Health Insurers Slump on Medicare Rates Proposal

2.562 - 21.3 Luke Vargas

Here is your morning brief for Tuesday, January 27th. I'm Luke Vargas for The Wall Street Journal. Shares of some of America's biggest health insurers are skidding off hours following journal reporting that the Trump administration is proposing to hold payments for Medicare insurers roughly flat next year.

22.081 - 44.533 Unknown

Analysts had been expecting a rate increase of between 4 and 6 percent. Humana shares are currently off more than 12 percent, while UnitedHealth and CVS Health shares are down around 9%. We report that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is also proposing to eliminate a lucrative industry billing practice that had raised concerns with watchdogs.

45.644 - 65.522 Unknown

The European Union and India have finalized a free trade agreement linking almost two billion consumers. The EU says the deal will eliminate or cut tariffs for more than 90 percent of its goods, including cars, while Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi says the country's textiles, jewelry and leather industries would emerge as winners.

66.142 - 75.651 Unknown

The completion of the decades-long negotiations comes as India is facing 50 percent tariffs from the U.S., among the highest applied to any American trading partner.

75.631 - 83.841 Luke Vargas

And the chair of the Senate's antitrust panel has warned that Netflix's proposed $72 billion takeover of Warner Bros.

83.881 - 107.089 Unknown

Discovery could substantially lessen competition in the streaming market. A Warner spokesman said the company is complying with all relevant laws in its dealings with Netflix, while Netflix has declined to comment. The Justice Department is currently reviewing the merger for potential antitrust issues, and a Senate subcommittee hearing is set for February 3rd to discuss the deal.