Morning Brief

US and North Korea turn up the rhetoric and global markets swoon

Key Points

BY THE NUMBERS

Global markets and U.S. stock futures were under pressure this morning as U.S.-North Korea tensions escalated with threats exchanged by President Donald Trump and Kim Jong-Un's regime. Bond prices, gold, and the Japanese yen, viewed as safe haven investments, were all higher. (CNBC)

The Dow, which hit an intraday record Tuesday, finished lower, ending a 10-session winning streak and run of nine consecutive all-time high closes. After logging an intraday record, the S&P 500 also fell modestly, ending a two-session win streak. (CNBC)

* Second quarter labor productivity and costs at 8:30 a.m. ET (Labor)
* Wholesale inventories for June at 10 a.m. ET (Commerce)
* Weekly oil and gasoline inventories at 10:30 a.m. ET (EIA)
* Drop in rates boosts mortgage applications 3 percent (CNBC)
* 21st Century Fox leads after the bell earnings list (CNBC)

Dow component Disney was sharply lower in the premarket. While beating estimates on quarterly earnings, the media giant fell short on revenue. Troubles at ESPN contributed to a decline in operating income from Disney's cable business. (CNBC)

Disney also announced, late Tuesday along with earnings, that starting in 2019 it won't stream new movies on Netflix (NFLX). Instead, the media giant plans to start its own streaming video service. Netflix shares were sliding in premarket trading. (CNBC)

Ten years ago today marked the beginning of the most far-reaching economic disruption since World War II. Few people appreciated the scope of the financial crisis that would unfold over the next 18 months. (WSJ)

* Jamie Dimon: Our country's taxes, infrastructure failures are 'embarrassing' (CNBC)

IN THE NEWS TODAY

President Trump is warning North Korea about facing "fire and fury" if the isolated nation makes more threats against the United States. Last night, North Korea's state media said the country was considering a strategy to strike the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam. (CNBC & Reuters)

* North Korean nuclear weapons now they fit inside missiles (CNBC)
* Trump sets his own 'red line' and North Korea crossed it (CNBC)
* There are still 'no good options' for U.S. against North Korea (CNBC)

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said he doesn't believe there is "any imminent threat" from North Korea, including to the U.S. territory of Guam. Americans should "have no concerns about this particular rhetoric of the last few days," he said. (AP)

The Trump administration appears to be granting Chinese banks dealing with North Korea a temporary reprieve from threatened U.S. sanctions to give Beijing time to show it is serious about enforcing new U.N. steps against Pyongyang. (Reuters)

With North Korea tensions mounting, Lockheed Martin (LMT), the Pentagon's No. 1 weapons supplier, said its customers want to defend themselves against possible incoming missile attacks and are increasingly asking about missile defense systems. (Reuters)

A car rammed into a group of soldiers in a Paris suburb today, injuring six before speeding off in what officials are investigating as a suspected terrorist attack. Two of the six soldiers hit were seriously wounded. (Reuters)

Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, who sits on Facebook's (FB) board of directors, wrote an email to fellow board member Peter Thiel, reportedly castigating him for his "catastrophically bad" judgment in supporting Donald Trump for president. (NY Times)

* Former 'Late Show' host David Letterman signs with Netflix (WSJ)

Fired Google engineer James Damore stands his ground on his explosive memo, which questioned the role of women in the tech industry. Damore said, "I have a legal right to express my concerns about the terms and conditions of my working environment." (NY Times)

Golfer Tiger Woods, arrested in May on a charge of driving under the influence after police found him asleep at the wheel of his Mercedes-Benz stopped on a Florida road, is due to be arraigned today. (Reuters)

Oprah Winfrey, whose endorsement and investment has breathed new life into Weight Watchers (WTW), is branching out into food branded under her own name in conjunction with Kraft Heinz (KHC). (USA Today)

Activist investor Morfit Mason and ValueAct sold about 7 million shares of Microsoft's (MSFT) stock over the past week, according to regulatory filings. The shares were sold at prices ranging from $72.50 to $72.61 each, valuing the stake at over $500 million. (CNBC)

Vantiv (VNTV) clinched its deal to buy Britain's Worldpay for $10 billion after a preliminary announcement last month and weeks of talks. The combined payment processing firm will take the Worldpay name. It'll be headquartered in Cincinnati. (CNBC)

There was no big winner in last night's $346 million Mega Millions drawing. The next Mega drawing is Friday. But tonight, $307 million is up for grabs for Powerball players. This is the first time ever the two jackpots topped $300 million at the same time.

STOCKS TO WATCH

Priceline Group (PCLN) earned an adjusted $15.14 per share for its latest quarter, beating estimates. Revenue also exceeded forecasts. However, bookings were slightly short of forecasts as were the travel website operator's current quarter earnings guidance.

TripAdvisor (TRIP) beat estimates by 8 cents with adjusted quarterly profit of 38 cents per share. Revenue also beat forecasts. However, the travel website operator cut its full-year 2017 guidance due in part to a shift to less profitable mobile device booking.

Hertz Global (HTZ) posted an adjusted quarterly loss of 63 cents per share, more than triple the estimate of a 20 cents per share loss. Revenue matched. Hertz said it's made significant progress in its turnaround plan, but cited challenging business environment.

TrueCar (TRUE) earned an adjusted 1 cent per share for its latest quarter, compared to forecasts of a breakeven quarter. The car-buying service's revenue beat forecasts as well. However, TrueCar issued weaker than expected full-year guidance.

Zillow (Z) earned an adjusted 4 cents per share for the second quarter, surprising analysts who had expected a 1 cent per share loss. The real estate website operator's revenue also beat forecasts, but shares were under heavy pressure.

Office Depot (ODP) missed estimates by 2 cents a share, with adjusted quarterly profit of 6cents per share. Revenue also missed forecasts. Office Depot also said it expects 2017 sales to be lower than they were a year ago, due to store closures and challenging market conditions.

Wendy's (WEN) beat estimates by 2 cents a share, with adjusted quarterly profit of 15 cents per share. Revenue also topped forecasts. Wendy's said about one-third of its global restaurants have been "re-imaged" as it continues a planned revamping.

WATERCOOLER

After reliving Groundhog Day hundreds of times in the 1993 film, Bill Murray took in the Broadway musical version for the first time. He received an ovation from the crowd and posed for selfies. (NY Times)

Glen Campbell, the "Rhinestone Cowboy" singer whose sentimental ballads and catchy pop hits soothed America during the tumult of the 1960s and 1970s, has died after suffering with Alzheimer's. He was 81. (NBC News)