Markets: Latest Financial Topics from CNN Money

Here is the latest in Market News from CNN Money.

U.S. oil and gas rigs fall to 70-year lows
The crash in oil prices and cheap natural gas has caused drilling activity to slow dramatically. The number of active rigs is now at the lowest level on records going back to 1949.

U.S. Gulf of Mexico pumping oil like never before
Despite the crash in crude prices, oil production in the Gulf of Mexico is on track to rise this year and shatter records in 2017. This new supply is set to offset declines in shale oil fields.

Rich men’s paychecks are getting fatter while poor are paid less
Rich men are already making more than everyone else, and their wages are growing faster too.

Oil pain: Canada’s unemployment hits 3-year high
Canada’s unemployment rate rose to a three-year high of 7.3% in February, reflecting the enormous amount of pain being inflicted by the crash in oil prices. Unemployment rose sharply in Alberta, home to the oil hubs of Calgary and Edmonton.

Stocks: 3 things to know before the open
Here’s what you need to know about the markets before you start your business day.

Desperate oil companies sell stock to raise cash
U.S. oil and gas companies are on track to sell more stock than ever before. It’s a fresh sign of the financial stress energy companies are under given the crash in oil prices.

Central banks’ steroids aren’t working
Central banks are trying to juice stock markets with aggressive action but investors aren’t buying it anymore.

European Central Bank pulls out all the stops
The European Central Bank has cut interest rates and stepped up its stimulus program as it tries to get the eurozone economy moving again.

Is the stock market madness over?
Volatility has declined for four weeks after two months of extreme ups and downs. Is it a lull or a lasting change?

Stocks: 5 things to know before the open
Here’s what you need to know about the markets before you start your business day.

Why Americans are so angry in 2016
Voters say the economy is their No. 1 issue. They believe the middle class is dying, trade is killing U.S. jobs and their kids won’t have a chance to get ahead. In some ways they are right.

Billionaire to central banks: We don’t want negative rates
Negative interest rates have become all the rage with frustrated central bankers. But bond king Jeff Gundlach thinks they do more harm than good and warns the Fed negative rates in the U.S. would crash stocks and banks.

$6 billion real estate bet eases pain for giant oil fund
The $876 billion Norwegian sovereign wealth fund had its worst year since 2011 but the pain would have been even greater without a big bet on real estate.

America’s 7-year bull market: Can it last?
America’s bull market in stocks is officially seven years old today. But the celebrations are being muted by the market’s terrible start to the year and concerns about the outlook going forward.

Stocks: 4 things to know before the open
Here’s what you need to know about the markets before you start your business day.

Donald Trump suits and ties are made in China
Donald Trump blasts companies like Ford and Apple for manufacturing some products outside the United States, but Trump does the same thing with his clothing line.

More Americans are getting back to work
Americans are feeling more confident about getting a job: the participation rate has moved up for six months.

Why the oil crash isn’t a repeat of 2008 crisis
Read full story for latest details.

Wall Street made $25 billion on bonus day
Read full story for latest details.

These investors want to create turbulence at United
Two hedge funds that own more than a 7% stake in struggling airline United Continental want shareholders to vote for some new board members — including Gordon Bethune, the former CEO of Continental.

Why oil’s 42% spike could soon backfire
All of a sudden oil prices are nearing $40 a barrel again. But Goldman Sachs warns that oil’s huge rally off the lows looks “premature” and may not be sustainable.

Is Shake Shack losing the burger wars?
Shake Shack was a Wall Street darling after its IPO last year. But the stock is no longer sizzling. Slowing sales growth may be a sign that Shake Shack could be losing ground to cheaper fast food rivals and other gourmet burger joints.

How to make the world wealthier
Read full story for latest details.

Stocks: 4 things to know before the open
Here’s what you need to know about the markets before you start your business day.

America’s B+ economy: Is this as good as it gets?
Most experts say America has a solid B or B+ economy: Good but not great. And it might not get any better with so many Baby Boomers retiring.

