The daily business briefing: August 30, 2019

1. Judge refuses to temporarily block Johnson's plan to suspend Parliament

A Scottish judge has declined to temporarily block Prime Minister Boris Johnson's plan to suspend Parliament until shortly before Britain's planned exit from the European Union next month. Lord Doherty said he was "not satisfied" there was a need to act before a fast-tracked full hearing on the matter, now scheduled for next Tuesday. The government also faces challenges in London and Belfast courts. A spokeswoman said Johnson's government was pleased with Doherty's decision, saying there was "no good reason" for an injunction with the full hearing coming so soon. Ian Murray, a member of Parliament from the opposition Labour Party, said it was "disappointing that we have to go to the courts to protect British democracy," but Johnson's attempt to limit Parliament's options in blocking a no-deal Brexit "cannot go unchallenged."

The Guardian

2. EPA proposes easing regulations on methane emissions

The Trump administration on Thursday proposed rolling back regulations on methane emissions in a move one expert called "extraordinarily harmful." The Environmental Protection Agency rule would eliminate requirements that technology be put in place to "inspect for and repair methane leaks from wells, pipelines, and storage facilities." Methane, a climate change contributor, would only be "indirectly" regulated under this proposal, which wouldn't be finalized until next year. "This is extraordinarily harmful,” said Rachel Kyte, the United Nations special representative on sustainable energy. An EPA official said there won't be "some big climate concern here." The Trump administration has rolled back several Obama-era environmental regulations.

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The New York Times The Hill

3. AT&T, Nexstar reach deal ending stations' blackout

AT&T and Nexstar announced Thursday that they had reached a multiyear deal bringing Nexstar's 120 stations back to the DirecTV, AT&T TV, and U-verse platforms after an eight-week blackout. The stations include ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox affiliates. They disappeared from the services on July 3 after the two companies failed to agree on a new deal. "Our customers want more choice and value and we are pleased to deliver that through this new agreement with Nexstar and its many local stations," said Rob Thun, AT&T Communications senior vice president of content and programming. The two companies did not disclose the financial terms of their agreement.

USA Today

4. Altria shares drop after report on FTC marketing investigation

Altria shares closed down by 3.5 percent on Thursday after The Wall Street Journal reported that the Federal Trade Commission is investigating whether Juul Labs used marketing techniques such as young social-media influencers and attractive flavors to target minors. Critics say Juul's products have contributed to the rise in teen vaping, which federal data says rose by 78 percent from 2017 to 2018. Altria bought a 35 percent stake in Juul late last year, valuing the start-up electronic cigarette company at roughly $38 billion. Juul has said its products are meant for adult smokers, not teens or non-smokers.

The Wall Street Journal Insider

5. Stock futures rise as focus remains on U.S.-China trade talks

U.S. stock index futures rose early Friday as investors remained focused on signs of progress toward resolving the U.S.-China trade war. Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the S&P 500, and the Nasdaq were up by about 0.5 percent after shaking off earlier losses. All three of the main U.S. indexes rose by about 1.3 percent or more on Thursday after President Trump said some trade talks had already occurred, with more planned in coming weeks. China's commerce ministry also fueled hopes for a resolution when it said it was willing to calmly work toward an agreement to end the dispute, which has included tit-for-tat tariffs threatening to drag down global economic growth.

CNBC