Since Operation Epic Fury began nearly three weeks ago, markets have broadly clung to a comforting bet: that the disruption to oil supply would be brief, the Strait of Hormuz would reopen, and the Federal Reserve’s monetary-easing cycle would resume. On Friday, that bet broke. Stocks and bonds sold off together. Gold headed for its worst week since 1983. At one point, traders priced in a coin-flip...
Since Operation Epic Fury began nearly three weeks ago, markets have broadly clung to a comforting bet: that the disruption to oil supply would be brief, the Strait of Hormuz would reopen, and the Federal Reserve’s monetary-easing cycle would resume. On Friday, that bet broke. Stocks and bonds sold off together. Gold headed for its worst week since 1983. At one point, traders priced in a coin-flip chance the Fed’s next move is a hike, not a cut. The S&P 500 extended its longest weekly losing streak in a year. Markets have been stress-tested since the conflict broke out. But this week marks an escalation, with US officials signaling the White House is sending hundreds of Marines to the Middle East as it weighs a plan to seize Iran’s Kharg Island oil export hub. Brent crude hovering around $110 a barrel is no longer a temporary spike — it’s a persistent threat that investors, central bankers and business leaders are being forced to reckon with. The Federal Reserve held rates steady on Wednesday while Chair Jerome Powell made clear that the oil shock has made the inflation outlook too murky to render a timeline for easing. European central banks face a grimmer version of the same problem: frozen in place as energy-driven inflation blocks the rate cuts that a deteriorating growth outlook increasingly demands. “This past week has been a reckoning period where all corners of the market are finally coming to grips with the reality that not only is the conflict going to be a long one with an indeterminate ending, but one that has now involved the worst case scenario: a direct assault on all energy infrastructure in the region,” said Mark Malek , chief investment officer at Siebert Financial. Cross-market stress is building at the fastest pace since last year’s tariff shock, according to a Bank of America index. Trades across equities and credit that were built on the expectation of lower rates are unwinding simultaneously, and emerging markets are buckling. Investor angst o...
Following a monster performance in 2021, the initial public offering (IPO) market has cooled down over the last few years. But thanks to soaring valuations among private companies -- primarily artificial intelligence (AI) start-ups -- several unicorns are considering making their public market debuts this year. In late January, Elon Musk's AI start-up xAI completed a $1.25 trillion merger with Spa...
Following a monster performance in 2021, the initial public offering (IPO) market has cooled down over the last few years. But thanks to soaring valuations among private companies -- primarily artificial intelligence (AI) start-ups -- several unicorns are considering making their public market debuts this year. In late January, Elon Musk's AI start-up xAI completed a $1.25 trillion merger with SpaceX. Following the deal, discussions are swirling around a potential IPO of the combined business. A SpaceX IPO will almost undoubtedly come with enormous investor demand and exclusivity -- preventing retail investors from enjoying the action. But guess what? You don't need to wait for SpaceX to hit the public exchanges. Believe it or not, anyone can own a piece of Musk's trillion-dollar empire right now for just a few hundred bucks. Here's how. What is the best way to invest in SpaceX? To date, SpaceX has raised $11.9 billion of funding. While much of this has come from venture capital and private equity firms, a number of corporations have also invested in the company. Perhaps the most recognizable brand on SpaceX's investor roster is Alphabet's (GOOGL 2.01%) (GOOG 2.25%) Google. The internet giant has been an investor in SpaceX since 2015 -- participating in a $1 billion funding round at the time. If you're a retail investor, I think investing in Google parent Alphabet is both the easiest and best way to gain exposure to SpaceX. Alphabet is an incredibly diversified company whose ecosystem spans advertising, consumer electronics, autonomous driving, cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), and, of course, space exploration via its ownership stakes in SpaceX and AST SpaceMobile. What ETFs own SpaceX? Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are baskets of stocks that investors can buy to gain passive exposure to market themes and industry sectors. Some ETFs carry more complex structures -- holding equity in private companies in addition to public stocks. Some ETFs that hold pos...