Top Fed official shows confidence in U.S. economy
Federal Reserve’s No. 2, Stanley Fischer, noted that inflation could be moving towards the Fed’s 2% target.

Incredible: Iron ore prices spike by a record 17%
Iron ore prices spike by a record 17% to nine-month highs amid more confidence about China’s economy.

Brazil & Argentina stock markets are hot
Brazil’s stocks rallied after its former president was detained and questioned by police. Other emerging market stocks are rallying too.

Gold rush! The yellow metal is in a bull market
Gold is up 20% this year. The metal rallied at the beginning of 2016 thanks to fears about the global economy. But gold still has some luster even as oil and the stock market has stabilized. Here are some reasons why.

Happy National Cereal Day! Or is it Cereal Year?
The stocks of leading cereal companies Kellogg, General Mills and Post have held up well in a volatile 2016. Why is Wall Street cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs and other breakfast treats?

Stocks: 5 things to know before the open
Here’s what you need to know about the markets before you start your business day.

Economists warn of risks from negative interest rates
A new report from economists at the Bank of International Settlements is flagging potential risks from the negative interest rates in effect in Europe and Japan.

Investors are afraid … of missing a rebound
The market’s mood has gone from extremely bearish to downright bullish in just a month. What’s changed? Oil has stabilized. Economic data and earnings aren’t as awful as feared. Can the rally keep going?

CEO Meg Whitman: We must stop Donald Trump
Read full story for latest details.

Frank Underwood is back! And so is Netflix’s stock
Netflix shares have surged from the lows they hit earlier this year. With “House of Cards” and “Daredevil” returning this month and more hits on the way, analysts think the company’s subscriber count will continue to swell around the world.

Stocks: 6 things to know before the open
Here’s what you need to know about the markets before you start your business day.

Why GoPro’s stock crash looks too extreme
The GoPro hate parade may have gotten a little out of hand. An analysis by LikeFolio provided exclusively to CNNMoney shows that GoPro stock has crashed a lot more than its ratings among consumers on social media.

U.S. economy seeks stronger job gains in February
Economists project that America added about 190,000 jobs in February, up from 151,000 jobs in January.

This investor thinks big banks are doomed
Bill Gross is really worried about low and negative interest rates. In his latest outlook for investors, he wrote that big banks and insurers should be avoided at all costs and blasted central banks around the world for hurting savers.

‘It’s bursting into flames!’ — 911 call from ex-CEO car crash
Police release the 911 calls from panicked drivers who saw former Chesapeake Energy CEO Aubrey McClendon’s vehicle engulfed in flames following a single-vehicle crash on Wednesday.

How Donald Trump could cause a recession
Read full story for latest details.

Move over, Chipotle! Meet the new fast casual king
Panera’s stock is at an all-time high and sales are surging. The soup and sandwich chain says it’s not benefiting from Chipotle’s woes. But the numbers seem to tell a very different story.

Brazil recession: ‘I’ve never seen anything like this’
Brazil’s economy shrank 3.8% in 2015, crippled by low commodity prices and the ongoing investigation into the corruption case at the state-run company, Petrobras.

Stocks: 4 things to know before the open
Here’s what you need to know about the markets before you start your business day.

This fund made an 800% return on Argentina debt
A group of four hedge funds settled with Argentina over a 15-year debt dispute and they’re poised to make a huge profit.

Ex-Chesapeake CEO Aubrey McClendon dead after car accident
Aubrey McClendon, the former founder and CEO of Chesapeake Energy, died in a car crash just hours after being indicted.

Saudis trying to steal Iran’s biggest oil buyer: China
Read full story for latest details.

Feds indict former Chesapeake Energy CEO
Aubrey McClendon accused of orchestrating conspiracy

$20 billion erased from Exxon’s spending budget
ExxonMobil announced plans to spend $23 billion in 2016, down by nearly half from its peak three years ago. It’s a sign how even the biggest oil companies are coping with the downturn by preserving cash.

