• Trump Threatens 25% Tariff Hike - Currently, the 10% tariff on $200 billion in Chinese imports has been a “nuisance”, with many US businesses absorbing the cost.

• Job Openings Rise Sharply - U.S. job openings rebounded sharply in March, while the pace of hiring was level, pointing to a growing worker shortage that could slow employment growth this year.

• Digital Ad Revenue over $100 Billion - A new report says internet advertising revenues in the U.S. totaled $107.5 billion in 2018.

• Economic Growth, Slowing - Consumer spending rebounded less than expected in January and incomes rose modestly in February, suggesting the economy is losing momentum.

• U.S. Crude Hits High - U.S. crude oil hits a 2019 high and Brent crude gained a dollar after tight supply and positive signs for the global economy drove the largest Q1 gains for both benchmarks in nearly a decade.

• Factories Stockpile for Brexit - UK factories stockpiled goods for Brexit at a surprisingly high rate last month, increasing manufacturing growth to a 13-month high.

• Construction Spending Falls - The U.S. construction spending fell 0.6% in December as investment in both private and public projects dropped, indicating that the economy “lost momentum” at the end of 2018.

• China Cutting Taxes and Increasing Lending - China is trying to shore up its slowing economy through billions of dollars in planned tax cuts and infrastructure spending.

• GE On Decline - GE’s (GE) stock is down by nearly two-thirds since the end of 2016 and the company has fallen to the 59th most valuable in the S&P 500.

• Fed “Pauses” Tightening - The financial markets are concerned about a slowing economy, and the Fed chairman has sought to reassure investors.

• General Motors Cuts Jobs - General Motors is expected to start its next round of white-collar job cuts this week, but there are fewer staff reductions left to make than were anticipated.

• Ultimate Software Agrees to Buyout - Ultimate Software Group Inc., a cloud-based human resources applications developer, said on Monday it agreed to be bought by an investor group for about $11 billion.

• Job Creation Hot in December - Job creation surged by 312,000 in December though the unemployment rate rose to 3.9%.

• A New Exchange, MEMX - Morgan Stanley, Fidelity Investments, Citadel Securities & a group of other financial companies have agreed to jointly launch a new low-cost “bourse” that will compete with the NYSE & Nasdaq.

• Eli Lilly to Buy Loxo Oncology - Eli Lilly and Co. announced Monday it will acquire Loxo Oncology for about $8 billion in cash.

• Trade Agreement Truce - Markets rallied on news that President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, had reached a “truce” in the trade battle.

• Car Sales Fall - Several carmakers including Ford, Honda and Toyota reported a drop in new car sales in the U.S. in November.

• Qtar Pulling Out of OPEC - The small, “gas-rich state” of Qatar said that it will leave OPEC on January 1 after nearly 60 years.