President Donald Trump tiptoed around questions of a looming recession during a Fox News interview on Sunday. He once again dodged the question from reporters while onboard Air Force One, but denied the possibility of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/econ-s/25/03/44205662/president-trump-wants-to-replace-income-tax-with-tariffs-national-economic-council-director-kevin-hassett-says">an economic downturn. </a>



What To Know: Trump seemed to acknowledge the possibility of a recession in 2025, citing a &#8220;period of transition&#8221; as his administration implements significant changes to the economy, including tariffs and federal workforce reductions. 



When asked about a possible recession during an interview on Fox News&#8217; "Sunday Morning Futures," Trump stated, &#8220;I hate to predict things like that.&#8221;&nbsp;



Read Next:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/market-summary/25/03/44194357/markets-breathe-sigh-of-relief-as-february-jobs-data-shows-economy-not-falling-off-a-cliff-economist-says"> Markets Breathe &#8216;Sigh Of Relief&#8217; As February Jobs Data Shows Economy &#8216;Not Falling Off A Cliff,&#8217; Economist Says</a>



Instead, he emphasized that his policies aim to bring wealth back to America and may require time for their benefits to materialize.&nbsp;



Later on Sunday, reporters asked the president again about a potential recession ahead. Trump responded by touting his trade policies but did not address the question directly.  



&#8220;All I know is this — we&#8217;re going to take in hundreds of billions of dollars in tariffs and we&#8217;re going to become so rich you&#8217;re not going to know where to spend all that money. I&#8217;m telling you, you just watch,&#8221; the President said. 



Why It Matters: According to the Economic Policy Institute, Trump <a href="https://www.epi.org/blog/president-elect-trump-is-inheriting-a-historically-strong-economy/">inherited</a> a healthy economy from his predecessor, President Joe Biden. 



Job growth in December was &#8220;<a href="https://www.epi.org/blog/the-labor-market-sticks-the-landing-job-growth-averaged-186000-in-2024/">extremely rapid</a>,&#8221; the nonpartisan nonprofit reported. Trends indicated that wage growth remained above inflation, which was nearing a return to 2% — the Federal Reserve's preferred target.



Since Trump took office on Jan. 20, there have been growing concerns over economic turbulence and unsettled markets following tariffs and an escalating trade war. 



Last week, the S&amp;P 500, tracked by the SPDR S&amp;P 500 (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>), saw its worst weekly performance since September and the Nasdaq, tracked by the Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), slipped into a correction.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Consumer confidence has dropped recently, unemployment <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44189725/unemployment-rate-ticks-higher-in-february-us-economy-adds-fewer-jobs-than-expected">rose to </a>4.1% in February and economists warn of instability due to unpredictable policies.



Holger Schmieding, chief economist at Berenberg Bank, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/03/10/trump-an-agent-of-chaos-and-confusion-economists-warn.html">called </a>Trump "an agent of chaos and confusion" on CNBC's "Squawk Box Europe" Monday.



Schmieding said the president's "zigzagging on tariffs shows that he has little idea of the potential consequences of his tariff policies."



However, the economist said he does not see a recession ahead:



"I don't think we will talk about a U.S. recession. The U.S economy is resilient, I would say, largely despite Donald Trump." 



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Trump Says Economy Faces A 'Period Of Transition': Is A Recession Ahead?

Tariffs, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/federal-reserve">federal spending cuts</a> and CoWoS (Chip-on-Wafer-on-Substrate) slowdowns are shaking up the hardware and networking sector. JPMorgan analyst Samik Chatterjee weighs in on which stocks are best equipped to weather the storm.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Tariffs: Who's Feeling The Heat?</h2>



Companies loaded with software-driven hardware are dodging the worst of the tariff blow, while commoditized IT hardware players are absorbing rising costs. Networking leaders like Cisco Systems Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSCO#NASDAQ">CSCO</a>) and Arista Networks Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ANET#NYSE">ANET</a>) have an edge, given their ability to pass costs down the chain.



Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/02/44005208/nvidia-ai-juggernaut-rolls-on-but-can-arista-cisco-keep-up">Nvidia Dominance Continues As AI Demand Grows: Can Arista, Cisco Keep Up?</a>



Meanwhile, PC and server makers face tighter margins, with limited room to hike prices without losing customers.



Cisco's CFO has already factored in the tariff impact, while Arista's team says they've been planning for China risks ahead of time. The wildcard? 