Should Abercrombie change its name?
Read full story for latest details.

Are markets holding the Fed hostage?
The Federal Reserve is almost certainly not raising rates in March and there’s a low chance for June. But its key metrics suggest it should keep raising rates.

More bad news for Tesla and Elon Musk
An influential Wall Street research firm is recommending that investors bet against Tesla. Citron thinks Tesla’s stock could fall nearly 50% to $100 due to concerns about both supply issues and demand for electric cars.

Nikkei leaps 4% as global rally continues in Asia
Asian stocks surged, building on rallies in Europe and the U.S. In China, the Shanghai Composite jumped 4.3%, while Japan’s Nikkei soared 4.1%.

Stocks: 5 things to know before the open
Here’s what you need to know about the markets before you start your business day.

China credit rating outlook cut to negative over debt concerns
The ratings agency Moody’s has cut the outlook on China’s credit ratings from stable to negative, pointing to worries about the government’s potential debt burden.

Top Fed official sees downside risk to U.S. economy
New York Federal Reserve President William Dudley said in a speech Tuesday in China that his outlook for the U.S. economy is a little “less confident.”

Who’s worried about China now?
Fears of a massive global recession have melted. Despite ‘decisively poor’ economic data from China in recent days, stocks in the U.S. and Europe are rallying.

Dow gains 300+ in ‘Super Tuesday’ for stocks
Stocks rallied around the globe. The U.S. had its second best day of the year as oil prices rose and central banks sounded ready to rescue.

U.S. in longest manufacturing recession since 2009
The U.S. manufacturing sector has been shrinking for five straight months, battered by the global slowdown and strong dollar.

U.S. economy better, but Americans not feeling it
Read full story for latest details.

Sorry, OPEC: U.S. oil production at 43-year high
The U.S. pumped an average of 9.43 million barrels per day last year, marking the highest level since 1972. Despite the crash in oil prices, output is now up 89% since 2008.

Lumber Liquidators combats ‘confusion’ about toxic laminate
Lumber Liquidators stock is down more than 20% in five days. Now the company is looking to clear up misconceptions about product safety amid a CDC report regarding formaldehyde-tainted laminate floors that it sold.

Iran pushing forward with plans to ramp up oil output
Read full story for latest details.

China’s factories are still losing steam
Chinese factories are losing steam. Manufacturing activity slumped again in February, the latest sign that the world’s second-largest economy is continuing to cool down.

Barclays is dumping Africa after 100 years
Read full story for latest details.

Stocks: 5 things to know before the open
Here’s what you need to know about the markets before you start your business day.

NYSE owner may bid for London Stock Exchange
The takeover tussle for Europe’s biggest stock market is heating up as the owner of the New York Stock Exchange thinks about bidding for its London rival.

JCPenney is back from the dead
While many big retailers struggle, JCPenney is in the middle of a big turnaround. Sales are up. The new CEO is shifting its market strategy to focus more on digital and less on TV. And the company is gunning for Sears in appliances.

Is the oil crash over? Prices soar 30% in 11 days
Read full story for latest details.

This company helps blind people see
Second Sight, a company that makes retinal implants, is making it possible for some blind people to regain a tiny bit of their vision. It’s cool technology — but the stock may gotten ahead of itself.

Deflation is back: Cue more money printing
Mario Draghi and the European Central Bank are under intense pressure to announce new ways to boost the economy after prices fell in February.

Argentina ends 15-year debt saga in deal with ‘vultures’
Argentina reached an agreement in principle with U.S. hedge funds it battled with for 15 years.

Election 2016 could come down to gas prices
Hillary Clinton versus Donald Trump would be an extremely close election, but the economy still favors a Clinton win.

FIFA probe now zeroes in on U.S. banks
Citigroup has received a subpoena from authorities investigating the alleged corruption at FIFA. Officials are probing whether banks turned a blind eye to shady transactions allegedly made by FIFA officials.

Stocks: 4 things to know before the open
Here’s what you need to know about the markets before you start your business day.