Key Points Earlier this year, Elon Musk merged two of his largest businesses: xAI and SpaceX. Investors who may not have access to the SpaceX IPO can still invest in the company through a number of different ways. Certain companies and money managers offer investors exposure to SpaceX stock. 10 stocks we like better than Alphabet › Following a monster performance in 2021, the initial public offeri...
Key Points Earlier this year, Elon Musk merged two of his largest businesses: xAI and SpaceX. Investors who may not have access to the SpaceX IPO can still invest in the company through a number of different ways. Certain companies and money managers offer investors exposure to SpaceX stock. 10 stocks we like better than Alphabet › Following a monster performance in 2021, the initial public offering (IPO) market has cooled down over the last few years. But thanks to soaring valuations among private companies -- primarily artificial intelligence (AI) start-ups -- several unicorns are considering making their public market debuts this year. Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue » In late January, Elon Musk's AI start-up xAI completed a $1.25 trillion merger with SpaceX. Following the deal, discussions are swirling around a potential IPO of the combined business. A SpaceX IPO will almost undoubtedly come with enormous investor demand and exclusivity -- preventing retail investors from enjoying the action. But guess what? You don't need to wait for SpaceX to hit the public exchanges. Believe it or not, anyone can own a piece of Musk's trillion-dollar empire right now for just a few hundred bucks. Here's how. What is the best way to invest in SpaceX? To date, SpaceX has raised $11.9 billion of funding. While much of this has come from venture capital and private equity firms, a number of corporations have also invested in the company. Perhaps the most recognizable brand on SpaceX's investor roster is Alphabet's (NASDAQ: GOOGL) (NASDAQ: GOOG) Google. The internet giant has been an investor in SpaceX since 2015 -- participating in a $1 billion funding round at the time. If you're a retail investor, I think investing in Google parent Alphabet is both the easiest and best way to gain exposure to Sp...
And Then The World Changed... Authored by James Howard Kunstler, "Europe’s own regulatory architecture turned off Europe’s own energy supply. And America. . . on the other side of the Atlantic with a full tank of gas, watched it happen.” - Jeff Childers Let’s pause for a moment amid all the excitement to address an abiding mystery of these times: why does the news media seem to be rooting for Amer...
And Then The World Changed... Authored by James Howard Kunstler, "Europe’s own regulatory architecture turned off Europe’s own energy supply. And America. . . on the other side of the Atlantic with a full tank of gas, watched it happen.” - Jeff Childers Let’s pause for a moment amid all the excitement to address an abiding mystery of these times: why does the news media seem to be rooting for American failure in the Iran operation? Or more generally, how did the media become handmaiden to the Lefty-left and all its ancillaries? How were they lured into their Cloward-Piven bunker of crypto-Marxian “resistance”? It’s unlikely that the network executives, news producers, and editors are communists outright. That would take you into a simpleminded John Birch Society fantasyland. Or did they just read too much Antonio Gramsci on campus back in the day? If they’re merely whores pandering to an audience, it’s a dwindling one as the Woke mass formation dissolves and the insanity of its agenda stands naked. (Why not pander to the growing demographic that yearns for a restoration of normality?) Is the news controlled by the so-called Deep State? Do cadres in the CIA send headlines to the Washington Post newsroom? Many think so. I don’t pretend to know one way or the other. The problem with lying, of course, is that you have to keep lying to protect your previous lies. Does the rise of alt-news across the Internet provoke them to lie harder in the face of better narratives? Or is it just plain old group-think, fear of stepping out-of-sync with tribal certainties and shibboleths? Which is to say, are they merely cowards and cads? Do they really believe in the totalizing bad faith of the Democratic Party in its naked racketeering and power-seeking? That’s a sinking ship — the party that is now battling to obstruct simple straightforward election reform in the US Senate. Here’s a headline from today’s New York Times : What will The New York Times do when bona fide, convincing evi...
Friday, March 20, 2026 The Zacks Research Daily presents the best research output of our analyst team. Today's Research Daily features new research reports on 16 major stocks, including NVIDIA Corp. (NVDA), Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) and KLA Corp. (KLAC), as well as a micro-cap stock Frequency Electronics, Inc. (FEIM). The Zacks microcap research is unique as our research content on these small and un...
