NEW YORK, March 7, 2026, 14:54 EST
- Palantir shares finished the day up on Friday, shaking off a session marked by choppy trading.
- After Washington took action against AI lab Anthropic, contractors working with the Pentagon are now rethinking which models they rely on.
- Investors are watching Wednesday’s U.S. inflation data, which could shake up rate expectations that typically steer high-multiple tech stocks.
Palantir Technologies shares finished the week higher, catching a lift after the U.S. government took aim at a major AI supplier—a move that rattled defense software supply chains. The stock settled at $157.16 on Friday.
The Pentagon tagged Anthropic as a “supply-chain risk” on Thursday, which, per Reuters, blocks government contractors from deploying its tech in U.S. military projects. Microsoft’s spokesperson told Reuters that after a legal review, the company determined Anthropic’s offerings “can remain available” via Microsoft platforms for customers outside the Pentagon. Reuters
This puts Palantir in a tight spot. Its Maven Smart Systems, critical for intelligence and targeting, are built around Anthropic’s Claude code, according to Reuters. Now, PLTR investors face a fresh headline risk: key defense software might need overhaul, swaps, or government exemptions—timing unknown.
Policy got tighter again early Saturday. According to the Financial Times, cited by Reuters, the Trump administration is pushing for tough new requirements on civilian AI contracts—companies would have to permit “any lawful” use of their models. Josh Gruenbaum of the General Services Administration told Reuters it would be “irresponsible” and “dangerous” for the agency to keep working with Anthropic. GSA has dropped Anthropic’s OneGov contract. Reuters
Markets are twitchy. U.S. stocks slipped Friday, with oil surging 12% and February payrolls posting an unexpected drop—touching off fresh stagflation worries as the Fed eyes rate cuts. “It raises the question of whether the Fed will even be able to cut rates,” said Kristina Hooper, chief market strategist at Man Group. Reuters
Palantir spent Friday bouncing between $150.29 and $161.45, as traders scrambled to react to fresh defense and AI news against a backdrop of macro turbulence.
This week, traders are eyeing potential Pentagon updates on how the Anthropic designation actually plays out for contractors. Key questions: Do current systems need instant changes, or will transition plans let them keep running for now?
Inflation is on the radar too. The U.S. Labor Department drops February’s consumer price index numbers this Wednesday, March 11, at 8:30 a.m. ET—a report known to shake up Treasury yields and high-growth software stocks.
If the supplier dispute blows up into a full-blown legal battle, deployments could stall. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei told Reuters the company got a letter flagging it as a supply-chain risk and said they “see[s] no choice but to challenge it in court.” Contractors and customers might be left grappling with rules that keep changing, not just shifting code. Reuters
Oil’s also in play. Goldman Sachs has flagged the risk of crude jumping past $100 a barrel as soon as next week if traffic through the Strait of Hormuz fails to rebound—a move that would sustain pressure on rates and send ripples through risk assets.
Palantir heads into the week riding recent gains, yet now faces a fresh worry tied to its defense tech offerings: exactly whose models power these tools, and which ones Washington will actually approve for contractor use.
