U.S. retail sales edged up only slightly in February, falling well short of expectations and keeping alive concerns about consumer strength <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/03/44355195/retail-sales-rebound-less-than-expected-in-february-online-healthcare-spending-show-strong-gains">after January's dire contraction.</a>



Yet, a closer look at the latest data continues to reveal pockets of resilience leaving investors and economists debating whether consumer demand is cooling or simply shifting. 



In data released Monday by the U.S. Census Bureau, the retail sales figure showed a 0.2% monthly growth in February, following a downwardly revised 1.2% drop in January. The headline figure missed economist estimates of 0.6%. 



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Far From Being An Outright Recession</h3>



&#8220;The unfavorable surprise on U.S. headline retail sales—monthly growth of 0.2% compared to the consensus forecast of 0.6%—was not reflected in the other numbers in this data release,&#8221; said Mohamed El-Erian, chief economic advisor at Allianz.



A particularly important measure, known as the retail sales &#8220;control group&#8221;—which excludes spending at auto dealers, building materials, gas stations, office supply stores, mobile home dealers, and tobacco retailers—jumped 1% in February. This fully offset January's 1% decline and handily beat estimates of a modest 0.2% gain.



This control group is closely watched because it feeds directly into GDP calculations, making it a key indicator of underlying consumer demand. 



Joseph Brusuelas, chief economist at RSM US LP, said the data remains consistent with a slowing but still solid pace of household spending. 



&#8220;On a three-month average annualized pace, the control group advanced 2.6%,&#8221; Brusuelas said. &#8220;Yes, the economy is slowing, but not in line with anything near a recession yet.&#8221;



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Restaurants And Bars See Sharp Drops</h3>



Not all areas of consumer spending fared well. 



One of the most striking data points was the decline in restaurant and bar sales, which fell 1.54% in February—the largest drop since February 2023, as highlighted by Kevin Gordon, senior investment strategist at Charles Schwabb. 



&#8220;Over the last three months, restaurant sales have collapsed 8.5% at an annual rate,&#8221; Reinassance Macro Research indicated.



This pullback suggests that discretionary spending may be softening as households become more selective about where to spend their money.



&#8220;Notable weakness in restaurants and bars—the largest decline in two years—with no growth over the last three months,&#8221; Gregory Daco, chief economist at Ernst &amp; Young US, said. 



&#8220;Spending growth at restaurant chains decelerated from -1.7% in January to -7.5% in February while spending at independent restaurants turned negative, failing from +2.6% in January to -2.7% in February,&#8221; Sara Senatore, analyst at Bank of America, wrote in a note Monday.



&#8220;We believe this sequential&nbsp;deceleration is largely a combination of negative weather trends that worsened from January and the impact of calendar shifts, including one less day (2024 had a leap day) and the Valentine&#8217;s Day shift from a Wednesday in 2024 to a Friday in 2025,&#8221; she added. 



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Market Reaction: Consumer Staples Rally, Discretionary Stocks Lag</h3>



Stocks tied to non-discretionary consumer spending saw a solid rebound Monday, as investors rotated into defensive plays. 



The Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLP#NYSE">XLP</a>) rose 0.9%, led by Brown-Forman Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BF#NYSE">BF</a>), which surged 2.8% on the back of rising U.S.-Europe trade tensions over whiskey tariffs. 



Other major gainers included Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ADM#NYSE">ADM</a>), The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EL#NYSE">EL</a>), and Constellation Brands Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STZ#NYSE">STZ</a>), all of which climbed about 2%.



Meanwhile, the SPDR S&amp;P Retail ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XRT#NYSE">XRT</a>) gained 1.1%, with notable jumps from Guess Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GES#NYSE">GES</a>), up 32%, EVgo Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EVGO#NASDAQ">EVGO</a>), up 7%, and American Eagle Outfitters (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AEO#NYSE">AEO</a>), up 6.8%.



However, the consumer discretionary sector struggled to gain traction. 



The Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLY#NYSE">XLY</a>) inched up just 0.1%, weighed down by concerns over spending cutbacks. Still, a few travel and leisure names saw gains, with Airbnb Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABNB#NASDAQ">ABNB</a>), eBay Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EBAY#NASDAQ">EBAY</a>), Carnival Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CCL#NYSE">CCL</a>), and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NCLH#NYSE">NCLH</a>) each rising around 3%.



Read Next: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/25/03/44356114/top-3-tech-stocks-that-are-preparing-to-pump-this-quarter">Top 3 Tech Stocks That Are Preparing To Pump This Quarter</a></li>
</ul>



Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

Equities

Macro Economic Events

Sector ETFs

Retail Sales

Econ #s

Economics

ETFs

ABNB

EBAY

EVGO

NCLH

Restaurant Sales Sink: Recession Warning Or Just Weather-Driven Dip?

U.S. retail sales showed a rebound in February following a sharp decline in January, yet the pace of the broader recovery fell short of economists&#8217; expectations, underscoring some challenges facing the American economy <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/econ-s">in the first quarter.</a>



Retail sales rose 0.2% month-over-month in February 2025, following a downwardly revised 1.2% contraction in January, according to advance estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau released Monday. The figure missed economist projections of a 0.6% increase, as tracked by TradingEconomics.



On an annual basis, retail sales grew 3.1%, slowing from the previous downwardly revised 3.9% growth.



Yet, key data in the report revealed underlying strength across major consumer categories. 



Non-store retailers, a key gauge of online sales, rose by 2.4% month-over-month and health and personal care stores soared by 1.7%. 



Excluding gas stations and auto sales, retail sales rose 0.5% month-over-month, rebounding from January&#8217;s 0.8% decline and outperforming expectations of a 0.4% gain.



The control group measure—which excludes sales from auto dealers, building materials, gas stations, office supply stores, mobile home dealers, and tobacco retailers—climbed 1% in February, fully offsetting January's 1% drop and vastly outperforming the expected 0.2% increase.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Market Reaction</h3>



U.S. stock futures rebounded following the retail trade report. As of 8:40 a.m. Eastern Time, S&amp;P 500 futures were down 0.1%, trimming earlier losses.. 



On Friday, the S&amp;P 500—tracked by the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>)—closed 2.1% higher but still logged its fourth consecutive weekly loss.



Meanwhile, gold futures were up 0.3% extending their rally, after having closed their 10th positive week out of the last 11.



The U.S. dollar Index – a key measure of the greenback's strength – was down 0.1%.



Read now: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/03/44352209/gtc-2025-could-reignite-nvidias-stock-rally-but-only-if-b300-ai-server-roadmap-and-scaling-concerns-are-addressed-says-top-analyst">GTC 2025 Could Reignite Nvidia&#8217;s Stock Rally, But Only If B300, AI Server Roadmap, And Scaling Concerns Are Addressed, Says Top Analyst</a></li>
</ul>



Photo: Shutterstock

Broad U.S. Equity ETFs

Retail Sales Rebound Less Than Expected In February: Online, Healthcare Spending Show Strong Gains

In a move to replace U.S. components in its PC business, Chinese tech giant Huawei Technologies has made significant progress in creating its in-house computer chips



What Happened: Huawei&#8217;s chip design subsidiary, HiSilicon, has developed the Kirin X90 chip, which recently received a Level 2 national certification for security and reliability from the government-supported China Information Technology Security Evaluation Centre.



This voluntary certification enables companies to evaluate the security standards of their locally designed and manufactured computers, server CPUs, and systems, often acting as a gateway to adoption.



The company's in-house Kirin 9000C and Kirin 9006C chips, utilized in the Qingyun W515x personal computer and Qingyun L540 laptop, respectively, have already obtained certifications. The Qingyun computer series is tailored for government and enterprise users.



Huawei&#8217;s license to use Microsoft Corp.&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) Windows operating system is set to expire this month without renewal. According to a report from the Chinese news outlet Thepaper.cn, the company plans to launch PCs equipped with its own HarmonyOS system later this year.



SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44354592/warren-buffett-backed-byd-eyes-germany-for-third-european-plant-amid-tariff-concerns-report">Warren Buffett-Backed BYD Eyes Germany For Third European Plant Amid Tariff Concerns: Report</a>



Why It Matters: This development comes as Huawei seeks to replace U.S. components in its PC business amid ongoing U.S. sanctions. In May, Washington rescinded special licenses that had permitted chip suppliers Qualcomm Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QCOM#NASDAQ">QCOM</a>) and Intel Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INTC#NASDAQ">INTC</a>) to sell older-generation semiconductors to Huawei which was used in its laptops and smartphones.



Furthermore, there are growing concerns in China about the escalating trade tensions with the US. Chinese President Xi Jinping has expressed fears that these <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44161587/is-china-apprehensive-of-losing-the-trade-war-to-the-us-china-could-get-isolated-like-moscow-fears-xi-jinping">tensions might lead</a> to China&#8217;s isolation, similar to the Soviet Union&#8217;s during the Cold War.



Huawei&#8217;s development of its own computer chips and operating system is a significant move in this ongoing tech war, demonstrating the company&#8217;s efforts to reduce its reliance on American technology amid increasing sanctions and trade tensions.



<ul>
<li>READ MORE: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44355124/intels-new-ceo-charts-bold-revival-plan-warns-of-tough-decisions-ahead-reports">Intel&#8217;s New CEO Charts Revival Plan, Warns Of &#8216;Tough Decisions&#8217; Ahead: Report</a></li>
</ul>



Image via Shutterstock



Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

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QCOM

Huawei Develops In-House Chips To Counter US Sanctions, Leap Ahead In The Tech War

A renowned industry analyst has said that Nvidia Corp.&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/top-stories/25/03/44313558/nvidia-stock-reached-all-time-highs-after-jensen-huangs-ces-keynote-will-next-weeks-gtc-spark-another-surge">GTC 2025 conference</a> could serve as a key turning point for its stock—but only if the company tackles investor concerns around its next-gen AI chips, server production, and the future of scaling laws.



What Happened: In a detailed research note released Sunday, noted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo outlined what investors should watch for at Nvidia's GTC 2025, calling it a potential "short-term catalyst" for the chipmaker's share price rebound—if expectations are met.



