Business News Digest

Here are AP Business News' latest coverage plans, top stories and promotable content. All times EDT. For up-to-the minute information on AP's coverage, visit Coverage Plan at newsroom.ap.org.

TOP STORIES:

BRITAIN-FACIAL RECOGNITION — Britain is testing a real-time system of facial recognition in which police in vans study crowds for suspects. The approach is among the more aggressive uses of the technology in Western democracies and raises questions about how it will enter people's daily lives. By Kelvin Chan. SENT: 1,140 words, photos.

CHINA-US-TRADE — China’s government welcomed an interim trade deal with Washington and said Thursday the two sides need to address each other’s “core concerns.” By Joe McDonald. SENT: 620 words, photos.

With:

TRUMP-TRADE — One day after signing a new trade deal with China, President Donald Trump is expected to get more good news on his trade agenda as the Senate considers a new North American pact. By Kevin Freking. SENT: 410 words, photos.

And:

ASIA-CHINA-US-TRADE — The trade agreement signed by President Donald Trump and Beijing's lead trade envoy comes amid seismic shifts in supply chains and investment hastened by the tariff war that began in 2018. By Elaine Kurtenbach. SENT: 730 words, photos.

MARKETS & ECONOMY:

FINANCIAL MARKETS — Stocks rallied on Wall Street in early trading as a solid retail sales report injected more optimism into markets following the signing of an initial trade deal between the U.S. and China. By Damian J. Troise. SENT: 520 words, photos. UPCOMING: Will be updated through 5 p.m.

RETAIL SALES — U.S. retail sales rose at a solid pace last month, evidence that Americans were willing to spend during the winter holidays after a sluggish November. By Christopher Rugaber. SENT: 400 words, photos.

MORTGAGE RATES — Freddie Mac reports on this week’s average U.S. mortgage rates. UPCOMING: 250 words by noon, photo.

INDUSTRY:

BOEING MAX COMMITTEE — A government committee reviewing how the Federal Aviation Administration certifies new passenger planes for flight has determined that the system is safe and effective but small changes need to be made. Those findings conflict with legislators who are investigating the crashes. By Tom Krisher. SENT: 620 words, photos.

STARBUCKS-UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES — Starbucks is expanding a program that tries to help low-income communities by opening coffee shops and hiring local workers. The Seattle-based company plans to open or remodel 85 stores by 2025 in rural and urban communities across the U.S. By Dee-Ann Durbin. SENT: 480 words, photos.

MORGAN STANLEY-RESULTS — Morgan Stanley's fourth-quarter profits jumped 46% from a year earlier, the company said Thursday, helped by a massive boost from the bank's trading desks. By Ken Sweet. SENT: 300 words, photos.

TECHNOLOGY & MEDIA:

TV-HBO-MAX — The “Friends” reunion will be there for you — maybe. HBO Max executive Kevin Reilly says there's interest all around in bringing the cast of the hit sitcom together. SENT: 140 words, photos.

COMCAST-PEACOCK STREAMING — Comcast unveils details of its upcoming streaming service, Peacock. By Tali Arbel. UPCOMING:

PERSONAL FINANCE:

OFF THE CHARTS-EARNINGS — Over the next month, companies across the country will be telling investors how much profit they made in the last quarter of 2019. S&P 500 companies look set to report a fourth-straight quarter of declines, something that hasn't happened since 2015-2016. That's normally a warning sign for the stock market because stock prices tend to follow the path of corporate earnings over the long term. Investors seem ready to accept one more quarter of no growth, but they'll need to see improvement in 2020 to keep stocks at the current record highs. By Stan Choe. SENT: 580 words, photos.

NERDWALLET-REDUCE FOOD WASTE — Throwing away food is throwing away money. And with most wasted food winding up in landfills, it’s not great for the environment, either. This year, resolve to reduce food waste in your home with a few simple steps. Get to know what’s in your fridge to avoid buying foods you already have and so you know which of those foods you need to eat soon. Store items so they stay fresh and can be identified later. And don’t be afraid to use up foods that are past their prime by cooking wilted vegetables or repurposing stale bread. By Laura McMullen of NerdWallet. UPCOMING: 750 words, photo.

INTERNATIONAL:

GERMANY-COAL SHUTDOWN — The German government says officials have agreed on a plan to shut down the nation's coal-fired power plants by the mid to late 2030s that will involve operators getting billions of euros in compensation. By Geir Moulson and Frank Jordans. SENT: 640 words, photos.

DUBAI-EXPO-US — The United States says its participation at this year's World Fair in Dubai was made possible by “the generosity of the Emirati government.” Dubai is pouring billions of dollars into Expo 2020, hoping the exhibition will generate new business and spur its economy amid a slowdown in growth. By Aya Batrawy. SENT: 360 words, photos.

CARLOS GHOSN — One of the Japanese lawyers for former Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn has stepped down from that job after his client fled the country. By Yuri Kageyama. SENT: 450 words, photos.

BANGLADESH-GARMENT INDUSTRY — A group set up by European clothing brands that has monitored factory safety in Bangladesh for years plans to leave, with its duties being assumed by a local group including unions and industry figures in the world's second-largest garment manufacturer. By Julhas Alam. SENT: 570 words, photos.

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