BANGKOK (AP) — Shares were mostly higher in Europe and Asia today after President Donald Trump suggested trade talks with China do not face a hard March 1 deadline for a deal. In early trading, Germany's DAX jumped 0.5 percent and the FTSE 100 in Britain added 0.3 percent. The CAC 40 in France picked up 0.2 percent. In Asia, Japan's Nikkei 225 index rose 0.6 percent and Hong Kong's Hang Seng index jumped 1.0 percent. Futures suggest a flat opening for Wall Street.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom is promising a fight after the Trump administration said it plans to cancel nearly $1 billion awarded to the state's high-speed rail project and wants California to return an additional $2.5 billion already spent. Newsom says the Trump administration's move is "clear political retribution." California is suing the administration over President Donald Trump's emergency declaration to pay for a border wall.
PARIS (AP) — Air France and KLM have reached a compromise on tightening ties between the airlines, ending a power struggle that had alarmed the Dutch government, staff and shareholders. Air France also has secured a salary agreement with pilots after protracted conflict. The alliance says that strikes shaved 335 million euros off last year's profits. Details of the deals have not been released.
LONDON (AP) — British regulators say the proposed supermarket merger between Sainsbury's and Walmart's Asda unit would push up prices and reduce quality for shoppers, casting doubt on a deal that would create the country's biggest grocery chain. In a preliminary report, the Competition and Markets Authority says it would be "difficult for the companies to address the concerns it has identified" and that a significant number of stores would probably need to be sold before it gains approval.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Samsung is expected to show off its latest smartphones today as the entire industry struggles to come up with new features compelling enough to end a slump in sales. The models being unveiled in San Francisco will commemorate the 10th anniversary of Samsung's first smartphone. Samsung is also expected to provide a glimpse at a highly anticipated smartphone with a foldable screen.
