Poland would supply Ukraine with German-made Leopard battle tanks if Germany doesn't grant approval for the transfer soon, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said, increasing pressure on Berlin to back down from its stance that the U.S. must send American-made tanks to Kyiv before allies donate the most-widely used tank in Europe.
The statement is the latest sign of exasperation shared by the U.S. and its European allies that Germany's hesitation over sending tanks will deprive Ukraine of resources needed in a critical phase of its war with Russia or at least delay their arrival onto the battlefield.
Russia's Influence Wanes in Ex-Soviet States as It Pursues Ukraine War
MOSCOW-Escalating tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan are exposing the declining influence of Russia in its backyard, as the Kremlin diverts money and manpower to the war in Ukraine.
The situation regards Nagorno-Karabakh, a territory in the South Caucasus that has been disputed, often violently, by the two former Soviet republics for almost three decades. The enclave is home to 120,000 people, mostly ethnic Armenians, but is internationally recognized as being part of Azerbaijan.
Jacinda Ardern to Step Down as New Zealand Prime Minister
SYDNEY-New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said she would step down by Feb. 7 after over five years as leader, as the country grapples with the prospect of a recession stemming partly from its strict response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Ms. Ardern, 42 years old, has struggled to reverse her Labour Party's slide in the polls ahead of an election due later this year, and said on Thursday that she lacked the energy to do the job. It marks a turnaround for a leader whose pandemic policies, including lengthy border closures, helped her party to a landslide win in the last election in 2020.
Ex-Trump Prosecutor's Book Draws Warning From Manhattan District Attorney
The Manhattan district attorney's office said Wednesday that a forthcoming book by a former top prosecutor could compromise its continuing investigation of former President Donald Trump, warning that the author could be unlawfully using confidential information for his personal advantage.
"Based on the pre-publication descriptions of his book and the benefit of current knowledge of the matter, but without access to the manuscript, this office believes there is a meaningful risk that the publication will materially prejudice ongoing criminal investigations and related adjudicative proceedings," the office's general counsel, Leslie Dubeck, said in a letter to the publisher, Simon & Schuster.
Write to paul.larkins@dowjones.com TODAY IN CANADA
Earnings:
Sylogist 1Q
Economic Calendar (ET):
0830 Nov Wholesale Trade
0830 Nov New motor vehicle sales
Stocks to Watch:
B2Gold Reports Total Gold Production for Q4 2022 of 367,870 Oz; Sees 2023 Total Gold Production of 1M to 1.08M Oz; 4Q Consolidated Gold Rev $592M
Expected Major Events for Thursday
00:01/UK: Dec RICS Residential Market Survey
09:30/UK: 4Q Bank of England Credit Conditions Survey
09:30/UK: 4Q Bank of England's Bank Liabilities Survey
10:00/ITA: Nov Balance of Payments
11:00/FRA: Nov OECD Harmonised Unemployment Rates
11:00/FRA: 3Q OECD Quarterly Labour Market Situation
13:00/RUS: Weekly International Reserves
13:30/CAN: Nov New motor vehicle sales
13:30/CAN: Nov Wholesale trade
13:30/US: Dec New Residential Construction - Housing Starts and Building Permits
13:30/US: Jan Philadelphia Fed Business Outlook Survey
13:30/US: 01/14 Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report - Initial Claims
15:30/US: 01/13 EIA Weekly Natural Gas Storage Report
16:00/US: 01/13 EIA Weekly Petroleum Status Report
21:30/US: Federal Discount Window Borrowings
21:30/US: Foreign Central Bank Holdings
23:30/JPN: Dec CPI (Nation), CPI ex-food (Nation)
All times in GMT. Powered by Onclusive and Dow Jones.
Expected Earnings for Thursday
1st Source Corp (SRCE) is expected to report for 4Q.
ASA Gold & Precious Metals Ltd (ASA) is expected to report for 4Q.
Amerant Bancorp Inc (AMTB) is expected to report for 4Q.
American National Bankshares Inc (AMNB) is expected to report $0.87 for 4Q.
Banc Of California Inc (BANC) is expected to report $0.43 for 4Q.
BancFirst Corp (BANF) is expected to report $1.80 for 4Q.
Bank OZK (OZK) is expected to report $1.31 for 4Q.
BankUnited (BKU) is expected to report $1.09 for 4Q.
Banner Corp (BANR) is expected to report $1.58 for 4Q.
Bar Harbor Bankshares (BHB) is expected to report for 4Q.
Capstar Financial Holdings (CSTR) is expected to report for 4Q.