Friday, March 20, 2026 The Zacks Research Daily presents the best research output of our analyst team. Today's Research Daily features new research reports on 16 major stocks, including NVIDIA Corp. (NVDA), Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) and KLA Corp. (KLAC), as well as a micro-cap stock Frequency Electronics, Inc. (FEIM). The Zacks microcap research is unique as our research content on these small and under-the-radar companies is the only research of its type in the country. These research reports have been hand-picked from the roughly 70 reports published by our analyst team today. You can see all of today’s research reports here >>> Today's Featured Research Reports NVIDIA’s shares have outperformed the Zacks Semiconductor - General industry over the past year (+49.3% vs. +48.3%). The company is benefiting from the strong growth of artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance accelerated computing. The growing demand for generative AI and large language models using graphics processing units (GPUs) based on NVIDIA’s Hopper and Blackwell architectures is aiding data center revenues. The continued ramp-up of Ada RTX GPU workstations in the ProViz end market, following the normalization of channel inventory, is acting as a tailwind. Collaborations with more than 320 automakers and tier-one suppliers are likely to advance its presence in the autonomous vehicle space. However, a limited supply of Blackwell GPUs may hinder its ability to meet demand. Rising costs associated with the production of more complex AI systems will hurt margins. The U.S.-China tech war and rising competition from AMD remain major concerns. (You can read the full research report on NVIDIA here >>>) Shares of Caterpillar have outperformed the Zacks Manufacturing - Construction and Mining industry over the past year (+104.2% vs. +99%). The company continues to post revenue growth, driven by higher volumes across all segments. Caterpillar returned to earnings growth in the fourth quarter of 2025 (al...
Towering flash floods and an imminent dam failure in the northern part of Oahu triggered evacuation warnings in Hawaii on Friday, as the state continued contending with a powerful storm this week. The waters came on quickly in the middle of the night, and videos on social media captured inundated streets and cars being swallowed by the muddy floodwaters. As heavy rains continued to batter Hawaii, ...
Towering flash floods and an imminent dam failure in the northern part of Oahu triggered evacuation warnings in Hawaii on Friday, as the state continued contending with a powerful storm this week. The waters came on quickly in the middle of the night, and videos on social media captured inundated streets and cars being swallowed by the muddy floodwaters. As heavy rains continued to batter Hawaii, the Wahiawā dam on Oahu had water pouring over its spillway at 1,500 gallons per second on Friday morning. Oahu Emergency Management warned that the dam “may collapse or breach at any time”. Honolulu officials told residents in an emergency message to leave the area downstream of the dam. Emergency sirens blared along Oahu’s famed North Shore, where rising waters also damaged homes. Honolulu officials issued a “LEAVE NOW” evacuation order at 5.35am on Friday for Waialua and Haleiwa: “Extremely dangerous flooding and Wahiawa dam is high.” It remained unclear how many residents would be able to evacuate, given that many roads were already inundated. A shelter set up at Waialua high school lost power early on Friday morning and had to be evacuated itself. North Shore state representative Amy Perruso told Honolulu Civil Beat that emergency services were having trouble reaching people, and many residents’ vehicles were under water. “There’s no exit possibility for a lot of folks right now,” Perruso said. The Honolulu emergency department said in the early hours of Friday: “If you are trapped, go to the highest level. Stay out of attics without a way to the roof.” Officials have been watching dam levels since a storm last week dumped heavy rain across the state, which led to catastrophic flooding that washed away roads and homes. After the worst of it, a similar but weaker storm was forecast to bring more rain through this weekend. Josh Green, the Hawaii governor, said in a social media post that the Hawaii national guard had been activated to respond to the flooding. “The storm ...
A Downing Street spokesperson said of Friday's discussions by ministers: "They agreed that Iran's reckless strikes, including on Red Ensign vessels and those of our close allies and Gulf partners, risked pushing the region further into crisis and worsening the economic impact being felt in the UK and around the world.
A Downing Street spokesperson said of Friday's discussions by ministers: "They agreed that Iran's reckless strikes, including on Red Ensign vessels and those of our close allies and Gulf partners, risked pushing the region further into crisis and worsening the economic impact being felt in the UK and around the world.
