To view this email as a web page, go to the link below, or copy and paste it into your browser's address window. https://view.response.cnbc.com/?qs=fb0cb606ba5827420f64298b77315a2095c50881e6b1d045659329fe77077727aad8f7a6b955a0314129ec0a2d4b2634ff404f0a14400c33978b5d2056449f51CNBC | Morning Squawk To view this email as a web page, click https://view.response.cnbc.com/?qs=fb0cb606ba5827420f64298b77315a2095c50881e6b1d045659329fe77077727aad8f7a6b955a0314129ec0a2d4b2634ff404f0a14400c33978b5d2056449f51 here. https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=db6790b2b28f2d413159ce56d6540cc17fec5b09897d37f5b2c682d6b2cdbb7a1f9cbb4088eb3d40 https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=5985eeac680cdb3b7266ba5495fe54ee50d605e3f352545091581a20535e6f6eb92af9b348cfe561 IN THE NEWS TODAY U.S. stock futures https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=5985eeac680cdb3b26e6dc3454dc7ded5f657edd5891b78e6743bf407790a86d3d18939b924847a4 were searching for direction this morning, ahead of Friday's release of the government's February jobs report. The https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=5985eeac680cdb3ba71f7155d01d4160319da69fc4810334b47b3e5aca2c2100d85a33dc2bb7a331 Dow , https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=5985eeac680cdb3b2b0ba677b3761739fc0a62549937bc2ea8fe9ded8338161aa863c6fff3dd0501 S&P 500 , and https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=5985eeac680cdb3b159aeac351b2c1156f404f3924feed8f8b4b3fe3e0a5e6f5f4e2b18e7e291cb0 Nasdaq fluctuated between negative and positive Wednesday, before closing slightly higher. (CNBC)U.S. oil prices https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=5985eeac680cdb3b6042f81da96f682ff4d374cf0f4064a28fa79fd9afb13cd78edd5928eec39b26 were basically flat this morning. They settled modestly higher Wednesday, after pulling back from early January highs earlier in the day. West Texas Intermediate crude logged its seventh positive session in the past eight. (Reuters)Following Wednesday's strong rally, Chinese stock https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=5985eeac680cdb3b7870c215ecf83f31c43f03735c45e0950121cf21da5d95b17f629b1ee91b90ae managed to close higher again overnight, even as the https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=5985eeac680cdb3b2f0cf3b80f7e687149b1eb3361ea0450568bf900054abe58587d46ac3d01fdf2 pace of growth slowed in the services sector there. A private measure did show that services remained in expansion mode last month. (CNBC) https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=5985eeac680cdb3b77f0b219b03dc1a8d2c7a63a9a21cd426f826cb5aa4922d5209b91c6773c7c43 https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=5985eeac680cdb3bf862270e7dbb3ea2bfbdbc3602c8f5839e6a24787454778ec3e04ae363762dce https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=5985eeac680cdb3b0f2b713578a84fbb0338949878631b2a106cd6b61746851020c50822563e3bd9 The investigation continues this morning into Wednesday's fiery single-car https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=5985eeac680cdb3b7faa43fe1bdd47974ce4b2e55224fb981d5460cd5d44af4b336692c86059a86a crash that killed Aubrey McClendon , founder and former CEO of https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=5985eeac680cdb3b241c42a8081255884c17d79c8d006c0f890df747d5ad7f41bd468ed8291e07e2 Chesapeake Energy (CHK), a day after he was charged with conspiring to rig bids for oil and natural gas leases. (CNBC) In an effort to halt Donald Trump's march toward the 2016 GOP presidential nomination, the 2012 Republican nominee, Mitt Romney, plans to tell voters in a speech today https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=5985eeac680cdb3bfb3fbdc975366768ee6b52ee3fee983c9711f10791616f763003f5dc7e55e24a Trump is a "phony" who must be defeated . (AP) The Koch brothers, billionaire industrialists and the most powerful conservative mega donors in the United States, https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=5985eeac680cdb3be6faf1e5fc6f2b3ff09a42a30bf814f5af4066a8e80b385e31883fac2226bcde have decided not use their $400 million political war chest to try to block Trump's path in the GOP primary. (Reuters) Just hours after vowing