"Nvidia's AI server investment trends hinge on three critical issues: the continuing effectiveness of scaling laws, the production ramp-up of new AI servers, and geopolitical uncertainties," Kuo wrote.



The centerpiece of Nvidia's hardware announcements will likely be the B300 AI chip, expected to deliver a 50% performance boost over its predecessor, the B200.



See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/management/25/01/43274796/jensen-huang-loses-20b-in-wealth-how-deepseek-hit-nvidia-stock-and-worlds-richest-people" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jensen Huang Loses $20B In Wealth: How DeepSeek Hit Nvidia Stock And World's Richest People</a>



Kuo says the B300's expanded high-bandwidth memory—from 192GB to 288GB—will be a highlight. It will come in both dual-die (CoWoS-L) and single-die (CoWoS-S) variants, with trial production beginning in the second quarter of 2025 and mass production in the third quarter.



The analyst also noted that the GB300 NVL72 server—designed to replace the widely anticipated but delayed GB200 NVL72—will maintain the same rack dimensions and power needs, making it easier for data centers to upgrade without major overhauls.



"The market widely recognizes the production hurdles of GB200 NVL72," Kuo said. "If Nvidia could highlight real-world data center deployments of GB200 NVL72, underscore the upgrade advantages from B200 to B300, and clarify the B300 production timeline, it could sharpen market expectations for the B300 investment thesis."



He added that edge AI devices are another emerging growth vector, though they will likely take a backseat at GTC, with AI PC solutions such as N1X and N1 expected to debut later this year at Computex.



Despite the conference's strong focus on server infrastructure, Kuo said geopolitical tensions are unlikely to be addressed in any meaningful way.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Nvidia GTC 2025: Hardware Predictions and Investment Trend Analysis Click to read<a href="https://t.co/C05rJD5O8C">https://t.co/C05rJD5O8C</a> <a href="https://t.co/7SdS1WiUlx">pic.twitter.com/7SdS1WiUlx</a>&mdash; 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) <a href="https://twitter.com/mingchikuo/status/1901266994214879331?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.Play



Why It's Important: The upcoming GTC 2025 conference is crucial for Nvidia as it follows a period of fluctuating stock performance. The company&#8217;s stock reached all-time highs after CEO Jensen Huang&#8217;s keynote at CES but has since seen a decline.



The GTC conference, often dubbed the Global AI Conference, is anticipated to be a pivotal moment for Nvidia, potentially sparking another surge in stock value.



In <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/03/37803088/nvidia-gtc-2024-ceo-huang-highlights-the-past-present-and-future-of-ai-a-new-industry-has-emerged">GTC 2024</a>, Huang underscored the transformative impact of AI, marking the emergence of a new industry.&nbsp;



Price Action: Nvidia&#8217;s stock rose 0.73% in pre-market trading on Monday to $122.56, following a 5.27% surge earlier on Friday, closing at $121.67. Year-to-date, the stock is down 12.03%, according to <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>.



Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.



Read Next:



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42260222/how-nvidia-ceos-clever-but-nerdy-pick-up-line-turned-a-homework-proposal-into-marriage-while-building-338-trillion-ai-chip-giant-along-the-way" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">How Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's Clever Pick-Up Line Turned A Homework Proposal Into Marriage While Building $3.38 Trillion AI Chip Giant Along The Way</a></li>
</ul>



Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

NVDA

GTC 2025 Could Reignite Nvidia's Stock Rally, But Only If B300, AI Server Roadmap, And Scaling Concerns Are Addressed, Says Top Analyst

U.S. stock futures fell again on Monday after Friday&#8217;s rally, as benchmark indices hovered around the correction zone. Futures of all four benchmark indices declined in premarket trading.



Investors will focus on the Federal Open Market Committee&#8217;s decision on interest rates slated to be released on Wednesday this week. The meeting will begin on Tuesday and Chairman Jerome Powell will address a press conference on Wednesday afternoon.



February&#8217;s retail sales data will be released today before the market opens. President Donald Trump&#8216;s tariff negotiations continue as traders wait for &#8220;reciprocal tariffs&#8221; which go into effect on April 2nd.



Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Sunday that the Trump administration is working to prevent a financial crisis caused by years of excessive government spending. 



"I can guarantee we would have had a crisis if spending had continued at unsustainable levels," Bessent said <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/03/16/treasury-secretary-bessent-says-white-house-is-heading-off-financial-crisis.html">on</a> NBC's Meet the Press. "We are resetting and putting things on a sustainable path.&#8221;



The 10-year Treasury yield stood at 4.29%, while the two-year yield was at 4.01%. According <a href="https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-fedwatch-tool.html">to</a> the CME Group's FedWatch tool, there is a 99% chance that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates unchanged for the March meeting.



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Futures</td><td>Change (+/-)</td></tr><tr><td>Nasdaq 100</td><td>-0.48%</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>-0.49%</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>-0.49%</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>-0.63%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) and Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), which track the S&amp;P 500 index and Nasdaq 100 index, respectively, dropped in premarket on Monday. The SPY was down 0.39% to $560.64, and the QQQ also declined 0.41% to $477.70, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.



Cues From The Last Session



On Friday, Technology, energy, and financials led a Friday surge in U.S. stocks, with the S&amp;P 500 rising over 2%.



Big tech shares, particularly Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) and Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>), rebounded strongly, though overall stocks, including the Dow and S&amp;P 500, recorded weekly losses.



Conversely, consumer sentiment, as measured by the University of Michigan, fell to its lowest point since November 2022.



As of Friday&#8217;s close, the S&amp;P 500 index was 8.27% down from its previous high, which followed a bounce from Thursday&#8217;s 10.18% drawdown. Similarly, the Nasdaq 100 was 11.33% lower and Dow Jones was down 7.95% from its 52-week high as of Friday.



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Index</td><td>Performance (+/-)</td><td>Value</td></tr><tr><td>Nasdaq Composite</td><td>2.61%</td><td>17,754.09</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>2.13%</td><td>5,638.94</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>1.65%</td><td>41,488.19</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>2.53%</td><td>2,044.10</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Insights From Analysts



The CEO of Creative Planning, Peter Mallouk in an X post highlighted that over the last 75 years, the intra-year market drop has been 14% on average.



&#8220;Downside volatility is the price investors pay for long-term outperformance,&#8221; he added.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Over the last 75 years, the average intra-year market drop has been 14%. If you are overly stressed out about the current 10% drawdown, the stock market isn't for you. Downside volatility is the price investors pay for long-term outperformance. <a href="https://t.co/dB995bwVkU">pic.twitter.com/dB995bwVkU</a>&mdash; Peter Mallouk (@PeterMallouk) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeterMallouk/status/1901355862347956640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Mallouk further reiterated that market pullbacks are common and a complete recovery is inevitable over time. &#8220;Stay calm and stick with your long-term plan,&#8221; he said.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Stock market pullbacks happen every year, and they all have one thing in common: a complete recovery with the passage of time. Stay calm and stick with your long-term plan. <a href="https://t.co/fnHfoFUovd">pic.twitter.com/fnHfoFUovd</a>&mdash; Peter Mallouk (@PeterMallouk) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeterMallouk/status/1901386240366125390?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Ryan Detrick of Carson Research also highlighted the historical data and underlined this was the fastest period of correction for the S&amp;P 500 after scaling a fresh high on Feb. 19. It just took the index 16 days to slip into the correction territory.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">This was one of the fastest corrections ever. Here are all the times the S&amp;P 500 went from an ATH to down 10% within a month. Higher 3 and 6 months later every time doesn&#39;t sound like the worst news. <a href="https://t.co/y0mzaMhQo2">pic.twitter.com/y0mzaMhQo2</a>&mdash; Ryan Detrick, CMT (@RyanDetrick) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanDetrick/status/1901249591229714860?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Additionally, Detrick underscored that the S&amp;P 500 has slid into a correction zone for 12 times since 1950 without going into a bear market.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Do you think this goes into a bear market? Since 1950, I found 12 other times stocks corrected 10% from an all-time high and didn&#39;t go into a bear market. 6 and 12 month later? Never lower. <a href="https://t.co/vAu3GsY8wI">pic.twitter.com/vAu3GsY8wI</a>&mdash; Ryan Detrick, CMT (@RyanDetrick) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanDetrick/status/1901406424413995429?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



According to the Panic/Euphoria analysis model shared by Jay Kaeppel, the senior market analyst at SentimenTrader, the S&amp;P 500's decline was still not flashing a buy signal. However, from this point, investors could &#8220;Start looking for a buy signal,&#8221; at the current levels.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Is this a "Buy" signal? IMO, no. Is this a "Start looking for a buy signal" signal? IMO, yes. Doesn't mean it will come soon or that things can't get worse as the first "dot" rarely marks the exact bottom (only in 2018). Still, the numbers are what they are. <a href="https://twitter.com/sentimentrader?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@sentimentrader</a> <a href="https://t.co/6Xq1lk9kNj">pic.twitter.com/6Xq1lk9kNj</a>&mdash; Jay Kaeppel (@jaykaeppel) <a href="https://twitter.com/jaykaeppel/status/1900529743218286779?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-trade-futures">How to Trade Futures </a>



Upcoming Economic Data



Here&#8217;s what investors will keep an eye on this week:



<ul>
<li>On Monday, February&#8217;s U.S. retail sales and March&#8217;s Empire State manufacturing survey will be released at 8:30 a.m., ET.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>January&#8217;s business inventories data and March&#8217;s homebuilder confidence index data will be out by 10:00 a.m., ET.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>On Tuesday, February&#8217;s housing starts, building permits, and import price index data will be announced at 8:30 a.m., ET.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Also, February&#8217;s industrial production and capacity utilization data will be released at 9:15 a.m., ET.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>On Wednesday, FOMC will announce its decision on interest rates at 2:00 p.m., and Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell will address a press conference at 2:30 p.m., ET.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>On Thursday, the initial jobless claims data for the week ended March 15 and the Philadelphia Fed manufacturing survey data for March will be out by 8:30 a.m., ET.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>February&#8217;s existing home sales and U.S. leading economic indicators data will be released by 10:00 a.m., ET.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>No data is scheduled to be released on Friday this week.</li>
</ul>



Stocks In Focus:



<ul>
<li>Science Applications International Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SAIC#NASDAQ">SAIC</a>) was up 1.51% in premarket on Monday as it is expected to report before the opening bell. Analysts expect earnings of $2.08 per share on revenue of $1.81 billion.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Getty Images Holdings Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GETY#NYSE">GETY</a>) advanced 2.45% as Wall Street expects it to report earnings of 4 cents per share on revenue of $246.31 million after the closing bell.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CWCO#NASDAQ">CWCO</a>) rose 0.24% as it is expected to report after the closing bell. Analysts expect earnings of 28 cents per share on revenue of $33.60 million.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Castellum Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CTM#NYSE">CTM</a>) slumped 20.64% after announcing the price of $4.5 million worth of proposed public offering of common stock and warrants at $1 per unit.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Gogo Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOGO#NASDAQ">GOGO</a>) plunged 26.97% after reporting a fourth-quarter EPS loss of $0.22, significantly below the $0.0567 forecast, but exceeded revenue expectations with $137.8 million versus the projected $97.28 million.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Eagle Bancorp Montana Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EBMT#NASDAQ">EBMT</a>) dropped 16.91% after disclosing a material weakness in internal controls regarding borrowing classifications in cash flow statements, posing risks of financial misstatements, reputational damage, reduced investor confidence, and potential legal and regulatory issues.</li>
</ul>



Commodities, Gold And Global Equity Markets:



Crude oil futures were trading higher in the early New York session by 1.03% to hover around $67.60 per barrel.



