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Iran Closes Strait of Hormuz as U.S.-Israeli Strikes Deepen, Sending Oil to Eight-Month Highs

The Islamic Republic declared the Strait of Hormuz closed to all maritime traffic on Tuesday as U.S. and Israeli forces launched a fourth consecutive day of strikes, pushing Brent crude above $84 per barrel. The closure of the world's most critical oil chokepoint — through which roughly a third of global seaborne crude exports pass — has ignited fears of a prolonged supply shock and rattled equity markets worldwide.

Apple Unveils iPhone 17e at $599 and M4 iPad Air, Kicking Off Its Most Ambitious Hardware Cycle in Years

Apple launched the iPhone 17e at $599 on Monday, doubling base storage to 256GB while adding MagSafe support, alongside a new M4-powered iPad Air — the opening salvo of what analysts say could be the company's most significant product refresh in recent memory. Pre-orders open March 4, with availability across more than 70 countries beginning March 11.

Target Beats Q4 Earnings Estimates as Holiday Rebound Fuels Optimism; Best Buy Posts Mixed Results

Target Corporation reported adjusted fourth-quarter earnings of $2.44 per share, handily topping Wall Street's $2.16 consensus, as the retailer pointed to improved sales trends in January as an encouraging milestone on its path to recovery. Best Buy posted a mixed quarter — beating on earnings per share but missing revenue estimates — while raising its quarterly dividend for the thirteenth consecutive year.

CrowdStrike Reports Q4 Earnings After the Bell as Cybersecurity Demand Tests Resilience Against AI Competition

CrowdStrike Holdings is scheduled to report fiscal fourth-quarter results after Tuesday's close, with analysts projecting earnings of $1.10 per share on revenue of approximately $1.3 billion — a 22.6% year-over-year increase. The report comes amid a 24.5% three-month decline in the stock, driven by fears that AI-native security tools could erode the company's competitive moat in enterprise cybersecurity.

U.S. Manufacturing Expands for Second Month Despite Tariff and Policy Uncertainty

U.S. manufacturing showed continued expansion in February as the ISM manufacturing index stayed above 50 for the second straight month, signaling modest growth. However, rising tariffs on metals and ongoing geopolitical tensions pose challenges to cost structures and supply chain efficiencies. While production and new orders showed strength, employment growth remained flat, prompting cautious optimism among industrial firms.

U.S.-Israel Strikes on Iran Trigger Broad Market Selloff as Oil Surges and Safe Havens Rally

A joint U.S.-Israeli military offensive against Iran, dubbed Operation Epic Fury, sent shockwaves through global financial markets on Monday, pushing oil prices up as much as 13 percent, gold above $5,400 per ounce, and sparking a broad equity selloff as investors repositioned into safe-haven assets amid fears of prolonged conflict and energy supply disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz.

Strait of Hormuz Effectively Closed: Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, CMA CGM Halt All Transits as Shipping Stocks Surge

The world's four largest container shipping carriers suspended all vessel crossings through the Strait of Hormuz following Iranian attacks on tankers transiting the waterway, triggering a 70 percent drop in traffic and sending shares of Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd surging more than 4 percent as investors anticipated higher freight rates, war-risk surcharges, and prolonged rerouting of global cargo around Africa's Cape of Good Hope.

Wall Street Braces for AI Disruption and Key Jobs Data in Market Week Ahead

U.S. markets are entering a pivotal week with artificial intelligence disruption looming large over investor expectations and volatility. As traders await critical jobs and inflation data, shifting sentiment on AI’s role in corporate spending is expected to influence sector performance and drive stock rotation across major indices.

Paramount Wins $110.9 Billion Battle for Warner Bros. Discovery as Netflix Exits Bidding War

Warner Bros. Discovery's board formally determined that Paramount Skydance's sweetened $31-per-share all-cash offer — valuing the entire company at roughly $110.9 billion — represents a superior proposal over Netflix's prior bid. Netflix, rather than match the offer, chose to walk away, surrendering its shot at the HBO Max library and leaving Paramount poised to build the largest legacy media empire in U.S. history.