Reuters/Wolfgang Rattay
German Chancellor Angela Merkel opens the world's largest computer games fair Gamescom in Cologne, Germany
Trump threatens to shut down the government over border wall funding. "The obstructionist Democrats would like us not to do it, but believe me, if we have to close down our government, we're building that wall," President Donald Trump said Wednesday at a rally in Arizona.
The eurozone economy is improving. A preliminary reading showed headline IHS Markit Eurozone PMI ticked up to 55.8 in August as the rate of expansion remained near its fastest pace in six years.
UK business confidence is falling ahead of Brexit. A survey of 601 businesses conducted by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation found 31% of employers expect the UK economy to worsen, compared to 28% expecting it to improve.
A typhoon shut down markets in Hong Kong. Hong Kong's stock exchange was closed on Wednesday as Typhoon Hato caused authorities to raise the storm warning to its highest level for the first time in five years.
Apple scales back its car ambitions. Apple has all but abandonded its plan to build a car in its own factories and is shifting focus to building self-driving systems for other vehicles, according to the New York Times' Daisuke Wakabayashi.
Herbalife has a plan that could squeeze Bill Ackman. The multi-level marketer has decided to execute a "modified Dutch auction" through which it will buy back $600 million worth of stock at $60 to $68 a share.
Salesforce beats on the top and bottom lines. The application software provider earned an adjusted $0.33 a share on revenue of $2.56 billion in the second quarter and guided both Q3 numbers ahead of Wall Street estimates.
Stock markets around the world are mixed. Japan's Nikkei (+0.26%) led the gains in Asia and France's CAC (-0.09%) slips in Europe. The S&P 500 is set to open down 0.24% near 2,447.
Earnings reports trickle out. American Eagle and Lowe's report ahead of the opening bell while HP releases its quarterly results after markets close.
US economic data flows. Markit US manufacturing and services PMIs will be released at 9:45 a.m. ET and new home sales will cross the wires at 10 a.m. ET. The US 10-year yield is up 1 basis point at 2.22%.