Today: 2 March 2026
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Visa stock price barely moves as PayPay IPO roadshow delay adds to Iran-driven volatility
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Visa stock price barely moves as PayPay IPO roadshow delay adds to Iran-driven volatility

Visa shares edged up 0.1% to $320.37 Monday afternoon after SoftBank’s PayPay paused its Nasdaq IPO marketing, with Visa listed as a potential anchor investor. The delay followed weekend strikes on Iran. Traders shifted focus to inflation signals ahead of the March 6 U.S. jobs report. Mastercard rose 0.8%, while American Express slipped 0.4%.
2 March 2026
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Salesforce stock price slides while software ETF climbs; investors look to Tuesday’s Morgan Stanley talk

Salesforce stock price slides while software ETF climbs; investors look to Tuesday’s Morgan Stanley talk

Salesforce shares fell 1.1% to $192.60 Monday afternoon, trailing a 1.5% gain in the iShares Expanded Tech-Software ETF. The drop followed last week’s revenue guidance that missed Wall Street targets and a $50 billion buyback announcement. Investors weighed new partner-program changes and Salesforce’s push into AI agents. Executives are set to speak at a Morgan Stanley conference Tuesday.
2 March 2026
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Qatar LNG Halt Triggers Gas Spike; Oil Jumps as Strait of Hormuz Shipping Tightens

Qatar LNG Halt Triggers Gas Spike; Oil Jumps as Strait of Hormuz Shipping Tightens

QatarEnergy halted LNG production after Iranian drone strikes hit Ras Laffan and Mesaieed, officials said. Gas prices in Europe jumped over 40% and about 150 ships were stranded near the Strait of Hormuz as insurers moved to cancel war-risk cover. At least five tankers were damaged and two people killed, according to Reuters. Shipbrokers reported spot freight rates from the Middle East to China surged to $12 million.
2 March 2026
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Aussie Dollar Bulls Crowd In: Analysts Target 73–75 U.S. Cents as GDP Looms

Aussie Dollar Bulls Crowd In: Analysts Target 73–75 U.S. Cents as GDP Looms

The Australian dollar traded near 0.7100 after dipping on war headlines, with Barrenjoey Markets predicting a rise above 75 U.S. cents and ANZ seeing 73 cents by year-end. Australia’s December-quarter national accounts are due March 4, with crowded speculative positions raising the risk of sharp moves. Carry trades and higher local rates support the currency, but global market turmoil threatens volatility.
2 March 2026
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Booking Holdings (BKNG) stock price slips as oil spike rattles travel shares; what to watch next

Booking Holdings (BKNG) stock price slips as oil spike rattles travel shares; what to watch next

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2 March 2026
Booking Holdings fell 0.7% to $4,209.26 in afternoon trading Monday as travel stocks lost $22.6 billion in value amid mounting flight cancellations and a surge in oil prices linked to the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict. At least 4,000 flights were canceled in three days and crude jumped as much as 13%. Booking’s 25-for-1 stock split is set for early April, with a March 6 record date.
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ASML’s next AI bet: New chip packaging tools beyond its EUV monopoly

ASML’s next AI bet: New chip packaging tools beyond its EUV monopoly

ASML plans to expand beyond EUV lithography machines into advanced packaging tools for AI chips, CTO Marco Pieters said. Shares have risen over 30% this year, valuing the company at about $560 billion. Pieters said ASML is researching larger chip sizes, new generations of EUV, and AI integration in its tools. The company expects qualifying new equipment for stacked chip designs will take time.
2 March 2026
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AeroVironment stock slides nearly 19% as Raymond James downgrade puts SCAR contract in spotlight

AeroVironment stock slides nearly 19% as Raymond James downgrade puts SCAR contract in spotlight

AeroVironment shares plunged nearly 19% to $204.50 Monday after Raymond James downgraded the stock, citing uncertainty over the Space Force’s $1.4 billion SCAR satellite-communications program. The broker warned a possible contract re-bid could pressure AeroVironment’s backlog and revenue outlook. Investors await the company’s March 10 earnings for updates on contract status.
2 March 2026
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Eli Lilly stock drops 2% as traders eye China approval and a late-day CFO readout

Eli Lilly stock drops 2% as traders eye China approval and a late-day CFO readout

Eli Lilly shares fell 2.3% to $1,028.07 Monday as health stocks lagged, despite the S&P 500 edging higher. Innovent Biologics won Chinese approval for Jaypirca, a Lilly-partnered cancer drug, after late-stage trial results. Investors remain focused on Lilly’s obesity drug pipeline and upcoming FDA decisions, with orforglipron inventory reaching $1.5 billion ahead of a possible U.S. launch.
2 March 2026
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Western Digital (WDC) stock slides about 3% as WD exec flags 32TB drive shipments and AI demand

