Well, can’t say we didn’t see this coming. Fresh off of shedding two more financial-related business units (and a day removed from the MetLife SIFI decision) GE has requested that federal regulators withdraw its own SIFI label – NYTimes and Bloomberg and Law360

And after all of that . . . Marriott wins the Starwood prize.  Anbang formally withdrew its $14 billion offer in what the Times is calling a “puzzling turn of events” – NYTimes and WSJ and Bloomberg

The IPO market was its slowest in 7 years, leaving analysts to wonder whether it’ll eventually catch up to the rebounding markets or whether it’ll suck markets backward in the months to come – WSJ

Either way, SEC Chair Mary Jo White has advised Silicon Valley’s unicorns to start acting public even while they’re private in order to avoid the post-IPO pitfalls associated with their ballooning pre-IPO valuations – Law360

Ahead of today’s jobs report, here’s a look at some of the metro areas basking in the “sunny side” of the post-recession economic recovery – NYTimes

Even for an old pro like John Cryan, the troubles at Deutsche Bank have made the first 9 months on the job as CEO a big-time slog, as DB’s turnaround plan has been slow in getting off the ground – WSJ

Yet another strike for the troubled Theranos Inc.—this time involving its much-touted blood-testing devices, which often “failed to meet the company’s own accuracy requirements for a range of tests” – WSJ

The Upshot explores what being in the midst of the “gig economy” means for your average worker. In short, more burden & less security – NYTimes

In honor of the groundbreaking architect Zaha Hadid, who died yesterday at just 65, here are 7 of her “most striking designs” – NYTimes

Have a great weekend.