Here is a look at Wednesday’s business headlines with Jeff Vaughn, where he discusses Nike launching its new blue suede shoes and gas prices falling. BlackRock to acquire two ports serving Panama Canal Global investment firm BlackRock has agreed to acquire two ports serving the Panama Canal from Hong Kong’s C.

The $23 billion deal, announced by Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison Holdings, transfers control of the Balboa and Cristobal ports to a consortium led by BlackRock, Global Infrastructu

The trade war is already sending merger troops to the front line. BlackRock shook hands on a deal to buy ports along the Panama Canal and beyond from CK Hutchison for $23 billion. It helps boss Larry Fink shore up his infrastructure strategy and provides the Hong Kong-based conglomerate a useful escape from political crosshairs.

The deal puts U.S. firms in control of two ports that President Trump raised as a security concern because of their connection to China.

Hutchison subsidiary PPC has for decades run ports on the Pacific and Atlantic ends of the interoceanic waterway.

Despite an influx of Chinese-operated ships onto Hong Kong’s registry, the number of oceangoing vessels flagged in the city fell more than 8 per cent to 2,366 in January from 2,580 four years earlier, according to independent analysis by VesselsValue. Government data show a similar drop.

The agreement will give a BlackRock consortium a majority stake in two terminal ports. Trump has said he wants the trade route under US control.

The deal comes after U.S. President Donald Trump repeatedly threatened to take control of the Panama Canal and end what he sees as China’s influence over the waterway critical to global trade.