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Middle East Conflict Lifts Oil Prices as Markets Rebound From Early Losses

Global equity markets showed signs of stabilization later in the session as some early losses were pared back, but the overarching influence of Middle Eastern geopolitical developments continued to drive volatility. Oil prices climbed sharply, benefiting energy stocks, while traditional defensive sectors attracted flows amid inflation and supply risk concerns.

Market Analysts Weigh Economic Impact of U.S.–Iran Conflict

Economists and market strategists offered varied assessments of how the burgeoning conflict in the Middle East may affect the broader U.S. economy and financial markets. While energy prices and inflation risks are top of mind, some analysts contend the effects may be modest and concentrated in specific sectors.

Safe Harbor Financial Reports 29% Growth in Emerging Cannabis Banking

Safe Harbor Financial today announced robust year-over-year growth of 29% in its emerging U.S. cannabis banking segment, driven by more than 100 new customer accounts. The expansion highlights ongoing opportunities in niche financial services and the broader cannabis sector as regulatory and market conditions evolve.

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.

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.

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.