The gold spot index was up by 0.28% to $2,990.85 per ounce. Its last record high was at $3,005.08 per ounce. The Dollar Index was unchanged at the 103.719 level.



Most Asian markets closed higher on Monday except China&#8217;s CSI 300 index. On the other hand, Japan's Nikkei 225, South Korea's Kospi, Australia's ASX 200, Hong Kong's Hang Seng, and India's S&amp;P BSE Sensex advanced. European markets were higher in trade.



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44350479/warren-buffett-plans-to-sell-his-real-estate-brokerage-but-its-not-a-bet-against-us-home-prices-says-analyst-as-f">Warren Buffett Plans To Sell His Real Estate Brokerage, But It&#8217;s &#8216;Not… A Bet Against US Home Prices,&#8217; Says Analyst As Fed Expects To Keep Rates Unchanged</a></li>
</ul>



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

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US Stocks Likely To Open Lower As Futures Decline: 'Stay Calm And Stick With Your Long-Term Plan,' Says Expert Amid Correction Woes

President Donald Trump's decision to slap tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China includes levies on auto imports from all three countries. Additionally, 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum were tacked on and triggered on March 12.



S&amp;P Global said the most likely scenario is an "extended disruption period lasting 16 to 20 weeks," with "several high exposure vehicles" either slowing or ceasing production.



That's bad news for many car makers, who ship steel, parts and even whole vehicles across North America before they're sold. 



But look deeper and some sectors of the auto industry may actually prosper from these tariffs.



Here are four car companies set to benefit from the tariff tit-for-tat. 



Market experts say disruption is the rule going forward across the globe – and with American and European automakers looking better going forward.



"Trump&#8217;s tariffs on steel, aluminum, and Chinese imports are placing production expense on American automakers, constricting margins for foreign-part-dependent companies," said Fei Chen, founder and CEO at Intellectia.AI, a financial intelligence company.



"Diversified Japanese and European automakers are less impacted. Chinese automakers, especially BYD and Geely, could benefit most as China doubles down on domestic EV manufacturing and export efforts, focusing on tariff-friendly markets in Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America," Chen said.



High tariff activity is causing automaker CEOs to alter their strategic planning, which casts additional clouds on auto stocks.



"Right now, the administration's tariffs are forcing automakers to examine their supply base to see what the easiest shifts may be to ease some of the burden on what components are produced where," said Brian Sponheimer, portfolio manager at Gabelli Funds. "For production of full product lines to be moved from Mexico or Canada to the US, the cost would be measured in billions, so automakers must choose whether that cost makes sense on a long-term basis given the potential for a tariff increase that may not be measured in multiple years."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Auto Stocks To Test Drive In 2025</h2>



In such a chaotic sector environment, which auto stocks stand out during the tariff wars? Here's what industry experts have to say.



Tesla (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) – Tesla hasn't gotten off to a great start, but tariffs may give the stock a much-needed tune-up. "Love it or hate it, they&#8217;re the EV champs," said Alex Black, chief marketing officer at EpicVIN. "Tariff-free importation of strategic battery components plus brand loyalty will sustain them."



Toyota (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TM#NYSE">TM</a>) This Japanese automaker should continue to thrive mainly due to its diverse supply base and strong hybrid offerings, making Toyota "tariff and rising production cost-resistant," Chen said.



BYD (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BYDDY#OTC">BYDDY</a>) The Chinese giant EV maker, with strong demand, is growing in Europe and Latin America. "They&#8217;re vertically integrated, so they have cost control superior to most," Black said.



Chen agreed. "As the automaker expanding beyond U.S. borders, it's escaping tariffs as it capitalizes on global EV demand." 



General Motors (NYSE: GM), a home grown legend, GM has based its domestic production in Detroit MI, and "now it's in prime position to be at the forefront of production locally and to combat the challenges that most other car manufacturers will face among these new regulations," said Lucas Barcelo, founder at Thrivin Life, an automation and analytics marketing company.



"GM has a good diversified supply chain, their domestic production will allow them to mitigate tariff impact, they have remained relatively financially strong over the years, and now we'll get to see how they adapt and innovate among big changes &#8211; this is their chance to shine," Barcelo added.



Used car specialists: Tariffs raise costs, making consumers less likely to purchase a new vehicle.



"This makes stocks that generate profits from the used vehicle market and through service and parts more likely to benefit on a relative basis," Sponheimer said. "We have long appreciated the dealer model that AutoNation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AN#NYSE">AN</a>) and Penske (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PAG#NYSE">PAG</a>) employ, driving over half of gross profits from parts and service."



Additionally, CarMax (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KMX#NYSE">KMX</a>) will likely experience an inflection in the addressable market for late-model used vehicles starting in 2H, Sponheimer added. "With more consumers looking to purchase used vehicles, the company should benefit from volatility in the new market." 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Takeaway On Tariffs And Auto Stocks</h2>



When kicking tires on auto stocks, extend that research into auto aftermarket companies, which tend to get overlooked by investors.



"The US new vehicle market is in the range of 15-17 million units in a typical year, and the used market is 40 million in annual sales, and the total vehicle population in the United States is over 290 million vehicles," Sponheimer said.



He likes companies that service the larger, less cyclical total vehicle population, where the average vehicle age is nearing 13 years old.



"These vehicles require service, particularly as complexity has skyrocketed," Sponheimer noted. "So this automotive aftermarket produces outstanding business models with outstanding cash flow characteristics."



Additionally, the aftermarket tends to be an area where inflationary pressure can be passed along. "This is typically a fertile fishing ground for auto stocks," he added.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Finally, The Investing Edge You've Been Searching For</h2>



Today, you can get immediate access to lightning-fast market alerts &amp; insights delivered daily for less than $11 a month. Click <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge/">HERE</a> to start investing with an edge today. 



Photo: Shutterstock

Opinion

Trading Ideas

BYDDY

4 Auto Stocks Set To Benefit From Trump's Tariffs

Leading cryptocurrencies dipped on Sunday as investors braced for the Federal Reserve's decision on interest rates.



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Cryptocurrency</td><td>Gains +/-</td><td>Price (Recorded at 8:30 p.m. ET)</td></tr><tr><td>Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>)</td><td>-1.60%</td><td>$82,939.09</td></tr><tr><td>Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>-2.00%</td><td>$1,899.03</td></tr><tr><td>Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>-3.62%</td><td>$0.1701</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



What Happened: Bitcoin witnessed a choppy trading day, oscillating between $85,000 and $82,000. The apex cryptocurrency recovered some losses last week, rising 2.21%.



The asset shed over 11% of its value in the first quarter, a stark contrast to the 51% returns it has provided on average.



Ethereum wiggled in the $1,860-$1,930 range throughout the day and was down over 7% in the last week. Its quarterly losses have widened to 42%.



Over $256 million was liquidated from the market in the last 24 hours, with long liquidations accounting for $177 million.&nbsp;



Bitcoin's Open Interest fell 2.76% over the last 24 hours due to long liquidations. That said, the percentage of traders positioned long on the apex digital asset surged to 52%, according to the Long/Short Ratio, suggesting that traders bought the dip.



The market remained in the "Fear" zone, according to the Crypto Fear and Greed Index.



Top Gainers (24-Hours)



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Cryptocurrency</td><td>Gains +/-</td><td>Price (Recorded at 8:30 p.m. ET)</td></tr><tr><td>BinaryX (BNX)</td><td>+26.13%</td><td>$1.41</td></tr><tr><td>Helium (HNT)</td><td>+3.38%</td><td>$3.20</td></tr><tr><td>OKB (OKB)</td><td>+3.32%</td><td>$48.08</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



The global cryptocurrency market capitalization stood at $2.71 trillion, marking a&nbsp; 2% decrease over the previous day.



Stock futures edged lower Sunday evening. The Dow Jones Industrial Average Futures fell 156 points, or 0.37%, as of 8:45 p.m. EDT.&nbsp; Futures tied to the S&amp;P 500 slid 0.45%, while Nasdaq 100 Futures dropped 0.51%



The market was coming off a losing week, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&amp;P 500 falling 2.38% and 0.75%, respectively.



The Fed's policy meeting will be the focus of this week. According to the CME FedWatch tool, the central bank is widely <a href="https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-fedwatch-tool.html">expected</a> to keep interest rates unchanged.



