New York, March 2, 2026, 10:30 (EST) — Regular session
- Meta shares hovered close to $648, recovering after an initial 1.7% drop at the open.
- Fresh worries over oil and rates hit the tape after renewed Middle East tensions over the weekend.
- Coming soon: Meta’s set for a March 4 spot at Morgan Stanley, with the U.S. jobs data landing March 6.
Meta Platforms stock bounced back from early declines on Monday, with shares settling near $648 after dropping as much as 2.1% from the open. The Facebook parent opened off 1.7% as traders tried to gauge the latest geopolitical jolt in an already jittery market.
Why it matters: rapid risk repricing is back, and tech is feeling the heat again. Wall Street’s big indexes started Monday in the red, investors on edge over a Middle East conflict that threatens shipping lanes and could push inflation higher.
Crude surged roughly 8% right out of the gate, and the VIX spiked to its highest in three months, according to Reuters. “The market is taking it relatively well,” said Adam Turnquist, chief technical strategist at LPL Financial. But Wells Fargo’s Ohsung Kwon warned that if crude tops $100 a barrel, the S&P 500 could sink to 6,000 in a “worst-case scenario.” Investing.com
This week brought a fresh concern for investors: artificial intelligence, and uncertainty over which white-collar sectors might feel the pinch as AI adoption widens. “There is very little definitive right now,” said Kristina Hooper, chief market strategist at Man Group. Traders are eyeing Friday’s U.S. payrolls report, hoping it offers some clarity on growth prospects and the outlook for rate cuts. Reuters
Meta shares took it on both fronts. The company’s ad revenues usually reflect shifts in how much businesses want to spend, while the stock itself often stands in for broad tech risk—especially when investors are looking to reposition quickly.
Meta is urging investors to ignore the hefty price tag as it lays out plans for its next phase of growth. Capital expenditures are projected at $115 billion to $135 billion for 2026, a figure driven by CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s quest for what he’s labeled “personal superintelligence.” Reuters
Monday saw an early drop, then a sharp rebound—classic market mechanics as traders digested the latest headlines in real time. With its size and liquidity, the stock turns into the go-to pressure release when fresh news lands.
The road’s hardly smooth. If oil holds at these levels and rate-cut hopes get pushed even further, high-multiple tech could easily see more downside—and tightening ad budgets would hit just as Meta’s ramping up spend. But if things cool off quickly, that whole dynamic could reverse, bringing cash right back into growth stocks.
All eyes now shift to Friday at 8:30 a.m. ET, when the February U.S. jobs report hits. The data, released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, could sway market bets on the Fed’s next move.
Meta comes up on deck earlier, with its slot at the Morgan Stanley 2026 Technology, Media & Telecom Conference slated for March 4 at 11:30 a.m. PST, per the investor events calendar.
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