10 things you need to know in markets, November 29

Good morning! Here’s what you need to know in markets on
Thursday.

Federal
Reserve Chair Jerome Powell
Carlos
Barria/Reuters

1.Corporate credit levels and quality are top risks to the
economy but the outlook remains solid and rates are “just below”
a neutral level, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell
said Wednesday. Stocks gained on Wall Street and the dollar fell
after the comments, taken by investors as a tip that the rate
hike cycle was nearing its end.

2.
US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said on Wednesday that
he was examining all available tools to raise US tariffs on
Chinese vehicles to the 40% duties that China is now
charging on US-produced vehicles.

3.
Saudi Arabia will buy Lockheed Martin’s $15 billion missile
defense system, a US Department of State spokesman said on
Wednesday, after aggressive lobbying by the
administration to close the deal that included a personal call
between President Donald Trump and Saudi King Salman.

4.
Anglo-Dutch consumer goods company Unilever said its CEO Paul
Polman was retiring and would be replaced by Alan Jope, head of
its beauty unit, from January 1.Polman has been at
the helm of Unilever, which makes Dove soap and Ben & Jerry’s
ice cream, for 10 years.

5.Safran unveiled ambitions to become the world’s leading
aerospace supplier in 15 years, overtaking United
Technologies, as it pledged a research and development spending
drive while increasing cash returns to shareholders.

6.Volkswagen is deciding where to locate a new factory in
North America to build electric vehicles for the US
market, the German automaker’s new head for the
Americas said on Wednesday.

7.
The US Army said on Wednesday that it has awarded Microsoft Corp
a $479.2 million contract to supply prototypes for
the Army’s augmented reality systems helping soldiers in training
and combat missions.

8.
Two Ukrainian Azov Sea ports, Berdyansk and Mariupol, are
effectively under blockade by Russia as vessels are being barred
from leaving and entering, Ukraine’s infrastructure
minister said on Thursday.

9.
The US Senate has voted in favour of ending US support for Saudi
Arabia’s war in Yemen.A resolution, which called on
the president to remove most US troops stationed in Yemen, passed
by almost 2 to 1.

10.
You may have missed the most explosive comments from Facebook’s
grilling at Westminster. We did
not.