Wall Street is cutting its forecasts for the US economy this year, boosting its projections for inflation and unemployment and nudging up the odds of a recession as the impact of the Iran war starts to come into view. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. says the risk of a downturn over the next 12 months has risen to 30% as a result of the surge in oil prices, and predicts the jobless rate will climb to 4.6%...
Wall Street is cutting its forecasts for the US economy this year, boosting its projections for inflation and unemployment and nudging up the odds of a recession as the impact of the Iran war starts to come into view. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. says the risk of a downturn over the next 12 months has risen to 30% as a result of the surge in oil prices, and predicts the jobless rate will climb to 4.6% by the end of 2026 from 4.4% in February . Several firms say inflation will now be closer to 3% this year than 2%, eating into disposable incomes and keeping a lid on hiring. That’s a shift from what was supposed to be a strong year in 2026 as the shock of President Donald Trump’s tariffs faded into the background and stimulus from tax cuts kicked in . Even if the fighting ends soon, economists say the damage already done will keep the US economy on a narrow footing, with job seekers and lower-income consumers alike continuing to struggle. “Lots of elements of the economy are going to be weaker because of this war,” said Nancy Vanden Houten , the lead US economist at Oxford Economics. “The impact is very visible very quickly,” Vanden Houten said. “You just have to drive by your local gas station.” Tax refunds, amped up by Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, have helped blunt the blow. But forecasters are starting to expect the increase in refunds — a key element underpinning sunny forecasts for consumer spending in 2026 — will be effectively neutralized by higher energy costs. Read More: Tax Refunds Up, But Falling Short of Trump’s $1,000 Promise The price of gasoline has surged more than 30% so far this month to about $4 a gallon , according to the American Automobile Association, marking the biggest increase since Hurricane Katrina knocked out Gulf Coast oil production in 2005. Early data on tax refunds, meanwhile, are coming up short of expectations. In a March 23 report, Morgan Stanley economists estimated refunds are tracking 12% higher than last year, below the 15% t...
Software firm Planview Inc. has reached out to private credit firms to help it address debt maturing next year, according to people familiar with the situation. Increased competition due the proliferation of artificial intelligence powered tools and high leverage have raised concerns about the company’s ability to refinance its debt obligations in the public market, said the people familiar, who a...
Software firm Planview Inc. has reached out to private credit firms to help it address debt maturing next year, according to people familiar with the situation. Increased competition due the proliferation of artificial intelligence powered tools and high leverage have raised concerns about the company’s ability to refinance its debt obligations in the public market, said the people familiar, who asked not to be identified discussing a private matter. The TPG Capital and TA Associates -owned firm has a more than $1.5 billion of debt outstanding, with the bulk of it, including a term loan and a revolving credit facility, due in December 2027. Meanwhile, a group of lenders have signed a cooperation pact and are working with law firm Gibson Dunn & Crutcher , said other people familiar with the matter. Such agreements bound lenders to act together should the company want to engage in discussions over its debt load. A representative with TPG declined to comment, while messages left with Planview, TA Associates and Gibson Dunn were not returned. Planview is among the scores of tech companies that have seen their debt trade in distressed territory since February, caught up in a software selloff. Its $1.3 billion first lien loan due next year was quoted at 76.1 cents on the dollar Wednesday, down from 96.1 cents at the start of the year, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Its $270 million second lien loan due in 2028 is quoted at 69 cents. Moody’s Ratings cut Planview’s credit grade to Caa1 from B3 earlier this month, noting that the company has sought to widen its product offerings with the launch of Planview Anvi, an AI powered work managment tool. But a competitive landscape combined with too much leverage hinders a refinancing transaction. The ratings firm also changed the outlook to negative from stable, reflecting the potential for a distressed exchange as the company approaches its maturities.
Chip maker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE:TSM) reported its Q4 2025 results in January, while Broadcom (NASDAQ:AVGO) filed its Q1 FY2026 results in March. Both are riding the same AI wave from structurally different positions: one builds fabs, the other designs chips and sells software. Manufacturing Dominance Meets Custom Silicon Acceleration TSMC’s quarter demonstrated foundry leverage...
Chip maker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE:TSM) reported its Q4 2025 results in January, while Broadcom (NASDAQ:AVGO) filed its Q1 FY2026 results in March. Both are riding the same AI wave from structurally different positions: one builds fabs, the other designs chips and sells software. Manufacturing Dominance Meets Custom Silicon Acceleration TSMC’s quarter demonstrated foundry leverage ... TSM vs. AVGO: Which is a Better Semiconductor Stock?
