Keyword → e

Brent Crude Tops $92 as Iran-Strait of Hormuz Crisis Deepens, Oil Stocks Surge

Global oil benchmark Brent crude surged past $92 per barrel on Friday as the widening U.S.-Iran war has effectively halted commercial tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, threatening roughly 20% of global daily oil consumption. Energy stocks are the sole bright spot in an otherwise battered U.S. equity market, with Exxon Mobil, Chevron, and Occidental Petroleum posting strong gains as analysts warn of $100-to-$150 oil scenarios.

February Jobs Report Shocks Markets: Payrolls Shed 92,000, Unemployment Rises to 4.4%

The U.S. economy unexpectedly shed 92,000 jobs in February, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday, far worse than the consensus estimate for a gain of 50,000 to 60,000 and marking the third payroll contraction in five months. The unemployment rate ticked up to 4.4%, while average hourly earnings surprised to the upside, presenting the Federal Reserve with a stagflationary dilemma at the worst possible moment.

BlackRock Limits Withdrawals From $26 Billion Private Credit Fund Amid Redemption Surge

BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager, announced Friday that it has capped redemptions from its flagship HPS Corporate Lending Fund after investor withdrawal requests surged to approximately $1.2 billion in the first quarter — the latest and most prominent casualty in a mounting liquidity crisis gripping the $1.8 trillion private credit industry. Shares of BlackRock fell more than 7% on the news.

The Great Sector Rotation: Investors Dump Tech Giants, Pour Capital Into Energy, Industrials, and Hard Assets

A sweeping reallocation of capital is reshaping U.S. equity markets in early 2026, as investors flee high-multiple technology and software stocks — battered by AI valuation fatigue following DeepSeek's disruptive model releases — and aggressively rotate into energy, materials, industrials, and consumer staples. The shift has been supercharged by Middle East geopolitical tensions and the $5 trillion One Big Beautiful Bill Act's domestic manufacturing stimulus.

Rare Earth Consolidation Accelerates as USA Rare Earth Moves to Acquire Texas Mineral Resources

The rare earth mining sector drew investor attention after USA Rare Earth announced plans to acquire Texas Mineral Resources in a deal valued at roughly $73 million. The move underscores growing strategic interest in domestic supply chains for critical minerals used in electric vehicles, defense systems, and advanced semiconductor manufacturing technologies.

Global Markets Stabilize as Investors Assess Geopolitical Risk and Economic Data

Global equity markets showed signs of stabilization Thursday as investors evaluated geopolitical risks and new economic data. While energy prices and supply concerns remain dominant themes, traders are balancing those pressures against resilient corporate earnings and continued investment in technology and infrastructure sectors.

Middle East War Rattles Markets as Brent Crude Climbs Toward $84 and Iran Vows Escalation

U.S. equity futures retreated Thursday as Brent crude resumed its climb toward $84 a barrel after Iran pledged to escalate its retaliation against American and Israeli strikes, disrupting Persian Gulf shipping lanes and reigniting fears that prolonged conflict could stoke inflation and delay Federal Reserve rate cuts well into 2026.

Nvidia Holds $5 Trillion Crown as Alphabet Joins Mega-Cap Club Amid AI Spending Surge

Nvidia continues to anchor a historic rally in large-cap technology after cementing its position as the first publicly traded company to sustain a $5 trillion market capitalization, while Alphabet joined Microsoft and Apple in the $4 trillion tier following a favorable antitrust ruling, as semiconductors and AI infrastructure spending redefine valuation ceilings on Wall Street.

Trump's 15% Global Tariff Set to Take Full Effect This Week, Bessent Signals Rollback Within Five Months

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed Thursday that President Trump's revised 15% global tariff, enacted under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 following the Supreme Court's invalidation of IEEPA-based duties, will take full effect this week, though Bessent expressed confidence the rates would revert to prior levels within five months as trade authorities complete sector-specific assessments.