Mid-day Update

Amid news that GM is selling its European car brands, Automobile Magazine's Jamie Kitman breaks down what the move could mean for the company's future. Next, we'll look at why cities might not include potential federal cuts in their budget proposals and then discuss the increased preoccupation with politics at the office.

Bitcoin closed above the price of gold for the first time. It's seen wild swings in price during it short lifetime, but it's been up as of late. Steve Hanke, an economics professor at Johns Hopkins, breaks down the reasons. Afterwards, we'll explore Trump's decision to pursue one-on-one talks instead of multilateral trade negotiations. And finally, we'll look at the effect of March Madness on workplace productivity.

Snapchat is going to start trading its stock publicly today at $17 a share, placing its value at $24 billion. But despite that impressive amount, what does the future hold for the company? Its user growth is slowing and net losses are widening. Next up, we'll look at an end to water discounts in Flint, Michigan, and then explore Graceland's expansion plans.

What's going on with Janet Yellen and co.? Joining us to talk about the Fed is Susan Schmidt from Westwood Holdings Group, who says the odds of an interest rate hike have increased drastically. Afterwards, we'll discuss President Trump's future plans for health care and tax reform based on his address to Congress last night.

We'll look at the strong 2016 for Norway's biggest sovereign wealth fund, which is now worth about $900 billion. Afterwards, Washington Post reporter Drew Harwell joins us to discuss news that hundreds of former employers at Sterling Jewelers are alleging widespread sexual harassment and discrimination. Finally, we'll explore the latest data about India's economic growth: a new report shows that about 140 million people have been lifted from poverty in the country over the past decade.

Relations may not be warm between the Trump administration and the World Trade Organization. Financial Times editor Shawn Donnan joins us to discuss news that the U.S. may start bypassing the WTO if it thinks other countries are cheating on trade. Next, we'll look at a simple blood test that could help identify coronary heart disease, and then explore the possibility of a gas tax in Tennessee.

Stocks are a bit down today, following a rise since the election. Christopher Low, chief economist at FTN Financial, discusses whether investors are being more realistic. We'll also look at JC Penney's efforts to fight against the slump department stores are experiencing, and explore Indiana's plan to use drones in search and rescue efforts.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin may be taking on an unusual business plan: ultra-long bonds. Diane Swonk from DS Economics explains the rationale behind the proposal. Afterwards, we'll look at how educators are trying to fight against the stigma of vocational training and find a new generation of skilled workers.

We're exploring the financial turmoil that ABB, a Swiss engineering group, is currently facing. The company may lose $100 million because of a criminal scheme at a South Korean subsidiary. Next, we'll talk about a turnaround for U.S. coal mining companies and then take a closer look at one small California community where arsenic is contaminating its groundwater.

Uber has hired a former U.S. attorney general to investigate allegations of sexual harassment within the company. We'll look at how other companies have handled similar cases. Next, we'll compare the market values of the top U.S. banks with their European rivals, and then look at Seattle's efforts to reform campaign finance.