In other news, Boeing posted its first annual loss since 1997 today after dropping $19 billion on the disastrous 737 Max program.
Meanwhile, the European Union (EU) has given final approval to Britain's decision to formally begin the "Brexit." The legislation will take effect on Friday, January 31st.
Finally, the number of people infected by the so-called Wuhan Coronavirus has increased to over 6,000.
The death toll has risen to 132 in China, with 6,078 confirmed cases of infection as of Wednesday evening local time — a day-over-day increase of more than 1,000. Other countries in the region also are reporting more people infected — nearly all of them tourists from China.
At least 96 cases have been recorded outside of mainland China, and three other countries have reported person-to-person transmission of the virus.