Benzinga (Page 15)

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized President Donald Trump, arguing the president’s positions on airport security funding, Iran policy and voting legislation are creating overlapping political risks.

Schumer Warns Of ‘Triple Knot’ Crisis

On Monday, Schumer posted on X that Trump is “tying himself in a triple knot,” pointing to three issues he says could create widespread disruption and controversy.

“Donald Trump is tying himself in a triple knot,” Schumer wrote.

He added, “1. Refusing to fund TSA and causing chaos at our airports 2. Starting a reckless war of choice in Iran 3. Pushing a voter suppression bill to disenfranchise over 20 million American citizens.”

He continued, “And each day he ties the knot tighter.”

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Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) has issued a recall for over 254,000 SUVs as the company’s recall woes continue to raise questions about the company’s quality control practices.

Ford Issues Fresh Recall

Ford recalled the 2022-2025 Lincoln Navigator and the 2025 Aviator. Ford also recalled the 2024-2025 Nautilus. Other than the Lincolns, Ford also recalled the 2025 Explorer SUV.

The issue affects over 254,640 units and stems from a defect with the Image Processing Module A (IPMA), which may unexpectedly reset and result in a loss of the rearview camera image.

The issue also affects ADAS features like “pre-collision assist, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring,” the NHTSA acknowledgment said. Ford dealers will update the IPMA free of charge, or the issue will be fixed via an Over-The-Air (OTA) software update.

Ford’s Lone …

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The most oversold stocks in the industrials sector presents an opportunity to buy into undervalued companies.

The RSI is a momentum indicator, which compares a stock’s strength on days when prices go up to its strength on days when prices go down. When compared to a stock’s price action, it can give traders a better sense of how a stock may perform in the short term. An asset is typically considered oversold when the RSI is below 30, according to Benzinga Pro.

Here’s the latest list of major oversold players in this sector, having an RSI near or below 30.

Hurco Companies Inc (NASDAQ:HURC)

• On March 6, Hurco Cos posted a first-quarter loss of 54 cents per share, versus a year-ago loss of 67 cents per share. Greg Volovic, Chief Executive Officer, stated, “Our orders have picked up considerably in the U.S. despite the increase in tariffs, overall gross profit (as a percentage of sales) has improved reflecting cost reductions and containment, and continued working capital efficiency reflects our steadfast focus on a strong balance sheet. We have made meaningful progress to …

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Worthington Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE:WOR) will release earnings for its third quarter after the closing bell on Tuesday, March 24.

Analysts expect the company to report quarterly earnings of 96 cents per share, up from 91 cents per share in the year-ago period. The consensus estimate for Worthington’s quarterly revenue is $349.41 million (it reported $304.52 million last year), according to Benzinga Pro.

On Dec. 16, Worthington reported mixed second-quarter financial results and announced it will acquire LSI Group.

KB Home shares gained 4% to close at $53.19 on Monday.

Benzinga readers can access the latest analyst ratings on the Analyst Stock Ratings page. Readers can sort by stock ticker, company name, analyst firm, …

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In today’s fast-paced and competitive business landscape, it is essential for investors and industry enthusiasts to thoroughly analyze companies before making investment decisions. In this article, we will conduct a comprehensive industry comparison, evaluating Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) against its key competitors in the Interactive Media & Services industry. By examining key financial metrics, market position, and growth prospects, we aim to provide valuable insights for investors and shed light on company’s performance within the industry.

Meta Platforms Background

Meta is the largest social media company in the world, boasting close to 4 billion monthly active users worldwide. The firm’s “Family of Apps,” its core business, consists of Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp. End users can leverage these applications for a variety of different purposes, from keeping in touch with friends to following celebrities and running digital businesses for free. Meta packages customer data, gleaned from its application ecosystem and sells ads to digital advertisers. While the firm has been investing heavily in its Reality Labs business, it remains a very small part of Meta’s overall sales.

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In today’s rapidly changing and fiercely competitive business landscape, it is essential for investors and industry enthusiasts to thoroughly analyze companies. In this article, we will conduct a comprehensive industry comparison, evaluating Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) against its key competitors in the Software industry. By examining key financial metrics, market position, and growth prospects, we aim to provide valuable insights for investors and shed light on company’s performance within the industry.

Microsoft Background

Microsoft develops and licenses consumer and enterprise software. It is known for its Windows operating systems and Office productivity suite. The company is organized into three equally sized broad segments: productivity and business processes (legacy Microsoft Office, cloud-based Office 365, Exchange, SharePoint, Skype, LinkedIn, Dynamics), intelligence cloud (infrastructure- and platform-as-a-service offerings Azure, Windows Server OS, SQL Server), and more personal computing (Windows Client, Xbox, Bing search, display advertising, and Surface laptops, tablets, and desktops).

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In the fast-paced and cutthroat world of business, conducting thorough company analysis is essential for investors and industry experts. In this article, we will undertake a comprehensive industry comparison, evaluating Micron Technology (NASDAQ:MU) in comparison to its major competitors within the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry. By analyzing crucial financial metrics, market position, and growth potential, our objective is to provide valuable insights for investors and offer a deeper understanding of company’s performance in the industry.

Micron Technology Background

Micron is one of the largest semiconductor companies in the world, specializing in memory and storage chips. Its primary revenue stream comes from dynamic random access memory, or DRAM, and it also has minority exposure to not-and or NAND, flash chips. Micron serves a global customer base, selling chips into data centers, mobile phones, consumer electronics, and industrial and automotive applications. The firm is vertically integrated.

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In today’s fast-paced and highly competitive business world, it is crucial for investors and industry followers to conduct comprehensive company evaluations. In this article, we will delve into an extensive industry comparison, evaluating Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) in relation to its major competitors in the Automobiles industry. By closely examining key financial metrics, market standing, and growth prospects, our objective is to provide valuable insights and highlight company’s performance in the industry.

Tesla Background

Tesla is a vertically integrated battery electric vehicle automaker and developer of real world artificial intelligence software, which includes autonomous driving and humanoid robots. The company has multiple vehicles in its fleet, which include luxury and midsize sedans, crossover SUVs, a light truck, and a semi truck. Tesla also plans to begin selling a sports car and offer a robotaxi service. Global deliveries in 2025 were nearly 1.64 million vehicles. The company sells batteries for stationary storage for residential and commercial properties including utilities and solar panels and solar roofs for energy generation. Tesla also owns a fast-charging network and an auto insurance business.

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In the fast-paced and cutthroat world of business, conducting thorough company analysis is essential for investors and industry experts. In this article, we will undertake a comprehensive industry comparison, evaluating NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) in comparison to its major competitors within the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry. By analyzing crucial financial metrics, market position, and growth potential, our objective is to provide valuable insights for investors and offer a deeper understanding of company’s performance in the industry.

NVIDIA Background

Nvidia is a leading developer of graphics processing units. Traditionally, GPUs were used to enhance the experience on computing platforms, most notably in gaming applications on PCs. GPU use cases have since emerged as important semiconductors used in artificial intelligence to run large language models. Nvidia not only offers AI GPUs, but also a software platform, Cuda, used for AI model development and training. Nvidia is also expanding its data center networking solutions, helping to tie GPUs together to handle complex workloads.

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BlackRock Inc. (NYSE:BLK) CEO and Chair Larry Fink said Social Security remains “one of the most effective poverty-prevention programs in history” but fails to help Americans build long-term wealth.

“The issue is: Social Security provides stability, but it doesn’t allow most Americans to build wealth in a way that grows with their country,” Fink wrote in his annual chairman’s letter released Monday.

Push For Investment Shift

In his annual letter, Fink argued that the problem lies in the system’s structure. Social Security operates on a pay-as-you-go model, with surplus funds invested in U.S. Treasury bonds that generated about 2.6% returns in 2025.

By comparison, the benchmark S&P 500 index gained roughly 16% over the same period.

He suggested allocating a portion of funds to diversified, long-term investments similar …

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NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) CEO Jensen Huang said he believes Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) has already been achieved on an episode of the Lex Fridman podcast, released on Monday

Fridman proposed defining AGI as an AI capable of building and running a billion-dollar tech company, asking whether that milestone could arrive within 5–20 years. Huang was direct: “I think it’s now. I think we’ve achieved AGI.”

Huang’s threshold doesn’t require permanence. In his view, an AI that builds a viral app, earns a billion dollars, and subsequently shuts down still qualifies — drawing a comparison to dot-com era companies that were short-lived but undeniably real.

“I couldn’t have predicted any of those companies at the time either,” he said, when asked what that breakthrough might look like.

President Donald Trump on Monday shifted gears and announced a 5-day pause on all U.S. strikes against Iranian energy infrastructure, soon after saying the U.S. will not back down from the Iran war.

Trump had issued the warning amid threats from the Islamic Republic that it would target the energy and water systems of Gulf neighbors. Trump had issued an ultimatum to hit Iran’s electricity grid unless Tehran fully reopened the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours.

Trump Holds Talks With Iran

Trump, in a post on Truth Social on Monday, said that the U.S. and Iran had held “very good and productive conversations,” toward “a complete and total resolution” of hostilities in the Middle East.

Iran Dismisses Trump’s Truce Talks

Iran’s foreign ministry, however, denied …

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Crunchyroll, the popular subscription-based anime streaming service owned by Sony Group Corp. (NYSE:SONY), is investigating a reported cyberattack that may have exposed the personal data of millions of users.

Hackers Claim Access Through Third-Party Support Worker

The platform told BleepingComputer that it is aware of the claims and is actively collaborating with top cybersecurity experts to investigate the situation.

The statement followed claims by a threat actor who contacted BleepingComputer last Thursday, asserting they breached Crunchyroll on March 12 at 9 p.m. ET by accessing the Okta SSO account of a support agent.

Threat actors targeted a support agent employed by Telus International, a company that manages Crunchyroll customer support tickets.

Hackers allegedly infected …

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Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA) has announced its next-generation XuanTie C950 5-nanometer processor, marking a significant stride towards agentic AI.

On Tuesday, Alibaba revealed the 3.2 GHz server chip at an internal conference. The chip, constructed using open-source RISC-V chip architecture, was hailed as “the highest performing RISC-V CPU in the world” at the conference hosted by DAMO Academy, Alibaba’s research arm, Reuters reported.

The XuanTie C950 delivers over three times the performance of its predecessor, the XuanTie C920. However, Alibaba has not revealed which foundry manufactured the chip. Built on the open-standard RISC-V architecture, it enables designers to tailor instruction sets and optimize performance for specific AI workloads—an advantage that is key to advancing AI agents.

