Key Takeaways
- Market Volatility and Economic Concerns Deepen
- Wall Street sees its biggest losses since 2023, as fears of slowing U.S. growth, tariffs, and inflation shake investor confidence.
- Bitcoin and Ethereum slump, with Bitcoin dropping 7.96% and Ethereum 15.10%, following Trump’s Bitcoin Reserve order and broader market instability.
- Global Political Tensions Escalate
- Elon Musk backs U.S. exit from NATO, questioning the country’s role in Europe’s defense.
- Trump advisers consider lifting Russia sanctions, including the oil price cap, if peace talks progress.
- Poland clashes with Musk over Ukraine’s Starlink access, warning it may seek alternative providers.
- Energy and Commodity Markets Under Pressure
- Europe’s gas storage faces new risks, with faster winter depletion and uneconomic summer refills raising supply concerns.
- Gold surges amid Trump’s trade policies, as fears of tariffs drive a rush from London to New York.
- Technology and AI Developments
- Microsoft develops its own AI models, rivaling OpenAI and Anthropic, signaling a major shift in AI competition.
- Apple delays Siri upgrade indefinitely, citing AI concerns, pushing its next major update to 2026.
- U.S. Domestic Policy Shifts
- House Republicans push a spending bill to prevent a March 15 shutdown, with Trump urging GOP unity as Senate hurdles remain.
- Social Security resumes full benefit withholding for overpayments, reversing a Biden-era policy, sparking criticism.
IPO’s in the week
- Skycorp Solar Group Limited, a leader in solar photovoltaic products and computing solutions, will offer 2,000,000 shares at $4.00 each on NASDAQ (Symbol: PN) on March 4, 2025. The IPO proceeds will fund manufacturing expansion, R&D, and market penetration, targeting the burgeoning demand for renewable energy and efficient computing amid notable industry risks.
- Kestra Medical Technologies, a pioneering firm in wearable medical devices and digital healthcare, is set to offer 10,000,000 shares at $17.00 each on NASDAQ on March 6, 2025. The company specializes in developing advanced cardiac recovery systems, including their flagship ASSURE wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD), designed to enhance patient outcomes in cardiovascular disease through innovative diagnostic and therapeutic technologies.
- CapStone Holdings, Inc., a family office structured holding company specializing in providing investment capital and strategic underwriting for real estate, global technology businesses, and tech and fin-tech startups, is set to list on NASDAQ under the symbol CAPS. The company will offer 1,250,000 shares at a price of $4.00 each on March 6, 2025.
- Advanced Biomed Inc., established in 2014, leverages an interdisciplinary approach to pioneer microfluidic technology platforms, focusing on developing rapid and affordable assay products and services for cancer patients. The company plans to offer 1,875,000 shares at $4.00 each on NASDAQ under the ticker symbol “Advanced Biomed” on March 6, 2025.
- Sagtec Global Limited, a provider of comprehensive IT solutions including software and mobile app development, IT consulting, and cloud computing, serves a global clientele. The company is set to go public on NASDAQ under the symbol SAGT, offering 1,750,000 shares at $4.00 each on March 7, 2025.
- Micropolis Holding Company, a holding entity with subsidiaries specializing in developing Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) that utilize wheeled electric vehicle (EV) platforms with autonomous driving capabilities, serves a global customer base. The company is set to list on the NYSE American under the symbol MCRP, offering 5,000,000 shares at $4.00 each on March 7, 2025.
Markets this week
- The S&P 500 dropped 198.13 points (-3.32%) from March 3 to March 7.
- The Russell 1000 dropped 11.57 points (-3.53%) during the week.
- The Russell 2000 dropped 92.54 points (-4.27%) over the week.
- The CBOE gained 3.54 points (+17.85%) during the week.
- Bitcoin lost $7,505.75 (-7.96%) during 5 days of trading.
- Ethereum lost $380.54 (-15.10%) during 5 days of trading.
- Gold gained $32.00 (+1.11%) over the week.
- Silver gained $1.11 (+3.54%) during the week.
- WTI crude oil lost $2.91 (-4.16%) over the week.
- Brent crude oil lost $2.71 (-3.71%) over the week.
- Millennium Management lost $900 million this year as market volatility hit its index rebalancing strategy led by Glen Scheinberg and Pratik Madhvani.
- Global investors remain wary of Indian stocks, pulling nearly $15 billion this year amid economic concerns and high valuations.
- Market volatility surges as U.S. growth fears erase Trump-era gains, with Nasdaq 100 nearing correction. Experts warn of further declines amid inflation and tariff concerns.
