Morning Money Memo:

A federal appeals court has overturned two insider trading convictions in a controversial ruling that could potentially hamper the government's ability to prosecute financial crimes. The Second Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that trading based on insider information is not always illegal, and the government had not presented sufficient evidence to prosecute the two individuals. The decision provides a narrower definition for defendants to be found guilty of insider trading, ultimately tied to knowledge of the legality to which the information was disclosed. Prosecutors could push for the case to be reviewed, according to the Wall Street Journal.

U.S. markets are looking up this morning, following triple-digit losses in Wednesday's trading day and despite negative data from worldwide markets. Dow futures are positive and pointing to a stronger open on Wall Street, while indices in Europe and Asia trend lower for the day. Meanwhile, oil prices are falling to new five-year lows, with WTI Crude approaching $60 per barrel this morning. Oil prices have dipped 43 percent on the year, with widespread benefits extending to homeowners, consumers and travelers. Airlines are expected to begin cutting ticket prices to pass fuel spending on to customers, while drivers are seeing decreasing prices at the pump nationwide. Forty-seven of the 50 states now have average gas prices under $3 per gallon, with 13 states dipping below $2.50.

McDonald's is looking to get lean. While the fast-food giant is not cutting calories per se, it is tightening its menu and removing certain items, with the goal of speeding up service and simplifying available options to customers. Among the cuts are fewer options for value meals and McDonald's classic Quarter Pounder. The "cleaner" menu board is being tested at select McDonald's locations, although the company has not specified which menu items will be eliminated.

It's being called the Keurig, for beer! Seattle-based product developer PicoBrew raised upward of $600,000 for its automated home-brew kit, Zymatic, and is expected to begin shipping units to contributors at $1,700 a clip. The machine processes individualized recipes, brewing them for four hours before settling for a week of fermentation. The company is on back-order for its standard model and plus models (which offers a keg extension), and will beginning filling orders in March.