Reuters Before the Bell: March 1, 2017

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Oil drops for second day; market awaits U.S. stocks data SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Crude oil lost more ground on Wednesday with rising U.S. oil output adding pressure on the market, although OPEC production cuts continued to offer support.

Fashion house BCBG Max Azria files for bankruptcy (Reuters) - Fashion house BCBG Max Azria Group LLC filed for bankruptcy protection on Wednesday, the latest casualty in the struggling U.S. retail sector, as shoppers abandon malls in favor of internet shopping.

Asian factories pick up steam in shadow of Trump protectionist threat HONG KONG (Reuters) - Asian factories extended a global manufacturing revival as activity picked up steam in February, though the outlook for many of the region's export-reliant economies remained uncertain in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump's protectionist stance.

Snap to price long-awaited IPO on Wednesday amid signs of brisk demand (Reuters) - Snap Inc, owner of popular messaging app Snapchat, will price its initial public offering after the U.S. stock market closes on Wednesday in the most eagerly awaited technology IPO since Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba went public in 2014.

China February factory growth beats expectations as global demand improves BEIJING (Reuters) - China's factory activity expanded faster than expected in February as domestic and export demand picked up, adding to signs that the global economy is regaining momentum even as fears grow of a surge in trade protectionism.

S&P 500 futures ahead; Trump promises tax relief, infrastructure boost (Reuters) - U.S. stock futures were ahead late on Tuesday, indicating a higher open on Wednesday, after President Donald Trump's first address to Congress, which gave few specifics but confirmed his commitment to lowering tax and boosting infrastructure.

Japan will tell United States to respect WTO rules: PM Abe adviser TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan will tell the United States in their economic talks that any border tax the U.S. government imposes on imports should not break World Trade Organization rules, an adviser to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Wednesday.

Fed officials jolt market with talk of pending rate hike SANTA CRUZ, Calif./NEW YORK (Reuters) - A handful of Federal Reserve policymakers on Tuesday jolted markets into higher expectations for a March U.S. interest rate increase, with comments that suggested rate-setters are worried about waiting too long in the face of pending economic stimulus from Washington.

Stocks struggle as Trump offers few policy details, dollar firms on rate talk SINGAPORE (Reuters) - U.S. stock futures pared gains on Wednesday on disappointment that President Donald Trump did not offer further details on his plans for infrastructure spending and tax reforms, but the dollar firmed on growing expectations of a rate hike this month.

Exclusive: Mexico may force Slim's America Movil to separate fixed unit - sources MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico's telecoms regulator has discussed forcing billionaire Carlos Slim to legally separate part of his fixed-line unit Telmex from the rest of the company, people familiar with the matter said, a m