to stay in the race, Ben Carson all but waved the white flag. Carson said he would https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=5985eeac680cdb3b91eac8cf000e0e2983532926ed402f15a8b1978fc8d51c8f27eedad4aa0300c9 skip tonight's debate , and discuss his plans Friday. "I do not see a political path forward," he said, after a disappointing Super Tuesday. (NBC News) https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=5985eeac680cdb3bdd8d71e5b644f3b9119066bcd9612728ae6bdba11758ff803bfd86cf9064c513 Herbalife (HLF) said it's identified "errant" information regarding active new member information, and has taken steps to correct it. The health products seller said the errors do not impact its historical financial statements. The stock was off about 15 percent in premarket trading. https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=5985eeac680cdb3b8dc6fc9d12d91e64c2a44a8b5d135f56f2c3e29e304ac7afebb2bccb8857efc9 IBM (IBM) is suing https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=5985eeac680cdb3bfa5827cf7e8925422e600dfe4e34f24c444f54a2bbee523dc704de4b02c54707 Groupon (GRPN), https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=5985eeac680cdb3b69aa18ca5237c969b6b3255d3cfde3e91f37b5d2c2be96ef935383541a266ea6 accusing the daily deal website of building its business model using IBM patents without authorization, despite prior warnings and a refusal to engage in meaningful talks about a licensing agreement. (Reuters) https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=5985eeac680cdb3be4bb589bff8a145731e1df1531c77b5f41765792df1f74c00999be37bf050548 SunEdison (SUNE), up 19 percent Wednesday, was sharply lower in premarket trading, after https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=5985eeac680cdb3b13c521900b48bb06af0dc54d5818e280430d2f22dc99a7549e1db96752cd2815 suspending its quarterly dividend on preferred stock. Mounting financial troubles are jeopardizing the renewable energy firm's plans to buy Vivint Solar (VSLR). (WSJ) Elliott Management's wager on Argentine government bonds https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=5985eeac680cdb3bfcb0a41e40b4bc7133e6d76932a4a45b7c934caa1dbf082998df9a70f31b3eff has yielded $2.4 billion , after many twists and turns in a contentious battle with the South American country. The agreement with Elliott and three other hedge funds ends the 15-year saga. (WSJ-subscription) https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=5985eeac680cdb3bae2d84786ac9138aee65b182508043581a13be97949d8d28f84b634d8691782c Goldman Sachs (GS) https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=5985eeac680cdb3b8400f4acca2b59558a73b6335e6b5eeaea6aecc7eb2fe580674a847c0613dac4 is likely to withdraw a bid to underwrite a $3 billion Russian bond deal, after the U.S. cautioned banks against participating. Out of 28 lenders invited to submit proposals, Goldman was the only one to make a pitch. (WSJ) The Justice Department https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=5985eeac680cdb3bb72daddda8f7dac37a50627f2535e9522bf233d3c68bc0e67478066d0bef0b63 has granted immunity to a former State Department staffer, who worked on Hillary Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign before setting up a private email server in her New York home a year later, the Washington Post reported. North Korea fired several short-range projectiles into the sea off its east coast today, just hours after the https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=5985eeac680cdb3badb71ef7109c35a3809e85ddcecfe06245fc60651e70587d1eac2d60d883658f UN slapped sanctions on Pyongyang for its recent nuclear test and long-range rocket launch, according to South Korean officials. (NBC News) BY THE NUMBERS Ahead of Friday's jobs report, the government releases weekly jobless claims and revised fourth quarter productivity figures at 8:30 a.m. ET. The ISM's non-manufacturing index is out at 10 a.m. ET. The Energy Department issues its weekly look at natural gas inventories at 10:30 a.m. ET.With the recent stock market rally and mildly encouraging economic data, expectations https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=5985eeac680cdb3b70d9079d027877a36a15db808aec55f9febdf8499a166da2df7245c249cc8683 