Alibaba is ramping up its in-house chip efforts through T-Head, focusing on the Zhenwu 810E series for AI training and inference. Its XuanTie chips target high-performance cloud computing and agentic AI, alongside the launch of Wukong, an enterprise platform designed …

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Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent dismissed raising taxes to fund the U.S. military campaign in Iran as “not at all” under consideration, calling the idea “ridiculous,” in an exclusive interview on NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday.

“Why would we do that?” Bessent said. “We have a trillion dollars in this year’s budget for the military.”

War Costs Surge As Administration Confident

The remarks came as the war’s costs have climbed. National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett, appearing on CBS’s Face the Nation, confirmed the operation has already cost $12 billion, up from $11.3 billion presented to lawmakers covering just the first six days of fighting, including $5.6 billion in munitions in the first two days alone.

Hassett said the administration has what it needs for now and is …

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President Donald Trump has suggested a potential joint control of the strategically crucial Strait of Hormuz.

Trump, while addressing the press in Florida on Monday, indicated that the strait could reopen soon if talks with Iran are fruitful. However, he remained ambiguous about the potential partners in control, hinting it could be “maybe me and the Ayatollah.”

“Whoever the Ayatollah is,” added Trump.

Trump also mentioned that recent strikes in the conflict had targeted much of Iran’s senior leadership, hinting at a possible regime change. “Very serious form of regime change,” he stated, adding that the weekend discussions showed promise for easing tensions.

Speaking about the negotiators, Trump said, “We’re dealing with some …

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DoorDash Inc. (NASDAQ:DASH) CEO Tony Xu has shared that the platform will help drivers with cashbacks and weekly payments to help offset rising fuel costs.

Emergency Relief Program

DoorDash, in a post on X on Monday, touted the platform’s emergency relief program, which would offer a 10% cashback at any time with a DoorDash Crimson Visa Debit Card. “Dashers can fill up at any U.S. gas station whether they are on a dash or not,” the official statement from the food delivery platform said.

The platform will also offer weekly relief payments to drivers 125 miles or more while actively on deliveries. The weekly payments range from $5 and go up to a maximum of $15 based on miles driven.

Tony Xu Touts New Program

“We’ve heard loud and clear from Dashers that rising gas prices are hitting their wallets,” the DoorDash co-founder said in the post. He also said that the cashback …

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The CNN Money Fear and Greed index showed almost no change in the overall fear level, while the index remained in the “Extreme Fear” zone on Monday.

U.S. stocks settled higher on Monday, with the Dow Jones index gaining more than 600 points during the session after Trump announced a five-day pause in military strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure—a move that sent crude oil prices falling sharply and triggered a rapid unwinding of the war premium embedded across asset classes.

Dell Technologies (NYSE:DELL) shares gained over 4% on Monday after the company announced new enhancements to help strengthen device trust, improve cyber resilience and detect threats in AI data platforms.

On the economic data front, the Chicago Fed National Activity Index declined to …

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Nassim Nicholas Taleb, the renowned author of The Black Swan, has issued a critique of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, arguing that the administration’s economic projections regarding the escalating conflict with Iran are mathematically illiterate and dangerously optimistic.

The ‘Fat Tail’ Delusion

Taleb’s remarks followed an interview where Secretary Bessent attempted to downplay the long-term economic fallout of U.S. military strikes against Iranian power plants and the potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

When pressed on surging energy costs, Bessent, in a conversation with CNBC, suggested the hardship would be fleeting. “I don’t know whether it’s 30 days… 50 days… or 100 days,” Bessent stated, “but to have 50 years of peace in the Middle East and know that the Iranian regime is defanged” is worth the “temporary elevated prices.”

Taleb immediately dismissed this timeline as a failure to understand “Fat Tails”—a statistical concept where extreme, high-impact events are far more likely than standard models predict.

By treating a global war as a temporary fluctuation, Taleb argues Bessent is ignoring the “risk of ruin” that could turn a 50-day estimate into a decade of systemic chaos.

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Investor and “Shark Tank” personality Kevin O’Leary criticized government-subsidized Intel Corp. (NASDAQ:INTC) chips used in robots, calling a recent malfunction a warning about the risks of poorly supported technology.

Robot Malfunction Sparks Criticism

On Sunday, O’Leary posted on X, referencing a viral video showing a robot malfunction near a tray of fries.

“This is not funny, and I’ll tell you why,” he wrote.

He added, “This is what happens when you use government-subsidized Intel chips. You don’t wanna put them inside a robot. We should have never funded that company. It should have died.”

O’Leary went on to suggest safety measures for robots, saying, “Maybe the idea of a kill switch is not a bad idea. Like, just pull one of its eyes out, it stops right there. That’s the way it should be.”

He also highlighted the specific flaw in the chips, noting, …

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With U.S. stock futures trading lower this morning on Tuesday, some of the stocks that may grab investor focus today are as follows:

• Wall Street expects Core & Main Inc. (NYSE:CNM) to report quarterly earnings at 42 cents per share on revenue of $1.60 billion for the quarter before the opening bell, according to data from Benzinga Pro. Core & Main shares rose 0.2% to $48.50 in after-hours trading.
• Slide Insurance Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:SLDE) disclosed a new $125 million share buyback program. Slide Insurance shares …

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The S&P 500 posted its best session since early February on Monday, rising 1.15% to close at 6,581, after President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that the U.S. and Iran had held “very good and productive conversations” toward a resolution of hostilities and announced a five-day pause on military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure.

The Polygon-based (CRYPTO: POL) Polymarket crowd is firmly bearish heading into Tuesday’s open. The “S&P 500 Opens Up or Down on March 24?” market is at 73% “Down” and 27% “Up,” with $41,024 in traded volume.

Why That …

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Economist Mohamed El-Erian has highlighted a critical pressure point in the private credit market following Apollo Global Management‘s (NYSE:APO) decision to restrict investor withdrawals from its $25 billion debt fund.

A ‘Notable’ Shift In Private Credit

“This is notable news… given Apollo’s standing in private credit,” El-Erian posted on X, reacting to reports that Apollo Debt Solutions capped withdrawals at 5% of outstanding shares Monday after redemption requests surged to 11.2%.

The gating exposes a growing structural mismatch: funds offering periodic liquidity to retail investors while holding highly illiquid direct loans.

When redemption demands spike during periods of market stress, asset managers are increasingly forced to implement withdrawal limits to prevent catastrophic fire sales.

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Unusual bursts of trading in U.S. stock and oil futures early Monday have drawn scrutiny after occurring shortly before President Donald Trump announced a pause in potential military action against Iran.

Futures Spike Ahead Of Donald Trump’s Iran Post

At approximately 6:50 a.m. ET, S&P 500 e-mini futures saw a sharp spike in volume on the CME Group, standing out in otherwise quiet premarket conditions, CNBC reported.

Around the same time, West Texas Intermediate crude futures also recorded a noticeable jump in activity.

Roughly 15 minutes later, Trump posted on Truth Social that the U.S. had engaged in talks with Iran and would halt planned strikes on energy infrastructure — a move that sent stocks sharply higher and oil prices tumbling.

Stocks Jump, Oil Drops As Trade Timing Raises Questions

Following the announcement, S&P 500 futures surged more than …

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Major U.S. indexes closed higher Monday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average rising 1.38% to 46,208.47, the S&P 500 gaining 1.15% to 6,581, and the Nasdaq advancing 1.38% to 21,946.76.

These are the top stocks that gained the attention of retail traders and investors through the day:

Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:PLTR)

Palantir’s stock closed up 6.78% at $160.90, reaching an intraday high of $161.08 and a low of $153.24. The stock is trading closer to its 52-week high of $207.52 than its low of $66.12. 

Palantir shares rose on Monday, supported by easing geopolitical tensions after Donald Trump signaled a pause in military action, alongside news that the Pentagon will formally adopt Palantir’s Maven AI system, securing long-term funding.

The stock also showed improving technical momentum, with shares up over 63% in the past year, as investors position ahead of the upcoming May earnings report.

Urban-gro Inc. (NASDAQ:UGRO)

Urban-gro’s stock surged 182.11% to close at $6.15, with an intraday high of $7.23 and a low of $3.06. The stock’s 52-week high is $19.76, and its low is $2.02. …

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Smithfield Foods, Inc. (NASDAQ:SFD) will release earnings for its fourth quarter before the opening bell on Tuesday, March 24.

Analysts expect quarterly earnings of 68 cents per share. That’s up from 52 cents per share in the year-ago period. The consensus estimate for Smithfield Foods’ quarterly revenue is $4.15 billion; it reported $3.95 billion last year, according to Benzinga Pro.

On Feb. 16, Smithfield Foods initiated approval process for up to $1.3 billion state-of-the-art packaged meats and fresh pork processing facility in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Smithfield Foods shares gained 1.6% to close at $23.48 on Monday.

Benzinga readers can access the latest analyst ratings on the Analyst Stock Ratings page. Readers can sort by stock ticker, company name, analyst firm, rating change or other variables.

Let’s have a look at how Benzinga’s most-accurate analysts …

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Robert Kiyosaki is doubling down on one of his most extreme warnings yet, arguing that a larger financial crisis may be approaching and that even small investors should begin shifting toward hard assets.

In a recent post on X, the “Rich Dad Poor Dad” author said the conditions that led to the 2008 financial crisis were never fully resolved, warning that rising global debt and risk in private credit markets could trigger a sharper downturn this time.

“I hope I am wrong,” Kiyosaki wrote. “Yet I am afraid that crash is now arriving.”

He pointed specifically to what he described as growing fragility in the financial system, suggesting that if major credit markets unwind, the impact could be “fast and destructive,” with retirement accounts among the most exposed.

But it was not just the macro warning that stood out.

Kiyosaki paired that outlook with a directive aimed at everyday investors. “If you do not have a spare $10, stop eating for one day” and use it to buy silver.

The comment reflects a core theme that has defined his investing philosophy for years. In his view, the biggest risk is staying entirely exposed to financial assets tied to the broader system.

Rather than relying on traditional portfolios, Kiyosaki continues to advocate for direct ownership of assets like gold and silver, arguing that they carry less counterparty risk during periods of financial stress.