In trading on Wednesday, shipping shares were relative laggards, down on the day by about 1.7%. Helping drag down the group were shares of Euroseas, down about 5.8% and shares of Ardmore Shipping off about 4.3% on the day. Also lagging the market Wednesday are textiles shares,
In trading on Wednesday, shipping shares were relative laggards, down on the day by about 1.7%. Helping drag down the group were shares of Euroseas, down about 5.8% and shares of Ardmore Shipping off about 4.3% on the day. Also lagging the market Wednesday are textiles shares,
CrowdStrike has recently rolled out a wave of AI-powered cybersecurity enhancements across its Falcon platform, including agentic managed detection and response, adversary-informed cloud and data security, expanded Next-Gen SIEM capabilities, and new flexible services offerings. By coupling these launches with partnerships spanning NVIDIA, EY, Nebius, Perplexity, and others, CrowdStrike is positio...
CrowdStrike has recently rolled out a wave of AI-powered cybersecurity enhancements across its Falcon platform, including agentic managed detection and response, adversary-informed cloud and data security, expanded Next-Gen SIEM capabilities, and new flexible services offerings. By coupling these launches with partnerships spanning NVIDIA, EY, Nebius, Perplexity, and others, CrowdStrike is positioning Falcon as an AI-centric security operating system that ties together endpoints, cloud,...
In trading on Wednesday, biotechnology shares were relative leaders, up on the day by about 3.6%. Leading the group were shares of Sarepta Therapeutics, up about 27.3% and shares of Spruce Biosciences up about 19.6% on the day. Also showing relative strength are precious metal
In trading on Wednesday, biotechnology shares were relative leaders, up on the day by about 3.6%. Leading the group were shares of Sarepta Therapeutics, up about 27.3% and shares of Spruce Biosciences up about 19.6% on the day. Also showing relative strength are precious metal
Rawpixel/iStock via Getty Images Investment Outlook Wipro Limited ( WIT ) reported FQ3 2026 financial results , missing revenue but meeting EPS consensus estimates. I previously analyzed WIT in June 2025 with a Sell outlook due to declining revenue and client ramp-downs. Forward revenue is still expected to decline, and clients remain focused on less lucrative cost-takeout work rather than high-va...
Rawpixel/iStock via Getty Images Investment Outlook Wipro Limited ( WIT ) reported FQ3 2026 financial results , missing revenue but meeting EPS consensus estimates. I previously analyzed WIT in June 2025 with a Sell outlook due to declining revenue and client ramp-downs. Forward revenue is still expected to decline, and clients remain focused on less lucrative cost-takeout work rather than high-value-added transformational projects. While management is focused on shifting the firm’s focus toward GenAI capabilities and offerings, soft client demand keeps me pessimistic on the company's prospects in the near term, so I remain a Sell on WIT. Wipro’s Market And Approach Wipro generates its revenue from a combination of consulting, IT services and business process outsourcing income across a number of verticals and global regions. The pie chart below shows the company's revenue contribution by region, with the Americas representing the strong majority of revenue: SEC The firm also generates a high percentage of revenue by industry from the BFSI (Banking, Financial Services, Insurance) vertical. WIT’s main service offering categories are: Consulting IT services Business process outsourcing Government services Product engineering & design Other. The 2024 global market for software consulting was around $350 billion in size and was expected to surpass $1.1 trillion by 2034, per a market research report by Precedence Research. If achieved, this growth rate would equal a CAGR of 12.6% from 2025 to 2034, which is a fairly strong growth rate for an already large industry. The main drivers for this forecasted growth are continued demand by organizations for efficiency improvements to their IT systems; also, the SMB market is expected to grow at the highest growth rate through 2034. The North America region accounted for the highest market share in 2023, followed by Europe and the Asia Pacific region, as the chart shows here: Precedence Research Substantial competitors and other ...
