A daily morning look at the financial stories you need to know to start the day.
STOCKS/ECONOMY
-Stock futures are a bit down after Tuesday's modest rally. The Fed minutes come out today at 2 p.m. ET. Mortgage applications dropped 2.1 percent as interest rates hit their highest level since July.
-BlackRock just posted earnings and revenue that beat Wall Street expectations.
TERROR/DEFENSE
-The U.S. flew two B-1B bombers over North Korea late Tuesday in a show of force.