Reuters - Before the Bell

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Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Dollar revived by U.S. data tonic, North Korea respite

SYDNEY (Reuters) - The dollar hoarded hefty gains on Wednesday after strong U.S. retail sales revived the chance of another Federal Reserve rate hike this year, while Asia stocks inched ahead as tensions in the Korean peninsula went off the boil.

Cash-strapped SoundCloud gets new funds and top management

(This Aug 11 story inserts missing word "former" in paragraph seven to clarify Wahlross stepped aside as chief technology officer previously)

As NAFTA talks begin, Trump's 'America First' agenda looms large

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - As the United States, Canada and Mexico kick off negotiations on Wednesday to modernize the North American Free Trade Agreement, the biggest uncertainty is whether a deal can pass President Donald Trump's "America First" test.

Opposed from the start, the rocky history of NAFTA

(Reuters) - Negotiators from Canada, Mexico and the United States kick off an ambitious first round of trade talks on Wednesday as the countries try to fast-track a deal to modernize the North American Free Trade Agreement by early next year. Following are significant moments in the history of the deal:

Factbox: Key issues in the NAFTA renegotiations

(Reuters) - Negotiators from Canada, Mexico and the United States will kick off an ambitious first round of trade talks on Wednesday as the countries try to fast-track a deal to modernize the North American Free Trade Agreement by early next year. The key issues facing negotiators include:

Wells Fargo changes board, names Duke chair in response to scandal

(Reuters) - Wells Fargo & Co Vice Chair Betsy Duke will replace retiring Chair Stephen Sanger next year, one of several changes announced on Tuesday in a board overhaul following a sales practices scandal.

Elliott Management raises stake in BHP to 5 percent

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Hedge fund Elliott Management has raised its stake in BHP Billiton to 5 percent, stepping up a campaign to make the top global miner quit all or part of its petroleum business, boost returns and ditch its dual listing.

China's Belt and Road acquisitions surge despite outbound capital crackdown

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Mergers and acquisitions by Chinese companies in countries that are part of the Belt and Road initiative are soaring, even as Beijing cracks down on China's acquisitive conglomerates to restrict capital outflows.

Bombardier applies for judicial review against Metrolinx

(Reuters) - Bombardier Inc , which was excluded from bidding on a contract by Ontario-based transportation agency Metrolinx, said on Tuesday it had filed an application for judicial review.

JBS seeks U.S. unit IPO as Brazil presses for CEO's ouster

SAO PAULO (Reuters) - JBS SA will proceed with plans to list a U.S.-based unit when market conditions allow, as the world's No. 1 meatpacker wrestles with a shareholder revolt over the role of the controlling Batista family in a massive graft scandal.