Updated throughout the day
September 11
Good evening,
Friday marks the 14th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the U.S., in which more than 3,000 people were killed when terrorists commandeered three commercial airliners and crashed them. President Obama marked the tragedy with a town hall meeting in Fort Mead, Md. Other ceremonies took place in Washington, D.C., New York, and Pennsylvania. Years after the event, the death toll continues to mount as survivors succumb to injuries related to the attack.
Stocks rose Friday, after starting the morning with small losses. The Dow ended up 0.63%, making a weekly gain of more than 2% for the first time since March. The S&P 500 gained 0.45%, and the Nasdaq rose 0.5%. Oil fell, ending below $45/barrel.
Here’s what else you need to know:
Rick Perry drops out of presidential race. Former Texas governor Perry is the first of the Republicans to drop out of their party’s very crowded presidential race. Perry, who also ran in 2012, has struggled all summer against more dominant candidates. Politico
Crane kills 65 people at Mecca. A crane collapsed on the Grand Mosque in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, killing at least 65 people and injuring more than 150 more. Mecca is preparing for the annual Hajj pilgrimage when hundreds of thousands visit the Saudi city. The site has been undergoing construction to accommodate more worshipers. BBC
Serena shut down. Serena Williams was denied another Grand Slam title by Italian Roberta Vinci. Vinci, ranked 43rd, wasn’t even seeded at the U.S. Open. Had Williams won, she would have been the first person since Steffi Graf in 1988 to win all Grand Slam titles in one year. CNN
D.C.’s Union Station closed after shooting. A station security guard shot a man that stabbed his girlfriend. Both are alive. The incident was unrelated to September 11. Quartz
18 fintech companies raised $210 million this past week. FundBox, CommonBond, Orchard Platform, and Chain all raised more than $30 million. Year to date fintech companies have raised $12.4 billion. Finovate
CNN debate lineup announced. Of the now 15 Republican presidential candidates, the following will participate in the California debate scheduled for next week: Donald Trump, Ben Carson, Jeb Bush, Ted Cruz, Scott Walker, Marco Rubio, Carly Fiorina, Mike Huckabee, Rand Paul, and John Kasich. The other five candidates are invited to participate in a debate earlier in the evening. CNN
Cuba to release 3,522 prisoners. The Council of State for the island nation announced that it will release the prisoners ahead of Pope Francis’ visit to the country next week. This is the third time Cuba has release prisoners before a papal visit. The released prisoners will be a mix of women, those younger than 20, the ill, and those with sentences ending next year. Washington Post
Joe Biden casts doubt on run for president. In an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the vice president said: “I don’t think any man or woman should run for president unless, number one, they know exactly why they would want to be president and, number two, they can look at folks out there and say, ‘I promise you, you have my whole heart, my whole soul, my energy, and my passion to do this.'” Biden added: “And I’d be lying if I said that I knew I was there.” NBC News
Goldman sees $20 oil as non-OPEC oil production set to hit 24-year low. The International Energy Agency reports: “Oil’s price collapse is closing down high-cost production from Eagle Ford in Texas to Russia and the North Sea, which may result in the loss next year of half a million barrels a day – the biggest decline in 24 years.” International Energy Agency, MarketWatch
Clinton likely to beat Sanders in both Iowa, New Hampshire. Political strategists say Clinton has a formidable infrastructure. Recent polls show Sanders ahead in New Hampshire and narrowing Clinton’s lead in Iowa. But the experts suggest the Clinton machine will pull her to victory. Politico
Moody’s takes on the SFC. In a closely-watched hearing at the Securities and Futures Appeals Tribunal, U.S.-based Moody’s has locked horns with Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission over complaints that a 2011 report from the ratings agency was “shoddy.” The report was apparently titled “Red Flags for Emerging Market Companies: A Focus On China,” and was highly critical of 61 major mainland Chinese firms. SCMP (paywall)
And you won’t believe this…
This is what nightmares are made of. A fast food-themed Black Sabbath cover band is playing in Brooklyn this weekend. If Ronald McDonald doesn’t haunt you already, Ronald Osbourne will. The frightening group, which your kids definitely shouldn’t see, has changed Black Sabbath songs to talk about fast food. Think “all our future is pink slime.” Village Voice
Elon Musk wants to nuke Mars. Not content with moon shots, Tesla’s Elon Musk wants to nuke a planet. But the super villain-like plan has a more benevolent aim: to terraform Mars. CBC
Photo: Ed Schipul