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Nike Q3 2026 Earnings Beat Estimates — International Revenue Surge Offsets Domestic Tariff Headwinds

Nike reported fiscal Q3 2026 earnings Thursday evening that topped Wall Street estimates on both the top and bottom lines, with international markets in EMEA and Greater China delivering double-digit revenue growth that more than offset softer North America performance. Shares rose sharply in Friday premarket trading as investors welcomed signs of brand momentum and gross margin recovery.

February Durable Goods Orders Miss at -1.8% — Manufacturing Contraction Deepens Recession Watch

Orders for durable manufactured goods fell 1.8 percent in February 2026, worse than the expected 0.5 percent decline, while the critical non-defense capital goods ex-aircraft reading dropped 1.1 percent. The miss adds to a growing body of deteriorating economic data and pushed JPMorgan's U.S. recession probability estimate to 40 percent for 2026.

Gold Breaks $3,200 Milestone for First Time in History as Stagflation Fears and Safe-Haven Demand Converge

Gold surged past the historic $3,200 per troy ounce level for the first time on Friday, closing at $3,218 on the COMEX spot market as stagflation fears, geopolitical risk, and central bank buying drove the precious metal to another all-time record, with gold mining stocks amplifying the move and the VanEck Gold Miners ETF surging more than 5% on the session.

Gold on Track for Worst Week Since 1983 as Iran War Paradox Crushes Safe-Haven Appeal, Rate-Hike Bets Surge

Gold is on pace for its worst weekly performance since 1983, shedding more than 10% week-to-date as a paradoxical dynamic grips precious metals markets: the Iran war that initially drove bullion to record highs above $5,400 per ounce has morphed into a catalyst for collapse, as the conflict's inflationary consequences harden the Federal Reserve's 'higher for longer' stance, push the U.S. dollar to multi-month highs, and force leveraged futures traders to liquidate positions at scale. Silver is simultaneously tracking toward its worst week since January 2026.

Markets Price 50% Chance of Fed Rate Hike by October as Powell's 'Hawkish Hold' Reverberates Through Risk Assets

Bond futures markets are pricing a 50% probability that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates by October 2026, a dramatic and rapid shift from the multiple rate cuts that were widely expected just three months ago, after Fed Chair Jerome Powell's press conference this week signaled that inflation progress has stalled and the Iran war's economic consequences will not meaningfully alter the central bank's calculus. The repricing has sent Treasury yields higher, crushed gold and growth stocks, and introduced the specter of stagflation across Wall Street's macro outlook.

Gold Breaches $5,400 as Safe-Haven Demand Surges; JP Morgan Raises Year-End Target to $6,300

Spot gold prices surged nearly 2 percent to breach $5,400 per ounce on Monday as the escalating U.S.-Iran conflict drove intense safe-haven demand, with U.S. gold futures advancing 2.58 percent intraday and JPMorgan raising its year-end price target to $6,300 per ounce, citing sustained geopolitical risk, sticky inflation, and central bank buying as structural supports for bullion.

ISM Manufacturing PMI Holds at 52.4% in February, But Input Price Surge Raises Fed Rate-Cut Doubts

The Institute for Supply Management reported that U.S. manufacturing activity expanded for the second consecutive month in February, with the PMI reading at 52.4 percent, but the report's input prices sub-index soared at its fastest pace since 2022, reinforcing investor concerns that renewed inflationary pressures — now compounded by surging oil prices from the Iran conflict — could lead the Federal Reserve to delay or abandon interest rate cuts in the months ahead.

Mortgage Rates Hit Three-Year Low, Offering Support to Housing and Financial Stocks

Mortgage rates in the U.S. have fallen to their lowest point in three years, potentially boosting housing demand and lending activity. The drop reflects broader bond market dynamics and could have spillover effects into financial and real estate sectors as borrowing costs ease.

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.