2016 saw some major deals go down in the software industry. In fact, last year saw $115 billion in acquisitions closed or pending, according to data from Bloomberg. One of the big buyers in 2016 was Salesforce.com. But could Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff be on the other side of the table as an acquisition target by Google? Would a deal even be possible? Would a deal even make sense?

Read The Capitalist’s Take Here

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TRUMP ADMINISTRATION RELAXES OBAMA’S U.S. SANCTIONS ON RUSSIA

The Trump administration appeared to loosen U.S. sanctions Thursday that the Obama administration had imposed against Russia in response to its cyber attacks in the 2016 presidential election. The Treasury Department published a license that authorizes certain transactions between U.S. companies and the FSB, Russia’s security service and for the importation, distribution or use of “certain information technology products in the Russian Federation.”

Read More at CBS News Here

Read More at The Hill Here

Read More at Patch Here

SNAPCHAT PARENT COMPANY SNAP OFFICIALLY FILES FOR WHAT’S EXPECTED TO BE LA’S BIGGEST-EVER IPO

Snapchat app maker Snap Inc. filed papers Thursday to move forward with what’s expected to be the biggest initial public offering ever for a Los Angeles company and one of the highest valued in U.S. history.

Read More at LA Times Here

Read More at Fortune Here

Read More at New York Times Here

Closing Bell

– Thursday, February 2nd

Markets Finish Flat Ahead of Jobs Report

Big Insider Trades

– The Boeing Company (BA) Vice Chairman Raymond Conner Sells $15m

– Abbott Laboratories (ABT) EVP Stephen Fussell Buys $500k