Western Digital (WDC) stock slides about 3% as WD exec flags 32TB drive shipments and AI demand

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2 March 2026
Western Digital shares fell about 3% to $271.26 in Monday afternoon trading, underperforming major U.S. indexes. WD shipped 3.5 million 32TB nearline hard drives last quarter, according to its sales director. Investors are watching the company’s March 3 appearance at a Morgan Stanley conference for demand updates. Seagate and Sandisk shares also declined.
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Costco Stock Gets Fresh $1,100 Target as $1,000 Sell Talk Builds Ahead of Earnings

Costco Stock Gets Fresh $1,100 Target as $1,000 Sell Talk Builds Ahead of Earnings

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2 March 2026
Evercore ISI raised its Costco price target to $1,100 ahead of Thursday’s earnings, keeping an Outperform rating. Costco shares traded near $1,000 as a Forbes column warned the valuation looks stretched, citing a price-to-earnings ratio near 55. The company reported February net sales up 9.3% to $21.33 billion, with comparable sales rising 7.1%. Investors are watching membership renewals, margins, and online sales growth.
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ConocoPhillips stock jumps as oil surges on Hormuz fears — what investors watch next

ConocoPhillips stock jumps as oil surges on Hormuz fears — what investors watch next

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2 March 2026
ConocoPhillips shares rose 2.6% to $116.38 as crude prices surged after Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iran disrupted Middle East output and shipping. Brent crude climbed 6.75% to $77.79 a barrel, WTI gained 5.77% to $70.89. Analysts flagged tanker flows through the Strait of Hormuz as a key risk for prices. U.S. weekly crude inventory data is due March 4.
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US economic calendar today: ISM price gauge jumps, Wall Street stalls as jobs report looms

US economic calendar today: ISM price gauge jumps, Wall Street stalls as jobs report looms

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2 March 2026
Nvidia and Microsoft gains kept the S&P 500 near flat Monday, while airline and cruise stocks fell as Brent crude surged over 7% after Middle East tensions. ISM’s February factory PMI stayed in expansion at 52.4, but input prices jumped to the highest since October 2022. The Dow slipped 0.20%, Nasdaq rose 0.22%. Investors await key jobs and services data later this week.
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Brent crude price jumps as Hormuz disruption bites; traders eye March 5 insurance deadline

Brent crude price jumps as Hormuz disruption bites; traders eye March 5 insurance deadline

2 March 2026
Brent crude rose $4.83, or 6.6%, to $77.70 a barrel as tanker traffic slowed near the Strait of Hormuz after drone attacks and Iran closed navigation, leaving about 150 vessels anchored. Marine insurers began cancelling war-risk cover for Gulf vessels from March 5. Qatar halted LNG output and Saudi Arabia suspended operations at Ras Tanura refinery after separate drone strikes. OPEC+ signaled a modest April output hike but may pause if conditions change.
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Oil prices today: Brent jumps above $76 as Strait of Hormuz risks keep traders on edge

Oil prices today: Brent jumps above $76 as Strait of Hormuz risks keep traders on edge

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2 March 2026
Brent crude futures jumped 5.5% to $76.91 a barrel Monday after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran and retaliatory shutdowns in the Gulf disrupted shipping, with Brent earlier hitting $82.37. JPMorgan estimated Strait of Hormuz exports fell to 4 million barrels per day from 16 million. OPEC+ agreed to a modest output hike, but traders said prices hinge on Gulf shipping flows. Asia’s jet fuel and diesel premiums also surged.
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XRP price today: Ripple token slides as oil shock fears rattle crypto — what traders watch next

XRP price today: Ripple token slides as oil shock fears rattle crypto — what traders watch next

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2 March 2026
XRP fell 3.7% to about $1.34 in 24 hours, with $2.5 billion in turnover and a market value near $81.8 billion, Binance data showed. The drop followed a surge in oil prices after the U.S.-Israeli air war against Iran widened, and Whale Alert flagged three Ripple escrow unlocks totaling 1 billion XRP. Brent crude rose up to 13%, while bitcoin climbed 5.43% to $69,271. Turkey proposed a 10% crypto tax bill, Reuters reported.
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Bitcoin price snaps back near $69,000 as Iran conflict and oil spike rattle markets

Bitcoin price snaps back near $69,000 as Iran conflict and oil spike rattle markets

