Updated throughout the day
August 18
Markets dipped Tuesday in the end of August quiet — The S&P 500 fell 0.26%. The Dow was down 0.19%, and Nasdaq fell 0.64%. Oil was up 1.27% to $42.40. At least Home Depot didn’t disappoint, turning in earnings that matched Wall Street expectations. And TJX profits are up 6.1%, surpassing sales growth expectations. Wal-Mart fell short in its quarterly earnings, and slashed its full-year forecast. U.S. housing starts rose in July to an almost eight year high at 1.21 million units.
Here’s what else you need to know:
N.J. senator rips Iran deal. Democratic Senator Robert Menendez heavily critiqued the U.S.-Iran deal Tuesday, announcing he would vote against his own party to kill the deal. Menendez says the deal would hurt national security and send the wrong message to Iran. Time
Wells Fargo adds car loan branches. Wells Fargo is adding more branches dedicated to car loans and financing for auto dealers. The banks see growth opportunity at less risk than other lending. Reuters
Oldest U.S. vet dies. Emma Didlake died at age 110 in Michigan. Didlake was 38-years-old and a mother of five when she joined the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps in 1943. She served about seven months as a private and driver. Didlake was born in Alabama and moved to Detroit in 1944. Boston Globe
Philly rep pleads not guilty. Rep. Chaka Fattah plead not guilty to federal racketeering charges related to his 2007 Philadelphia mayoral campaign. Fattah is out on $100,000 bail.
Scott Walker reveals healthcare plan. Walker outlined his healthcare plan to give tax credits based on age, not income. The Walker plan, which didn’t include cost estimates, would also restructure Medicaid and allow insurance shopping across state lines. Chicago Tribune
Target settles over data breach. Target will pay Visa card issuers up to $67 million to settle the 2013 data breach. CNBC
EPA proposes rules to cut methane emissions. The U.S. EPA will propose new regulations to cut methane emissions in oil and gas by 40% to 45% by 2025. The rules will be the first federal regulations in the area. Wall Street Journal
At least 19 killed in Bangkok blast. A bomb planted in a shrine in Bangkok’s main shopping district exploded during the Monday evening rush hour killing at least 19 people and injuring over 120. Ten Thais are among the confirmed dead as well as one Chinese and one Filipino. The incident has sparked fears of a resurgence of political violence in the country. BBC
You won’t believe this:
Melbourne is world’s most livable city. For the fifth year in a row, Melbourne, Australia has been named the Economist’s most livable city. Vienna, Vancouver, Toronto, and Adelaide/Calgary round out the top five. Well done Australia and Canada. Least livable? Tripoli, Libya. CNN
Wax figures get second life in Bible museum. Ever wonder what Madame Tussuad’s or other wax museums do with old figures? The BibleWalk museum in Ohio is one buyer of the retired figures. The museum repurposes the likes of Price Charles into Abel or John Travolta into King Soloman. Any retained resemblance is purely a coincidence, the museum says. The Telegraph
Women make Ranger history. Two women will graduate from the intense Army Ranger School, a first in the school’s history. The Army opened the school to women this year on a trial basis. The 62-day course began with 381 men and 19 women. Only 94 men and 2 women will graduate this week. CNN
Photo credit:U.S. Embassy Kyiv Ukraine