What to watch for today
AB InBev tries to keep investors cheery. The beer giant is expected to report lower fourth-quarter revenue and earnings per share, largely thanks to the strong dollar. But excluding currency headaches, overseas sales are likely to be strong.
A look at the German consumer. Market research company GfK’s consumer confidence survey for February was stable, despite concerns that terrorism or an influx of refugees could dampen shoppers’ outlook. Its outlook for March isn’t expected to hold up as well.
Earnings galore. Campbell Soup, Kraft Heinz, Kohl’s, Gap, British American Tobacco, Baidu, and Henkel AG all report their quarterly results.
While you were sleeping
Sharp’s board agreed to a $6.2 billion Foxconn buyout. The beleaguered Japanese electronics maker took the Taiwanese firm’s takeover offer, passing on a much lower bid from a Japanese state-backed fund, according to Nikkei. Sharp’s share price rose by as much as 5.8% on the news.
China and the US agreed on a North Korea resolution. They will “not accept North Korea as a nuclear weapons state,” and will strengthen UN resolutions against the country. The US finalized a plan with China’s foreign minister, who is in Washington.
Target outpaced Amazon in online sales last quarter. The US retailer’s online sales grew 34% over the holiday season compared to Amazon’s 25%, suggesting its bet on free shipping paid off. The company forecast a better-than-expected profit for the year ahead.
Chesapeake Energy pleased investors. The oil and natural gas company’s share price went up 23% after it promised to pay off the rest of its $500 million debt. To get there, it will sell more of its assets and close at least half of its drilling rigs.
Australian investment plans fell to a nine-year low. Companies plan to spend A$82.6 billion ($59.4 billion) in the financial year starting July 1, the lowest since 2007-2008. Mining businesses are tightening their belts, and other sectors aren’t picking up the slack.
Quartz obsession interlude
Hanna Kozlowska on why young women are rejecting Hillary Clinton. “This election’s Democratic nomination process is showing that women cannot be treated as a distinct voting block, as Hillary Clinton’s candidacy brings an intergenerational feminist schism into public view. While many older women are thrilled to see a woman having a shot at the presidency during their lifetime, for many younger women, gender matters less.” Read more here.
Quartz markets haiku
Cat, stay off the ledge
Even the plumpest cushion
Won’t keep you alive
Matters of debate
Stock picking is about to make a comeback. Fiscal stimulus since 2008 made most stocks act pretty much the same—but that’s about to change.
The West needs to pay more attention to Niger. In the fight against terror, it could be a powerful friend—or an equally powerful foe.
The World Health Organization has recovered from its mishandling of Ebola. Its work on the Zika virus epidemic shows it’s learned from past mistakes.
Surprising discoveries
Egypt accidentally sentenced a toddler to life in prison. The country’s military admitted it was a case of mistaken identity.
The US relied more on renewable energy in 1950 than it does today. Demand for power was lower back then, and hydroelectric dams provided one third of it.
A new Danish supermarket stocks only expired food. Shoppers can save about 50% on most items.
Rats are better at detecting tuberculosis than lab tests. The rodents can smell the illness 70% of the time.
Fear can reshape ecosystems. Researchers found that the sound of predators is as effective as actual predators in reducing prey populations.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, just-expired food, and predator sounds to hi@qz.com. You can follow us on Twitter for updates throughout the day.