That perspective is gaining traction in a …

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Vanguard is entering the space with a planned launch of its US High-Yield Corporate Bond Index ETF (VCHY), according to a recent SEC filing. Expected to debut in June, the fund will track Bloomberg’s US High Yield $250MM 2% Issuer Capped Index, marking a notable expansion of the firm’s fixed-income lineup. The move comes long after industry heavyweights like BlackRock and State Street Global Advisors launched their flagship high-yield ETFs in 2007.

Analysts expect VCHY to undercut peers on fees, consistent with Vanguard’s playbook. The iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (NYSE:HYG) and SPDR Bloomberg High …

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Private equity firms Bain Capital and Apollo Global Management are among several firms holding discussions about the potential purchase of Continental AG‘s industrial unit, ContiTech.

Industrial components manufacturer ContiTech is valued at $4.1 billion, Bloomberg reported. Deutsche Bank AG and Perella Weinberg Partners are running the sale process.

The process is understood to be ongoing and plans are subject to change.

Meanwhile, other private equity firms such as Advent, CVC Capital Partners have joined together to make an offer for the business. Platinum Equity, KPS Capital Partners and Clearlake Capital are also holding discussions in the bidding process.

In January, the company appointed Christian Kotz CEO and chairman of the board.

Nikolai Setzer stepped down from his role after more than 16 years as a board …

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Fennec Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:FENC) will release earnings results for its fourth quarter, before the opening bell on Tuesday, March 24.

Analysts expect the Research Triangle Park, North Carolina-based company to report quarterly earnings at 4 cents per share, versus a year-ago loss of 6 cents per share. The consensus estimate for Core & Main’s quarterly revenue is $14.73 million, versus $7.92 million a year earlier, according to data from Benzinga Pro.

On March 16, Fennec Pharmaceuticals announced a settlement agreement resolving PEDMARK patent litigation.

Fennec Pharmaceuticals shares gained 1.8% to close at $7.45 on Monday.

Benzinga readers can access the latest analyst ratings on the Analyst Stock Ratings page. Readers can sort by stock ticker, company …

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NEW YORK, March 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Lazard Global Total Return and Income Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”) (NYSE:LGI) is confirming today, pursuant to its Managed Distribution Policy, as previously authorized by its Board of Directors, a monthly distribution of $0.15340 per share on the Fund’s outstanding common stock. The distribution is payable on April 22, 2026, to shareholders of record on April 10, 2026. The ex-dividend date is April 10, 2026.

The Fund will pay a previously declared distribution today, March 23, 2026. The following table sets forth the estimated amounts of the current distribution and the cumulative distributions paid, including today’s distribution, from the following sources: net investment income, net realized capital gains (short-term and long-term), and return of capital. All amounts are expressed per share of common stock and are based on accounting principles generally accepted in the US, which may differ from federal income tax regulations.

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Gold (NYSE:GLD) fell as low as $4,100 on Monday before recovering above $4,400, erasing all of its 2026 gains after the metal’s worst week since 1983.

The sell-off has wiped more than 20% from January’s all-time high of $5,590, and Daniel Ghali, senior commodity strategist at TD Securities, says the safe haven crown has changed hands entirely.

“The dollar has been the ultimate safe haven during this conflict,” Ghali said, “That is detrimental to gold since over the last year, gold has been the ultimate safe haven.”

The Trade That Broke

The logic appears straightforward. The war pushed oil above $100, which may be reigniting inflation and eroding rate-cut expectations. The dollar and Treasury yields have both climbed. Gold pays no yield, so in …

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Baseline

Remember the empty streets, boarded up stores, and bare shelves of 2020? Something like that appears highly likely, should there not be any major positive developments in the Middle East (which looks quite unlikely).

Luckily, rather than guessing, we can look at hard data and actual numbers:
During the 2nd quarter of 2020, the global economy came to a screeching halt. Freeways empty, shipping halted, bare shelves, closed up shops and ‘non-essential worker’ lockdowns.

According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis’s Q2 2020 GDP print, the US economy shrank by 32%, just in Q2 alone. A third of the US economy- gone.

Because COVID was such a rapid & unexpected shock, there was a huge imbalance between the supply of oil and the demand for it.

This is the sort of economic collapse that was required to destroy the demand for oil. All in all, during Q2 of 2020 (height of the COVID lockdowns), demand for oil fell by 23 million barrels per day (‘bpd’).

Given that the clearing mechanism for such an imbalance between supply and demand is price, oil prices famously had to go to -$40 to clear the market.

Negative $40 per barrel. That was what was required to clear the 23 million bpd loss of demand due to the global economy screeching to a halt.

So what about today? What’s the situation now?

The Strait of Hormuz, which normally carries about 20 million barrels per day of crude oil and products (according to the IEA), is effectively closed. There is no physical blockade (though there may be mines)- but the strait is effectively closed with traffic down 97% and 20 million barrels of oil taken offline.

20 million barrels of oil supply were taken offline, just from this one chokepoint. Remember, supply = demand (with prices as the clearing mechanism).

But we didn’t just see a supply reduction from the Strait- you need to store oil somewhere. This is called “inventories.”

Due to the outbound flow being stopped, refineries started filling inventories. When the tanks fill …

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In an economy where up seems to be the only direction for consumer prices, the egg has become the outlier. 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s February 2026 Food Price Outlook reported that almost every food category is getting more expensive—except for eggs, the one staple Americans are buying more of to save money. For many households, that shift toward cheaper proteins is happening alongside rising balances on short-term debt as basic costs crowd out the monthly budget. 

That’s why more borrowers are looking at ways to restructure what they owe—from cutting spending to using consolidation loans to turn high-rate balances into a single payment with clearer terms.

The Egg Collapse

While overall food prices are forecasted to rise 3.1% this year, retail egg prices are predicted to plummet by 27.4%.

This isn’t a minor dip—it’s a market correction following several years of volatility. 

In late 2024 and early 2025, an aggressive outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza devastated egg-layer flocks nationwide. The resulting supply crunch sent prices much higher, forcing consumers to treat a carton of eggs like a luxury item. 

That has since changed. 

According to the USDA’s Economic Research Service: 

• Production rebound: Confirmed HPAI cases tapered off in April 2025, allowing producers to …

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Defense electronics is one of the most attractive areas within aerospace and defense for private equity investments, given recent developments in Iran, Ukraine, Gaza, and other regions.

Pitchbook reported that the private equity market saw 27 deals in defense electronics in 2025, up 93% from the prior year and the second-highest deal count going back to 2017.

“Electronics-intensive capabilities are capturing a heavy share of global defense procurement dollars. We see spending in this area expanding as militaries prioritize sensing, electronic warfare, resilient communications, and edge computing over force expansion,” the report stated.

The global defense electronics market was estimated at approximately $185 billion in 2025, growing at roughly 5% annually through 2035, according to Precedence Research.

Some of the leading defense electronics investors include J.F. Lehman & Co, Vance Street Capital, Audax Private …

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Political risk guru Ian Bremmer has banned Eurasia Group employees from betting on Polymarket, Kalshi, and other prediction markets.

Bremmer’s firm advises institutional investors and sovereign wealth funds, said prediction markets are “corrosive for civil society, probably more dangerous than social media for democracy” and represent a “clear conflict” for anyone pursuing objective analysis on global affairs.

He also said that other US political leaders will be sharing similar thoughts in the coming weeks.

The political pressure is already building from multiple directions. Senators Adam Schiff (D-CA) and John Curtis (R-Utah) introduced bipartisan legislation today targeting prediction market sports betting at the federal level, directly aimed at Kalshi and Polymarket’s U.S. platforms.

Arizona filed criminal charges against Kalshi last week for allegedly operating an unlicensed gambling business.

The Integrity Blitz

Polymarket published enhanced market integrity rules across its DeFi platform and CFTC-regulated U.S. exchange last Thursday.

After a year of insider trading controversies, class action lawsuits, and growing bipartisan

Full story available on Benzinga.com

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is understood to be holding conversations with Helion Energy as the artificial intelligence company seeks to buy fusion energy.

Fusion energy, which mimics the Sun’s process of energy creation, offers AI companies like OpenAI a potential source of abundant clean energy. Altman is reportedly in discussions to lock in a fixed share of Helion’s output, starting at about 12.5%, sources told Axios.

The proposed agreement would give OpenAI access to roughly 5 gigawatts of power by 2030, with plans to scale that up to 50 gigawatts by 2035.

Helion aims to achieve “scientific breakeven,” where the energy produced surpasses the energy consumed, a milestone no private firm has yet reached, according to Axios.

The agreement …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

Shares of QuantumScape Corp. (NYSE:QS) are trading higher Monday. The move comes as the broader market gains momentum.

The Nasdaq has climbed 1.59%, while the S&P 500 rose 1.54%.

Oil Prices Plunge On Geopolitical Shifts

Auto-related stocks are trading higher following a sharp drop in energy costs. WTI crude oil futures tumbled over 10% on Monday, falling to around $87 per barrel.

This shift followed news that President Donald Trump ordered the Pentagon to halt planned strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure for five days.

Trump cited “very good and productive” discussions between the U.S. and Iran over the last 48 hours. Lower oil prices …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

Veteran trader Peter Brandt is flagging a highly unusual technical signal in gold he calls the “Nine Red Birds” pattern, hinting that the latest bout of selling may be nearing exhaustion and that a reversal could be forming.​

• KGC stock is up. See the chart and price action here. 

What Are ‘Nine Red Birds’?

In a social media post on Sunday, Brandt pointed to the Nine Red Birds pattern on the daily chart for gold futures contracts. 

Brandt’s “Nine Red Birds” label refers to a sequence of nine consecutive daily declines on a candlestick chart, where each session prints a red candle and pushes the trend sharply lower. 

He noted that over more than 50 years of futures trading, he has seen this configuration only a handful of times, underscoring how rare the setup is. 

The pattern itself is not a classic textbook formation such as a head-and-shoulders or a wedge, …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

Blackstone’s (NYSE:BX) flagship private credit fund, BCRED, experienced a monthly downturn in February. This marked the fund’s first loss in over three years. 

The 0.4% decline comes amid growing investor concerns about the liquidity pressures within the sector, Reuters reported.

The Morningstar LSTA index, which tracks publicly traded leveraged loans, fell by 0.8% in February, reflecting broader market challenges.

Despite the decline in performance, BCRED has delivered a 9.5% annualized total return since its inception for Class I shares. It outperformed the leveraged loan market by 100 basis points this year. 

BCRED, a non-exchange-traded business company, expects to invest at least 80% of its total assets in private credit …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

GameStop Corp (NYSE:GME) shares are trading higher Monday. The move comes as the broader markets show strength. The Nasdaq rose 1.10%, while the S&P 500 gained 1.16%.