are tilting back to additional interest rate hikes this year. Investors watch out for clues when Dallas Fed President Rob Kaplan delivers a monetary policy speech in Austin at 10:45 a.m. ET. https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=5985eeac680cdb3bd3cf18fe8473dd061523f7cca0efea441a9d1d6bccb0365f86b5944eb97ce8da Kroger (KR) is among the companies out with earnings this morning, along with https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=5985eeac680cdb3b508da1b4cbb6ffc9551b66b68ac300819f079adae0313fef8ff0e820880108af Joy Global (JOY) and https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=5985eeac680cdb3b931db0ec7639ab8966ed5c8112797f2f15f06f8290604b4bca09e25c396ba622 Barnes & Noble (BKS). https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=5985eeac680cdb3ba82f35402f368b94289dcda59d35b394aa460a100a78265e13328f9922b731e7 H&R Block (HRB), https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=5985eeac680cdb3b4519603e58f0a9eccd82e2ee94c76ed3564c31bc0edeb6ed975e5b5888f7d36c Hewlett-Packard Enterprise (HPE), and https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=5985eeac680cdb3ba633033c7632121bb19f8ab7c3e3be08c7c5c2bbd784598f27216293db7fa424 Smith & Wesson (SWHC) are out with quarterly numbers after this afternoon's closing bell.The annual meeting of https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=5985eeac680cdb3bb19799cd02f2914260936f6e1f329ac7d16768e05d67ac21970ca15ee6eb11c8 Disney (DIS) shareholders takes place in Chicago, starting at 11 a.m. ET. Last month, a profit drop at the media giant's cable networks worried investors, despite overall earnings and revenue that beat expectations on "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" strength. https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=5985eeac680cdb3bed41419c6f2143c820c7a84c6b0ca16a0a06e97254cc6f116dade6659f0a1e03 Costco (COST), late Wednesday, reported earnings that fell short and revenue that essentially matched forecasts. The warehouse retailer's comparable store sales rose for the first time in four quarters. STOCKS TO WATCH https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=5985eeac680cdb3b69e762b9926af8398e39adbf84bff8caaeefb7b851514bb464c6e4d2a0245149 Verizon (VZ) will begin selling https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=5985eeac680cdb3b4c97d910e14639c083e6e6983e3c29a762d06c317cbb7af466edee6f0ac24278 BlackBerry 's (BBRY) Priv smartphone online beginning today, and in stores on March 11. https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=5985eeac680cdb3be455665a7814e019bf69f0be5085c380923ce108944fc88946c0cbdf00e58a25 Honeywell (HON) is dropping its merger bid for https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=5985eeac680cdb3b41a7bed63354cfa55714c299dd838f05fd2b99215fa0cbf5dfe55bd76098470e United Technologies (UTX). CEO David Cote https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=5985eeac680cdb3b687acbf25fd250d73b4cb906892322e59d166c4fb9b9b99cd3cf85a0b7df01ee told CNBC his firm is walking away on friendly terms, without going hostile. https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=5985eeac680cdb3be51ae4fbfac9c8fe517f94840ef6c9ea45b8e1713d9b6ab5a5b711200a1c3e8f BHP Billiton (BHP), up 8 percent Wednesday, was higher in the premarket, after BHP and partner https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=5985eeac680cdb3b99c2f95e0e721bd65d7376394b75d67a05d3b56ccd7c3a1b29a6df6187ef81a7 Vale (VALE) struck a deal with the Brazilian government over a deadly November dam disaster. https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=5985eeac680cdb3ba807b31074ff6cb5be1745afe4f9d4e161c2cc524ff7588d0f90f064c19fd76b Monsanto (MON) cut its fiscal 2016 profit outlook. The seeds and chemical giant did say there were signs of stabilization, and doesn't plan any further job cuts beyond prior plans to lay off 3,600 workers. https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=5985eeac680cdb3b3d49631dbe613d609401409e93a7264d46a840bd9cb8bbddc8f6f5891c123485 Target (TGT) is paring down its product offerings to add efficiencies to its inventory management. CEO Brian Cornell told investors the process is being carried out category by