to be back in, with full advertising,” Chief Executive Officer Tricia Griffith said Friday in a conference call discussing results at the Mayfield Village, Ohio-based company.

Yellen signals Fed will likely raise rates in March

Interpretation of the news based on evidence, including data, as well as anticipating how events might unfold based on past events Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2017, before the Senate Banking Committee. Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen said a March rate hike would be “appropriate” if the economy continues to evolve as expected, adding strength to recent speculation that the central bank will raise its benchmark interest rate at its upcoming March meeting.

Trump: Investigate Sen. Schumer Over Photo With Putin

President Trump is responding to calls for an investigation into his Attorney General over concerns that he is too close to Russia. President Trump tweeted that an immediate investigation should be launched into Sen. Chuck Schumer’s ties with Russia due to a photo featuring Schumer and Vladmir Putin.

GoPro Stock Falls on Bearish Citi Coverage

Shares of GoPro were down more than 2% Friday afternoon after analysts at Citi Research initiated coverage of the stock with a “sell” rating, predicting that the company will continue to lose money over the next two years. “In the absence of significant topline growth, the company has started to focus on operating expense control, but breakeven remains at least 2 years out, in our view,” analyst Stanley Kovler wrote.

This Isn’t an Optical Illusion: You Could Be Looking At the First-Ever Mercedes Luxury Pickup Truck

Somehow, we don’t think the new Mercedes-Benz pickup truck will be carrying bags of concrete to a job-site. Daimler , parent of Mercedes-Benz, said Friday that it will bring its newest concept version of its first pickup truck to the Geneva Motor Show on March 7. The auto on display will be a luxury midsize model, and would mark the first true luxury pickup truck on the market.

4 Small-Cap Biotech Stars

It has been a nice little run for the previously beaten down biotech/biopharma sectors so far in 2017. February saw the main biotech indices rise some 10%, in one of their best monthly performances over the past few years.

What Does Mr. Market Know? Not Much

Barron’s ran a story last week asking what recent stock price action was telling traders. Did February’s surge mean the economy was about to take off? Could it have indicated tax reform was certain to come quickly? Were this year’s gains just getting started, or about to reverse? Contrary to what many people think, more often than not “the market” knows absolutely nothing.

It’s Time To End Net Neutrality

The change in Administration brings fresh thinking to what had become an epicenter of 1934 regulatory thought – the Federal Communications Commission . Under the prior Administration, the FCC was twice chastised by the courts for attempting to impose net neutrality on Internet Service Providers .

What the Oil Market is Saying About ETFs

The United States Oil Fund , which tracks West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures, and the United States Brent Oil Fund , which tracks Brent crude oil futures, are each up just over 1% over the past month and the oil futures could be signaling more gains to come for the commodity.

Wall St Slips Ahead of Yellen’s Speech

The S&P 500 and the Dow were set for their first back-to-back losses since late-January on Friday, as investors preferred to wait and watch Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen’s speech for a steer on the chances of an interest rate hike this month. Yellen could support a rising sentiment among policymakers for an increase in rates amid data pointing to an improving U.S. economy.

Police Body Cameras Will Do More Than Just Record You

It was a cool autumn evening in Paris in 2015, and a number of executives from the police supplier Taser International were enjoying dinner at a cafe when the shooting began. They took cover, and in the havoc, soon learned that some 150 yards away, armed men were laying siege to the Bataclan concert hall-part of a series of attacks that would turn out to be the deadliest in France since World War II.

Africa’s Top Hedge Fund Starts Food-Focused Private-Equity

Polar Star Management Ltd., which runs one of the best-performing African and Middle East hedge fund over the past five years, plans to start a private-equity unit that will invest in agriculture to exploit rising demand for food. The Cape Town-based firm plans to use its own money to buy small farms and processing companies in South Africa this year, then increase efficiency through consolidation and better management, said Murray Derksen, a director at Polar Star.

Uber Loses Court Bid to Block English Test for Drivers

Uber Technologies Inc. lost a ruling over London transport rules that require language tests for drivers, which could keep 40,000 people from joining the industry over the next three years. Judge John Mitting ruled in favor of Transport for London Friday, saying that it is reasonable for “drivers to demonstrate a level of competence in written and spoken English.”

Pandora Postpones Director Nomination Deadline As Corvex Hovers

The postponed deadline suggests that the Carl Icahn Protg Keith Meister is seriously considering a proxy contest to push for a possible sale of the web-radio streaming company. Pandora Media Inc. late Thursday postponed the deadline for dissident director nominations, suggesting that Carl Icahn protege Keith Meister is seriously considering a proxy contest to push for a possible sale of the web-radio streaming company.

Caterpillar CEO Umpleby Apologizes Following Thursday’s Raids

Caterpillar CEO Jim Umpleby reiterated that Catepillar remains an ‘honorable company’ in a memo to employees following raids by federal authorities. Caterpillar CEO Jim Umpleby has apologized to the company’s employees for raids that took place on Thursday by federal authorities at the company’s Illinois facilities, including its headquarters in Peoria.

UK Culture Secretary to Voice Concerns About Fox, Sky Deal

UK Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Karen Bradley will seek further evidence from Rupert Murdoch that 21st Century Fox is fit to take over Sky. The UK Secretary of State for Culture, Media, and Sport Karen Bradley will publish a letter noting her concerns regarding the pending takeover of Sky by 21st Century Fox on Friday, according to ITV News .

Fox Fires Starting Gun on Regulatory Review of Sky Takeover Bid

Twenty-First Century Fox took another step toward a takeover of Sky after it set the clock ticking on the regulatory approval process with a formal application to the European Commission. Twenty-First Century Fox took another step toward a takeover of Sky plc Friday after it set the clock ticking on the regulatory approval process with a formal application to the European Commission.

Market Recon: Fed Up With This Crowded Trade

The Fed, always in focus these days, is now front and center in the minds of most market participants. Jerome Powell, who is a governor at the central bank, spoke on CNBC yesterday and will be one of five Fed speakers to orate publicly today.

These Are the Signs of a Healthy Stock Market

It wasn’t an up day for the markets, but it’s great news when a critical IPO goes off without any major problems, says Jim Cramer. Today was a sign of a healthy market, Jim Cramer told his Mad Money viewers Thursday, as the much heralded IPO of Snap went off without a hitch.