See More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-crypto-scanners">Best Cryptocurrency Scanners</a>



Analyst Notes: Widely followed cryptocurrency analyst Ali Martinez described $81,400 as a "big" test for Bitcoin, and if it remains above that level, the apex cryptocurrency&#8217;s upward trend will continue.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bitcoin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bitcoin</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24BTC&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$BTC</a> big test: $81,400 support! Staying above it keeps the uptrend alive. <a href="https://t.co/bvQgJPHLKE">pic.twitter.com/bvQgJPHLKE</a>&mdash; Ali (@ali_charts) <a href="https://twitter.com/ali_charts/status/1901227444318949402?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Martinez also noted an ascending triangle pattern for Bitcoin, predicting that a "sustained close" outside the triangle [∼ 84,500] could trigger an 8% upside.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bitcoin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bitcoin</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24BTC&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$BTC</a> is ready to break out! A sustained close outside of this triangle will trigger an 8% price move. <a href="https://t.co/yxwoYw7MHH">pic.twitter.com/yxwoYw7MHH</a>&mdash; Ali (@ali_charts) <a href="https://twitter.com/ali_charts/status/1901328496355389600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Another popular cryptocurrency market commentator, Michaël van de Poppe, predicted a &#8220;strong and green&#8221; week if there's no altcoin dump on Monday.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Surprisingly, not a massive dump on Sunday. Big macro-economic week coming up for the markets. I assume that, if we don&#39;t have another dump on Monday for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Altcoins?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Altcoins</a>, that, finally, the next week is going to be strong &amp; green.&mdash; Michaël van de Poppe (@CryptoMichNL) <a href="https://twitter.com/CryptoMichNL/status/1901350504497868803?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Image via Shutterstock



Read Next:    



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/03/44348215/bitcoin-whale-takes-332-million-short-position-heres-where-it-gets-liquidated">Bitcoin Whale Takes $332 Million Short Position, Here&#8217;s Where It Gets Liquidated</a></li>
</ul>

Cryptocurrency

Movers

$BTC

$DOGE

$ETH

Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin Slide Ahead Of Fed's Interest Rate Decision: Next Week To Be 'Strong & Green' If Altcoins Don't Get Dumped On Monday, Says Trader

Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RKLB#NASDAQ">RKLB</a>) sent a Japanese radar satellite into orbit on Saturday and is now prepping for another mission just three days later.



What Happened: On Saturday, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/RKLB">Rocket Lab</a> completed its 61st mission, "The Lightning God Reigns," from Launch Complex 1 in Māhia, New Zealand.



The mission deployed the QPS-SAR-9 satellite into a 575-kilometer circular Earth orbit for the Japanese customer Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space, Inc. (IQPS).



It marked the second mission Rocket Lab has executed for IQPS following a launch in December 2023.



See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://in.benzinga.com/25/02/43456592/tesla-researcher-expects-cybertruck-deliveries-to-fall-in-2025-order-backlog-is-gone" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tesla Cybertruck Headed For A Sales Crash In 2025? Analyst Sounds The Alarm, Predicts Elon Musk-led EV Giant Will Move Less Than A Third Of Street Estimates</a>



The satellite is part of IQPS's synthetic aperture radar (SAR) constellation, designed to deliver high-resolution, all-weather Earth imagery.



According to Rocket Lab, the Lightning God Reigns mission is the first of eight upcoming launches for IQPS—one of the company's largest Electron launch agreements to date—with five more expected in 2025 and two more in 2026.



Just three days later, on Tuesday, it plans to launch Mission 62, "High Five," which will deploy five satellites for French Internet of Things company Kinéis. The launch is the fifth and final in a multi-mission deal to complete the Kinéis satellite constellation.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">We&#39;ve rolled out and we&#39;re ready for launch tomorrow &#8211; our second mission from LC-1 in three days &#x1f680;&#x1f680; The &quot;High Five&quot; mission for <a href="https://twitter.com/KineisIoT?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KineisIoT</a> is the final in a 5-launch deal to complete their constellation &#8211; though with an instantaneous launch requirement, a weather system… <a href="https://t.co/wjotvWCKaD">pic.twitter.com/wjotvWCKaD</a>&mdash; Rocket Lab (@RocketLab) <a href="https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/1901404741672079788?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Why It's Important: Last month, Rocket Lab announced its <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/general/space/25/02/44027404/rocket-lab-q4-earnings-revenue-beat-eps-beat-new-satellite-product-multi-launch-agreement-shares-slide-on-soft-guidance">fourth-quarter financial</a> results, reporting $132.39 million in revenue and surpassing the $130.58 million consensus estimate. The company posted a loss of 10 cents per share, matching analyst expectations, <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com/">according to Benzinga Pro</a>.



RKLB Price Action: Rocket Lab shares rose 7.06% on Friday, closing at $18.81. However, in after-hours trading, the stock was down 0.053% at the time of writing.



Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Future Of Mobility coverage by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mobility" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link.</a>



Photo via Shutterstock



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43455022/fords-mustang-mach-e-was-its-saving-grace-in-january-as-sales-of-its-other-evs-dipped" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mustang Mach-E Accelerates Ford&#8217;s EV Sales In January Even As F-150 Lightning Slows Down</a></li>
</ul>



Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

RKLB

Rocket Lab Launches 'Lightning God Reigns' Mission, Sets Sights On 'High Five' Launch Just Three Days Later

The CNN Money Fear and Greed index showed an improvement in the overall market sentiment, while the index remained in the &#8220;Extreme Fear&#8221; zone on Friday.



U.S. stocks settled higher on Friday, with the S&amp;P 500 surging more than 2% during the session.



Big tech shares fell sharply last week and saw a sharp recovery on Friday. Shares of Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) jumped more than 5%, while Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) added around 4% during the session.



Despite Friday's gains, stocks recorded losses last week. The Dow dipped around 3.1% to record its worst week since March 2023. The S&amp;P 500 dipped over 2%, recording its fourth straight losing week.



On the economic data front, the University of Michigan consumer sentiment dipped to 57.9 in March, recording the lowest reading since November 2022, compared to 64.7 in the previous month and down from market estimates of 63.1.



All sectors on the S&amp;P 500 closed on a positive note, with information technology, energy, and financial stocks recording the biggest gains on Friday.



The Dow Jones closed higher by around 675 points to 41,488.19 on Friday. The S&amp;P 500 rose 2.13% to 5,638.94, while the Nasdaq Composite climbed 2.61% at 17,754.09 during Friday's session.



Investors are awaiting earnings results from Science Applications International Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SAIC#NASDAQ">SAIC</a>), Getty Images Holdings Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GETY#NYSE">GETY</a>) and Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CWCO#NASDAQ">CWCO</a>) today.



What is CNN Business Fear &amp; Greed Index?



At a current reading of 21, the index remained in the &#8220;Extreme Fear&#8221; zone on Friday, versus a prior reading of 16.1.



The Fear &amp; Greed Index is a measure of the current market sentiment. It is based on the premise that higher fear exerts pressure on stock prices, while higher greed has the opposite effect. The index is calculated based on seven equal-weighted indicators. The index ranges from 0 to 100, where 0 represents maximum fear and 100 signals maximum greediness.



Read Next: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44326690/top-3-materials-stocks-that-may-collapse-in-march">Top 3 Materials Stocks That May Collapse In March</a></li>
</ul>



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

S&P Jumps Over 2%, But Records Weekly Loss: Investor Fear Eases, Greed Index Remains In 'Extreme Fear' Zone

Alphabet Inc.&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) Waymo has established a commanding lead in the autonomous vehicle market with over 2 million paid robotaxi rides across multiple U.S. cities, Gary Black, Managing Partner at The Future Fund LLC notes.



What Happened: &#8220;Many investors argue Google&#8217;s Waymo is way ahead in the robotaxi race,&#8221; Black wrote Sunday on X, noting Waymo&#8217;s operations in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix.



Meanwhile, Amazon.com Inc.&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) Zoox is <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/01/43091062/amazons-zoox-eyes-joining-leagues-of-waymo-in-2025-to-offer-rides-to-public-quite-soon">preparing to launch paid services</a> in San Francisco and Las Vegas, positioning itself as a contender for second place against Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>), which &#8220;still hasn&#8217;t been approved for paid ride-hailing on public roadways without humans behind the wheel,&#8221; Black stated.



In China, Baidu Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BIDU#NASDAQ">BIDU</a>) has already completed 9 million paid robotaxi rides across four major Chinese cities and is expanding to dozens more, including Hong Kong.



Black emphasized that &#8220;unsupervised autonomy is table stakes for all automotive manufacturers&#8221; – a requirement to remain competitive, similar to smartphone features following Apple Inc.&#8216;s iPhone launch.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Many investors argue <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24GOOG&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$GOOG</a> ‘s Waymo is way ahead in the robotaxi race, having already deployed over 2M paid robotaxi rides in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix and elsewhere. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24AMZN&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$AMZN</a> ‘s Zoox is about to launch paid robotaxi service in San Francisco and Las Vegas, and is… <a href="https://t.co/IboDZfNirC">pic.twitter.com/IboDZfNirC</a>&mdash; Gary Black (@garyblack00) <a href="https://twitter.com/garyblack00/status/1901300612920177020?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/03/44347512/wait-tariffs-are-just-a-tax-on-us-employee-shocked-as-small-business-owner-cuts-his-hours-because-of-the-tariffs">&#8216;Wait, Tariffs Are Just A Tax On Us?&#8217;—Employee Shocked As Small Business Owner Cuts His Hours &#8216;Because Of The Tariffs&#8217;</a>



Why It Matters: When asked about Tesla&#8217;s potential advantage with 7 million vehicles worldwide, Black noted that Tesla has not demonstrated Level 4 or 5 autonomy, which hinders approval for unsupervised deployment in most jurisdictions.



Black acknowledged Tesla&#8217;s superior scaling capabilities but expressed concern about &#8220;a lack of marketing skills&#8221; – a sentiment echoed in his praise of Apple&#8217;s marketing as crucial to its success.



The competition intensifies as Waymo expands in Santa Monica, with investment manager Ross Gerber recently describing Waymo&#8217;s performance as <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/25/03/44068902/tesla-fsd-like-a-12-year-old-driving-compared-to-waymo-says-ross-gerber-warning-uber-has-got-to-be-hurting">significantly superior to Tesla&#8217;s Full Self-Driving technology</a>, which he compared to &#8220;a 12-year-old driving.&#8221;



Industry analysts remain cautious, with Goldman Sachs projecting limited initial robotaxi revenue for Tesla of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/01/43036902/tesla-stock-valuation-analyst-flags-long-term-growth-opportunities-robotaxis-fsd">approximately $115 million by 2027</a>.



