New York, March 1, 2026, 10:20 EST — The market is closed.
- Alphabet Class C (GOOG) finished Friday up 1.39% at $311.43, a gain that stood out as the broader market slipped.
- Belgium’s competition authority is taking a first look at Google’s pricing methods for online ads, launching a preliminary investigation.
- Regulatory headlines and upcoming U.S. labor data are in focus for traders this week, as the tech sector—especially rate-sensitive names—awaits its next signal.
Alphabet Inc Class C (GOOG) ended Friday up 1.39% at $311.43, sidestepping the S&P 500’s 0.43% drop. Trading volume punched past 33 million shares. Microsoft and Meta both slipped, but Alphabet managed to outpace them.
Shares are up as Alphabet’s main revenue engine, digital advertising, faces fresh scrutiny in Europe. Belgian regulators have launched an inquiry into Google’s ad sales practices, pointing to “serious indications” of possible antitrust violations. The case is just getting started and there’s no clear end in sight. Reuters
South Korea has signed off on Google’s bid to export high-precision map data abroad, but only with strict security controls. The approval could pave the way for Google Maps to finally work as intended in the country. “We welcome today’s decision and look forward to our ongoing collaboration with local officials to bring a fully functioning Google Maps to Korea,” said Google Vice President Cris Turner. Reuters
U.S. markets are closed Sunday, so the key thing now: does Alphabet keep Friday’s gains once trading kicks back in Monday? Traders are eyeing potential moves from European regulators. Also on the radar: whether Korea’s mapping sign-off leads to an easier launch or just more political headaches.
Alphabet’s Class C stock doesn’t come with voting rights, a key difference from the Class A shares (GOOGL), but both represent the same business performance. Ads, cloud, and spending on computing power remain the core drivers for investors.
But those same factors can turn negative fast. More aggressive antitrust moves might change ad pricing or sales models, and if competition heats up or ad demand cools, the stock usually reacts right away.
Macro risk looms large: the Federal Reserve’s next meeting lands March 17-18, and that’s a stretch that usually punches hardest for pricey tech stocks whenever rate forecasts move.
Investors will see the February U.S. jobs report land March 6 at 8:30 a.m. ET — a release known for moving Treasury yields and, by extension, shaking up valuations in big tech.
