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KFC parent Yum Brands raises dividend by 20%

Yum Brands said late Friday its board of directors approved a 20% increase in the company’s dividend, to 36 cents a share from 30 cents a share. The dividend will be paid on March 9 to shareholders of record on Feb. 14. Yum, based in Louisville, Ky., has more than 44,000 KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell restaurants in more than 135 countries. Shares of Yum Brands were flat in late trading Friday after ending the regular session up 0.6%.

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Yen pares gains as BOJ says Kuroda made no change to inflation outlook

The Japanese yen pared some of its earlier gains in the second half of the U.S. session, as a spokesman for the Bank of Japan moderated comments made earlier by Gov. Haruhiko Kuroda at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The BOJ said Kuroda didn’t change his inflation forecast, according to reports. The governor earlier said inflation was finally getting close to the BOJ’s 2% target and that he could foresee a slight lift in inflation expectations. The dollar strengthened against the Japanese yen in response but held in negative territory, last buying ¥108.68, compared with ¥110.79 late Thursday in New York.

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Long Blockchain forms blockchain strategy committee 6 weeks after changing focus to blockchain

Long Blockchain Corp. said Friday it has formed a “Blockchain Strategy Committee” to help focus the company’s shift toward blockchain technology. This announcement comes six weeks after the company said it was changing its name from Long Island Iced Tea Corp., and its focus “towards the exploration of and investment in opportunities that leverage the benefits of blockchain technology.” The company said the new committee will be chaired by board member Shamyl Malik, who is currently the global head of trading at foreign exchange trading firm Voltaire Capital. Long Blockchain shares tumbled 8.2% in afternoon trade, putting them on track for a fifth-straight loss to a six-week closing low. It has lost 16.5% over the past 12 months, while the S&P 500 has gained 24.6%.

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U.S. oil prices climb more than 4% for the week

Oil prices climbed Friday, marking another settlement at the highest since December 2014 and tallying a gain of roughly 4.5% for the week. “The oil rally is on in full force right now as increased demand expectations, a weaker dollar, and a long string of weekly supply draws has trumped a recent spike in U.S. production,” said Tyler Richey, co-editor of the Sevens Report. March West Texas Intermediate oil rose 63 cents, or 1%, to settle at $66.14 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

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Mortgage Firms Change CEOs, Presidents

The latest executive appointments in the mortgage industry include presidents, chief executive officers and a chief operating officer. A top human resource job has been filled at a government-sponsored enterprise.

On Jan. 9, Embrace Home Loans reported that its president, Kurt Noyce, has been demoted to head of its financial institution services division. He has been with Embrace since 1991.

Taking over as president of the Middletown, Rhode Island firm officer is the owner of Embrace, Dennis Hardiman. He founded the 1,000-employee company in 1983 and also carries the title of CEO.

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Gold prices fall, but mark a sixth-weekly climb in seven

Gold prices fell sharply on Friday, even as the U.S. dollar weakened, as conflicting comments from the Trump administration on dollar policy fueled volatile trading for the yellow metal. Gold prices had settled Thursday at their highest since August 2016, as recent comments from Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, who said a “weaker dollar is good for trade,” pressured the greenback. The dollar then rebounded Thursday afternoon when President Donald Trump said he wants to see a strong dollar–prompting a drop in gold, which is traded in the dollar. On Friday, the dollar weakened again, but that failed to offer a boost to gold in the wake of the conflicting comments. February gold lost $10.80, or 0.8%, to settle at $1,352.10 an ounce. It still rose about 1.4% for the week.

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Baker Hughes reports a weekly rise in the U.S. oil-rig count

Baker Hughes on Friday reported that the number of active U.S. rigs drilling for oil climbed by 12 at 759 this week. The oil-rig count had fallen by 5 last week. The total active U.S. rig count, which includes oil and natural-gas rigs, also rose by 11 to 947, according to Baker Hughes. March West Texas Intermediate crude was up 66 cents, or 1%, from Thursday, to $66.17 a barrel, up a bit from $66.11 shortly before the rig data.

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UPDATE: Wynn Resorts shares slide 10% on report of sexual misconduct by owner Steve Wynn

Shares of Wynn Resorts Ltd. fell about 10% Friday, after The Wall Street Journal said owner, the billionaire casino mogul Steve Wynn, has a long history of sexual conduct and of pressuring his employees to perform sex acts. Wynn denied the allegations, telling the paper, “The idea that I ever assaulted any woman is preposterous.” He blamed the accusations on this ex-wife Elaine Wynn, who has filed a lawsuit seeking to revise the terms of their divorce settlement. The Journal said it spoke to about 150 employees, many of whom were worried that Wynn was so powerful that he could hurt their chances of being employed elsewhere. Shares have gained about 98% in the last 12 months, while the S&P 500 has gained 24%.

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Wynn Resorts shares slide 6% on report of sexual misconduct by owner Steve Wynn

Shares of Wynn Resorts Ltd. slid about 6% Friday, after The Wall Street Journal said owner, the billionaire casino mogul Steve Wynn, has a long history of sexual conduct and of pressuring his employees to perform sex acts. Wynn denied the allegations, telling the paper, “The idea that I ever assaulted any woman is preposterous.” He blamed the accusations on this ex-wife Elaine Wynn, who has filed a lawsuit seeking to revise the terms of their divorce settlement. The Journal said it spoke to about 150 employees, many of whom were worried that Wynn was so powerful that he could hurt their chances of being employed elsewhere. Shares have gained about 98% in the last 12 months, while the S&P 500 has gained 24%.

Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move. Visit MarketWatch.com for more information on this news.

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From:: Stock Market News