Investors are focusing on GameStop’s fourth-quarter earnings. The company reports these results on Tuesday. Analysts estimate earnings per share (EPS) of 31 cents. Revenue expectations sit at $1.47 billion.

GameStop carries significant momentum into this report. The company has beaten EPS estimates in six consecutive quarters.

In the third quarter, it reported an EPS of 24 cents. This surpassed the 18-cent analyst estimate.

Full story available on Benzinga.com

OpenAI offered a compelling proposition to private-equity firms, presenting a guaranteed minimum return of 17.5% as it seeks to establish joint ventures aimed at expanding enterprise AI adoption. 

This move comes as OpenAI competes with Anthropic, which has not offered similar returns, to secure partnerships with buyout firms, Reuters reports.

OpenAI’s strategy includes providing early access to its latest AI models, enticing investors like TPG and Advent.

Both companies are seeking to partner with private-equity firms to quickly deploy AI tools across numerous private companies, enhancing the adoption and integration of their models. This strategy aims to solidify customer loyalty and prepare the companies for potential public offerings as early as this …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

The war in the Middle East has started to impact economic confidence and monetary policy decisions in Europe. Germany and the euro area sentiment fell sharply in March. The European Central Bank (ECB) and the Bank of England (BoE) kept rates unchanged on Thursday, citing the war.

As markets digest the geopolitical shock, this week’s data releases will help clarify whether the downturn in sentiment is spilling into real economic activity. The Euro Area, France, Germany, and the UK will release key manufacturing data this week alongside business and consumer confidence indices.

Weekly Chart: Germany’s Economic Sentiment Plummets

Germany’s ZEW Indicator of Economic Sentiment plummeted by 58.8 points to -0.5 in March 2026. That is down from 58.3 in February, ZEW said on March 17. This was far below market expectations of 39. The conflict in the Middle East has impacted sentiment.

This marks the third-largest monthly decline in the indicator’s history. This followed a 65.6-point drop in April after the US announced new tariffs. After Russia invaded Ukraine, the index fell 93.6 points in March 2022.

“The ZEW Indicator has collapsed,” ZEW President Professor Achim Wambach said. “The escalation in the Middle East spikes energy prices and increases inflationary pressure. This heightens the risk for the German economy that the emerging trend of economic recovery will slow down.”

The expectations for the eurozone declined strongly in March, plummeting into negative territory and coming in at -8.5 points. Compared to February, the indicator is lower by 47.9 points. The assessment of the economic situation deteriorated to -29.9 points. This is 16.3 points below the previous month’s reading.

Why it matters: Germany’s sentiment reversal is an early signal of how the Middle East conflict is feeding into the economic outlook. The fall in expectations suggests that firms and investors are already pricing in weaker growth, higher energy costs, and a more cautious policy stance from central banks.

Geopolitics: Trump Steps Back from Iran Threat

As sentiment weakens, geopolitical developments continue to drive market volatility.

President Donald Trump said on Monday that the US and Iran have held “productive conversations.” He will hold off on any military strikes against Iranian energy sites for five days. He walked back his threat to strike if Tehran did not allow the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

However, Iran’s foreign ministry said there was “no dialogue” between Tehran and Washington, state‑affiliated media reported. It added that Trump’s statement was “part of efforts to reduce energy prices and buy time for the implementation of his military plans.” Iran had vowed to retaliate by striking energy targets across the Middle East.

Oil prices fell after Trump ordered the military to postpone strikes on Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure. Brent crude was last down more than 7% at $103.5 a barrel. WTI crude futures plunged more than 10% to around $88.5 per barrel.

Full story available on Benzinga.com

Despite a Supreme Court ruling aimed at reining in executive trade powers, U.S. households are facing a massive spike in trade-related costs. 

The average U.S. family is on track to pay more than $2,500 in tariff-related costs this year—a 43% increase from the $1,745 average estimated during the first year of President Donald Trump’s second term, according to data recently released by the Joint Economic Committee. 

The report suggests that rather than providing the expected inflationary relief, the administration’s immediate pivot to new, legally compliant tariffs has kept the tax burden on consumers at historic highs, forcing more households to juggle everyday bills, higher prices and existing debt all at once.

The $330 Billion Consumer Tax

The committee’s estimates are based on tariff revenue recorded in January. If the levels hold steady through December, the total cost passed on to American families will exceed $330 billion for the year. 

The surge comes in the wake of a high-profile Supreme Court decision that struck down the bulk of Trump’s initial tariff agenda as illegal. 

But the victory for trade advocates appears to have been short-lived. Following the ruling, the administration moved to rapidly enact a Plan B of new tariffs. 

Treasury Secretary …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

Prominent economist Peter Schiff made a bold call on Monday, drawing a direct parallel between gold’s current selloff and the 2008 Global Financial Crisis.

Writing on X, Schiff said, “In the early months of the 2008 GFC, gold crashed 32%, about 40% of its prior bull-market gain.”

He argued the setup looks identical today. Gold nearly hit $4,100 Monday, down 27% from its peak — also roughly 40% of its gain since the $2,000 level. His conclusion: “A 178% surge from that low puts gold at $11,400.”

Bear Market Follows Record High

Gold hit an all-time high of $5,589 in January. It has since shed over 22%, last trading at $4,357.29. The U.S.-Iran conflict sent oil above $112, stoking …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ:NVDA) announced a partnership with six major U.S. energy companies to build a new class of AI data centers designed to tap up to 100 gigawatts of underutilized capacity across the U.S. power grid.

The chipmaker announced the collaboration at CERAWeek 2026 in Houston alongside Emerald AI and six energy partners: AES Corp (NYSE:AES), Constellation Energy Corp (NASDAQ:CEG), Invenergy, NextEra Energy Inc (NYSE:NEE), Nscale Energy & Power and Vistra Corp (NYSE:VST).

For the four publicly traded names in the deal, the partnership may offer a new revenue stream: selling flexible power services to AI data centers, on top of the demand tailwind that has already pushed Constellation and NextEra to Big Tech-level valuations.

What’s Happening

The facilities will run on Nvidia’s Vera Rubin DSX AI Factory reference design, unveiled at GTC earlier this month, which includes DSX …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

Steve Eisman, the fund manager from The Big Short, says a credit cycle is emerging and SoFi Technologies (NASDAQ:SOFI) may be sitting at the center of it.

“There is no doubt in my mind that a credit cycle is emerging,” Eisman said on his weekly podcast.

He devoted a significant chunk of the episode to SoFi’s securitization problems, calling them “potentially a disaster.”

How The Trigger Works

Eisman broke the mechanics down.

SoFi makes consumer loans, pools them into securitizations, and sells the debt to investors.

SoFi charges borrowers 10%, pays securitization investors 5%, and keeps the spread. That spread is SoFi’s entire margin.

When losses breach a preset level called the cumulative net loss trigger, SoFi stops getting paid.

Eisman cited Bloomberg data showing SoFi’s SCP 2025-1 securitization hit CNLs of 2.97% against a trigger of 2.60%.

Everything now goes to securitization investors until they’re made whole. He added that the 2025-2 deal looks likely …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

The Iran war is pushing oil prices higher—but markets may already be positioning for what comes next. Oil price has surged sharply since the conflict escalated, lifting energy stocks and reviving inflation concerns. But while oil majors have gained, the bigger move may be happening elsewhere.

Battery Stocks Are Outpacing Oil

China’s battery giants— BYD Co., Ltd. (OTC:BYDDF) (OTC:BYDDY) , Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Ltd (CATL) and Sungrow Power Supply Co., Ltd.—have added more than $70 billion in market value at the Chinese stock market since the conflict began, with their China shares rising roughly 19–22% over the period, Financial Times reported.

Full story available on Benzinga.com

Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:PLTR) shares are climbing Monday. The rally follows a mix of geopolitical relief and significant military contract news.

Trump Signals Military De-Escalation

The broader market recovered after President Donald Trump signaled a five-day pause on planned U.S. strikes. Trump described recent discussions with Iranian officials as “very good and productive” via Truth Social. This follows a tense weekend involving an ultimatum regarding the Strait of Hormuz.

Pentagon Solidifies Maven AI Program

Contextualizing the gains, Reuters reported Friday that the Pentagon will formally adopt Palantir’s Maven Smart System. Deputy Secretary of Defense Steve Feinberg issued the directive on March 9. The move locks in …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

Top Wall Street analysts changed their outlook on these top names. For a complete view of all analyst rating changes, including upgrades, downgrades and initiations, please see our analyst ratings page.

• Benchmark analyst David Williams initiated coverage on Odysight.ai Inc. (NASDAQ:ODYS) with a Speculative Buy rating and announced a price target of $10. Odysight shares closed at $7.07 on Friday. See how other analysts view this stock.
• D. Boral Capital analyst Jason Kolbert initiated …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

Top Wall Street analysts changed their outlook on these top names. For a complete view of all analyst rating changes, including upgrades, downgrades and initiations, please see our analyst ratings page.

• Barclays analyst Betty Jiang upgraded APA Corporation (NASDAQ:APA) from Underweight to Equal-Weight and announced a $35 price target. APA shares closed at $39.11 on Friday. See how other analysts view this stock.
• Wolfe Research analyst Andy Chen upgraded MoonLake Immunotherapeutics (NASDAQ:

Full story available on Benzinga.com

President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social Saturday night that he would “hit and obliterate” Iran’s power plants if the Strait of Hormuz wasn’t reopened within 48 hours.

By Monday morning, he said the U.S. had held “very good and productive conversations” with Iran and postponed all strikes on energy infrastructure for five days.

Iran’s foreign ministry denied any dialogue had taken place, saying Trump’s announcement was designed to lower energy prices.

West Texas Intermediate futures cratered more than 10% to around $89 a barrel. The S&P 500 (NYSE:SPY) ripped nearly 2%.

Gold erased its entire 2026 gain, plunging over 6% to $4,285 in what may be the biggest weekly drop since 1983.

Someone Saw It Coming

Between the threat and the walkback, …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

Gold’s latest pullback may look like just another leg lower — but under the surface, the technical setup is starting to flash something far more interesting.

Source: TradingView

Momentum has now cracked to its weakest level in over a year, with the RSI (relative strength index) slipping into oversold territory for the first time since 2023.

That kind of reset doesn’t happen often — and when it does, it tends to ripple across instruments like SPDR Gold Shares (NYSE:GLD) and gold miner funds such as VanEck Gold Miners ETF (NYSE:GDX).