May arabica coffee (KCK26) on Friday closed up +8.85 (+2.94%), and May ICE robusta coffee (RMK26) closed down -5 (-0.14%). Coffee prices on Friday extended this week's rally, with arabica posting a 1.5-month high and robusta a 1.5-week high. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has disrupted global shipping, tightened global supplies, and is supporting coffee prices. The closure of the waterway has...
May arabica coffee (KCK26) on Friday closed up +8.85 (+2.94%), and May ICE robusta coffee (RMK26) closed down -5 (-0.14%). Coffee prices on Friday extended this week's rally, with arabica posting a 1.5-month high and robusta a 1.5-week high. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has disrupted global shipping, tightened global supplies, and is supporting coffee prices. The closure of the waterway has increased global shipping rates, insurance, and fuel costs, and raises costs for coffee importers and roasters. Coffee prices fell back from their best levels on Friday, with robusta falling into negative territory, due to a stronger dollar. Don’t Miss a Day: Robusta coffee also has support from tighter inventories, as ICE robusta inventories fell to a 2-month low of 4,257 lots on Friday. On Monday, arabica coffee fell to a 2-week low, and May robusta fell to a contract low, as abundant rains in Brazil eased crop concerns. Somar Meteorologia reported Monday that Brazil's largest arabica coffee-growing area, Minas Gerais, received 57.7 mm of rain last week, or 139% of the historical average. The outlook for a bumper Brazil coffee crop is bearish for coffee prices, after StoneX raised its Brazil 2026/27 coffee production estimate to a record 75.3 million bags, up from its November estimate of 70.7 million bags. Rising ICE inventories are also pressuring arabica coffee prices as ICE-monitored arabica inventories rose to a 5.75-month high of 585,621 bags on Wednesday. Coffee prices also saw support from recent news that Brazil's Feb green coffee exports fell by -27% y/y to 2.3 million bags, according to Cecafe. Meanwhile, Brazil's Trade Ministry reported last Thursday that Brazil's Feb coffee exports fell -17.4% y/y to 142,000 MT. Coffee prices in February sold off sharply, with arabica falling to a 16-month low on February 24 and robusta tumbling to a 7.25-month low on February 23 as signs of a bumper Brazilian coffee crop supported the global supply outlook. On February 5, C...
Comprehensive cross-platform coverage of the U.S. market close on Bloomberg Television, Bloomberg Radio, and YouTube with Romaine Bostick, Katie Greifeld, Carol Massar and Tim Stenovec. (Source: Bloomberg)
Comprehensive cross-platform coverage of the U.S. market close on Bloomberg Television, Bloomberg Radio, and YouTube with Romaine Bostick, Katie Greifeld, Carol Massar and Tim Stenovec. (Source: Bloomberg)
Earthwise Minerals (CSE:WISE)(FSE:966)( OTCQB: EWISF ) on Friday said that it plans a non-brokered private placement of up to 10 million units to raise as much as $500,000. The offering will include flow-through and non-flow-through units priced at $0.05 each. Proceeds from the flow-through portion will fund exploration expenses, while the remainder will be used for working capital. The company sa...
Earthwise Minerals (CSE:WISE)(FSE:966)( OTCQB: EWISF ) on Friday said that it plans a non-brokered private placement of up to 10 million units to raise as much as $500,000. The offering will include flow-through and non-flow-through units priced at $0.05 each. Proceeds from the flow-through portion will fund exploration expenses, while the remainder will be used for working capital. The company said the financing is subject to regulatory approvals and customary conditions. EWISF closed -4.91% at $0.0348. Source: Press Release More on Earthwise Minerals Corp. Financial information for Earthwise Minerals Corp.
Key Points You don't have to take RMDs from Roth retirement accounts. You also don't have to take an RMD from your current 401(k) if you're still working and own less than 5% of the company. You may not need to take money out of all your traditional IRAs. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook › If you're new to required minimum distributions (RMDs), it's easy to get c...