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2 March 2026
Bitcoin jumped 4.7% to $69,141 Monday, rebounding after a volatile weekend that saw it briefly fall below $64,000. Brent crude surged 8% to $78.74 as investors reacted to the widening U.S.-Israeli air war against Iran and rising inflation risks. U.S. manufacturing data showed prices paid at their highest since October 2022. Turkey proposed a 10% tax on crypto gains, while the CFTC named David Miller as its new enforcement chief.
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Dow Jones today: Index pares early slide as oil jumps on Middle East conflict

Dow Jones today: Index pares early slide as oil jumps on Middle East conflict

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2 March 2026
The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.14% to 48,907.26 by midday Monday as oil prices surged over 5% amid Middle East conflict, raising inflation concerns. Early losses were driven by declines in Sherwin-Williams and 3M. The ISM manufacturing PMI eased, but factory input prices hit a 3.5-year high. BlackRock’s consortium agreed to buy AES for $33.4 billion including debt.
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Gold price today: Safe-haven jump fades after Iran strikes as dollar firms

Gold price today: Safe-haven jump fades after Iran strikes as dollar firms

2 March 2026
Gold steadied near $5,284 an ounce Monday after an early surge on fears of a wider Middle East conflict, as oil and the dollar jumped. U.S. crude rose nearly 7%, Brent almost 10%, and the dollar index eyed its biggest one-day move since January. Traders watched for disruptions to energy flows and awaited U.S. payrolls data. Flight cancellations through Dubai threatened to slow physical gold shipments.
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ASX 200 today: Record close holds as oil shock lifts energy, banks stay on watch

ASX 200 today: Record close holds as oil shock lifts energy, banks stay on watch

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2 March 2026
The S&P/ASX 200 closed at a record 9,200.9 on Monday, led by sharp gains in energy stocks after oil prices surged on Middle East tensions. Financials dropped 1.8%, their worst session since November, while gold miners hit record highs. Magellan Financial announced a full buyout of Barrenjoey Capital Partners for A$1.62 billion. RBA Governor Michele Bullock is set to speak Tuesday ahead of key economic data releases.
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RTX stock price jumps as defense shares rally on Middle East conflict; what investors watch next

RTX stock price jumps as defense shares rally on Middle East conflict; what investors watch next

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2 March 2026
RTX shares rose 4.4% to $211.51 Monday, hitting a new intraday high as defense stocks advanced on Middle East conflict concerns. Lockheed Martin and RTX both gained over 3%, while Wall Street’s main indexes fell. Brent crude climbed 9% to $79.50 a barrel, and gold rose 3%. Investors await Friday’s U.S. jobs report.
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Goldman Sachs stock rebounds in New York trade, but oil shock keeps Wall Street on edge

Goldman Sachs stock rebounds in New York trade, but oil shock keeps Wall Street on edge

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2 March 2026
Goldman Sachs shares rose 1% to $863.84 Monday morning, rebounding after last week’s drop even as broader markets fell on Middle East conflict fears and an oil price surge. The bank traded ex-dividend, with a $4.50 payout due March 30. Goldman reported fourth-quarter private credit redemptions of 3.5%, below peers. Bank of America and Citigroup shares traded lower.
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Lockheed Martin stock jumps as Iran conflict jolts markets — what investors watch next

Lockheed Martin stock jumps as Iran conflict jolts markets — what investors watch next

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2 March 2026
Lockheed Martin shares rose 3% to $674.58 by late morning Monday, outperforming a falling market after U.S. and Israeli strikes killed Iran’s Supreme Leader and triggered retaliatory missile fire. Oil jumped over 8% as some shippers halted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. RTX and Northrop Grumman each gained about 4%. Investors are watching Iran headlines and Friday’s U.S. jobs report for direction.
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Microsoft stock rises as UAE AI spending details land amid oil shock and OpenAI deal buzz

Microsoft stock rises as UAE AI spending details land amid oil shock and OpenAI deal buzz

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2 March 2026
Microsoft shares rose 1.2% to $397.31 in morning trading Monday, outperforming other tech giants as oil and gas prices jumped after Middle East strikes disrupted energy routes. The company confirmed $15.2 billion in AI and cloud investments in the UAE through 2029, with $7.3 billion already spent. Investors are watching for Microsoft’s SharePoint event later Monday and its next earnings report in late April.
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Exxon stock price swings higher as oil surges on Iran conflict; what XOM investors watch next

Exxon stock price swings higher as oil surges on Iran conflict; what XOM investors watch next

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2 March 2026
Exxon Mobil shares rose 1.1% to $154.22 after crude prices spiked on Middle East supply fears, hitting $159.37 before retreating. Brent crude jumped as much as 13% after Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iran disrupted shipping near the Strait of Hormuz. Exxon declared a $1.03 per share dividend and confirmed plans to buy back $20 billion in stock by 2026. Broader U.S. markets fell, with the S&P 500 down 0.79%.
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