But a Thursday profile by Time reveals more about what CEO Tim Cook was thinking. Cook penned a profile honoring Jean Liu, president of Didi Chuxing and part of the “Time 100 Most Influential People” list. “From a Didi point of view, we see that as one, a great investment. Data is important for testing self-driving cars — something Apple and Didi have almost certainly been mulling. Data can also become products: Uber has reportedly considered selling its data.

UBS downgraded U.S. banks this week, partly based on the view that President Donald Trump’s promised tax reform will take longer than expected to achieve. The report lowered UBS’ view on U.S. banks to neutral from overweight, maintaining a preference for brokers and universal banks over regional banks. Financial stocks have led the post-election market rally as the sector was expected to benefit the most from Trump’s pro-growth policies of tax reform and deregulation. However, markets have grown

Jim Cramer rang the lightning round bell, which means he gave his take on caller favorite stocks at rapid speed:GNC Holdings: “Too risky, too risky. When I see an 8.4 percent yield, that’s actually a red flag for me. Ionis Pharmaceuticals: “No, I don’t [think Wall Street will reward Ionis’ profits handsomely]. I do not believe it can be a good quarter. Mad Money Twitter – Jim Cramer Twitter – Facebook – Instagram – VineQuestions, comments, suggestions for the “Mad Money” website?

While markets regained some ground on Thursday after a few tough sessions, trader Todd Gordon believes the stock rally may soon stall. The TradingAnalysis.com founder says that the S&P 500’s recent close below its 50-day moving average on April 13 suggests that the market will soon start trading in a sideways range. “That’s the first close below the 50-day moving average after an extended uptrend in the stock market,” said Gordon Thursday on CNBC’s “Trading Nation,” referring to the April 13 clo

Once the House passes the Republican health-care bill, it could become law very quickly, Larry Kudlow said on Thursday. It won’t take weeks and weeks and weeks,” the senior CNBC contributor said on “Closing Bell.” A Freedom Caucus source told CNBC the new health bill would get “very close” to 216 votes. President Donald Trump told reporters on Thursday afternoon he believes there is a “good chance” of getting the bill passed soon. However, GOP aides told CNBC they doubted a vote could happen as

Satya Nadella is determined not to rest on the laurels of Microsoft Office, if a new interview with Business Insider Poland is any indication. In the interview, Nadella said that he wants Microsoft to be able to “push boundaries,” giving the HoloLens as an example:Now, the challenge is that at some point, the concept needs to be replaced by a new idea. Under Nadella, Microsoft has made a monster bet on LinkedIn, and amped up its Surface line to near par with rival Apple. It comes after Nadella h

“[On Thursday], Credit Suisse suggested that Kroger, the supermarket giant, which needs market share gains to continue growing, is a logical suitor. But the most convoluted fight for control is the one over high-tech aluminum producer Arconic, which was created from industrial giant Alcoa’s split last year. While Cramer favored the Alcoa-Arconic split and Kleinfeld’s history as CEO, the “Mad Money” host said it is time to give Elliott’s team and their “excellent slate” a chance. And although hed

Visa reported earnings of 86 cents a share on revenue of $4.48 billion while Wall Street expected earnings of 79 cents a share on revenue of $4.295 billion, according to Thomson Reuters consensus estimates. Mattel shares tumbled more than 6 percent during after-hours following another quarter of lower sales and a larger-than-expected loss. Shares of Ocwen surged nearly 6 percent in extended trading after the stock tanked more than 53 percent during intraday trading. Electronics for Imaging share

French conservative presidential candidate Francois Fillon on Thursday evening said he was cancelling a planned election campaign outing on Friday after a shooting in Paris which killed a policeman. The circumstances of the shooting, in which an assailant was also killed, were not immediately clear. Voters are set to head to the polls on Sunday in the first round of a two part election, and campaigning by the 11 candidates in the running was due to be wrapped up on Friday. Fillon had been schedu

In the meantime, retailers that seize on Boss’ ideal trifecta — convenience, value, and innovation — have emerged as winners, namely the off-price, dollar store, and athletic sectors. “I think there’s real opportunity to own retail here, you just still need to be selective,” Boss said. Boss’ top picks in the off-price category are TJX Companies, Burlington, and smaller-cap name Ollie’s Bargain Outlet. “I think Burlington has the opportunity to double their margins [and] double their store count,