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Image Via Shutterstock



Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

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Google's Waymo Leads Robotaxi Race With 2 Millon Paid Rides, Amazon's Zoox Challenges Tesla For Second Spot As Autonomy Becomes 'Table Stakes,' Says Gary Black

A small business owner recently took to Reddit to vent about an employee who couldn't understand why his hours were being cut. The reason was indeed &#8220;because of the tariffs,&#8221; but the employee was baffled.



&#8220;He asked, condescendingly, why Canada and China having to pay us an extra tax would slow down sales on the consumer end,&#8221; the business owner wrote. &#8220;Said it shouldn't make a difference on packaging.&#8221;



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The <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/smallbusiness/comments/1j9c3an/does_anybody_else_have_that_employee_or_those/">post</a> titled, &#8220;Does anybody else have that employee, or those employees, who just can't grasp the impact of the tariffs?&#8221; shared on r/smallbusiness, quickly gained traction, sparking a heated discussion about tariffs, economic literacy, and the real-world consequences of policy decisions. Many commenters expressed frustration over how common it is for people to misunderstand tariffs and taxes in general.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Who Really Pays the Price?</h2>



For years, some politicians have claimed that <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/12/42383874/expert-slams-trumps-tariff-policies-as-completely-and-utterly-wrong-but-says-we-dont-think-they-are-going-to-do-anything">tariffs are a tax on foreign countries</a>. But business owners and economists alike know that's not how it works. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/03/44070257/warren-buffett-calls-tariffs-an-act-of-war-warns-they-function-as-a-tax-on-goods-amid-market-turmoil">Tariffs are a tax on imports</a>, which means U.S. businesses pay more for the goods they bring in. Those higher costs then get passed on to consumers or result in businesses cutting expenses—like labor.



&#8220;I had just placed a few orders at increased pricing, so I gave him the most top-to-bottom explanation I could,&#8221; the Reddit poster continued. &#8220;He was shocked that tariffs were just an extra tax on us and that the U.S. doesn't just have the capability to produce EVERYTHING.&#8221;



That realization hit hard. &#8220;At the end, he said that's not what he thought when he voted for them.&#8221;



Trending: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/elon-musk-told-the-u-n-if-they-could-show-a-plan-for-ending-world-hunger-hed-donate-6-billion-i-will-sell-tesla-stock-right-now-and-do-it">Elon Musk Told The U.N. If They Could Show A Plan For Ending World Hunger He'd Donate $6 Billion – ‘I Will Sell Tesla Stock Right Now And Do It'</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A Broader Issue</h2>



The post resonated with many small business owners who have struggled to explain basic economic concepts to employees, customers, and even fellow business owners.



&#8220;The amount of time I have spent explaining how <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/01/42757069/i-dont-care-what-tax-bracket-youre-in-suze-orman-insists-youd-be-crazy-to-have-anything-other-than-a-roth-retirement-account">tax brackets</a> work to people and their inability to grasp the concept is astonishing,&#8221; one commenter wrote.



Another chimed in: &#8220;Most people don't even understand their own income taxes. Corporate taxes and international business are way outside of their comfort zone.&#8221;



Others pointed out that financial education in schools is lacking, leaving many Americans ill-equipped to understand economic policies that affect them.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Real-World Consequences</h2>



Tariffs aren't just abstract political debates—they have tangible effects on businesses and workers. Several small business owners in the thread shared how tariffs have disrupted their supply chains, raised costs, and led to layoffs.



One business owner in the solar industry said <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/03/44269301/trumps-25-tariffs-on-steel-and-aluminum-imports-take-effect-eu-retaliates-us-steel-nucor-century-aluminum-and-other-domestic-stocks-cheer">tariffs on aluminum and steel</a> have made <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/partner/tech/25/02/43943892/from-tariffs-to-funding-freezes-solar-installs-are-getting-pricier-save-up-to-4000-with-monalee-befo">solar panel installations significantly more expensive</a>. &#8220;The average residential system now costs an extra $2,000,&#8221; they wrote. &#8220;Tried to explain it to [my manager], and he argued that customers shouldn't be paying the price for tariffs. Don't really have much of a choice when our material prices go up 20%+.&#8221;



Another commenter shared that their company had to lay off nearly half its staff due to declining sales and uncertainty caused by tariffs. &#8220;Our domestic sales have <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/02/43949339/consumer-confidence-plummets-in-february-sharp-decline-marks-third-consecutive-monthly-drop">fallen off a cliff</a> since the third quarter. At least 65% month to month. International sales are far worse.&#8221;



See Also: Hasbro, MGM Resorts, and Sketchers Use this Pre-IO AI Marketing Firm — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/rad-intel">and You Can Own a Piece of it From $0.55/Share</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Misinformation and Frustration</h2>



A recurring theme in the discussion was frustration over how tariffs are portrayed in politics and the media. Many commenters blamed politicians for spreading misinformation about who actually pays tariffs.



&#8220;The number of people who couldn't even be bothered to Google ‘How do tariffs work?' in the fall is astounding,&#8221; one user commented.



Another pointed out that even high-ranking officials seem confused about tariffs. &#8220;My own congresswoman does not understand how tariffs work, which is ridiculous.&#8221;



Some argued that the confusion isn't accidental. &#8220;Almost all the politicians understand. They just know it's better for them to play dumb,&#8221; one commenter suggested.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A Lesson in Economics</h2>



For the small business owner who started the discussion, the experience has been eye-opening—but also exhausting. &#8220;I'm sick of explaining tariffs and wish that people were better at doing their own research,&#8221; he admitted.



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'Wait, Tariffs Are Just A Tax On Us?'—Employee Shocked As Small Business Owner Cuts His Hours 'Because Of The Tariffs'

These large-cap stocks were the worst performers in the last week. Are they in your portfolio?



<ol>
<li>Teradyne (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TER#NASDAQ">TER</a>) shares dipped 20.08%. The company agreed to acquire Photonic IC Testing Company Quantifi Photonics <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/44236516" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">for an undisclosed amount</a>. Analysts cut price <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ter/analyst-ratings" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">forecasts for the company</a>.</li>



<li>Trade Desk (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TTD#NASDAQ">TTD</a>) stock tumbled 16.90%, probably amid economic worries driven by tariffs and trade policies.</li>



<li>Coinbase Global, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COIN#NASDAQ">COIN</a>) shares dipped 15.79% amid a decline in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/44287858" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bitcoin due to tariff uncertainty</a>.</li>



<li>SailPoint, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SAIL#NASDAQ">SAIL</a>) shares fell 15.19%.</li>



<li>Genmab (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GMAB#NASDAQ">GMAB</a>) shares decreased 15.04% after Johnson &amp; Johnson (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JNJ#NYSE">JNJ</a>) decided not to exercise its option to receive a worldwide license to develop, manufacture, and commercialize HexaBody-CD38. Genmab will not <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/44221409" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pursue further clinical development</a>.</li>



<li>Interactive Brokers Group, Inc.&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IBKR#NASDAQ">IBKR</a>) stock fell 12.52%, probably due to overall market concerns amid tariff uncertainty.</li>



<li>Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DAL#NYSE">DAL</a>) stock plummeted 12.26% after the company cut its first-quarter<a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/44244750" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> revenue and profit guidance</a>.</li>



<li>Adobe Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ADBE#NASDAQ">ADBE</a>) shares declined 12.16% after the company issued the second quarter and FY25 adjusted EPS guidance, with its midpoint below estimates. Several analysts <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/44302063" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">also revised the price forecast</a>.</li>



<li>Expedia Group Inc.&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EXPE#NASDAQ">EXPE</a>) stock fell 12.05%, probably amid a broader sell-off in travel-related stocks <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/44259915" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following </a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/44259915" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Delta Air Lines&#8217;s</a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/44259915" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> guidance cut</a>.</li>



<li>Robinhood Markets, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HOOD#NASDAQ">HOOD</a>) shares dipped 11.66%. The company announced <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/44252567" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">operating data for February</a>.</li>



<li>United Airlines Holdings (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UAL#NASDAQ">UAL</a>) stock was down 11.11% after B of A Securities and Barclays cut their <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ual/analyst-ratings" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">respective price forecast on the stock</a>.</li>



<li>Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) stock fell 10.70% last week amid overall market weakness due to continued tariff uncertainty.</li>
</ol>



Photo by Useacoin on Shutterstock



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Coinbase, Apple And Robinhood Are Among Top Large-Cap Losers Last Week (Mar 10-Mar 14): Are The Others In Your Portfolio?

