Today's Headlines

Bloomberg:

• Americans' Economic Expectations Reach Second-Highest Since 2002. Americans’ outlook for the U.S. economy improved in February to the second-highest level since March 2002, indicating lower taxes are resonating, the Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index showed Wednesday.

• Wall Street Overreacts to Data But Fed Shouldn't, Kashkari Says. (video)

• Soybeans Could Dethrone Corn as U.S. Crop King After 35 Years.

• Bank of America(BAC) Says FX Traders May Be Off on Dollar Bearishness. (video)

• Four Charts: Home Depot(HD) Benefits From the Housing Market Rebound

Wall Street Journal:

• Fed Officials Marked Up Growth, Inflation Outlook in January. Economic data bolsters central bank officials’ plans to keep raising short-term interest rates this year.

• China Humiliates Another Western Company. Beijing increasingly demands corporate self-censorship. 

• Amazon(AMZN) Is Taking Over the Stock Market, Too. The online retail giant has accounted for 27% of the S&P 500’s gains this year, followed by Microsoft and Netflix.

• Trump Economic Report Blames Obama Policies for Slow Growth. The nearly-600 page report is the most detailed analysis of the economy and economic policy by President Donald Trump’

MarketWatch.com:

• Why the worst may be over in the stock-market correction.

Fox News:

• Maryland police officer shot and killed is second cop murdered in 12 hours.

CNBC:

• Fed minutes: All signs pointing to more rate hikes ahead. (video)

• Here are 3 key Senate races that show why Democrats are at risk of losing seats in 2018.

• Trump administration may make it easier to wipe out student debt in bankruptcy. (video)

• JP Morgan’s(JPM) ‘branch warfare’ to beat up on Wells, support 19% stock surge: Morgan Stanley.

• Trump signals open to mileage tax with praise of Oregon program.

• Don't worry about higher interest rates for now, JP Morgan says. (video)

Zero Hedge:

• In Unexpected Twist, Judge In Flynn Case Asks Mueller For "Exculpatory Evidence".

• Exchange Glitch Allows Traders To "Buy" $20 Trillion In Bitcoin For Free.

• BofA: Clients Sold Bond ETFs For The Longest Streak On Record.

• Conservatives Furious After Twitter(TWTR) Purges Thousands Of Accounts.

• Who Got Hit: Here Are The Best And Worst Performing Hedge Funds Of 2018.

• Fed President Sounds Panic Over Level Of US Debt.

• "We've Never Underperformed Like This": Einhorn Has Worst Month Since March 2000.

• Amid Soaring Cobalt Prices, Apple Will Buy Direct From Miners. (graph)

• Existing Home Sales Extend Plunge, Biggest Annual Drop Since 2014. (graph)

• As Europe Slumps, US PMIs Signal GDP Growth Above 3.00%. (graph)

• Mortgage Applications Plunge Most Since 2015 As Rates Soar. (graph)

• Judicial Watch Asks "What Is The FBI Hiding In Its War To Protect Comey?