US MARKETS:

S&P 500 futures up 0.9% to 2,932.25
Brent Futures up 0.5% to $58.56/bbl
Gold spot down 0.6% to $1,537.47
US Dollar Index down 0.2% to 98.82

GLOBAL NEWS:

Earnings season. Thales, Exor, Dassault Aviation, BioMérieux, Delivery Hero, Aedifica, Barratt Developments, Palo Alto Networks and Copart are among companies to due post their earnings today.

The calendar is getting tighter. Boeing's B737 MAX may not fly again in 2019, contrary to the manufacturer's hopes: the group did not provide the regulators with the information they requested at the last meeting held. The FAA was clear in stating that it was following "a thorough procedure, not a timetable". However, there are rumors that the group has finalized the necessary modifications to the stall protection system patch, but still needs to work on the flight control system. It remains committed to submitting an application by the end of the month, with the hope of returning the aircraft to service in the fourth quarter.

No one is a prophet in their own land. At the end of 2023, Germany will ban the use of Monsanto's glyphosate, now owned by Bayer. "We are critical of the German government's decision to phase out glyphosate by the end of 2023," said Liam Condon, a member of Bayer's board of directors.

Painful painkiller. In the opioid crisis in the United States, Purdue Pharma, the manufacturer of OxyContin, could be willing to file for bankruptcy if it did not obtain a compromise on the financial compensation to be paid, Reuters has learned. In parallel, an American judge dismissed appeals filed by pharmaceutical groups and distributors against their involvement in the case. The complainants were given the green light to link these big names to misleading marketing strategies that would have increased dependence on the offending painkillers. Manufacturers such as Johnson & Johnson, pharmacy networks such as CVS Health and Walgreens Boots or wholesalers such as AmerisourceBergen and Cardinal Health are involved.

Antitrust investigation threatening Google. According to Reuters, about 30 U.S. attorneys general are ready to launch a major antitrust investigation on Google (Alphabet), which could be formalized on September 9. The Californian firm replied with the appropriate sentence, namely that it continues to work closely with regulators on these issues. The details are not known, but reports state that it is related to privacy protection and dominance. 

KBC on the diet. The bancassurance operator has planned to cut 1400 jobs in Belgium by 2022. KBC promises that there will be no social plan, with the reduction in staff mainly due to natural departures. 

In other news. WeWork starts preparatory meetings for its IPO next week, Bloomberg said. Tyson Foods is lowering its annual targets. A group of BHP Group shareholders is calling on the company to cut off its links with coal lobbyists. Marks & Spencer is expected to leave the FTSE 250 for the first time since its inception in 1984. Orior takes over Casualfood. Walmart will stop selling ammunition for certain firearms. Siemens is awarded a €450 million energy contract in France. Nestlé is investing more than €100 million in Germany.