Key Points You don't have to take RMDs from Roth retirement accounts. You also don't have to take an RMD from your current 401(k) if you're still working and own less than 5% of the company. You may not need to take money out of all your traditional IRAs. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook › If you're new to required minimum distributions (RMDs), it's easy to get confused about what you're actually supposed to do. You don't want to withdraw too little because you'll pay a 25% tax penalty on the RMD you failed to withdraw. And withdrawing too much could raise your tax bill and cause you to miss out on valuable investment earnings. The good news is, once you know a few basic rules, the whole RMD process starts to feel a lot easier. One of the most important things to understand is that you don't have to take RMDs from all your retirement accounts. Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue » Roth IRAs have always been exempt from RMDs because you fund them with after-tax dollars. The government doesn't take a cut of these distributions, so it has no reason to force you to take money out of these accounts in retirement. As of a few years ago, Roth 401(k)s also don't require RMDs. You usually have to take RMDs from all tax-deferred retirement accounts, including traditional IRAs and 401(k)s. But there is an exception for your current 401(k) if you're still working and own less than 5% of the company. In that case, you can delay RMDs from that account only until the year after the year you retire. You also don't have to take RMDs from every traditional IRA. But the total amount you withdraw from your IRAs must equal the total of all your IRA RMDs. So, if you had two traditional IRAs, you would calculate RMDs for each. If one was $5,000 and one was $1,000, you could t...
XTL Biopharmaceuticals ( XTLB ) will change its ADS ratio from 1:100 to 1:400 effective March 25, 2026. The move is equivalent to a 1-for-4 reverse ADS split for shareholders. No fractional ADSs will be issued; proceeds from fractional sales will be distributed in cash. More on XTL Biopharmaceuticals XTL announces receipt of staff delisting letter from Nasdaq Financial information for XTL Biopharm...
XTL Biopharmaceuticals ( XTLB ) will change its ADS ratio from 1:100 to 1:400 effective March 25, 2026. The move is equivalent to a 1-for-4 reverse ADS split for shareholders. No fractional ADSs will be issued; proceeds from fractional sales will be distributed in cash. More on XTL Biopharmaceuticals XTL announces receipt of staff delisting letter from Nasdaq Financial information for XTL Biopharmaceuticals
As your 65th birthday gets closer, you may start getting ready to enroll in Medicare. And you're actually allowed to enroll up to three months before the month you turn 65. It's important to read up on what Medicare costs and covers so you know how to budget accurately for healthcare expenses in retirement. But if you're a higher earner who's gearing up to enroll in Medicare, there's a certain "go...
As your 65th birthday gets closer, you may start getting ready to enroll in Medicare. And you're actually allowed to enroll up to three months before the month you turn 65. It's important to read up on what Medicare costs and covers so you know how to budget accurately for healthcare expenses in retirement. But if you're a higher earner who's gearing up to enroll in Medicare, there's a certain "gotcha" to brace for. Will your Medicare premiums cost you more? While most Medicare enrollees do not pay a premium for Part A, there's a monthly premium Part B participants are charged. If you're on Social Security, once you're eligible for Medicare, your Part B premiums will be paid out of your monthly benefits directly. If you're not yet on Social Security, you'll have to make those payments yourself. The standard monthly premium for Medicare Part B changes yearly. Right now, it's $202.90. Last year, it was $185. But if you're a higher earner, you may end up paying more for Medicare Part B due to being subject to surcharges known as income-related monthly adjustment amounts, or IRMAAs. IRMAAs are based on your income from two years prior. If you're planning to enroll in Medicare this year but earned a high income in 2024, you may be looking at paying extra for Part B. Worse yet, IRMAAs apply to Part D drug plans, too. The thresholds at which IRMAAs apply also aren't all that low. Right now, single tax-filers with a modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) of over $109,000 face IRMAAs. And IRMAAs also increase by income level, so the higher your income, the higher your surcharge is. Higher earners can be particularly vulnerable to the IRMAA trap when they first enroll in Medicare. If you're retiring this year and enrolling in Medicare but earned a high salary in 2024, you could end up having to pay more for coverage. Plan to pay more so there are no surprises It's not a given that you'll face IRMAAs as a higher earner. During retirement, for example, you may not be pushed into...
