Stocks up slightly…US imposes sanctions on 19 Russians…Toys R Us to close US stores

NEW YORK (AP) — Stock indexes are slightly higher in morning trading on Wall Street. Technology and health care companies are bouncing back after two days of broad losses. Discount retailer Dollar General is climbing after a strong profit forecast for the year. Toymakers Hasbro and Mattel are down as Toys R Us moves toward shuttering its U.S. stores.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is imposing sanctions on 19 Russians for alleged interference in the 2016 U.S. election, including 13 indicted by special counsel Robert Mueller. The Treasury Department says the Russian military intelligence agency and the Russian military both interfered in the American election and were “directly responsible” for a cyberattack that hit businesses across Europe in June 2017.

NEW YORK (AP) — Toys R Us is headed toward shuttering its U.S. operations, jeopardizing the jobs of some 30,000 employees. CEO David Brandon told employees yesterday that the company plans to liquidate all of its 740 U.S. stores over the coming months, according to an audio recording of the meeting obtained by The Associated Press. The chain filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last fall, saddled with $5 billion in debt.

NEW YORK (AP) — A new survey is revealing fading optimism among home builders. The National Association of Home Builders says its builder sentiment index has declined for the third month in a row, something that hasn’t happened in more than two years. The group says its index for March was 70, and February’s was revised downward from 72 to 71. Still, any reading above 50 indicates more builders see sales conditions as good rather than poor.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump apparently freestyled with the facts when talking trade with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Trump described the discussion during a fundraising speech in St. Louis yesterday. According to audio obtained by The Washington Post, Trump insisted that the United States runs a trade deficit with Canada. However, the Office of the United States Trade Representative says the United States has a trade surplus with Canada.

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