London CNN Business  — 

2. Brexit deadlock: The United Kingdom continues to march towards Brexit without a viable exit plan.

The central bank just cut interest rates for the first time in more than a decade. But in failing to signal that more rate cuts are coming, Chair Jerome Powell has spooked investors, who had hoped the small cut would be just the start.

European markets dropped in early trading. Britain’s FTSE 100 dipped 0.7%, while Germany’s DAX shed 1.1%.

Stocks in Asia finished higher, helped along by the US rally during the previous session. Japan’s Nikkei rose 1%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng gained 0.1% after two days of protests disrupted flights at the city’s airport.

The Dow closed up 1.4% on Tuesday. The S&P 500 rose 1.5%, and the Nasdaq gained 2%.

3. Bayer damages: A federal jury has awarded $80 million to a California man after determining that the popular Monsanto weedkiller, Roundup, was a substantial factor in causing his cancer.

Germany said Wednesday that GDP for the three months ended June contracted 0.1% compared to the previous quarter, in line with analyst expectations. That’s down from 0.4% growth in the first three months of the year.

The world’s fourth largest economy, and Europe’s biggest, has been hit by what analysts describe as a “perfect storm” of negative factors, including the trade war, weak global auto sales and fears of a disorderly Brexit.

China, meanwhile, saw industrial production grow just 4.8% in July, its weakest rate in 17 years. Retail sales from July also came in worse than expected.

Want more markets? Watch CNN’s “Markets Now” digital live show Wednesday at 12:45 p.m. ET.

3. CBS (CBS)-Viacom (VIA) deal: CBS (CBS) and Viacom (VIA) are merging, putting two of the biggest brands in entertainment back under one corporate banner.

The deal will create a company with more than $28 billion in revenue. Its businesses include CBS’ broadcast network, the movie studio Paramount and cable networks like Showtime, MTV, Nickelodeon, BET and Comedy Central.

The two companies used to be one, but split in 2006. Shari Redstone, the president of CBS parent company National Amusements, has been trying for years orchestrate a reunion.

Shares of CBS are down 2% in premarket trading, while Viacom stock is off 0.4%.

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7. Coming this week:
Thursday — US final estimate Q4 GDP
Friday — Huawei earnings; Carmax (KMX) earnings