It was a busy week for Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) with a series of events that kept the tech giant in the spotlight. From a secretive court hearing in the UK to the launch of a Metallica concert experience for its Vision Pro headset, Apple made headlines for various reasons. Let&#8217;s dive into the major stories.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Apple&#8217;s Secret Court Hearing In The UK</h3>



On Friday, a private court hearing believed to be an appeal by Apple against a UK government demand for backdoor access to its encrypted cloud systems took place in London. The public and media were not allowed to attend the hearing, which reportedly centered on a controversial &#8220;technical capability notice&#8221; issued to Apple by the British government.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/legal/25/03/44344993/apple-reportedly-fights-uk-governments-unacceptable-encryption-order-behind-closed-doors-no-press-or-public-allowed">Read the full article here.</a>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Metallica Concert Experience On Vision Pro</h3>



Apple is hoping to rekindle interest in its struggling Vision Pro headset with a virtual concert featuring Metallica. The immersive 25-minute concert, filmed with 14 ultra-high-resolution 180-degree cameras and powered by Spatial Audio, will be available to Vision Pro users.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44270009/apple-doubles-down-on-vision-pro-with-metallica-concert-experience-but-can-rock-legends-save-a-3499-headset-thats-already-being-scaled-back">Read the full article here.</a>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">iPhone 16e Outperforms iPhone SE</h3>



The newly released iPhone 16e has seen strong initial sales, outperforming the third-generation iPhone SE by 60% in its first three days. However, analysts predict that this won&#8217;t be enough to counterbalance Apple&#8217;s declining sales in China this year.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44345384/apples-new-iphone-16e-outsells-iphone-se-by-60-but-analysts-say-it-wont-stop-china-sales-from-sliding-in-2025">Read the full article here.</a>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Apple Stock Under Pressure</h3>



Apple&#8217;s stock is facing significant selling pressure, with shares down 10.85% year-to-date, 8.22% in the past month, and 1.56% on Friday alone.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/03/44284821/apple-stock-takes-a-bite-out-of-investors-as-siri-fumbles-ai-race">Read the full article here.</a>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Major Overhaul For iPhones After iOS 19</h3>



Apple is reportedly planning one of the most dramatic software overhauls in its history. The upcoming iOS 19 is expected to transform the iPhone&#8217;s interface, featuring significant updates in icons, menus, apps, system buttons, and windows. The design is said to be loosely based on the Vision Pro's visionOS interface.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/03/44240980/iphones-after-ios-19-will-feature-a-very-different-look-heres-whats-apple-might-change">Read the full article here.</a>



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Photo courtesy: Shutterstock



This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/Rounak-Jain" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rounak Jain</a>

Apple's Secretive UK Court Hearing, Metallica Concert On Vision Pro, iPhone 16e, And Major Overhaul In Store: This Week In Appleverse

The escalating trade tensions between the U.S. and its key trading partners are creating fresh <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/econ-s/25/03/44262286/tariff-uncertainty-poses-major-risk-to-us-automakers-how-much-could-ford-gm-earnings-fall" rel="noreferrer noopener">concerns for the automotive industry</a>.



Goldman Sachs analyst warns tariffs pose a significant downside earnings risk for U.S. automakers and industrial tech companies, with potential reductions in vehicle production and rising costs for imported parts.



The U.S.&nbsp;Environmental Protection Agency&nbsp;(EPA) announced on Wednesday that it is starting the process to reverse dozens of Biden administration rules,<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44295619/epa-targets-bidens-climate-policies-starts-process-to-reverse-passenger-vehicle-truck-emission-rules" rel="noreferrer noopener"> including vehicle emissions standards</a>.



The Federal Trade Commission requested a delay in its trial against&nbsp;Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), citing resource constraints due to recent cuts by the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/03/44310724/doge-cuts-to-ftc-sow-confusion-in-case-against-amazon" rel="noreferrer noopener">Department of Government Efficiency</a>.



U.S. President&nbsp;Donald Trump&nbsp;has indicated that&nbsp;Meta Platforms&nbsp;Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) could invest up to $60 billion in the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/03/44323127/trump-suggests-meta-may-invest-up-to-60-billion-in-the-us-by-the-end-of-2025" rel="noreferrer noopener">United States by the end of the year</a>.



Earnings



SentinelOne Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/S#NYSE">S</a>) reported fourth-quarter revenue of $225.5 million, beating the&nbsp;consensus estimate of $222.25 million and adjusted earnings of four cents per share, beating<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/03/44291341/sentinelone-q4-earnings-revenue-beat-eps-beat-shares-sink-on-soft-guidance" rel="noreferrer noopener"> estimates of one cent per share</a>.



UiPath, Inc. reported fourth-quarter&nbsp;earnings of&nbsp;nine&nbsp;cents per share, which beat the analyst consensus estimate of&nbsp;three&nbsp;cents and revenue of $424 million missed the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/03/44311004/uipath-stock-down-faces-caution-despite-margin-gains-analyst-doubtful-about-companys-ai-transition-capability" rel="noreferrer noopener">consensus estimate of&nbsp;$425.36 million</a>.



Blink Charging (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BLNK#NASDAQ">BLNK</a>) reported fourth-quarter&nbsp;losses of&nbsp;15 cents&nbsp;per share, which beat the consensus for losses of 17 cents, and revenue of $30.18 million missed the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/03/44318350/blink-charging-shares-up-slightly-after-q4-results-heres-why" rel="noreferrer noopener">analyst consensus estimate of&nbsp;$30.52 million</a>.



Rubrik (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RBRK#NYSE">RBRK</a>) reported fourth-quarter&nbsp;losses of&nbsp;61 cents per share, which beat the analyst consensus estimate for losses of 80 cents and revenue of $258.1 million beat the analyst <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/03/44317342/rubrik-stock-climbs-after-strong-q4-results-q1-guidance-above-estimates" rel="noreferrer noopener">consensus estimate of&nbsp;$233.1 million</a>.



Technology



Tech billionaire and venture capitalist&nbsp;Peter Thiel is considering writing a book about ancient prophecies, the Antichrist, and Armageddon—and he believes we're ignoring what may be the most dangerous threat of all: the rise of global<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/03/44238979/palantir-cofounder-peter-thiel-might-write-a-book-about-ancient-prophecies-the-antichrist-and-armageddon-he-thinks-were-ignoring-the-real-threat" rel="noreferrer noopener"> authoritarianism disguised as peace</a>.



NVIDIA Corporation&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) teamed up with&nbsp;Microsoft Corporation&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) to introduce neural shading support in the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44305160/revolutionizing-gaming-nvidia-and-microsofts-neural-shading-brings-ai-to-graphics" rel="noreferrer noopener">Microsoft DirectX preview for April</a>.



Tesla (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) is eyeing the production of an affordable version of its popular&nbsp;Model Y in Shanghai. The company plans to commercialize in 2026 at its Shanghai <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/03/44330619/tesla-bets-on-low-cost-evs-in-china-after-february-sales-hit-two-year-low" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gigafactory for its China market.</a>



SpaceX's&nbsp;Crew-10 astronaut launch for&nbsp;NASA&nbsp;was postponed due to a hydraulics glitch. The&nbsp;Elon Musk-led rocket manufacturing company has <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44296357/spacex-crew-10-astronaut-launch-to-bring-back-stuck-astronauts-delayed-due-to-hydraulics-issue-says-nasa" rel="noreferrer noopener">rescheduled the mission for Friday, March 14</a>.



Alphabet Inc.&#8217;s&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) Google&nbsp;is doubling down with a possible $115 million acquisition of eye-tracking <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44267530/while-apple-reportedly-mulls-over-ar-glasses-google-bets-big-on-eye-tracking-tech-with-115-million-adhawk-acquisition-report" rel="noreferrer noopener">startup&nbsp;</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44267530/while-apple-reportedly-mulls-over-ar-glasses-google-bets-big-on-eye-tracking-tech-with-115-million-adhawk-acquisition-report" rel="noreferrer noopener">AdHawk Microsystems</a>.



Meta&nbsp;won an emergency legal ruling to block the promotion of a memoir written by a&nbsp;former high-ranking employee&nbsp;who claims the company ignored sexual harassment complaints and quietly <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44294128/meta-silences-whistleblower-who-worked-with-mark-zuckerberg-and-sheryl-sandberg-book-alleges-harassment-and-shady-china-strategy" rel="noreferrer noopener">built censorship tools for China</a>.



Gaming



Nintendo Co., Ltd. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NTDOY#OTC">NTDOY</a>) went all out for&nbsp;MAR10 Day&nbsp;this year, unveiling a packed celebration full of game discounts,<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44212558/nintendos-mar10-day-bash-includes-a-349-switch-bundle-trip-to-super-nintendo-world-and-alarm-clocks-that-talk-back-heres-what-you-need-to-know" rel="noreferrer noopener"> travel sweepstakes, and more</a>.



Smartphones



Apple Inc.&#8217;s&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) services chief&nbsp;Eddy Cue&nbsp;shared insights into&nbsp;Apple TV+&#8217;s&nbsp;selective content strategy while praising the global success of "Severance,&#8221; calling it one of the most culturally<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/25/03/44212936/eddy-cue-praises-severance-for-breaking-through-the-noise-globally-says-apple-tv-isnt-going-to-throw-20-shows-on-the-wall-hoping-one-will-stick" rel="noreferrer noopener"> impactful shows of recent years</a>.



Apple is preparing for what&nbsp;Mark Gurman&nbsp;described as "one of the most dramatic software overhauls" in the iPhone maker's history, with iOS 19 set to transform the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/03/44240980/iphones-after-ios-19-will-feature-a-very-different-look-heres-whats-apple-might-change" rel="noreferrer noopener">smartphone's interface later in 2025</a>.



On March 11,&nbsp;Nothing&nbsp;will begin shipping its new&nbsp;Phone&nbsp;(3a) series, offering premium features under $500—but with a few trade-offs that <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44214865/nothing-launches-phone-3a-and-3a-pro-with-flagship-specs-under-500shipping-starts-march-11-but-no-wireless-charging-or-ip68-rating" rel="noreferrer noopener">budget buyers should consider</a>.



Samsung Electronics Co.&nbsp;(OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SSNLF#OTC">SSNLF</a>) has reassured fans that the beloved&nbsp;S Pen&nbsp;isn&#8217;t going away, even though its absence from major product <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/03/44268878/samsung-says-s-pen-isnt-going-anywhere-but-if-thats-true-why-did-it-disappear-from-the-galaxy-s25-ultra-launch" rel="noreferrer noopener">announcements stirred some doubts</a>.



Artificial Intelligence



As China&#8217;s AI race accelerates, the viral autonomous agent&nbsp;Manus AI&nbsp;has partnered with&nbsp;Alibaba Group Holding Ltd&#8217;s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>) Qwen&nbsp;team to develop a localized <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44267707/chinas-viral-ai-agent-manus-which-is-being-compared-with-deepseek-taps-alibabas-qwen-for-local-expansion-heres-what-you-need-to-know" rel="noreferrer noopener">version tailored for Chinese users</a>.



China&#8217;s&nbsp;Manus AI&nbsp;is being hyped as the next big leap in agentic AI—maybe even a &#8220;DeepSeek moment&#8221;—but early testers say the platform <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/03/44214424/move-over-deepseek-not-so-fast-chinas-manus-ai-goes-viral-but-early-users-say-it-crashes-loops-and-fumbles-the-basics" rel="noreferrer noopener">might be more sizzle than substance</a>.