Rithm Capital announced today that its Board of Directors has declared its first quarter 2026 common and preferred stock dividends. "Today's announcement marks our 52nd consecutive quarterly dividend since our founding in 2013, reflecting the consistency of our earnings and dis
Rithm Capital announced today that its Board of Directors has declared its first quarter 2026 common and preferred stock dividends. "Today's announcement marks our 52nd consecutive quarterly dividend since our founding in 2013, reflecting the consistency of our earnings and dis
smshoot/iStock via Getty Images The U.S. economic slowdown is becoming “more extreme,” according to Jim Paulsen, former chief investment strategist at the Leuthold Group, who argues that the weakening fundamentals may soon force the Federal Reserve’s hand on interest rates. Despite oil prices ( CL1:COM ), ( CO1:COM ) that have risen, and persistent inflation fears tied to the Iran conflict, Paulse...
smshoot/iStock via Getty Images The U.S. economic slowdown is becoming “more extreme,” according to Jim Paulsen, former chief investment strategist at the Leuthold Group, who argues that the weakening fundamentals may soon force the Federal Reserve’s hand on interest rates. Despite oil prices ( CL1:COM ), ( CO1:COM ) that have risen, and persistent inflation fears tied to the Iran conflict, Paulsen suggested the economy’s underlying weakness is the more pressing concern for investors and policymakers alike. In an interview with CNBC, Paulsen acknowledged the difficulty investors face in assessing risks from the ongoing war. “No one knows how this is going to go,” he said, noting that while a prolonged conflict would be “very detrimental for stocks and bonds,” there’s also significant risk in sitting on the sidelines if a quick resolution emerges. The strategist emphasized that the market presents risks on both sides of the trade. Paulsen offered perspective on the current oil price spike, with West Texas Intermediate ( CL1:COM ) at $88—up roughly 35% over the past year. He noted this increase is among the smaller oil-induced inflation spikes of the last four decades, and critically, it’s occurring when real GDP growth sits at just 2% with productivity at 2.5%. “That’s the most disinflationary growth you can have,” Paulsen explained. “I wonder if it might be a little less than we expected” in terms of inflationary fallout. The strategist highlighted an irony in market sentiment: despite last year’s fears about tariff-induced inflation, the CPI actually fell from 3% to 2.4%, yet many investors missed the market’s gains because they were “scared away.” Now, he suggested, the same pattern may be repeating with oil-driven inflation concerns dominating the conversation while underlying economic weakness tells a different story. Paulsen declared himself a “bond buyer,” pointing out that the 10-year yield ( US10Y ) has risen only 15 to 20 basis points from year-end levels d...
SergeyChayko/iStock via Getty Images By Zain Vawda Data from the ONS showed the UK's annual inflation rate held firm at 3% in February 2026 , matching the previous month's figure and meeting market expectations. This consistency marks a continued period of relative stability, with inflation remaining at its lowest point since March 2025. While the headline figure remained unchanged, the underlying...
SergeyChayko/iStock via Getty Images By Zain Vawda Data from the ONS showed the UK's annual inflation rate held firm at 3% in February 2026 , matching the previous month's figure and meeting market expectations. This consistency marks a continued period of relative stability, with inflation remaining at its lowest point since March 2025. While the headline figure remained unchanged, the underlying data revealed shifting price pressures across various sectors. Source: TradingEconomics Primary Drivers of Price Growth The most significant upward pressure came from the clothing and footwear sector, which saw prices climb by 0.9%. This represents the first increase in four months, largely driven by the seasonal arrival of new spring collections following the conclusion of January sales. Additionally, costs for housing and utilities experienced a slight acceleration, rising to 4.6% from 4.5% in January. Sectors Seeing a Slowdown Conversely, several categories helped keep the headline rate in check: Transport: Prices slowed to 2.4% (down from 2.7%), primarily due to a drop in motor fuel costs. Petrol prices fell by 1.6 pence per litre this month, a sharp contrast to the 2.0 pence per litre increase seen during the same period last year. Essential Goods and Leisure: Food inflation eased to 3.3%, while recreation and culture slowed slightly to 2.5% . Hospitality and Services: Costs for restaurants and hotels cooled to 4%, and the closely watched services inflation rate ticked down to 4.3%. Overall, the data suggests a balancing act where rising retail and housing costs are being offset by cheaper fuel and a gradual cooling in service and food prices. Inflation expectations soar on Iran war fears The Bank of England (BoE) faces an increasingly complex policy environment as new data released on Tuesday revealed a surge in public inflation expectations. This shift in sentiment compounds an already difficult situation for policymakers, as manufacturers have reported their sharpe...
At his company's recent Annual Product Expo, Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) CEO Jensen Huang predicted that Nvidia's artificial intelligence (AI) processors would generate $1 trillion in sales through 2027. Obviously, Nvidia is one way to play that sales potential. But Nvidia is already the world's most valuable company by market cap. Everybody knows the story with Nvidia. But there's a less prominent stoc...
