Today: 26 March 2026
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Khadija Saeed

A dedicated markets reporter, she covers stocks, macroeconomics, and major business developments with a sharp eye for detail and accuracy.

Caterpillar stock rises as CAT pitches CONEXPO automation push, rolls out Cat AI Assistant

Caterpillar stock rises as CAT pitches CONEXPO automation push, rolls out Cat AI Assistant

Caterpillar shares rose 1.4% to $753.29 Monday after the company announced new rentals, service programs, and autonomy demos tied to the CONEXPO-CON/AGG show in Las Vegas. The company will launch Cat Rentals, expand AI features, and demo operatorless machinery. Investors are watching a March 4 keynote and a Jefferies fireside chat March 5. Industrials broadly gained, with the sector ETF up 1%.
2 March 2026
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Royal Caribbean (RCL) stock drops as oil surge rattles cruise shares — what investors watch next

Royal Caribbean (RCL) stock drops as oil surge rattles cruise shares — what investors watch next

Royal Caribbean shares closed down 3.3% at $300.84 Monday as oil prices surged, extending losses across travel stocks. Norwegian Cruise Line warned of uncertain fuel costs and forecast 2026 profit below estimates, sending its shares down 11% in early trading. U.S. crude settled up 6.3% at $71.23 a barrel after Middle East tensions escalated over the weekend.
2 March 2026
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Tesla stock ends little changed as February Europe sales data hint at stabilising demand

Tesla stock ends little changed as February Europe sales data hint at stabilising demand

Tesla shares closed up 0.2% at $403.32 Monday after European data showed February registrations surged in France and Spain but fell in the Netherlands, Denmark, and Italy. Investors await figures from the UK and Germany later this week. In Spain, Tesla sales jumped nearly 74% year-on-year. U.S. jobs data due Friday may influence broader market sentiment.
2 March 2026
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SLB stock price near $51 after-hours as oil jumps on Strait of Hormuz fears — what’s next

SLB stock price near $51 after-hours as oil jumps on Strait of Hormuz fears — what’s next

SLB shares closed nearly flat at $51.34 in late Monday trading despite a sharp jump in crude prices after Middle East strikes disrupted oil shipping. Oil majors Exxon and Chevron rose, while oilfield services stocks lagged. Analysts are watching tanker flows and SLB’s late-April results for signs of spending shifts. OPEC+ will raise output by 206,000 barrels a day in April.
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

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.
2 March 2026
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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

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.
2 March 2026
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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

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.
2 March 2026
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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

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.
2 March 2026
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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

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.
2 March 2026
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Stock Market Today

  • NYSE to Use Blockchain for Real-Time Settlement and Extended Trading
    March 26, 2026, 3:26 PM EDT. The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is advancing blockchain technology adoption to enable real-time or near real-time settlement and extended trading hours, according to Chief Product Officer Jon Herrick. The NYSE is partnering with Securitize to develop a tokenized securities trading platform, naming Securitize the first digital transfer agent authorized to mint blockchain-native securities. This collaboration aims to set standards for institutional-grade tokenization infrastructure, balancing innovation with regulatory compliance. Additionally, NYSE's parent company, Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), has invested in blockchain firm OKX, seeking to blend OKX's blockchain reach with ICE's market technology and regulatory frameworks. Pending regulatory approval, NYSE plans to launch a 24/7 tokenized stock trading platform possibly within the year.
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