Nevada’s GOP caucus, Mars candy recall, surplus Zimbabwe lions
Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
The GOP presidential race heads to Nevada. Donald Trump leads with about 40% of the vote, according to polls; if those numbers hold, Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio will fight it out for second place. Turnout for the western state’s caucus will be crucial; only 8% of registered Republicans showed up last time.
Hong Kong announces its annual budget. Financial secretary John Tsang is expected to report a healthy fiscal surplus, though Hong Kong is suffering from weakened tourism and an economic slowdown in China. Tsang’s stimulus programs have been criticized (paywall) as ineffective.
Earnings du jour. Lowe’s is expected to report quarterly sales at the high end of expectations, thanks in part to a strengthening housing market. Analysts are bracing for disappointment from Target after a prolonged restructuring. HP, Chesapeake Energy, and Salesforce also report quarterly results.
While you were sleeping
Saudi Arabia vowed to let the oil flow. Influential oil minister Ali al-Naimi, speaking at an energy conference in Texas, said the country would not advocate for production cuts because there “is no sense in wasting our time.” The Saudis have agreed to freeze production at January levels, but Iran is resisting any pressure to reduce output.
Mars recalled millions of candy bars. After a consumer found a piece of red plastic in a Snickers bar in Germany, the chocolate maker is pulling a range of candy bars in 55 countries. The bars were manufactured in a Dutch factory and sold throughout Europe and Asia.
Viacom considered bids for Paramount. CEO Philippe Dauma said the company has received offers to buy a minority stake in its struggling Hollywood studio, sending shares up by as much as 7%. Analysts think Apple, Amazon, Alibaba, and Dalian Wanda Group might be interested.
Bill Gates changed course on the Apple-FBI standoff. After an FT interview appeared to show the Microsoft co-founder backing the US government, Gates said he was “blindsided” and “disappointed” by any suggestion that he was siding against Apple. “That doesn’t state my view on this,” he told Bloomberg TV, calling for a balance between privacy and security concerns.
The London Stock Exchange and Deutsche Börse are in merger talks. The combined company would be the largest of its kind in Europe, worth $28 billion. The deal, which has been discussed on-and-off for years, is likely to face regulatory hurdles if it goes through.
Quartz obsession interlude
Deena Shanker on how the link between meat and masculinity is making men sick. “The connection between manliness and meat-eating shows up everywhere in contemporary culture: in Carl’s Jr. commercials featuring a swimsuit-clad Paris Hilton, selling sex and burgers all in one go; in the pages of Men’s Health magazine; and in teasing depictions of Ron Swanson, that paragon of mustachioed masculinity, downing endless amounts of ribs, steak, bacon, and something called a meat tornado.” Read more here.
Quartz markets haiku
Pity the bankers
Matters of debate
Your cat is probably not making you crazy. Infamous feline parasites don’t actually affect humans’ mental health.
Streaming video is a step backwards for diversity. It is lagging behind TV when it comes to racial and gender parity.
Negative interest rates are not hurting the global economy. The blame lies with low government spending.
Surprising discoveries
A woman’s plastic surgery turned her into a kleptomaniac. A lack of oxygen impaired the part of her brain that regulates impulses.
The placebo effect is getting stronger—but only in the US. Americans are increasingly likely to get real relief from fake painkillers.
Ditching your smartphone is the next big digital trend. Overloaded consumers are reviving the market for “dumb phones.”
Zimbabwe’s national parks have a surplus of lions. Hunting is way down after the death of Cecil.
A bust of Nefertiti has been covertly uploaded to the internet. The disputed Egyptian statue has been in Germany since 1912.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, ancient statues, and feline insanity to [email protected]. You can follow us on Twitter for updates throughout the day.