- Apple delays its Siri upgrade indefinitely due to AI issues, pushing the release to next year amid development struggles.
- Wall Street sees its biggest losses since 2023, raising concerns over economic growth and consumer spending.
- Volatility traders profit from wild S&P 500 swings driven by Trump’s trade policies, with some seeing earnings surge by 80%.
- U.S. markets are lagging as Trump’s trade policies, government cuts, and a weakening economy shake investor confidence, while Europe and China gain momentum.
- Asian central banks face a cash crunch as efforts to defend currencies against the strong dollar raise borrowing costs.
- First Trust CEO Jim Bowen’s sales tactics and high-fee funds have drawn billions—and regulatory scrutiny—amid lavish marketing practices.
- Bond traders now see Trump’s policies as a recession risk, driving Treasury yields down as Fed rate cuts loom to counter slowing growth.
- Veritas Capital plans to merge Cambium Learning and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, its education portfolio firms, though no final decision has been made.
- Trump backs stablecoin regulations after establishing a U.S. Bitcoin Reserve funded by forfeited crypto assets.
- Trump’s Bitcoin Reserve order disappointed markets, causing Bitcoin to drop up to 5.7% amid broader risk-asset declines and economic uncertainty.
- Gold prices are surging as investors seek safety amid Trump’s trade policies, with fears of tariffs driving a rush from London to New York.
- Europe’s gas storage is under pressure as faster winter depletion and uneconomic summer refills raise concerns, with future Russian supply uncertain.
Politics Weekly
- Elon Musk supports the U.S. exiting NATO, questioning its role in funding Europe’s defense amid ongoing debates on the alliance’s future.
- Social Security will fully withhold overpaid benefits, reversing a Biden policy to recover $7 billion, amid criticism and pressure for agency cuts.
- The U.S. will enforce 25% steel and aluminum tariffs Wednesday, affecting Canada and Mexico, despite market concerns.
- Poland warns of switching providers if Musk cuts Ukraine’s Starlink, sparking a public clash with U.S. officials.
- German Chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz seeks a deal with the Greens to unlock a €500 billion defense and infrastructure fund.
- An armed man from Indiana was shot by Secret Service near the White House after a confrontation. Trump was in Florida at the time.
- Ukraine reels as Trump shifts U.S. stance from key ally to perceived Moscow appeaser, sparking diplomatic turmoil and aid withdrawal.
- The U.S. revoked Iraq’s waiver to buy Iranian electricity, tightening sanctions under Trump’s pressure campaign.
- Trump advisers may lift Russia sanctions, including the oil price cap, if peace talks advance.
- South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was released after a court overturned his arrest. He still faces trial for imposing martial law, with impeachment verdict pending.
- U.S. sanctions are slowing but not stopping China’s Iranian oil trade, raising costs and disrupting shipments as traders navigate increasing risks.
- Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei rejected U.S. calls for nuclear talks, vowing not to bow to “bullying” nations that failed past commitments.
- House Republicans push a spending bill to prevent a March 15 shutdown, with Trump urging unity as Senate hurdles remain.
Technology Advancements this week
- Microsoft Corp. has developed its own artificial intelligence models, which it considers on par with industry giants like OpenAI, a company insider revealed. The source, who chose to remain anonymous, indicated that recent tests of Microsoft’s new family of AI models showed they perform competitively with leading models from OpenAI and Anthropic.
- Apple Inc. has indefinitely postponed updates to its Siri digital assistant amid growing AI concerns. Originally planned for the iOS 18.4 update this April, enhancements such as Siri’s access to personal information and improved app control are now expected sometime in the next year, marking a significant delay from their initial schedule announced last June.
- United Airlines Holdings Inc. has equipped a regional aircraft with its first Starlink terminal, making it the first major US airline to use Elon Musk’s satellite service for in-flight Wi-Fi. This installation is part of a larger agreement to outfit over 1,000 United planes with SpaceX terminals, beginning with more than 300 two-class regional aircraft this year. The enhanced Wi-Fi service will be free for MileagePlus loyalty program members.
- Deepfake videos of Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong have surfaced online, being used to promote cryptocurrency investments, money-making schemes, and services for applying for permanent residency, the Prime Minister announced on Friday.
- Broadcom Inc. shares surged after the company forecasted stronger-than-expected sales of $14.9 billion for the quarter ending May 4, driven by robust demand for AI computing. This upbeat projection exceeded the average analyst estimate of $14.6 billion, instilling investor confidence in the AI market’s growth.
- President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet early next week with top executives from major U.S. tech companies, who are currently grappling with potential import tariffs and stricter export regulations that could significantly impact their operations.
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