Starbucks (SBUX) shares were down over 3 percent in premarket trading, following news Howard Schultz will stepping down as CEO to lead an effort at the company to build high-end coffee shops. COO Kevin Johnson will become the next chief executive. (CNBC)
Trump chose retired Marine General James "Mad Dog" Mattis to lead the Department of Defense, a sign the incoming administration is looking to take a tougher stance with nations like Iran. (NBC News)
Trump is said to be considering Democratic Sen. Heidi Heitkamp to head either the Interior or Energy departments. The president-elect is reportedly also considering Democratic Joe Manchin and Goldman Sachs (GS) COO Gary Cohn for Energy secretary. (Reuters)
Tempers flared and political fault-lines were inflamed, as top aides to Trump and Hillary Clinton gathered for their first meeting since Election Day. (AP)
Trump may have to give up one property on Pennsylvania Avenue if he wants to move into another down the street. Fine print could force Trump to unload his equity stake in the hotel just down the street from the White House. (AP)
Chinese President Xi Jinping told former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissenger today that China was watching U.S. politics "very closely" following the presidential election won by Republican Donald Trump. (Reuters)
American Airlines Group (AAL) is cutting 25 percent of its scheduled flights to Cuba for 2017 — in a move based on travel demand, rather than the election of Republican Donald Trump as U.S. president. (Fortune)
Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) and its DePuy Orthopaedics unit plan to appeal a jury decision that they must pay more than $1 billion to six plaintiffs who claimed to be injured by the unit's hip implants. (Reuters)
Twitter Inc (TWTR) appointed Keith Coleman, founder of start-up Yes Inc., as head of its product team, the third executive to lead the division in less than a year. Twitter also said it acquired Yes, the maker of apps such as Frenzy and WYD-What you doing. (Reuters)
BY THE NUMBERS
With two Fed officials speaking this afternoon, most investors now regard a December interest rate hike as a foregone conclusion regardless of what this morning's jobs numbers show. Fed Governors Daniel Tarullo and Lael Brainard both speak around 12:30 p.m. ET.
The earnings calendar is extremely thin today, with retailer Big Lots (BIG) and shoe retailer Genesco (GCO) among the few on this morning's schedule, with no companies of note after today's closing bell.
STOCKS TO WATCH
Smith & Wesson (SWHC) beat estimates by 12 cents with adjusted quarterly profit of 68 cents per share, with the gun maker's revenue also beating forecasts. However, the company did give weaker than expected current quarter guidance.