US: Trump called Boeing CE to inquire about 737 MAX production halt: Sources

President Donald Trump called Boeing CE Dennis Muilenburg this week to ask about the status of 737 MAX production, 2 people briefed on the matter confirmed. The call Sunday was brief and Muilenburg assured Trump that the planned production halt was temporary and that the company would not be laying off any workers. The production halt, set to begin in January, was announced by Boeing Monday after a board meeting. Separately, S&P Global Ratings Thursday downgraded Boeing's credit rating to "A-" from "A" and lowered the short-term rating to "A-2" from "A-1." The change "reflects the uncertainty over when the 737 MAX will return to service, the risk to the supply chain from the planned production halt, and possible long-term impact to Boeing's competitive position." <br/>