Comcast Corp. (NASDAQ:CMCSA) shares are gaining on Monday.

Broader Market Tailwinds

Investor sentiment is shifting as geopolitical concerns show signs of stabilization. The Nasdaq is up 1.83% while the S&P 500 has gained 1.72%.

The NVIDIA AI Partnership

Comcast announced a field trial to run AI workloads at the edge of its network last week. The project utilizes NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ:NVDA) GPUs.

Elad Nafshi, Chief Network Officer of Comcast, stated, “By bringing NVIDIA GPUs directly into our edge cloud, we can explore what becomes possible when AI inference happens only milliseconds from end users.” The initiative targets 65 million homes and businesses.

Upcoming Earnings Catalyst

Traders are looking ahead to April 23. The company will report quarterly results then. Analysts estimate earnings per share of 85 cents on revenue of $30.45 billion.

Technical Analysis

Comcast is trading 4.8% below its 20-day SMA and 0.4% above its 100-day SMA, a setup that suggests short-term pressure but a tentative attempt to hold the intermediate trend line. Shares are down 20.15% over the past 12 months and are currently positioned closer to their …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

SoFi Technologies Inc (NASDAQ:SOFI) shares are gaining ground Monday morning. The digital lender is recovering from a volatile week.

Bearish sentiment previously clouded the stock following a critical short-seller report.

Battle With Muddy Waters

SoFi stock faced heavy pressure last week. Muddy Waters Research, led by Carson Block, labeled the company a “financial engineering treadmill.” The firm alleged SoFi’s 2025 adjusted EBITDA was inflated by 90%.

Block suggested the true figure was $103 million. This sharply contradicts the reported $1.05 billion. The report further questioned “Enron-esque” off-balance-sheet structures.

SoFi management fired back on Wednesday. They characterized the claims as a “fundamental lack of understanding” of their business. The company may pursue legal …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

U.S. stocks traded higher this morning, with the Dow Jones gaining more than 800 points on Monday.

Following the market opening Monday, the Dow traded up 1.87% to 46,429.56 while the NASDAQ jumped 1.96% to 22,071.52. The S&P 500 also rose, gaining, 1.75% to 6,620.06.

Check This Out: How To Earn $500 A Month From Goldman Sachs Stock Ahead Of Q4 Earnings

Leading and Lagging Sectors

Consumer discretionary shares climbed by 3% on Monday.

In trading on Monday, energy stocks rose by just 0.3%.

Top Headline

The Chicago Fed National Activity Index declined to -0.11 in February versus a revised reading of +0.20 in the previous month.

Equities Trading UP
           

• Apogee Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:APGE) shares shot up 19% to $78.50 after the company announced 52-week maintenance data from Part A of its Phase 2 APEX clinical trial of zumilokibart, a potential best-in-class anti-IL-13 antibody, in patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis.
• Shares of …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

XRP (CRYPTO: XRP) institutional adoption hinges on companies actually using the network to solve business problems, with Franklin Templeton’s Roger Bayston predicting the tipping point comes when businesses integrate blockchain into operations.

The Usage Thesis

Bayston drew a parallel to Warren Buffett buying Dairy Queen stock because he consumed Dairy Queen products. 

“I don’t think yet a lot of institutions understand how they can use these distributed ledger technologies inside of their information-based businesses,” he said on the Paul Barron podcast.

The breakthrough moment arrives when companies start using the XRP network to solve actual business problems—creating efficiencies or new opportunities. 

When businesses need to use XRP to append records onto the network and recognize the total addressable market potential, that’s when institutional investment follows.

Franklin Templeton reached this conclusion by trying to use distributed ledger technologies in their own securities business. 

Once they unpacked how blockchains work, they realized these systems will be used by lots of information-based businesses over time, making the underlying …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

AleAnna, Inc. (NASDAQ:ANNA) shares are declining in the premarket session on Monday. The move stems primarily from profit-taking following a massive Friday rally.

Nasdaq futures are up 1.74% while S&P 500 futures have gained 1.86%.

Trump Signals De-Escalation

The pullback follows a shift in geopolitical tensions. President Donald Trump signaled a de-escalation via a Truth Social post.

Trump said he ordered a five-day pause on planned U.S. strikes against Iranian energy infrastructure. He described recent discussions with Iranian officials as “very good and productive.”

On Monday, after Trump’s signal, crude oil and natural gas futures plummeted. Crude oil futures were down 9.25% to $89.14, and natural gas futures …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

Analysts expect Worthington Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE:WOR) to report quarterly earnings of 96 cents per share when it releases third-quarter (Q3) results on Tuesday, March 24.

That’s up from 91 cents per share in the year-ago period. The consensus estimate for Worthington’s quarterly revenue is $349.41 million (it reported $304.52 million last year), according to Benzinga Pro.

With the recent buzz around Worthington and its completed acquisition of LSI Group, investors may be eyeing potential dividend gains. As of now, Worthington has an annual dividend yield of 1.60%, with a quarterly dividend of 19 cents per share (76 cents per year).  Here’s how investors can exploit the dividend yield to pocket $500 monthly.

To earn $500 per month or $6,000 annually from dividends alone, you would need …

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Senate Democrats have urged FCC Chairman Brendan Carr to investigate the foreign funding involved in the proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery (NASDAQ:WBD) by Paramount Skydance (NASDAQ: PSKY).

Senate Democrats, including Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y), Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D‑IL), and Senators Cory Booker (D‑NJ), Richard Blumenthal (D‑CT), Mazie Hirono (D‑HI), Sheldon Whitehouse (D‑RI), and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), have written to Carr and voiced concerns regarding the foreign investment from China and Gulf states in the merger.

“This constellation of foreign investment from China and from Gulf states, with complex and sometimes competing relationships with the United States, demands rigorous, not perfunctory, review,” wrote the Senators.

The senators stressed that the current deal structure limits their ability to influence the governance or management of the merged company. Yet, the significant equity contributions from these foreign investors, along with a report of …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

Airline and cruise stocks caught a massive tailwind Monday morning. WTI crude oil futures collapsed over 10% to approximately $88.50 per barrel.

This sharp decline follows a shift in Middle East geopolitical tensions.

Investors moved back into the travel sector as energy costs retreated. Fuel represents one of the largest overhead expenses for carriers. Lower crude prices directly expand profit margins for the industry.

Trump Signals Five-Day Military Pause

The market reversal began after President Donald Trump signaled a de-escalation via a Truth Social post. Trump said he ordered a five-day pause on planned U.S. strikes against Iranian energy infrastructure.

The President described recent discussions with Iranian officials as “very good …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

The American Eagle Outfitters Inc. (NYSE:AEO) stock is flashing signs of being potentially underpriced as its business performance outpaces its recent stock chart.

The Disconnect Between Price And Fundamentals

Following a record-breaking fourth quarter, AEO’s Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings‘ value score rose week-on-week from 88.87 to 89.71. This upward shift in relative worth comes in stark contrast to the stock’s recent market action, where shares have tumbled 34.70% year-to-date.

The value metric evaluates a stock’s relative worth by comparing its market price to fundamental measures of the company’s assets, earnings, sales, and operating performance. At an 89.71 value score, the underlying math suggests the market’s recent sell-off has made AEO’s fundamentals cheaper relative to its peers.

However, other Benzinga Edge metrics highlight the stock’s current hurdles. AEO holds a low quality score of 5.31, a composite ranking that evaluates a company’s operational efficiency and financial health.

Additionally, its momentum sits …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

President Donald Trump early Monday announced a 5-day pause on all U.S. strikes against Iranian energy infrastructure after reporting “very good and productive conversations” with Tehran — sending oil futures down more than 8% and Dow futures surging more than 900 points.

The development marks the sharpest de-escalation signal since Operation Epic Fury began Feb. 28.

What Did Trump Say Monday? And What Did He Say Earlier?

President Trump wrote on Truth Social Monday that the U.S. and Iran had held “very good and productive conversations” over the past two days toward “a complete and total resolution” of hostilities in the Middle East.

He said he had instructed the Department of Defense to postpone all military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for a five-day period, “subject to the success of the ongoing meetings and discussions.”

The remarks mark a notable shift in tone after Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Tehran on Saturday, warning that failure to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz without threats would trigger U.S. strikes on key Iranian energy assets.

“If Iran doesn’t fully open, without threat, the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various power plants, starting with the biggest one first.”

However, shortly after Trump’s post, Iran’s Fars News Agency, said Tehran has had no direct contact with the United States, neither directly nor through intermediaries.

Oil Crashes 8% …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

On CNBC’s “Halftime Report Final Trades,” Bryn Talkington, managing partner of Requisite Capital Management, named CBRE Group Inc (NYSE:CBRE) as her final trade.

CBRE will release its first quarter 2026 financial results on Thursday, April 23.

Analysts expect the Dallas-based company to report quarterly earnings at $1.13 per share. That’s up from 86 cents per share in the year-ago period. Analysts also expect CBRE to report quarterly revenue at $10.22 billion, up from $8.91 billion a year ago.

On …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

U.S. stock futures were higher this morning, with the Dow futures gaining around 1,000 points on Monday.

Shares of Valneva SE (NASDAQ:VALN) fell sharply in pre-market trading.

Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) and Valneva disclosed topline results from Phase 3 VALOR clinical trial of investigational 6-Valent OspA-based Lyme disease vaccine candidate PF-0730740.

Valneva shares dipped 14% to $8.88 in pre-market trading.

Here are some other stocks moving lower in pre-market trading.

• LiveWire Group Inc (NASDAQ:LVWR) shares dipped 14.6% to $1.04 in pre-market trading after dipping 10% on Friday.
• Anghami …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

The second in a series of reports on Digital Asset Risk applies Integrated Composability Risk (ICR) to tokenized mutual funds.

NEW YORK, March 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Chartis Research and Metrika today announced the release of ‘Digital Asset Risk: ICR for Tokenized Fund Infrastructure,’ a collaborative industry report that presents a risk management view on tokenized mutual funds (TMFs) as institutional adoption accelerates.

The report extends the Integrated Composability Risk (ICR) framework introduced in the …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

Gold and silver’s dramatic rally has reversed just as quickly, catching investors off guard. From their late-January peaks, gold has now dropped about 25.5%, while silver has plunged nearly 50%, pushing both into technical bear markets alongside copper.

