Apple, Coca Cola, JPMorgan fear Trump's visa policy will harm US economy

Vague and unpredictable Trump administration immigration policies threaten the US economy amid a tightening labour market, CEOs from major American companies have warned.

In a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen on Thursday, the Business Roundtable urged a rethink of recent directives from Washington that have thrown the status of workers into doubt and are damaging the recruitment of talent.

"Few (workers) will move their family and settle in a new country if, at any time and without notice, the government can force their immediate departure -- often without explanation," the roundtable said in the letter. "At a time when the number of job vacancies are reaching historic highs due to labour shortages, now is not the time restrict access to talent."

The Business Roundtable represents most of the biggest US companies. The group has criticised the Trump administration before on immigration, while praising the White House for cutting taxes and regulation.

Elon Musk says Silver Lake, Goldman advising on taking Tesla private

Tesla Inc Chief Executive Elon Musk on Monday tweeted that he would work with buyout firm Silver Lake and investment bank Goldman Sachs as financial advisers on a proposal to take private the electric car maker.

But a source said Silver Lake was offering its assistance to Musk without compensation and had not been hired as a financial adviser in an official capacity. Moreover, Silver Lake is not currently discussing participating in the deal as an investor, the source said. Silver Lake declined to comment.

Musk, who is still looking for funding for the plan, also said law firms Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz and Munger, Tolles & Olson would be legal advisers on the plan.

Musk shocked markets last week with the tweeted announcement that he was considering taking Tesla private for $420 a share, a price that valued Tesla at more than $70 billion, and that he had "funding secured."

Will only be questioned in Russia probe if treated fairly: Donald Trump

US President Donald Trump said on Friday said that he is willing to be interviewed by Special Counsel Robert Mueller in the Russia meddling probe, but only if he gets fair treatment.

"I would love to speak, but I have to find that we're going to be treated fairly," Trump told reporters.

"I would love to speak because we've done nothing wrong," he said.

Wall Street drops as JPMorgan, Citi, Wells Fargo erase pre-market gains

Wall Street major indexes fell on Friday morning, erasing all their gains coming out of the opening bell as JPMorgan led a sharp reversal in financial stocks.

JPMorgan dropped 1.7 percent after its profit missed estimates as lower investment banking revenue offset gains from higher interest rates and a jump in trading revenue.

Shares of Wells Fargo also shed premarket gains to drop 2.9 percent after the bank said it may have to pay a penalty of $1 billion to resolve investigations.

Citigroup also reversed course to trade 1.8 percent lower after its results.

The S&P 500 banks index was down 1.98 percent.

"A lot of it (earnings expectations) has been baked in and that's is the real critical test for the markets," said Scott Brown, Chief Economist at Raymond James in St. Petersburg, Florida.

"This has not been the typical pre-earnings season where you're talking down expectations. There is some potential for disappointment at the same time there is also lot of hope that these numbers are going to meet expectations."

Trump plays down trade war rhetoric; says talks with China going very well

US President Donald Trump today said said trade negotiations with China were going on "very well", asserting that the two countries have made a lot of progress.

"I'm proud to announce that we're getting along very well with respect to the whole very big negotiation that we're having with China," Trump told American workers at the White House today.

His remarks assume significance as both the US and China are locked in a virtual trade war, slapping additional import duties against each other's products.

The US has nearly USD 500 billion trade deficit. Trump has imposed an additional import tariff on some 1,300 Chinese products worth USD 50 billion and directed to look into another round of additional tariffs worth USD 150 billion. China has been quick in drawing up trade retaliation options against the US.

Trump warns of strike against Syria after reports of chemical attack

President Donald Trump threatened an imminent military strike against Syria today, vowing to respond "forcefully" to Saturday's apparent chemical weapons attack on civilians and warning that Russia or any other nation found to share responsibility will "pay a price."

As he began an evening meeting with military leaders at the White House, Trump promised to "make a decision tonight or very shortly thereafter."

He said, "We have a lot of options militarily, and we'll be letting you know pretty soon. Probably after the fact."

The White House sharply rejected any suggestion that Trump's own words about pulling US troops out of Syria had opened the door for the attack, which killed more than 40 people, including children.
Trump, asked at midday whether Russian President Vladimir Putin bore any responsibility for the weekend attack, responded, "He may, yeah, he may. And if he does it's going to be very tough, very tough." He added, "Everybody's gonna pay a price. He will. Everybody will."

Trump ratings highest in 11 months with 42% approval rate: CNN Poll

US President Donald Trump's approval rating has rebounded to its highest level since the 100-day mark of his presidency, even as his approval ratings for handling major issues remain largely negative, according to a new CNN poll.

Overall, 42 per cent approve of the way Trump is handling the presidency, 54 per cent disapprove, the poll revealed on Monday.

Approval is up seven points overall since February, including six point increases among Republicans (from 80 to 86 per cent now) and independents (from 35 to 41 per cent now).

However, Trump's approval rating still remains below that of all of his modern-era predecessors at this stage in their first term after being elected, though Trump only trails Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama by a narrow four points at this point in their first terms.

Trump's approval ratings have seesawed over the last four CNN polls -- from 35 per cent in December up to 40 per cent in January, down to 35 per cent in February and back up to 42 per cent now.

Trump says he would've ran inside Florida school even without weapon

US President Donald Trump today said he would have entered the Florida school to save the students from a gunman even without a weapon as he criticised the inaction of a sheriff's deputy assigned to the school.
Last week, Trump called out the armed school resource officer who stayed outside Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School as the shooting unfolded, saying he "didn't have the courage."
Addressing a gathering of US governors at the White House, Trump said, "You know, I really believe -- you don't know until you test it -- but I really believe I'd run in there, even if I didn't had a weapon.
"I think most of the people in this room would have done that, too, because I know most of you. But the way they performed was really a disgrace," he said, criticising the armed sheriffs deputy who did not confront the shooter, an expelled student, at the school early this month who killed 17 people, mostly students.

Donald Trump suggests armed deputy at Florida school was a 'coward'

US President Donald Trump today cast doubts on the character of an armed deputy who remained outside during last week's school shooting in Florida, saying he froze or was a "coward".
"They're trained, they didn't react properly under pressure or they were a coward," Trump said, calling out Deputy Scot Peterson by name.
"He certainly did a poor job.

There's no question about that.

WH denies report of Trump saying he has a good relationship with Kim

The White House has denied and corrected a quote attributed to President Donald Trump that suggested he had good contacts with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un.
"I probably have a very good relationship with Kim Jong- Un," Trump was quoted as telling The Wall Street Journal in an interview on Thursday, refusing to confirm whether the two had spoken.
"I have relationships with people. I think you people are surprised."
But Press Secretary Sarah Sanders insisted -- in a Twitter meme -- that Trump was misquoted.
"President Trump said, I'D probably have a very good relationship with Kim Jong Un of North Korea. I'D -- I'D -- I'D.

NOT I!" the message read, with "I'D" in red ink, under a red banner reading "FAKE NEWS."
Mockingly mimicking the newspaper's front page, it then reads "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL -- FAKE NEWS IS AT IT AGAIN! -- FALSELY QUOTING PRESIDENT TRUMP."
Washington and Pyongyang are in a standoff over North Korea's missile and nuclear programs, which could be used to target the United States and its allies.
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