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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.

Fed Seen Holding Rates Steady in March as Iran War Stokes Inflation Fears and Complicates Policy Path

The CME FedWatch Tool shows a 97.3% probability that the Federal Reserve will leave interest rates unchanged at its upcoming March meeting, as surging oil prices from the U.S.-Iran conflict introduce a new inflationary wrinkle into an already complex monetary policy calculus. Markets are now watching the ISM Services PMI report due Tuesday for real-time signals on domestic economic health.

Global Markets Join Sell-Off as Geopolitical Risk Drives Energy Costs Higher

International equity markets weakened sharply amid renewed geopolitical tensions and a spike in energy prices, reinforcing global risk aversion. Stocks across Europe and Asia saw broad declines as investors digested heightened conflict in the Middle East and the possibility of supply disruptions. Energy and defense sectors outperformed, while traditional growth and travel sectors lagged amid rising risk premiums and inflation concerns.

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.

Broadcom, CrowdStrike and Costco Highlight Earnings and Sector Signals This Week

Key earnings events this week from major corporations such as Broadcom, CrowdStrike and Costco offer important signals for sectors ranging from semiconductors to cybersecurity and consumer retail. These earnings releases will provide investors with fresh insights into demand trends, margin pressures, and broader economic resilience as markets contend with volatility from macroeconomic and geopolitical factors.

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.