Today's Headlines

Bloomberg:

• Trump Administration Makes Its First Move to Build Border Wall. President Donald Trump’s administration is soliciting ideas from contractors on how to build its promised wall between the U.S. and Mexico, a first tangible step toward delivering on the president’s signature campaign promise to curb unauthorized immigration. U.S. Customs and Border Protection issued a preliminary request for proposals Friday, saying it plans to release a formal solicitation around March 6 “for the design and build of several prototype wall structures in the vicinity of the United States border with Mexico.”

• Retailers Push Alternatives in a Bid to Kill Border-Adjusted Tax. U.S. retailers are working with lawmakers in the House and Senate to craft alternatives to a proposed tax on imported goods that they say will raise prices for consumers. “We’re in the process of working with the Hill to give a couple of different alternatives to what we think would be a regressive tax,” J.C. Penney Co. Chief Executive Officer Marvin Ellison said Friday in an interview.

• Americans Haven't Been This Optimistic About the Job Market in Over 30 Years. (graph)

• Loeb Embraces Trump ‘Paradigm Shift,’ Says Stocks Not Overvalued.

• Tech Companies Join Challenge on Transgender Bathroom Rules.

Wall Street Journal: 

• Islamic State Drones Terrorize Iraqi Forces as Mosul Battle Rages. Militant group uses increasingly sophisticated drone technology to target troops, civilians. 

• Suspect in Kim Jong Nam Killing Says Oil ‘Prank’ Earned Her $90. Siti Aisyah sticks to claim that she was playing a prank as part of a reality show.

• Transgender Wrestler Wins Girls State Title as Texas Rule Draws Criticism. Rule that transgender wrestler Mack Beggs must compete against girls frustrates some parents, other wrestlers.

Barron's:

• Had bullish commentary on (RIG), (GPN), (AXTA) and (TV).

• Had bearish commentary on (HOG).

Fox News:

• Former Labor Sec. Perez elected as Democratic National Committee chairman. (video)

CNBC:

• UPS(UPS) tests drone deliveries via high-tech truck. (video)

• China's offensive against fleeing capital leaves Hollywood in limbo: Wall Street Journal.

• This is the new self-driving company taking on Uber’s Otto. (video)

• In sweeping move, Trump puts regulation monitors in U.S. agencies.

Zero Hedge:

• Trump Says He Will Skip White House Correspondents' Dinner.

• Darrell Issa Demands Special Prosecutor Probe Trump-Russia Connections.

• Which Country Punishes Productive People The Most?

• Starbucks'(SBUX) 'Brand Perception' Takes A Massive Hit After Announcing Plans To Hire 10,000 Refugees.

• Watergate's Bob Woodward: "Press Shouldn't Whine About Trump, It Doesn't Work With The Public". (video)

• Charts Of The Week: 10 Reasons To Be Cautious In This Market. (graph)

• Establishment Favorite Tom Perez Wins Vote To Lead Democratic Party.

• Most Illegal Immigrants Live In America's Metropolitan Areas. 

• Trump Administration Unveils First Step In Building Border Wall.

• White House Denies Axios' Report Which Denied Reuters Report About Trump's Border Tax.

• Weekend Reading: Errant Thinking.

• Data Fraud At Chinese Province Suggests Local GDP Numbers As Much As 20% "Overcooked".

• Late-Day Panic-Buying Sends Dow To Longest Record Streak In 30 Years. (graph)

Business Insider:

• $3.7 BILLION HEDGE FUND: There's a lot to be excited about under Trump, but nobody's talking about it.

• An unlikely French election outcome could plunge Europe into crisis.

• The Model 3 could be the worst thing that ever happened to Tesla(TSLA).

• Snap's IPO is oversubscribed by $7 billion.

• The Trump administration's vow to crack down on marijuana has 'unnerved' investors and caused stocks to tumble.

• Al Gore just sold $29 million of Apple(AAPL) stock.

CBS News:

• Car runs into New Orleans crowd, police say. Police say 12 people were injured when a vehicle plowed into a crowd watching the Krewe of Endymion parade in the Mid-City section of New Orleans.