Today: 18 May 2026

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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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

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.
2 March 2026
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

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.
2 March 2026
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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

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.
2 March 2026
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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

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.
2 March 2026
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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

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.
2 March 2026
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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

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.
2 March 2026
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

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.
2 March 2026
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Latest articles

Costco Stock Outperforms in Weak Economy—But Price Stays High

Costco Stock Outperforms in Weak Economy—But Price Stays High

18 May 2026
Costco shares climbed $16.03 to $1,064.98 in midday New York trading Monday, hitting $1,070.55 intraday. April net sales rose 13% to $23.92 billion, with comparable sales up 11.6% and digital comps up 18.8%. The company raised its quarterly dividend to $1.47 per share. Costco will report fiscal third-quarter earnings on May 28.
Exxon Stock on the Move as Oil Jumps, Next Challenge in Focus

Exxon Stock on the Move as Oil Jumps, Next Challenge in Focus

18 May 2026
Exxon Mobil shares climbed 1.9% to $160.97 Monday as Brent crude hovered near $110.55 a barrel amid Gulf tensions and a partial Strait of Hormuz shutdown. First-quarter profit fell to $4.2 billion, but Exxon returned $9.2 billion to shareholders. The company faces a May 27 shareholder vote on moving its legal incorporation from New Jersey to Texas.
GE Aerospace Shares in Focus After Trump Comments, Details on Engine Deal Still Absent

GE Aerospace Shares in Focus After Trump Comments, Details on Engine Deal Still Absent

18 May 2026
China’s aviation regulator met with GE and Boeing executives in Beijing after Donald Trump said China would buy 200 Boeing jets using GE Aerospace engines. GE shares rose 0.7% Monday, while Boeing fell 1.5%. Boeing called the 200-jet figure an “initial commitment,” with few details confirmed by Chinese officials. Trump claimed China would buy 400–450 GE engines but gave no timeline.
Applied Digital’s AI Stock Just Hit a Wall After Its $7.5 Billion Win

Applied Digital’s AI Stock Just Hit a Wall After Its $7.5 Billion Win

18 May 2026
Applied Digital shares fell about 10% to $38.30 in midday trading Monday, retreating from an earlier high of $42.75 as investors took profits and re-evaluated risk in AI-infrastructure stocks. The drop followed a recent rally driven by a $7.5 billion, 15-year lease with a major U.S. cloud customer and the spin-off of its ChronoScale unit. Broader market declines and rising Treasury yields also weighed on the stock.

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Redwire Shares Up 27%, Focus Turns to Next Test Today

Redwire Shares Up 27%, Focus Turns to Next Test Today

18 May 2026
Redwire Corp shares held near $14.06 in premarket trading Monday after a 27% rally last week, as investors awaited updates from the SOF Week defense event in Tampa. The company reported a contracted backlog of $498.1 million at March 31 and first-quarter revenue of $97.0 million, but posted a net loss of $76.5 million. Redwire recently launched a $350 million at-the-market stock sale program.
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