category, in a "surgical" manner. Luxury luggage-maker https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=5985eeac680cdb3b723cb526776d6eb79da6a8c7022af466d355f9c99f5638d489a95790fa89d178 Tumi Holdings (TUMI) is near a deal to be purchased by Samsonite for what could be close to $2 billion, according to the Wall Street Journal. https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=5985eeac680cdb3b649cea6ae7cb66febd85a9af7b28424e9e6ec5a79bbca1dff777d03911e820c9 LinkedIn (LNKD) CEO Jeff Weiner is giving up his annual equity package, valued at about $14 million, choosing to distribute the stock to employees. The move follows a disappointing profit forecast. WATERCOOLER After living for nearly a year aboard the International Space Station, NASA astronaut Scott Kelly, now 52, returned to Earth and was https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=5985eeac680cdb3bf797d3320e3d79c026bff6f267cd9a2e3352a1ffd2dd34b10140f15501f88311 two inches taller than his identical twin brother Mark. (NBC News) CONTRIBUTORS https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=5985eeac680cdb3b89888d61259c77b27a56f4f959d57a5356efe50219d1fe6c0b76a1a361a1d51a https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=5985eeac680cdb3b89888d61259c77b27a56f4f959d57a5356efe50219d1fe6c0b76a1a361a1d51a Matthew J. BelvedereSenior Producer https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=5985eeac680cdb3bdf71bdd42fcee99bbd53f50daf11dabe9498dde0f0a5ea00d17f3e45f423df74 @Matt_Belvedere https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=5985eeac680cdb3bc80f93552e69c00d5e540a6371b6fe77eff2e2eac04f3ba439e6833980961959 https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=5985eeac680cdb3bc80f93552e69c00d5e540a6371b6fe77eff2e2eac04f3ba439e6833980961959 Peter SchacknowSenior Producer https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=5985eeac680cdb3be5b64a1db28555cce432c6114b59bf73cd3219bb93455e2471d47c04d768e433 @peterschack https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=5985eeac680cdb3bec14ed9b6f716413789875caa96b445b44e6b93c405bcbc501d424aa2031f952 https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=5985eeac680cdb3bec14ed9b6f716413789875caa96b445b44e6b93c405bcbc501d424aa2031f952 Tom DiChristopherWeb and TV producer Feedback We value your input—use https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=5985eeac680cdb3bf30e93bd4fef533061c9ca63a12b05abf74dd6521e92cd38b17b332b92879c47 our simple form to let us know what you think. Click https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=db6790b2b28f2d413159ce56d6540cc17fec5b09897d37f5b2c682d6b2cdbb7a1f9cbb4088eb3d40 here for Real-Time data and top stories on your desktop or mobile device. https://view.response.cnbc.com/ftaf.aspx?qs=fb0cb606ba5827420f64298b77315a2095c50881e6b1d0457d63cf8d5106f1020cc3e08c05322682 https://view.response.cnbc.com/ftaf.aspx?qs=fb0cb606ba5827420f64298b77315a2095c50881e6b1d0457d63cf8d5106f1020cc3e08c05322682 Send this email to a friend https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=5985eeac680cdb3be3cfaf3732805c2756427b2a22c08956c9128aad3180519f224f25a0974714c4 https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=5985eeac680cdb3b530f0d72051f236023dc550dc79275c8c7511c0da982994f5012a5f1b87d71ad https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=5985eeac680cdb3b91eb26230751b1f18ad38918a4433be31a428ca5214c7dda79975d5bd67e554d https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=5985eeac680cdb3be20a8f9053b41cc05917f4eeca418f6f9a2597fbd1c98f872dfd5157c9b2c729 https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=5985eeac680cdb3b4cbf32e52ecd6a206c904d95a04975eca024a6cf87b3c2175a59892664667a2e Unsubscribe https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=5985eeac680cdb3ba9018dfe704d54812221ea08883bc28d282a73f0ec996786fe3851a47c3c559c Advertise https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=5985eeac680cdb3be94c3adce1e220c8d4524a0c24b5cd2975b5702a5550c7d3290efec8486aac52 More Newsletters https://click.response.cnbc.com/?qs=5985eeac680cdb3bbe1f9c3c6b438ee2beb8ec5ffaf1bbec2508e782fcceca18d29c220b7773976f Digital Products (c) 2015 CNBC Inc. 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