The sharp move has rippled through the mining sector, wiping out much of this year’s earlier gains. Barrick Mining Corp. (NYSE:B) is down 15.74% year-to-date, while Newmont Corp. (NYSE:NEM) has slipped 5.35%. Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (NYSE:AEM) has held up better than peers, still up 6.08% this year, though it too has retreated significantly from its early-March highs.

The pain has been less severe among diversified mining giants, but they have not been immune to the broader selloff. BHP Group Limited (NYSE:BHP) remains up about 5.70% year-to-date, and Rio Tinto …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

Ultralife Corp. (NASDAQ:ULBI) shares experienced a surge as the company’s performance score jumped from 13.14 to 65.86 on a week-over-week basis.

X5-SuperLite Launch Powers Medical Carts

Ultralife unveiled the X5-SuperLite at the HiMSS Global Health Conference & Exhibition at the Venetian Convention Center in Las Vegas.

The battery powers up to two USB-C devices simultaneously, can be hot-swapped in three seconds, and is expandable for larger device setups.

The Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings show that the company’s short, medium and long-term trends have all turned …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

Shares of Faraday Future Intelligent Electric Inc (NASDAQ:FFAI) gained 54.8% to $0.42 in pre-market trading after the company gained regulatory clarity as SEC ended years-long investigation with no penalties or enforcement action against company or related persons.

Faraday Future Intelligent Electric shares jumped 54.8% to $0.42 in the pre-market trading session.

Here are some other stocks moving in pre-market trading.

Gainers

• Mangoceuticals Inc (NASDAQ:MGRX) surged 64.6% to $0.27 in pre-market trading after dipping around 55% on Friday. Mangoceuticals recently announced it filed a lawsuit against Clarity Ventures.
• Firefly Neuroscience Inc (NASDAQ:AIFF) gained 27.4% to $1.95 in pre-market trading after dipping 30% on Friday.
• WeShop Holdings Ltd (NASDAQ:WSHP) gained 19.1% to $13.89 in pre-market trading. WeShop recently announced that holders of the WeShop Performance Incentive Grants have exercised their grants to purchase the Company’s Class A ordinary shares.
• Zhengye Biotechnology Holding Ltd (NASDAQ:ZYBT) gained 18.8% to $0.84 in pre-market trading.
• Above Food Ingredients Inc (NASDAQ:ABVE) gained 16.3% …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

Investor Gene Munster of Deepwater Asset Management thinks that self-driving cars would demonstrate the first real-world adoptions of physical AI.

‘Buckle Up,’ Says Gene Munster

Taking to the social media platform X on Sunday, the investor shared an article by the Wall Street Journal, which discussed the advent of self-driving cars. “Buckle up,” the investor said, adding that the “first wave of physical AI” adoption at scale would be autonomous vehicles.

To back up his prediction, the investor cited developments in self-driving technology made by Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) and Alphabet Inc.’s (NASDAQ:GOOGL) (NASDAQ:GOOG) Waymo.

“Tesla’s FSD is making major gains, and Waymo is going from 6 cities at the end of 2025 to likely 25 by the end of 2026,” Munster said in the post.

Full story available on Benzinga.com

Billionaire investor Bill Ackman and Michael Burry are urging President Donald Trump to end the government conservatorship of Fannie Mae (OTC:FNMA) and Freddie Mac (OTC:FMCC), warning that the ongoing seizure of the companies’ profits is “outright theft” that threatens the stability of the broader U.S. banking sector.

The ‘Net Worth Sweep’ Controversy

In a detailed public statement, Pershing Square’s Ackman argued that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (F2) have fully repaid their $193 billion government bailout, plus an additional $25 billion.

Despite this, the Treasury continues to hold the original liability on its balance sheets due to the Obama-era “Net Worth Sweep,” a unilateral amendment that directed 100% of F2’s profits to the government.

Ackman condemned the sweep as an unconstitutional maneuver designed to prevent F2 from ever recapitalizing, calling it the “outright theft of the forever profits of both companies.”

He clarified that shareholders are not seeking a handout, but are simply asking the government to honor the original bailout terms and properly account for the …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

In the dynamic and fiercely competitive business environment, conducting a thorough analysis of companies is crucial for investors and industry enthusiasts. In this article, we will perform an extensive industry comparison, evaluating Automatic Data Processing (NASDAQ:ADP) in relation to its major competitors in the Professional Services industry. By closely examining crucial financial metrics, market position, and growth prospects, we aim to offer valuable insights for investors and shed light on company’s performance within the industry.

Automatic Data Processing Background

ADP is a global technology company providing cloud-based human capital management solutions, enabling clients to better implement payroll, talent, time, tax, and benefits administration. Additionally, ADP provides human resources outsourcing solutions that permit customers to offload some of their traditional HR tasks. The company operates through two segments: employer services and professional employer organization services. Employer services consist of the company’s HCM products as well as a la carte HRO solutions. PEO services contain ADP’s comprehensive HRO solution, where it acts as a co-employer with its customer. As of fiscal 2025, ADP serves over 1.1 million clients and pays over 42 million workers across 140 countries.

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In today’s fast-paced and competitive business landscape, it is essential for investors and industry enthusiasts to thoroughly analyze companies before making investment decisions. In this article, we will conduct a comprehensive industry comparison, evaluating Analog Devices (NASDAQ:ADI) against its key competitors in the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry. By examining key financial metrics, market position, and growth prospects, we aim to provide valuable insights for investors and shed light on company’s performance within the industry.

Analog Devices Background

Analog Devices is a leading analog, mixed-signal, and digital-signal processing chipmaker. The firm has a significant market share lead in converter chips, which are used to translate analog signals to digital and vice versa. The company serves tens of thousands of customers; more than half of its chip sales are to industrial and automotive end markets. ADI’s chips are also incorporated into wireless infrastructure equipment.

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Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended the relaxation of sanctions on Iranian oil and the U.S. military strikes on Tehran’s infrastructure

Last week, the Treasury Department relaxed certain sanctions on Iran, thereby permitting the sale of Iranian oil that was previously stranded at sea. On Sunday, Bessent, on “Meet the Press” on NBC News, explained that this move was designed to tackle the escalating energy costs.

He also announced that this decision is expected to introduce approximately 140 million barrels of oil into the global markets, thereby relieving temporary supply pressures instigated by Iran.

Despite the ongoing conflict, the decision to economically empower Iran was questioned by some experts. To this, Bessent responded that the oil was always meant to be sold to China at a discounted rate. He referred to the decision as “jujitsuing the Iranians” by turning their own oil against them.

When questioned about the potential impact on consumer prices, Bessent refrained from providing a …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

Amidst the fast-paced and highly competitive business environment of today, conducting comprehensive company analysis is essential for investors and industry enthusiasts. In this article, we will delve into an extensive industry comparison, evaluating Adobe (NASDAQ:ADBE) in comparison to its major competitors within the Software industry. By analyzing critical financial metrics, market position, and growth potential, our objective is to provide valuable insights for investors and offer a deeper understanding of company’s performance in the industry.

Adobe Background

Adobe provides content creation, document management, and digital marketing and advertising software and services to creative professionals and marketers for creating, managing, delivering, measuring, optimizing, and engaging with compelling content multiple operating systems, devices, and media. The company operates with three segments: digital media content creation, digital experience for marketing solutions, and publishing for legacy products (less than 5% of revenue).

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In the ever-evolving and intensely competitive business landscape, conducting a thorough company analysis is of utmost importance for investors and industry followers. In this article, we will carry out an in-depth industry comparison, assessing Airbnb (NASDAQ:ABNB) alongside its primary competitors in the Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure industry. By meticulously examining key financial metrics, market positioning, and growth prospects, we aim to offer valuable insights to investors and shed light on company’s performance within the industry.

Airbnb Background

Airbnb is the world’s largest online alternative accommodation travel agency; it also offers booking services for boutique hotels, experiences, and hotel-like services. Airbnb’s platform offers over 9 million active accommodation listings. Listings from the company’s 5 million-plus hosts are spread over almost every country in the world. In 2025, 42% of revenue was from North America, 39% from Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, 10% from Latin America, and 9% from Asia-Pacific. Transaction fees for online bookings account for all its revenue.

Full story available on Benzinga.com

In today’s rapidly changing and highly competitive business world, it is vital for investors and industry enthusiasts to carefully assess companies. In this article, we will perform a comprehensive industry comparison, evaluating Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) against its key competitors in the Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals industry. By analyzing important financial metrics, market position, and growth prospects, we aim to provide valuable insights for investors and shed light on company’s performance within the industry.

Apple Background

Apple is among the largest companies in the world, with a broad portfolio of hardware and software products targeted at consumers and businesses. Apple’s iPhone makes up a majority of the firm sales, and Apple’s other products like Mac, iPad, and Watch are designed around the iPhone as the focal point of an expansive software ecosystem. Apple has progressively worked to add new applications, like streaming video, subscription bundles, and augmented reality. The firm designs its own software and semiconductors while working with subcontractors like Foxconn and TSMC to build its products and chips. Slightly less than half of Apple’s sales come directly through its flagship stores, with a majority of sales coming indirectly through partnerships and distribution.

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XPeng Inc. (NYSE:XPEV) is reportedly establishing a dedicated Robotaxi division within the company, signalling that it is ramping up efforts to execute a planned commercial Robotaxi rollout in the future.

A Robotaxi Division

The Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) rival has established the division as a tier-one organization, which will collaborate with various other divisions like R&D testing and product definition, according to a report on Monday by CnEVPost, citing anonymous sources.

Xpeng didn’t immediately respond to Benzinga‘s request for comment.

The division would help Xpeng accelerate the rollout of its planned Robotaxi. The company’s CEO, He Xiaopeng, had said that the …

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In a bid to streamline his executive duties, Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:META), is reportedly in the process of developing a personal artificial intelligence (AI) agent.

The AI agent, currently under development, aims to fast-track Zuckerberg’s access to information, bypassing the usual personnel layers, reported the Wall Street Journal on Sunday.

An additional AI tool, dubbed “Second Brain”, is also gaining popularity within the company. Created by a Meta employee, it can index and query documents for projects and is described as an “AI chief of staff”.

Meta did not immediately respond to Benzinga’s request for comments.

Big Bet On AI-Driven Future

Meta’s recent acquisition of Moltbook, a platform where AI agents interact and post content, …

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Gold prices dropped to less than $4,400 an ounce on Monday as they fell for a fourth week. The precious metal fell by 3.8% to near $4,320.30 an ounce as it erases its previous gains.