OpenAI&nbsp;CEO&nbsp;Sam Altman&nbsp;spoke candidly at a private Morgan Stanley event, revealing what he believes investors are still <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44297444/sam-altman-warns-ai-will-be-deflationary-but-says-openais-biggest-constraint-isnt-data-or-demand-its-gpus" rel="noreferrer noopener">underestimating about artificial intelligence</a>.

BABA

BLNK

NTDOY

RBRK

SSNLF

Consumer Tech News (Mar 10-Mar 14): Manus AI Creating Hype, Tesla Eyes Affordable Version Model Y In China & More

These mid-cap stocks were the best performers in the last week. Are they in your portfolio?



<ol>
<li>D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QBTS#NYSE">QBTS</a>) stock escalated 95.95%  after the company reported a 502% year-over-year increase <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/44301722" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">in fourth-quarter bookings to $18.3 million</a>.</li>



<li>Protagonist Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PTGX#NASDAQ">PTGX</a>) stock jumped 42.84% after the company announced topline results from its Phase 2b ANTHEM-UC study of icotrokinra in ulcerative colitis. The study met its primary <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/44220449" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">endpoint in all dose groups evaluated</a>. Several analysts raised the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ptgx/analyst-ratings" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">price forecast on the stock</a>.</li>



<li>Veren Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VRN#NYSE">VRN</a>) shares upped 24.24% after the company inked a merger deal with Whitecap Resources Inc. for an all-share transaction valued at around C$15 billion <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/44223155" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">($10.4 billion), including net debt</a>.</li>



<li>IonQ Inc.&#8217;s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IONQ#NYSE">IONQ</a>) stock rose 21.65%. The company disclosed that it now owns or controls nearly 400 granted and pending <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/44246776" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">quantum networking patents globally</a>.</li>



<li>Rigetti Computing (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RGTI#NASDAQ">RGTI</a>) stock grew 20%, probably amid a rebound from weakness earlier this week. The sector may be seeing a boost following softer-than-expected February inflation figures.</li>



<li>Semtech Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMTC#NASDAQ">SMTC</a>) stock increased 18.21% after the company reported better-than-expected <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/44317455" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fourth-quarter financial results</a>. Several analysts revised the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/smtc/analyst-ratings" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">price forecast on the stock</a>.</li>



<li>Orla Mining Ltd. (AMEX:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORLA#AMEX">ORLA</a>) stock rose 15.52%.</li>



<li>Hesai Group (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HSAI#NASDAQ">HSAI</a>) stock increased 15.45% after the company secured a multi-year deal with Mercedes-Benz <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/44262398" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">to supply Lidar sensors</a>.</li>
</ol>



Image via D-WAVE



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/25/03/44347715/applovin-super-micro-computer-and-intel-among-top-10-large-cap-gainers-last-week-mar-10-mar-14-are-the-others-in-your-portfolio" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Applovin, Super Micro Computer And Intel Among Top 10 Large-Cap Gainers Last Week (Mar 10-Mar 14): Are The Others In Your Portfolio?</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/25/03/44347748/coinbase-apple-and-robinhood-are-among-top-large-cap-losers-last-week-mar-10-mar-14-are-the-others-in-your-portfolio" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Coinbase, Apple And Robinhood Are Among Top Large-Cap Losers Last Week (Mar 10-Mar 14): Are The Others In Your Portfolio?</a></li>
</ul>

Mid Cap

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D-Wave Quantum And IonQ Are Among Top Mid-Cap Stock Gainers Last Week (Mar 10-Mar 14): Are The Others In Your Portfolio?

The week was a rollercoaster ride in the world of cryptocurrency. From a trader&#8217;s devastating $5 million loss in meme coins to the nearing conclusion of the Ripple-SEC lawsuit, the crypto space was buzzing with activity. The introduction of the Bitcoin Act of 2025 in the House of Representatives and Binance CEO&#8217;s optimism about pro-crypto policies also made headlines. Let&#8217;s dive into the details.



Trader&#8217;s $5 Million Loss In Meme Coins



A trader, known only as 0xforeverblind, turned nothing into a whopping $5 million during the crypto bull run, only to lose it all in meme coins. Despite his initial success, the trader&#8217;s investments in meme coins like Popcat, Gigachad, Mumu The Bull, and Retardio collapsed by 90-95%, leading to his massive loss.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/03/44260478/i-lost-everything-trader-turns-0-into-5-million-loses-it-all-with-meme-coins-that-were-supposed-to-become-the-next-dogecoin-shiba-inu">Read the full article here.</a>



See Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42735744/pharma-bro-martin-shkreli-predicts-doom-for-michael-saylors-microstrategy-as-stock-dips-below-300-in-after-hours-trading" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">&nbsp;</a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44267582/us-house-committee-favors-stablecoin-regulation-to-strenthen-dollar-advocates-against-cbdc" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">House Committee Favors Stablecoin Regulation To ‘Strengthen' Dollar: Majority Whip Says CBDCs Against ‘American Values'</a>



Ripple-SEC Lawsuit Nears Conclusion



The long-standing legal battle between the SEC and&nbsp;Ripple Labs&nbsp;over the alleged $1.3 billion unregistered XRP sale may soon come to an end. The key point of contention is whether XRP's utility and trading status align more with a commodity, like Ethereum, rather than a security.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/03/44314642/ripple-sec-lawsuit-nears-end-will-xrp-be-classified-as-commodity-like-ethereum">Read the full article here.</a>



Bitcoin Act of 2025 Introduced



U.S. Congressman Nick Begich introduced the Bitcoin Act of 2025 in the House. The bill proposes acquiring 1 million BTC over five years, with a 20-year holding period, without taxpayer funding. The bill acknowledges Senator Cynthia Lummis for her advocacy of Bitcoin and financial innovation.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/03/44261690/bitcoin-act-of-2025-introduced-in-the-house-of-representatives">Read the full article here.</a>



Binance CEO Optimistic About Pro-Crypto Policies



Binance CEO Richard Teng expressed optimism about the pro-cryptocurrency policies introduced by U.S. President Donald Trump. Teng believes this shift marks a turning point for the industry, which faced significant challenges during Joe Biden&#8217;s tenure.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/03/44300120/binance-ceo-richard-teng-hails-donald-trumps-bitcoin-reserve-xrp-ethereum-solana-digital-asset-stockpile">Read the full article here.</a>



Strategy Files For $21B To Fund Bitcoin Acquisition



Strategy Inc. announced that it has filed to offer up to $21 billion in preferred stock to raise funds for Bitcoin purchases. The sales agreement involves issuing 8.00% Series A perpetual strike preferred stock with a par value of $0.001 per share.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/03/44220378/strategy-files-for-21b-in-preferred-stock-to-fund-bitcoin-acquisition">Read the full article here.</a>



Read Next:&nbsp;



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44268317/sec-postpones-approval-of-several-crypto-spot-etfs-says-influential-analyst" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dogecoin, XRP ETF Filings Delayed By SEC But Influential Analyst Says ‘Relatively High' Odds Of Approval</a></li>
</ul>



This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/ananya-gairola" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ananya Gairola</a>

Media

MSTR

Crypto Trader's $5 Million Loss, Ripple-SEC Lawsuit, Bitcoin Act Of 2025: This Week In Crypto

The past week was a rollercoaster ride for the markets, with recession fears, record gold prices, and escalating trade wars dominating headlines. The Nasdaq and S&amp;P 500 hit six-month lows, while gold soared to new heights.



Meanwhile, China imposed tariffs on its largest U.S. import, soybeans, and other agricultural products, causing a stir in the market. Amidst all this, there was a glimmer of hope as tech stocks and Bitcoin rebounded following Ukraine&#8217;s acceptance of a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal with Russia.



Recession Fears Drive Markets Lower



The Nasdaq 100 and S&amp;P 500, tracked by SPDR S&amp;P 500, saw significant declines this week, with tech giants like Tesla, Inc. and Palantir Technologies, Inc. leading the downward trend. President Donald Trump&#8217;s acknowledgment of a potential U.S. recession in a Fox News interview added to the market&#8217;s concerns.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/market-summary/25/03/44227856/nasdaq-sp-500-hit-6-month-lows-as-recession-fears-grow-whats-driving-markets-monday">Read the full article here.</a>



Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44195821/taiwan-semiconductor-chief-says-us-expansion-driven-by-ai-and-smartphone-boom-warns-of-supply-shortage" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Taiwan Semiconductor Chief Says US Expansion Not Driven By Political Pressure, But AI Boom, Warns of Supply Shortage</a>



Gold Hits Record Highs Amid Trade War Fears



Gold continued its strong rise, hitting a fresh record as investors sought safe havens amidst mounting trade tensions and economic uncertainty. Spot gold, tracked by the SPDR Gold Trust, traded at $2,969 per ounce, marking its third consecutive session of gains.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/03/44308014/gold-hits-record-highs-as-trade-war-fears-fuel-safe-haven-demand-mining-stocks-soar">Read the full article here.</a>



China Imposes Tariffs On Major US Agricultural Imports



In retaliation to President Donald Trump&#8217;s additional 10% levy on Chinese imports, China imposed tariffs on major U.S. agricultural imports, including soybeans. This move is likely to impact many agricultural product manufacturers, suppliers, and related businesses, such as Bunge Global and Archer-Daniels Midland.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44217379/china-hits-soybeans-with-tariffs-its-largest-us-import-along-with-other-agri-products-here-a-list-of-stocks-and-etfs-that-could-be-impacted">Read the full article here.</a>



Markets Bounce Back As Ukraine Accepts Ceasefire Proposal



Markets rebounded as Ukraine signaled its readiness to accept a U.S.-backed proposal for a 30-day ceasefire with Russia. This development was seen as a step towards de-escalation, triggering a relief rally in riskier assets like stocks and cryptocurrencies.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44260839/tech-stocks-bitcoin-strongly-rebound-as-ukraine-backs-us-proposal-for-30-day-ceasefire-with-russia">Read the full article here.</a>



Warren Buffett&#8217;s Take On Tariffs



Legendary investor Warren Buffett characterized tariffs as "an act of war" and a consumer tax. His comments came amidst market turmoil following President Donald Trump&#8217;s implementation of 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/03/44070257/warren-buffett-calls-tariffs-an-act-of-war-warns-they-function-as-a-tax-on-goods-amid-market-turmoil">Read the full article here.</a>



Also Read:



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44194807/coinbase-analyst-sees-crypto-spring-ahead-calls-recent-pullback-a-buying-opportunity" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Coinbase Is the ‘Blue Chip' Of Crypto, Analyst Likes It On Pullback</a></li>
</ul>



This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/ananya-gairola" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ananya Gairola</a>

Recession Fears, Gold Records, And Trade Wars: This Week In Economics

Wall Street wrapped up its fourth consecutive week in the red, a losing streak not seen since May 2022, and the S&amp;P 500 index officially entered correction territory after sliding 10% <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/03/44317410/sp-500-enters-technical-correction-as-trade-war-fears-rattle-markets">from its February highs.</a>



Investor anxiety remains high, fueled by the looming impact of trade tariffs touted by President Donald Trump and deep, abrupt spending cuts spearheaded by the DOGE office under Elon Musk.



