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OPEC+ Reaffirms Output Cuts Through Q2 2026, Keeping Oil Markets Tight

OPEC+ ministers reaffirmed their collective output reduction strategy through the end of Q2 2026, citing persistent demand uncertainty from China and the potential impact of U.S. tariff policy on global trade flows. Brent crude held above $76 per barrel following the announcement, supporting energy sector equities across integrated majors and upstream producers.

Weekly Jobless Claims Fall to 205,000, Signaling Continued Labor Market Strength

Initial unemployment claims dropped to 205,000 for the week ending March 21, the lowest reading since November 2025 and well below economists' forecasts of 218,000. The data reinforces a robust labor market that has supported consumer spending and corporate earnings even as the Federal Reserve maintains elevated interest rates.

Major Banks Announce Expanded Share Buyback Programs Ahead of Q1 2026 Earnings

JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and Bank of America each disclosed expanded share repurchase authorizations ahead of Q1 2026 earnings season, signaling confidence in capital positions and near-term earnings power. The announcements come as robust trading revenues and resilient net interest income support a broadly bullish bank sector outlook.

Powell Shocks Markets With Hawkish Peterson Institute Speech — Rate Hike Odds Surge to 68%

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell delivered a sharply hawkish address at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, signaling the Fed retains all tools to combat inflation. Rate hike odds for October surged to 68 percent as the S&P 500 fell 1.4 percent and 2-year Treasury yields jumped 18 basis points to 4.92 percent.

Oil Holds Near $118 as Hormuz Risk Fully Priced — Energy Rotation Into Integrated Majors Begins

Brent crude stabilized near $118 per barrel Wednesday as analysts concluded the Persian Gulf risk premium is now fully priced absent a direct Hormuz attack. Rotation within the energy sector accelerated as investors moved from high-beta E&P names into diversified integrated majors and midstream companies offering more defensive earnings profiles.

Adobe Q1 2026 Earnings Beat Estimates — Firefly AI Drives 18% Digital Media ARR Growth

Adobe Inc. reported fiscal Q1 2026 results Wednesday evening that exceeded analyst expectations across all key metrics, with Firefly AI generative credit monetization delivering 18.3 percent Digital Media ARR growth versus the 15.9 billion consensus. The stock surged 9.2 percent in extended trading, recovering more than half of its year-to-date decline.

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.

Bitcoin Surges to $92,000 as Spot ETF Inflows Hit $890M Single-Day Record on Stagflation Fears

Bitcoin surged to $92,000 Wednesday as a record $890 million of single-day inflows into U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs reinforced the cryptocurrency's role as a liquid stagflation hedge. The catalyst was paradoxically Powell's hawkish Peterson Institute speech, which confirmed the stagflation scenario driving institutional allocators toward hard assets.

Oil Holds Above $118 as Pentagon Confirms Further Gulf Deployments; S&P 500 Futures Signal Cautious Open

Crude oil held firm above $118 per barrel in early Tuesday trading as the Pentagon confirmed additional naval deployments to the Persian Gulf, while S&P 500 futures pointed to a cautious open after Monday's session failed to reclaim the 200-day moving average, leaving investors weighing whether the worst of the selloff is priced in or whether further deterioration lies ahead.