At his company's recent Annual Product Expo, Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) CEO Jensen Huang predicted that Nvidia's artificial intelligence (AI) processors would generate $1 trillion in sales through 2027. Obviously, Nvidia is one way to play that sales potential. But Nvidia is already the world's most valuable company by market cap. Everybody knows the story with Nvidia. But there's a less prominent stock that I think will become one of the biggest beneficiaries of the company's $1 trillion sales projection. Continue reading
Meta To Lay Off Hundreds Of Workers Today As AI Pivot Accelerates Meta Platforms is laying off a few hundred employees today as its workforce restructuring continues, following years of terrible metaverse bets and overhiring during the Covid era. Reports of another round of layoffs surfaced earlier this month, and just last week, Meta shut down Horizon Worlds, its virtual reality social network fo...
Meta To Lay Off Hundreds Of Workers Today As AI Pivot Accelerates Meta Platforms is laying off a few hundred employees today as its workforce restructuring continues, following years of terrible metaverse bets and overhiring during the Covid era. Reports of another round of layoffs surfaced earlier this month, and just last week, Meta shut down Horizon Worlds, its virtual reality social network for Quest headsets. The Information reports that a few hundred employees will be let go today as part of the company's effort to reposition itself in the AI space. People familiar with the workforce restructuring say a majority of the cuts will focus on staff in Reality Labs, social media teams, recruiting, and a smaller number of sales roles. “Teams across Meta regularly restructure or implement changes to ensure they’re in the best position to achieve their goals. Where possible, we are finding other opportunities for employees whose positions may be impacted," a Meta spokesperson told the outlet. In mid-March, Reuters reported that a new round of layoffs at Meta was imminent and would reduce the workforce by 20%. The outlet said that the workforce restructuring is intended to redirect capital flows toward AI infrastructure. The latest Bloomberg data show Meta's total workforce at the end of 2025 was about 79,000. Any layoffs today would amount to only a quarter of a percent. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has been downsizing the workforce since the 2022–23 "year of efficiency" layoffs. Shares of Meta peaked in August 2025 at around $790 and have since been locked in a bear market, down around 25%. The reason for Meta's underperformance can be found in our note on Tuesday titled "What's The Matter With Meta: Goldman Explains The Stock's Ongoing Slump." Tyler Durden Wed, 03/25/2026 - 12:05
"There is an America that is more free — where there's more equality, where there is more justice, where there is less bigotry — and I think it's waiting for us," says lawyer Bryan Stevenson.
"There is an America that is more free — where there's more equality, where there is more justice, where there is less bigotry — and I think it's waiting for us," says lawyer Bryan Stevenson.
Sundry Photography/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Cintas ( CTAS ) reported results that topped Wall Street expectations for revenue and met profit forecasts, though shares slipped about 1% by mid-day in New York trading Wednesday. Fiscal third-quarter revenue was $2.84 billion for the quarter ended Feb. 28, exceeding the consensus estimate of $2.82 billion and rising 8.9% from $2.61 billion a y...
Sundry Photography/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Cintas ( CTAS ) reported results that topped Wall Street expectations for revenue and met profit forecasts, though shares slipped about 1% by mid-day in New York trading Wednesday. Fiscal third-quarter revenue was $2.84 billion for the quarter ended Feb. 28, exceeding the consensus estimate of $2.82 billion and rising 8.9% from $2.61 billion a year earlier. Organic revenue growth, which excludes acquisitions and currency impacts, was 8.2%. Net income rose to $502.5 million, or $1.24 a share, in line with Wall Street’s estimate, from $463.5 million, or $1.13 a share, a year earlier. Gross margin improved to 51.0%, an all-time high, up from 50.6% a year earlier, reflecting pricing strength and operational efficiency. Operating income increased 8.2% to $659.9 million, though operating margin edged slightly lower to 23.2% from 23.4% in the prior year period. CEO highlights growth, momentum “We delivered another successful quarter with record revenues and strong operating margins,” Todd Schneider, president and chief executive officer of Cintas ( CTAS ), said in the earnings announcement. He added that organic growth and record margins across its route-based businesses reflect continued investment in technology, capacity and talent. Acquisition and outlook in focus Cintas ( CTAS ) also pointed to its planned acquisition of UniFirst as a key strategic move, saying it expects the transaction to create meaningful value for shareholders and customers. The company raised its full-year fiscal 2026 outlook, projecting revenue of $11.21 billion to $11.24 billion and adjusted diluted earnings per share of $4.86 to $4.90, excluding transaction-related costs tied to the UniFirst deal. Capital returns and balance sheet activity Cintas ( CTAS ) returned $1.45 billion to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks in the first nine months of the fiscal year, underscoring its ongoing capital allocation strategy. Despite solid f...