This comes as the U.S.-Iran war continues to worsen. President Donald Trump recently threatened to strike Iran’s power plants if they did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz. In response, Iran threatened to attack important US and Israeli installations in the region if its energy facilities are hit.

Last time, the value of gold declined as sharply as this in a week was in 1983. In that year, oil-producing countries in the Middle East sold their gold reserves as their oil revenues declined. The same region has caused a similar crash in the market as it did over 40 years ago.

The key question now is, how did this derail gold’s earlier bullish run? While we have enjoyed record highs in the asset since last year, it is now falling faster than expected. In other words, how exactly are the Middle East oil tensions actually weighing the precious metal down ?

Why Exactly Do Gold Prices Drop When Oil Tensions Rise

Normally, in times of turmoil, investors tend to invest in gold, as it is expected that it will hold its value in case of a rise in inflation, a fall in currencies, or a crisis.

However, rising energy prices due to the Middle East conflict are causing central banks across the globe to reassess their interest rate outlook. The factor is particularly important because of its impact on assets.

This is mainly because gold does not pay …

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The S&P 500 enters the new week under immense pressure after falling nearly 1% on Friday to hover near four-month lows. Despite a brief mid-week bounce on hopes of a diplomatic resolution, the market is bracing for a potential “Apocalypse Now” scenario, according to Ed Yardeni, as a critical geopolitical deadline looms.

The Polygon-based (CRYPTO: POL) Polymarket crowd has turned sharply bearish heading into Monday’s open. The “S&P 500 Opens Up or Down on March 23?” odds currently show just a 30% chance of an “Up” open. Early trading volume for the Monday bet has surged to $132,516.

Why That Number Matters

The primary driver is a dramatic escalation in rhetoric from the White House. On Saturday evening, President Donald Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, warning that the U.S. would “obliterate” Iranian power plants …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk shared fresh details about the upcoming Terafab AI chip project, touting it as a major leap in his enterprises’ AI capabilities.

Terafab Invites Doubts

On Sunday, user @markusdd5 posted on X that the Terafab project, given its scale, could be unsuccessful. “I assign a major probability to this either failing or delaying much beyond the intended timeline,” the user said in the post.

He went on to explain that chip production is a complex process and is the “farthest humanity has ventured down the tech tree,” adding that he shared this opinion not to root against Musk, but to “manage expectations.”

Elon Musk Weighs In

Responding to the user, Musk remained bullish and optimistic about the Terafab goal, sharing that while several companies have successfully produced chips, “no companies have ever made fully reusable rockets or achieved SpaceX scale,” he said.

The billionaire then went on to say that the …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

With U.S. stock futures trading lower this morning on Monday, some of the stocks that may grab investor focus today are as follows:

• Wall Street expects Caledonia Mining Corp. PLC (NYSE:CMCL) to report quarterly earnings at 59 cents per share on revenue of $71.90 million for the quarter before the opening bell, according to data from Benzinga Pro. Caledonia Mining shares fell 6% to $20.16 in after-hours trading.
• United Airlines Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:UAL) announced plans to reduce scheduled capacity by about 5% in the second and third quarters. The Chicago-based carrier will be targeting weaker, off-peak routes such as midweek …

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Bill Ackman blasted the U.S. Treasury’s handling of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac on Sunday, arguing the government rewrote the rescue terms through the Net Worth Sweep and diverted all quarterly profits to itself even after the companies had already repaid the bailout. Earlier, in separate remarks calling the trade his top idea for 2026, Ackman outlined a step-by-step path to exit conservatorship that he said could stabilize housing finance and deliver substantial returns for taxpayers.

In a lengthy post on X, Ackman outlined his central argument, saying shareholders are not seeking a “gift” from Washington but are instead asking the government to honor the original senior preferred stock agreement and properly account for the payments.

He contrasted the 2008-era bank rescues, citing a 5% coupon plus warrants equal to 15% of face value, including a $10 billion Treasury investment in Goldman Sachs with warrants on $1.5 billion of common stock, with what he described as harsher terms imposed on the two mortgage firms.

Ackman said Treasury’s support for the pair totaled $193 billion in senior preferred stock, plus $2 billion of commitment fees, carrying a 10% coupon and accompanied by warrants for 79.9% of each company. He added that the companies have paid Treasury $301 billion, which he said includes a blended 11.6% interest rate and full return of the $193 billion principal, plus $25 billion more than the contract required.

Why Ackman’s Push For Fannie Freedom Matters

Ackman argued the accounting outcome is upside down: despite the $301 billion he says has been sent back, …

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Naval Ravikant, a well-known venture capitalist and influencer, once stated that when he looks back on his life, he has only one piece of advice for his younger self — relax and don’t stress.

No Point Living Up To People’s Expectations

Appearing on the Tim Ferriss show on Oct. 29, 2015. Ravikant, then 40 years old, revealed he actually spent some time thinking about what he would tell his 30-year-old self.

“The advice was along the lines of chill out, don’t stress so much, not so much anxiety and everything will be fine,” he said. “Don’t try and live up to other people’s expectations.”

Ravikant stressed the importance of saying “no” to things, protecting time …

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Kevin O’Leary on Saturday said that investors are pricing in a quick resolution to tensions tied to the Strait of Hormuz, arguing the next month is the key window the market is watching. He warned that a longer disruption could hit global growth hard, with oil prices acting as the main transmission channel.

In the post on X, O’Leary said he believes the available data points toward the issue being addressed within about 30 days. In the same post, he framed the strait as a narrow chokepoint and said a prolonged blockage would be far more damaging.

Why Hormuz Disruptions Could Spark Global Chaos

O’Leary described a scenario …

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As the weekend wraps up, let’s take a look at the top stories that made headlines in the tech and finance world. Here’s a quick roundup of the most significant events that occurred over the past few days.

Apple’s New Mac Sees Record Launch Week

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) had a stellar launch week for its new MacBook Neo, with a significant number of first-time users. The new budget-friendly laptop is priced at $599, or $499 for students, and has garnered substantial interest from both new and existing customers. This could potentially boost Apple’s presence in the education market and contribute an additional 0.5% to its overall revenue, according to industry feedback.

Read the full article here.

Google Tests Gemini AI App For Mac

Alphabet.Inc.‘s (NASDAQ:GOOG) (NASDAQ:GOOGL) Google is working on a dedicated Gemini AI …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

The week brought a series of significant developments, including a potential shift in the Fed’s interest rate policy, a controversial statement from a top White House advisor, and a historic slump in the gold market. Here’s a quick overview of the stories that made headlines.

Trump’s Iran War Is Bringing Rate Hikes Back On The Table

President Donald Trump‘s aggressive push for interest rate cuts has been met with an unexpected response from the bond market. The ongoing war in Iran has led to a surprising prediction – a potential rate hike by the end of the year. This comes as a stark contrast to the 60 basis points of cuts that were anticipated less than three weeks ago.

Read the full article here.

Trump Advisor Sparks Outrage

Kevin Hassett, the top economic adviser at the White House, made a …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

The week was filled with explosive news stories. From a bold move by Malaysia to a surprising hint from President Donald Trump, here are the top political stories from the weekend.

Malaysia Declares US Trade Deal ‘Null And Void’

Malaysia has made a bold move by declaring its trade deal with the U.S. invalid. This decision follows the Supreme Court’s ruling that Trump’s tariffs, imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), were illegal in February.

Malaysian Trade Minister Johari has emphasized the need for Malaysian exporters to comply with labor and environmental standards to avoid potential disruptions. 

Read the full article here.

Trump Hints At Former President’s Regret Over Iran Strategy

Trump has hinted that one of his predecessors expressed regret over their Iran strategy. Trump shared this during a meeting of the board of trustees of the Kennedy Center, which he chairs.

Trump stated, “I’ve spoken to a …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

Japan is contemplating the possibility of deploying its military for minesweeping operations in the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for global oil supplies, if a ceasefire is achieved in the ongoing U.S.-Iran war.

Japan Weighs Minesweeping Role

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi stated that the country might consider using its military for minesweeping in the waterway if a ceasefire is reached in the U.S.-Iran war, Reuters reported, citing his remarks during a Fuji TV programme.

Japan’s military operations are limited by its postwar pacifist constitution. However, laws enacted in 2015 permit the deployment of its Self-Defense Forces abroad if an attack—including one on a close ally—poses a …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

Billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban on Saturday shared his thoughts on the future of business and the growing role of AI agents in a series of X posts.

Cuban Warns AI Could Shake Up US Market

Cuban suggested that AI could dramatically reshape the marketplace, proposing a “trust system” in which vendors would need to post a bond before selling products in the U.S.

He also warned that AI agents might identify top-selling products on platforms like Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) and influence market trends.

Cuban predicted that the next wave …

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Billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban took to X to weigh in on the ongoing AI revolution and its potential effects on the workforce.

AI Mirrors PC Revolution

In his post, Cuban drew comparisons between the challenges white-collar workers faced during the rise of personal computers in the 1980s and the hurdles employees encounter today with AI.

He stated that personal computers were expensive and not easily accessible, making it difficult for many workers to adapt.

By contrast, he said, today’s workers can access AI learning tools online, giving them a much better chance to acquire new skills and remain competitive.

Full story available on Benzinga.com

On Saturday, Gerber Kawasaki Wealth & Investment Management CEO Ross Gerber, said market selling pressure is starting to build, arguing it has become difficult to stay optimistic while inflation remains stubborn. He also warned that persistent price increases can be a headwind for both equities and fixed income.

In a post on X, Gerber said that he sees sellers stepping in and described the setup as “Hard to be bullish at the moment.” He tied that view directly to inflation, adding, “Inflation is real and not going away soon.”

Gerber framed the shift as a change in who is controlling the tape, with downside activity becoming more visible. In his view, that dynamic makes it tougher for risk assets to find sustained support.

He also …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

The world is “on the brink” of a capital war, according to billionaire investor Ray Dalio. 

Speaking at the World Government Summit, Dalio said that the five “big forces” that have historically signaled the collapse of world orders are shifting. The multilateral system established in 1945—defined by the United Nations, World Trade Organization and a U.S.-dominated monetary framework—is rapidly fracturing. For investors, that raises uncomfortable questions about how much of their wealth is tied to paper systems that can be frozen, devalued or restructured in a hurry.

“The monetary order is changing, breaking down in a certain way,” Dalio said. 