Pony AI Inc. (NASDAQ:PONY) is among the 10 Best New AI Stocks to Buy. On March 13, Pony AI Inc. (NASDAQ:PONY) announced expanded access to its robotaxi ride-hailing service through integration with Tencent Mobility Services. The rollout allows users in designated areas of Guangzhou to book fully autonomous rides directly through the WeChat ecosystem, significantly enhancing accessibility and user ...
Pony AI Inc. (NASDAQ:PONY) is among the 10 Best New AI Stocks to Buy. On March 13, Pony AI Inc. (NASDAQ:PONY) announced expanded access to its robotaxi ride-hailing service through integration with Tencent Mobility Services. The rollout allows users in designated areas of Guangzhou to book fully autonomous rides directly through the WeChat ecosystem, significantly enhancing accessibility and user adoption. This development strengthens Pony AI’s distribution capabilities by embedding its service within one of China’s largest digital platforms, which could accelerate user growth and the commercialization of autonomous mobility solutions. On March 2, Pony AI Inc. (NASDAQ:PONY) reported achieving a seventh-generation robotaxi unit economics breakthrough in Shenzhen, marking a key milestone toward profitability. The company indicated that this advancement supports the viability of a sustainable business model and provides a foundation for scaling operations over the coming years. Together, improving unit economics and expanding platform integration reinforce the company’s trajectory toward large-scale deployment, making the stock increasingly attractive as autonomous driving adoption accelerates. Pony AI Inc. (NASDAQ:PONY) is an autonomous driving technology company with operations across Silicon Valley, Beijing, and Guangzhou. The company develops robotaxi and self-driving solutions aimed at transforming urban mobility. Having gone public in November 2024, Pony AI is positioned to benefit from the long-term shift toward autonomous transportation, with its growing partnerships and improving cost structure supporting significant upside potential. While we acknowledge the potential of PONY as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best sh...
(RTTNews) - Extending the slump seen over the two previous sessions, stocks moved sharply lower during trading on Friday. With the extended nosedive, the Nasdaq and the S&P 500 plunged to their lowest closing levels in over six months. The Dow and the Nasdaq dipped into contraction territory, reflecting a 10 percent plunge from their latest highs, before regaining some ground going into the end th...
(RTTNews) - Extending the slump seen over the two previous sessions, stocks moved sharply lower during trading on Friday. With the extended nosedive, the Nasdaq and the S&P 500 plunged to their lowest closing levels in over six months. The Dow and the Nasdaq dipped into contraction territory, reflecting a 10 percent plunge from their latest highs, before regaining some ground going into the end the day. The tech-heavy Nasdaq led the way lower, plummeting 443.08 points or 2.0 percent to 21,647.61, while the S&P 500 tumbled 100.01 points or 1.5 percent to 6,506.48 and the Dow slumped 443.96 points or 1.0 percent to 45,577.47. The major averages more than offset the strength early in the week, with the S&P 500 diving by 1.9 percent for the week and the Dow and the Nasdaq both plunging by 2.1 percent. The sell-off on Wall Street came amid continued volatility by the price of crude oil, which has been a key driver of trading in recent sessions. The price of crude oil for May delivery has shown wild swings over the course of the session but is currently spiking by nearly 3 percent in electronic trading. Crude oil prices initially surged amid news of new attacks on energy infrastructure in the Middle East but gave back ground amid reports suggesting the U.S. is weighing lifting sanctions on some Iranian oil to increase supply and bring down prices. However, the surge resumed due in part to comments from President Donald Trump, who suggested in an interview with MS Now's Stephanie Ruhle that the U.S. would continue to attack Iran until they can "never rebuild." Trump later told reporters he is not interest in a ceasefire with Iran, saying, "You don't do a ceasefire when you're literally obliterating the other side." While oil prices have been on a rollercoaster rise in recent sessions, they remain sharply higher compared to when the war began, fueling concerns about the outlook for inflation and interest rates. CME Group's FedWatch Tool currently indicates the Federal Reser...