U.S. Representative Jason Chaffetz, the Republican chairman of a House committee with broad investigative powers, said on Thursday that it is possible he could leave office before his term finishes next year, The Wall Street Journal reported. “My future plans are not yet finalized, but I haven’t ruled out the possibility of leaving early,” Chaffetz told the Journal a day after the Utah congressman announced he would not run for re-election in 2018. Chaffetz’s remarks on a possible early departur

Cramer admitted that the macro setup was favorable, with interest rates on the rise, strength in European markets, and a bullish rhetoric on tax reform from Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. Following that were two excellent and mutually-supportive reports from CSX and Nucor that showed increases in steel production and use, a bullish sign for the industrial sector. “While you know I hate that term — it sets up [Apple CEO] Tim Cook for failure, don’t want that — I understand the sentiment,” Cra

The “Fast Money” traders discuss their favorite retail stocks as the SPDR S&P Retail Sector ETF (XRT) popped 2 percent higher on Tuesday following renewed optimism on tax reform. Kelly also said he likes distribution facility developer and operator Prologis as a warehouse play. Trader Guy Adami said he likes Whole Foods because of the stock’s performance. Trader Tim Seymour said people are spending money on renovations and home improvement as their wealth increases. Dan Nathan is long GE, SPY Ma

Thursday’s market surge intrigued Cramer, so he decided to look at the day’s earnings reports to find where all the bullishness originated. In other words, major institutions like the Federal Reserve or the Department of Labor typically hold sway over the market. But during earnings season, a flurry of strong reports can coax a positive response out of the market on its own. “What I told the president is one of the key things about Snap-On … [is] our people generate customization in the midst

North Korea says ‘don’t mess with us’ as US weighs its options 19 Hours Ago | 00:41The U.S. continues to take active measures to prepare for the possibility of a nuclear test by North Korea, U.S. officials told NBC News, including the deployment of a special nuclear “sniffer” aircraft, drones, and U-2 spy planes. The exercise is defensive in nature and not focused on the region near North Korea. During a Thursday press conference with Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni, President Trump calle

A French policeman was shot dead and two others were wounded in central Paris on Thursday night in an attack carried out days before presidential elections and quickly claimed by the Islamic State militant group. President Francois Hollande said he was convinced the “cowardly killing” on the Champs Elysees boulevard, in which the assailant was himself shot dead by police, was an act of terrorism. Paris Prosecutor Francois Molins said the man had been identified, but investigators were still asse

U.S. markets should pay careful attention to the upcoming French election because the slate of candidates have widely divergent views on how to run the economy and the role of the state, analyst Peter Boockvar told CNBC on Thursday. Far-right candidate Marine Le Pen, who has indicated she is willing to take France out of the European Union, would “create some chaos” for the markets, the chief market analyst with market research firm the Lindsey Group said in an interview with “Power Lunch.” He a

President Donald Trump said on Thursday he does not see a role for the United States in Libya apart from defeating Islamic State militants. “I do not see a role in Libya. I think the United States has right now enough roles. So I do not see that,” Trump said during a joint news conference with Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni. I see that as a primary role and that’s what we’re going to do, whether it’s in Iraq, or Libya or anywhere else,” Trump said, using an acronym commonly used to refer

Lockheed Martin, along with Korea Aerospace Industries, has entered its T-50A fighter jet into the U.S. Air Force’s Advanced Pilot Training competition. Commonly known as the T-X Trainer competition, the contest pits major defense companies against one other in a battle for a $16 billion government contract. CNBC got inside access to the T-50A and took it to the skies. Here’s a look.

Singapore’s Keppel Corporation, the world’s largest offshore rig builder, said it expects an extended slowdown in the offshore sector even though oil prices have recovered from their historically low levels a year ago. His remarks are a testament to challenges that the oil support services sector still faces. The recovery in oil prices have yet to translate into greater oil exploration and production activities, which will help to shore up demand for rigs and support vessels. While Keppel’s offs