Dailio said the transition from a multilateral to a unilateral, power-based world order is well underway, blaming the massive accumulation of debt and the proliferation of fiat systems as primary catalysts for the instability. It’s the kind of backdrop that has more investors revisiting hard assets and, in some cases, reallocating a slice of their savings into physical gold and silver through specialists like Preserve Gold.

From Trade Wars to Capital Wars

While much of the current …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

A new report from West Health and Gallup shows how routine healthcare costs are reshaping household finances for tens of millions of Americans. 

Instead of drawing on savings, many are borrowing, cutting back on basics or postponing major decisions to stay current on medical bills.

According to the survey, about 1 in 7 Americans had to borrow money in the past year to cover healthcare expenses. That translates to an estimated tens of billions of dollars in medical borrowing, much of it on credit cards or personal loans, for routine care rather than big-ticket procedures. For households already carrying other balances, some are now looking at consolidation tools that match borrowers with lenders for a personal loan aimed at simplifying payments and potentially lowering their rate.

The report also found that 15% of Americans have rationed prescriptions—skipping doses, splitting pills or not filling a prescription—in order to manage costs. That behavior shows up across income groups and carries clear clinical risks, since untreated or under-treated conditions often lead to more intensive and expensive care later. 

In practice, that means the same families juggling co-pays and deductibles are also deciding which bills to prioritize each month, a calculation that could call on a restructure of high-interest medical and household debt into a single, fixed-rate loan.

In total, about one-third of adults—more than 80 million people—reported making at least one significant trade-off in the last year to pay for healthcare. Those decisions range from cutting back on everyday …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

Benzinga examined the prospects for many investors’ favorite stocks over the last week — here’s a look at some of our top stories.

Markets ended the week under pressure as escalating geopolitical tensions and rising inflation concerns weighed on investor sentiment. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite struggled to maintain momentum, with volatility increasing as the ongoing Iran conflict pushed energy prices higher and complicated the Federal Reserve’s policy outlook. Investors reacted cautiously to the combination of persistent inflation and slowing economic signals, raising doubts about the timing of any potential rate cuts.

Inflation fears intensified as the war-driven oil shock continued to ripple through global markets, reinforcing expectations that interest rates may stay elevated for longer. The disruption of energy supplies through the Strait of Hormuz — which typically handles about 20% of global oil flows — has fueled concerns about sustained price pressures and tighter financial conditions. Strait of Hormuz This backdrop has led to increased volatility across equities, with investors reassessing risk amid higher yields and uncertain monetary policy direction.

Sector performance reflected the shifting macro landscape, with energy stocks benefiting from higher crude prices while rate-sensitive and consumer-focused sectors lagged. Broader market sentiment remained fragile as traders weighed geopolitical risks, inflation data and central bank expectations, suggesting that markets could remain choppy in the near term as multiple macro headwinds converge.

Benzinga provides daily reports on the stocks most popular with investors. Here are a few of this past week’s most bullish and bearish posts that are worth another look.

The Bulls

“FedEx Tops Q3 Estimates, Freight Spin-Off Remains On Track,” by Adam Eckert, reports that FedEx Corp. (NYSE:FDX) delivered a third-quarter earnings and …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

DocuSign Inc (NASDAQ:DOCU) shares are gaining momentum Friday.

This follows the release of stronger-than-expected fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 financial results on Tuesday. The company reported adjusted earnings of $1.01 per share. This beat the analyst consensus of 95 cents per share.

• Docusign shares are trending higher. What’s pushing DOCU stock higher?

Revenue Growth and IAM Success

Total revenue reached $836.86 million, up 8% year-over-year. This surpassed the $827.84 million estimate. The Intelligent Agreement Management (IAM) platform showed significant strength.

“In 2026, customers using IAM represented over $350 million in ARR,” said CEO Allan Thygesen.

Analysts Maintain …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

Intuitive Machines, Inc. (NASDAQ:LUNR) on Thursday reported downbeat fourth-quarter sales results.

The company reported revenue of $44.78 million, missing the consensus estimate of $53.68 million.

CEO Steve Altemus said 2025 was a “transformational year” for the company, pointing to the completion of its second lunar mission, expansion into national security space programs and acquisitions, including KinetX Aerospace and Lanteris Space Systems, as part of efforts to expand scale and growth opportunities.

Intuitive anticipates …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN) on Thursday posted upbeat earnings for its fiscal second-quarter and issued a cautious outlook.

Accenture issued a softer-than-expected full-year earnings forecast and a cautious revenue outlook for the third quarter.

The company reported quarterly earnings of $2.93 per share, topping the analyst consensus estimate of $2.84. The company reported sales of $18.04 billion, slightly exceeding the analyst consensus estimate of $17.84 billion.

Accenture raised its fiscal 2026 revenue outlook to a range of $71.763 billion to $73.157 billion, up from its prior forecast of $71.066 billion to $73.157 billion, but below the analyst consensus estimate of $73.917 billion.

The company now expects fiscal 2026 GAAP earnings per share of $13.25 to $13.50, compared with its …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

Cingulate Inc. (NASDAQ:CING) shares were down during Friday’s premarket session but recovered later. The company’s recent financial report highlighted both operational advancements and ongoing challenges.

The stock’s volatile move comes as broader markets experienced mixed performance, with the S&P 500 futures down 0.6% and the Healthcare sector remaining flat.

Cingulate reported a net loss of $6.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2025, slightly up from a loss of $6.2 million in the same period the previous year.

Additionally, the company announced the granting of a European patent for its ADHD treatment, CTx-1301, which is expected to bolster its intellectual property portfolio and support future commercialization efforts.

The company also secured a $12 million private investment to …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

The Fed holds firm, Micron crushes earnings and still gets punished, and the Iran war just hit Qatar’s gas supply.

Happy Friday. Here’s an observation about this week: oil spiked toward $100, gold crashed 6%, and a company that beat earnings estimates by 40% got sold off. If that doesn’t capture the mood, nothing does.

S&P 500 closed at 6,606 (-0.3%), Nasdaq 22,090 (-0.3%), Dow 46,021 (-204 pts). WTI crude near $97, Brent $106. Gold cratered to $4,570. Bitcoin slipped to $69,700. VIX touched 26.8 before settling at 24.9.

The Rundown

WAR/OIL › Iran struck Qatar’s LNG production facilities overnight, wiping out roughly 17% of the country’s output and prompting evacuation warnings across Gulf energy sites. Saudi Arabia and the UAE are now on alert. WTI crude touched $99 intraday before pulling back to roughly $97. Brent traded above $106. Israeli PM Netanyahu signaled late in the session that the war may end sooner than expected, which helped stocks claw back from session lows. But with Hormuz traffic still down an estimated 70%, the supply picture isn’t fixed by optimism alone.

FED › The Fed held rates at 3.50-3.75% yesterday and projected just one more cut for the rest of 2026. Powell was blunt about the Middle East: higher energy prices will push up inflation, and that could delay any easing. February PPI already came in hot before the war’s full effects hit. The market heard “higher for longer” and traded accordingly. Two consecutive losing days for all three major averages, with the S&P now sitting below its 200-day moving average for the first time since last spring.

EARNINGS › Micron (MU) reported a quarter that would’ve been a celebration in any other tape. EPS of $12.20 crushed the $8.66 estimate. Revenue of $23.86 billion beat by $4 billion. The company guided even higher for Q3. Stock dropped 5.6%. Meanwhile, Accenture (ACN) missed EPS by 24% and rallied 4.1%. In this market, positioning matters more than the print. Guidance and forward visibility are the only things getting rewarded.

Full story available on Benzinga.com

Linkers Industries Ltd (NASDAQ:LNKS) shares are falling on Friday. The stock traded around 85 cents following a massive 51.36% jump during Thursday’s session.

Investors appear to be locking in profits after the stock closed Thursday at 88 cents.

• Linkers Industries stock is feeling bearish pressure. What’s behind LNKS decline?

SEC Filing Details Unit Offering

The price action follows a Form F-1 registration statement filed on Monday. Linkers Industries is offering up to 18.25 million ordinary units at approximately $0.9864 per unit.

Strategic Expansion in …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

Infosys Limited (NYSE:INFY) shares are up on Friday as the company is launching an AI-powered Race Centre in partnership with Formula E.

• How is INFY stock currently doing?

This initiative aims to enhance fan engagement through real-time insights and innovative technology, contributing positively to the stock’s performance despite a mixed market backdrop.

The new Race Centre, powered by Infosys Topaz, is designed to provide fans with immersive experiences during race days, integrating AI-driven insights and interactive features.

This launch marks a significant step in Infosys’ role as Formula E’s Official Digital Innovation Partner, showcasing the company’s commitment to leveraging technology in sports.

The platform will deliver features such as AI commentary, weather tracking, and race control updates, enhancing how fans engage with the sport. As Formula E continues to grow, this partnership positions Infosys at the forefront of digital transformation in motorsport, appealing to younger, tech-savvy audiences.

Infosys Intel AI Partnership

Earlier this month, the company announced a strategic collaboration with Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) to enhance enterprise AI deployments.

The collaboration focuses on optimizing AI performance and scalability, leveraging Intel’s high-performance compute platforms alongside Infosys Topaz Fabric.

This partnership aims to facilitate the …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:MSFT) partner OpenAI is merging ChatGPT, its Codex coding platform, and the Atlas browser into a single desktop “superapp,”.

The move comes as executives internally describe the company as operating under a “code red.”

OpenAI hit roughly $25 billion in annualized revenue as of February but is projecting $14 billion in losses this year and doesn’t expect to turn cash-flow positive until 2030.

OpenAI’s ‘Side Quest’ Problem

Fidji Simo, OpenAI’s chief of applications, told employees the company had been “spreading our efforts across too many apps.”

The Atlas AI browser launched in October 2025 to lukewarm reception. MIT Technology Review called it “cynicism masquerading as software.” The Sora video generator and a hardware device followed. None generated consumer enthusiasm.

Simo told an all-hands meeting last week they couldn’t afford “side quests” given Anthropic’s rapid success winning enterprise and coding customers. Sam Altman, …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

Russia is poised to be a major beneficiary of the US‑Israeli military operations against Iran, despite ongoing efforts to curb Moscow’s revenue from its so‑called shadow fleet by the European Union (EU) and the US.

The three-week conflict has tightened global energy markets, disrupted LNG flows, and weakened sanctions enforcement. These developments will strengthen Russia’s position as a major oil and gas exporter as countries scramble to find energy supplies.

Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have threatened the flow of 60 million tons of oil and 7 million tons of LNG per month. This war has rattled international energy markets.