Ratings Agency Moody’s Corp. has agreed to pay roughly $864 million to resolve federal and state claims that it gave juiced ratings to risky MBS in the run-up to the financial crisis. Half of the total will end up in DOJ coffers, and the other half will be divided among 21 states and D.C. – NYTimes and Law360
UK PM Theresa May is set to deliver a major speech today laying out a Brexit path forward that includes a departure from Europe’s single market – Bloomberg and WSJ
Luxury eyewear powerhouse Luxottica Group (owner of Ray-Ban and Oakley) has announced a $49 billion deal to merge with France’s Essilor—a maker of lenses and the second-largest player in the eyewear market (just behind Luxottica) – NYTimes and WSJ
The oldest Boomers are kicking off mandatory withdrawals from 401(k)s, IRAs, and other tax-deferred accounts. Here’s why it matters to the rest of us – WSJ
The DOL’s latest FAQ for its forthcoming fiduciary rule change is aimed particularly at investors and workers – Dep’t of Labor
Bitcoin and high frequency trading. Shouldn’t really be a surprising pair, should it? – Bloomberg
Rolls-Royce, the British conglomerate known best for its cars but a major player in engines and power systems, apparently has some explaining to do. Because bribery and graft aren’t a good look – NYTimes and WSJ
And while we’re on the topic of bribery, it’s been a rough go of it at Samsung lately – WSJ and Bloomberg
A big smile, topography-induced gravity wave, and 250 mph winds: just a normal week, apparently, on Venus – NYTimes