February's inflation data brought positive news, reinforcing expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts this year. The Consumer Price Index rose 2.8% year-over-year, easing from 3% in January and coming in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/03/44274165/inflation-cools-more-than-expected-in-february-strengthens-the-case-for-fed-rate-cuts">below economist forecasts of 2.9%.</a> Similarly, wholesale inflation remained unchanged on a monthly basis, marking a stark slowdown from <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/03/44300810/us-producer-inflation-stalls-in-february-as-services-costs-drop-eggs-price-skyrockets">January's 0.6% surge.</a>



Yet, even these cooled-than-expected inflation prints failed to reignite risk appetite, as markets remained firmly focused on policy developments from the White House.



On Thursday, President Donald Trump threatened to impose a 200% tariff on European wines and alcoholic beverages unless the European Union removes its 50% <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/03/44301835/trump-threatens-200-tariff-on-european-wine-alcohol-stocks-react">duty on American whiskey.</a>



Earlier in the week, the White House also announced tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum will double to 50%, with a warning that auto tariffs could surge if Canada does not roll back its retaliatory duties. Trump further reaffirmed his commitment to reciprocal tariffs on global trade partners, set to take effect on April 2.



Consumer sentiment is reflecting the economic turbulence of a regime shift.



On Friday, the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/03/44331170/us-consumer-confidence-plunges-as-inflation-fears-hit-highest-level-since-1993">University of Michigan's latest survey</a> showed a sharp decline in consumer confidence, with future economic expectations sinking to their lowest since July 2022 and long-term inflation expectations soared to their highest level since 1993 — a troubling sign consumers are bracing for persistent price pressures.



Against this backdrop, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/03/44308014/gold-hits-record-highs-as-trade-war-fears-fuel-safe-haven-demand-mining-stocks-soar">gold is once again shining</a> as a safe-haven asset, drawing investors seeking protection. The yellow metal — as tracked by the SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GLD#NYSE">GLD</a>) — surged to fresh all-time highs of $3,000 per ounce, securing gains for 10 of the past 11 weeks.



At the end of the week, markets rebounded amid confirmation that a government shutdown would be averted and the absence of trade-related headlines from Trump. 



The Federal Reserve is widely expected to hold interest rates steady next week, but fresh economic projections may start to outline a stagflation scenario, characterized by slowing growth and stubbornly high inflation.



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Tariffs Threaten Automakers: Trade uncertainty threatens U.S. automakers, potentially slashing Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/F#NYSE">F</a>) and General Motors Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GM#NYSE">GM</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/econ-s/25/03/44262286/tariff-uncertainty-poses-major-risk-to-us-automakers-how-much-could-ford-gm-earnings-fall">earnings amid tariff concerns.</a>



Photo: Shutterstock Professional via Shutterstock

Stocks Enter Correction Zone, Tariff Fears Hammer Consumer Confidence, Inflation Worries Hit 32-Year Highs: This Week In Markets

The past week has been a whirlwind of news for&nbsp;Tesla, Inc., with the electric vehicle giant making headlines for a variety of reasons. From a surprising switch in Baltimore to allegations of rebate manipulation in Canada, Tesla&#8217;s journey has been anything but smooth. Meanwhile, Southeast Asia&#8217;s ride-hailing giant,&nbsp;Grab Holdings, is making strides in the autonomous vehicle sector. Let&#8217;s dive into the details.



Baltimore Ditches Tesla for Ford



In a surprising turn of events, the city of Baltimore has decided to reverse a deal with Tesla that was set in 2024. The city had initially planned to use Tesla&#8217;s electric vehicles for police and other government officials. However, the deal has now been cancelled, with no political reasons cited for the change.



<a href="https://in.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/03/44238200/tesla-out-ford-in-city-of-baltimore-goes-in-a-different-direction-reversing-ev-deal-from-2024">Read the full article here.</a>



Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44136859/asml-faces-uncertainty-as-us-sanctions-on-china-cut-demand-stock-down-24-in-12-months" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chip Equipment Maker ASML Faces Uncertainty As US Sanctions On China Impact Demand</a>



Tesla Accused Of Gaming Canada&#8217;s EV Rebate Program



Tesla is under scrutiny in Canada, with four of its stores suspected of exploiting the country&#8217;s EV rebate program. The stores reportedly sold an average of 30 cars per hour over three days, claiming over half of the rebate funds.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44213295/tesla-suspected-of-ev-rebate-manipulation-in-canada-amid-sudden-sales-surge-tesla-gamed-the-system-says-industry-body">Read the full article here.</a>



Trump&#8217;s Tesla Purchase Could Boost Sales



President Donald Trump&#8217;s recent acquisition of a Tesla Model S Plaid for White House staff use could potentially drive up the company&#8217;s sales, according to Gary Black, Managing Partner of The Future Fund LLC.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/03/44268275/trump-buys-tesla-model-s-plaid-gary-black-calls-endorsement-potentially-huge-says-it-could-drive-1-7-million-sales">Read the full article here.</a>



Musk&#8217;s Optimism Vs Munster&#8217;s Prediction



While Tesla CEO Elon Musk expects the company&#8217;s output to double in the next few years, Gene Munster, Managing Partner at Deepwater Asset Management, predicts a drop in deliveries before a surge in 2026.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/03/44293798/elon-musk-expects-tesla-output-to-double-over-next-couple-of-years-but-gene-munster-predicts-number-to-drop-before-a-surge-in-2026">Read the full article here.</a>



Grab Eyes Autonomous Future



Grab Holdings has teamed up with four global self-driving firms to explore autonomous solutions for its mobility and delivery services across Southeast Asia. The companies include China&#8217;s WeRide Inc and Zelos, Boston&#8217;s Motional, and South Korea&#8217;s Autonomous A2Z.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/03/44224370/grab-teams-up-with-global-self-driving-firms-eyes-future-of-ride-hailing-in-southeast-asia">Read the full article here.</a>



Also Read:



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/03/44174628/ai-chip-leaders-nvidia-amd-broadcom-slide-amid-marvell-earnings-and-us-policy-concerns" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AI Chip Leaders Nvidia, AMD, Broadcom Slide Amid Marvell Earnings and US Policy Concerns</a></li>
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This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/ananya-gairola" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ananya Gairola</a>

Tesla's Rollercoaster Ride, Grab's Autonomous Ambitions: This Week In Mobility

As the week drew to a close, the business world was buzzing with a series of impactful stories. From Elon Musk&#8217;s concerns over tariffs to escalating trade tensions and the looming threat of a government shutdown, there was no shortage of headlines to keep investors on their toes.



Tesla, SpaceX Raise Tariff Concerns



Both Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) and SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, have voiced concerns over tariffs. They warn that retaliatory measures could negatively impact their respective industries. In letters to U.S. Trade Representative Jamison Greer, the companies urged for a consideration of the broader economic impacts when shaping trade strategies.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/03/44342569/tesla-spacex-warn-tariffs-could-harm-us-innovation-and-industry">Read the full article here.</a>



Canada&#8217;s Retaliatory Tariffs Draw Criticism



Canada&#8217;s introduction of retaliatory tariffs against the U.S. has drawn criticism from Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. The move comes in response to the Trump administration&#8217;s recent trade measures targeting Canadian exports. Lutnick expressed dissatisfaction with Canada&#8217;s approach in an interview ahead of a meeting with Canadian officials.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44344906/canadas-retaliatory-tariffs-against-us-draw-commerce-secretary-howard-lutnicks-ire-who-thinks-they-are-tone-deaf-the-british-didnt-respond-the-m">Read the full article here.</a>



Trump Optimistic About Russia-Ukraine Ceasefire



President Donald Trump expressed optimism that Russia and Ukraine could soon reach a ceasefire agreement. However, concerns remain on both sides about the proposed ceasefire.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/03/44333033/trump-boasts-very-good-chance-of-russia-ukraine-ceasefire-but-zelenskyy-says-putin-broke-deals-25-times-before">Read the full article here.</a>



Schumer Warns of Government Shutdown Impact



Senate Democratic Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer expressed concerns about a potential government shutdown. He warned that such an event could significantly empower Donald Trump and suggested that Elon Musk supports a shutdown to dismantle essential government programs.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44320221/chuck-schumer-says-a-government-shutdown-will-give-trump-the-keys-to-the-city-state-and-country-and-elon-musk-the-chance-to-destroy-government-services">Read the full article here.</a>



AOC Responds to Shutdown Debate



Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) responded to House Speaker Mike Johnson&#8217;s claim that Democrats were responsible for the looming government shutdown. She countered by emphasizing that Republicans control the House, Senate, and White House and stated that if Republicans need Democrats, they need to negotiate with Democrats.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44293219/aoc-claps-back-at-mike-johnson-as-senate-moves-closer-to-government-shutdown-if-you-need-democrats-then-you-need-to-negotiate">Read the full article here.</a>



Read Next:



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44345022/ray-dalio-has-a-chilling-warning-for-president-trump-debt-crisis-is-imminent-and-an-issue-of-paramount-importance">Ray Dalio Has A Chilling Warning For President Trump: Debt Crisis Is Imminent, And An Issue Of &#8216;Paramount Importance&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock



This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/Rounak-Jain" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rounak Jain</a>

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