Citizens & Northern Corp (CZNC) is expected to report $0.47 for 4Q.
Comerica Inc (CMA) is expected to report $2.62 for 4Q.
Commerce Bancshares Inc (CBSH) is expected to report $1.04 for 4Q.
Concentrix Corp (CNXC) is expected to report for 4Q.
Edgio Inc (EGIO) is expected to report $-0.15 for 4Q.
Edgio Inc (EGIO) is expected to report for Full year.
Fastenal Co (FAST) is expected to report $0.42 for 4Q.
Fastenal Co (FAST) is expected to report.
Fifth Third Bancorp (FITB) is expected to report $1.03 for 4Q.
Heartland Express (HTLD) is expected to report $0.30 for 4Q.
Hingham Institution for Savings (HIFS) is expected to report for 4Q.
Home BancShares Inc (HOMB) is expected to report $0.55 for 4Q.
Independent Bank Corp (INDB) is expected to report for 4Q.
Insteel Industries (IIIN) is expected to report $0.87 for 1Q.
KeyCorp (KEY) is expected to report $0.59 for 4Q.
M&T Bank Corp (MTB) is expected to report $4.67 for 4Q.
Metropolitan Bank Holding Corp (MCB) is expected to report for 4Q.
Netflix Inc (NFLX) is expected to report $0.66 for 4Q.
Northern Trust Corp (NTRS) is expected to report $1.80 for 4Q.
OceanFirst Financial Corp (OCFC) is expected to report $0.62 for 4Q.
PPG Industries Inc (PPG) is expected to report $1.09 for 4Q.
Procter & Gamble Co (PG) is expected to report $1.59 for 2Q.
Richelieu Hardware (RCH.T) is expected to report for 4Q.
SVB Financial Group (SIVB) is expected to report $5.53 for 4Q.
Synovus Financial (SNV) is expected to report $1.27 for 4Q.
Truist Financial Corp (TFC) is expected to report for 4Q.
WNS (Holdings) Ltd - ADR (WNS) is expected to report $0.72 for 3Q.
Wayne Savings Bancshares Inc (WAYN) is expected to report for 4Q.
Westamerica Bancorp (WABC) is expected to report $1.18 for 4Q.
Powered by Onclusive and Dow Jones.
ANALYST RATINGS ACTIONS
*ResMed Upgraded to Buy from Neutral by Citi
Arthur J Gallagher & Co Cut to Market Perform From Outperform by Keefe, Bruyette & Woods
BlackLine Cut to Sell From Neutral by Citigroup
Chegg Cut to Hold From Buy by Needham
Exact Sciences Cut to Market Perform From Outperform by Raymond James
Extra Space Storage Cut to Peer Perform From Outperform by Wolfe Research
Exxon Mobil Cut to Sell From Neutral by Redburn Partners
Gap Inc Raised to Equal-Weight From Underweight by Morgan Stanley
GoDaddy Raised to Outperform From In-Line by Evercore ISI Group
Graphite Bio Cut to Neutral From Buy by B of A Securities
IBM Cut to Equal-Weight From Overweight by Morgan Stanley
Levi Strauss Cut to Neutral From Buy by B of A Securities
Magellan Midstream Raised to Overweight From Equal-Weight by Barclays
Mercantile Bank Cut to Market Perform From Outperform by Raymond James
Monarch Casino Cut to Neutral From Outperform by Macquarie
Morgan Stanley Cut to Neutral From Buy by Citigroup
Myriad Genetics Raised to Outperform From Market Perform by Raymond James
Natera Raised to Outperform From Market Perform by Raymond James
Paya Holdings Cut to Neutral From Buy by DA Davidson
PayPal Holdings Cut to Underperform From Neutral by SMBC Nikko
Pegasystems Raised to Buy From Neutral by Citigroup
PennyMac Fincl Services Cut to Market Perform From Market Outperform by JMP Securities
Signature Bank Cut to Equal-Weight From Overweight by Stephens & Co.
Skechers Cut to Equal-Weight From Overweight by Morgan Stanley
Snap Cut to Mixed From Positive by OTR Global
Stronghold Digital Mining Cut to Neutral From Buy by Compass Point
UGI Cut to Underweight From Equal-Weight by Barclays
Veracyte Cut to Market Perform From Outperform by Raymond James
Williams Cos Cut to Equal-Weight From Overweight by Barclays
Yeti Holdings Cut to Market Perform From Outperform by Cowen & Co.
This article is a text version of a Wall Street Journal newsletter published earlier today.
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
01-19-23 0621ET