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BREAKING:

HONDA TO SET UP $15B EV PRODUCTION BASE IN CANADA

Automaker to get up to $5B in government assistance for EV battery, assembly plants

GM, Walmart hiring plans, Morgan Stanley profit soars, British American Tobacco buys all of Reynolds American

Yahoo Finance

Now for a look at some of the stocks the Yahoo Finance team will be watching for you today.

The Trump effect

General Motors (GM) plans to invest $1 billion in several US factories that will create or keep about 1,500 jobs. The move has been planned for months, but news of it comes after Donald Trump criticized GM and other automakers for selling cars in the US that are made in Mexico. And we should note that GM plans to lay off more than 3,000 US workers starting this month.

Sticking with the theme of Trump and jobs, Walmart (WMT) said it will create 10,000 US jobs this year. The nation’s largest private employer says most of the additional positions will be in its stores, including 59 Walmart and Sam’s Club sites it plans to open, remodel or expand. This comes after Amazon (AMZN) announced plans last week to create 100,000 US jobs in the next 18 months.

Earnings

Morgan Stanley (MS) reported fourth-quarter earnings and revenue that blew past estimates. Profit doubled from a year ago to $1.51 billion, or $0.81 cents a share, as bond trading revenue surged after the election.

UnitedHealth (UNH) delivered a beat on both its top and bottom lines for the fourth quarter. Profit jumped 56% from a year ago thanks to strength in its pharmacy benefit management business and an increase in its memberships.

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M&A action

Reynolds American (RAI) were sharply higher in early trading. British American Tobacco (BTI) has sweetened its offer to buy the remaining 58% stake of the US cigarette maker it doesn’t already own in a deal valued at $49 billion. The deal will create the world’s largest publicly traded tobacco company and bring together brands like Pall Mall, Camel and Newport.

Clayton Williams Energy (CWEI) surged in early trading. Noble Energy (NBL) is buying its smaller rival for $2.7 billion dollars in cash and stock. That translates to about $34.75 a share. The deal will help boost Noble Energy’s presence in the Permian Basin.