Warren Buffett says he’s not ready for Tinder
Warren Buffett was feisty and folksy in his annual letter to Berkshire shareholders. He defended the company’s sluggish stock performance and relationship with 3G Capital. He also joked that he’s not into swiping right. Or left for that matter.

Buffett: Politicians way too negative about U.S.
Warren Buffett blasted presidential candidates in his annual letter to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders. The Oracle of Omaha said that politicians are too negative about the U.S. economy and predicted that there are more good times ahead.

Warren Buffett has some explaining to do
Warren Buffett will release his latest annual letter to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders on Saturday. The Oracle of Omaha may need to defend some lackluster stock picks, talk about more deals and discuss succession plans.

Michael Kors’ secret to success
The Michael Kors brand is hip again — in the fashion world and on Wall Street. The stock is the best performer of the year.

Oprah just lost $27 million on Weight Watchers
Weight Watchers reported a surprise loss as fewer subscribers signed up for the diet service. So much for Oprah Winfrey’s Midas touch?

So much for that imminent market meltdown…
Wall Street’s panic attack over crashing oil prices and a possible recession appears over (for now). The U.S. stock market is enjoying its best two-week period in a year.

Marco Rubio: Bankruptcy isn’t right for Puerto Rico
Marco Rubio says the way for Puerto Rico to fix its $72 billion debt crisis is to revitalize its economy and cut spending.

U.S. economy did less terribly than feared at end of 2015
The fragile condition of the U.S. economy just got a big upgrade. Fourth-quarter GDP growth was upwardly revised to 1%.

Puerto Ricans don’t want a bailout. They want this…
Read full story for latest details.

Stocks: 6 things to know before the open
Here’s what you need to know about the markets before you start your business day.

Pizza party! Domino’s and Papa John’s are killing it
Domino’s and Papa John’s both reported solid sales this week. Pizza is huge with Millennials … and investors.

Oil crash: Halliburton slashes another 5,000 jobs
Halliburton plans to cut its global workforce by another 8%, or roughly 5,000 positions.

China stocks slump more than 6%
Read full story for latest details.

Metals meltdown has ended … for now
After crashing to crisis levels last year, prices for closely-watched metals like copper and iron ore are finally showing signs of life. Is this an all-clear signal for the global economy or just a sign the massive supply glut is finally being eased?

Store closings are the hottest trend in retail
Read full story for latest details.

Rich aren’t splurging on pricey furniture. Blame stocks
Read full story for latest details.

Venezuela is shipping gold to pay debt
Venezuela shipped more than $1 billion in gold to Switzerland just weeks before a major debt payment was due.

Exclusive: OPEC president says output freeze will work
Qatar’s oil minister says more countries will agree to freeze production, and supply will fall as some firms with higher costs go to the wall.

Stocks: 5 things to know before the open
Here’s what you need to know about the markets before you start your business day.

Apple suppliers combine: Foxconn to take over Japan’s Sharp
Taiwan’s Foxconn is going to take over the struggling Japanese electronics firm Sharp, according to a statement from Sharp on Thursday.

Chinese consumers missing out on cheap oil party
While gas prices have fallen for many consumers, they’ve remained unchanged in China since mid-January because of a price floor imposed by the government.

Apple’s stock has worms but FBI isn’t one of them
Apple’s battle with the FBI doesn’t really matter for the stock. Apple’s biggest problem is lackluster iPhone sales. That could soon change. Chinese consumers are buying more smartphones. And the iPhone 7 will be out later this year.

Volatile oil is spooking markets (again)
The Dow dropped as much as 267 points on Wednesday as crude oil prices plunged to nearly $30 a barrel. The latest oil turbulence was fueled by more discord from rival OPEC members Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Saudi Arabia tries to make nice with U.S. shale oil
Saudi Arabia’s oil minister insists the OPEC leader hasn’t declared war on the U.S. shale oil industry — despite the crisis ripping through the American oil patch.