Storage and networking equipment appear largely insulated, but competitive server pricing could make cost pass-throughs a challenge.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Federal Spending Cuts: Who's At Risk?</h2>



A slowdown in government IT budgets might hit device makers harder than infrastructure players. Cisco, with more than 5% of revenue tied to federal spending, could see near-term pressure, but JPMorgan suggests long-term benefits from federal tech modernization. 



Channel partners like CDW (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CDW#NASDAQ">CDW</a>) also have notable exposure but are downplaying risks for now.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">CoWoS Cuts: Nvidia's Supply Chain Feels The Squeeze</h2>



Recent CoWoS order cuts by Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) and Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) are reshuffling supplier valuations. The biggest impact? 



Nvidia-linked players like Fabrinet (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FN#NYSE">FN</a>), Amphenol Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/APH#NYSE">APH</a>) and Coherent Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COHR#NYSE">COHR</a>) could face multiple compression, even if revenue estimates remain intact.



Cisco and Arista look relatively shielded from tariff pain, Nvidia's supply chain faces valuation headwinds and federal spending concerns might be a short-term roadblock for key players.



With hardware margins under pressure, JPMorgan's take is clear: software-rich and infrastructure-driven companies have the best shot at staying ahead.



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Cisco, Nvidia, Arista Tackle Tariff Turmoil: Who's Best Positioned?

Fintech firm Rocket Companies (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RKT#NYSE">RKT</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/03/n44215457/rocket-companies-to-acquire-redfin-accelerating-purchase-mortgage-strategy" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">agreed to acquire</a> Redfin Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RDFN#NASDAQ">RDFN</a>), a digital real estate platform, in an all-stock transaction valued at $12.50 per share, or approximately $1.75 billion in equity.



Under the terms of the agreement, Redfin shareholders will receive 0.7926 shares of Rocket Class A common stock for each Redfin share—a 63% premium over Redfin's 30-day volume-weighted average price. Rocket shareholders will own approximately 95% of the combined company upon completion, with Redfin shareholders holding the remaining 5%.



"Rocket and Redfin's approaches to lending and brokerage service have always been two halves of one vision to make the whole home-buying process magical," said Glenn Kelman, CEO of Redfin. "We want a customer to be able to check her phone to find out what she can afford, see which homes are just right for her, schedule a tour with a local, expert Redfin agent, and get pre-qualified for a loan—all in a matter of minutes."



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/03/44213871/canadas-next-pm-mark-carney-vows-to-win-trade-war-with-trump-says-americans-should-make-no-mistake">Canada&#8217;s Next PM Mark Carney Vows To Win Trade War With Trump</a>



Redfin boasts 50 million monthly visitors, and one million active listings.



Detroit-based Rocket expects the deal to accelerate its purchase mortgage growth by integrating real estate search, brokerage, financing, title, and servicing—building on an 8% year-over-year increase in its 2024 purchase market share. 



With a combined 14 petabytes of data spanning 100 million properties, the company plans to enhance its AI capabilities to deliver more personalized, seamless, and automated consumer experiences.



Financially, the transaction is projected to generate over $200 million in annual run-rate synergies by 2027, including $140 million in cost reductions and $60 million in new revenue opportunities. The deal is expected to be accretive to Rocket's adjusted earnings per share by the end of 2026.



The deal is expected to close in mid-to-late 2025, pending shareholder and regulatory approval. Kelman will continue to lead Redfin, reporting to Rocket CEO Varun Krishna.



Additionally, Rocket announced that it would eliminate its complex "Up-C" and high-vote/low-vote structure, reducing four classes of stock to two and enhancing transparency and flexibility for future acquisitions. Gilbert and other Rock Holdings shareholders will hold standard one-vote-per-share common stock directly in Rocket, replacing their current 10-vote shares.



Special Dividend: Rocket declared a one-time cash dividend of $0.80 per Class A share, payable April 3, 2025, to shareholders of record as of March 20.



Price Action: Rocket shares are trading lower by 10.84% at $14.06 and RDFN higher by 76.12% at $10.25 premarket on Monday&#8217;s last check.



Now Read:



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/asset-sales/25/03/44202239/deal-dispatch-tiktok-walgreens-raizen">Deal Dispatch: Clock Ticks On TikTok, Raizen Explores Asset Sale, Investors Urge Walgreens To Go Private</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

RDFN

Rocket Wants $1.75 Billion Redfin Deal To Change How America Buys Homes

Mark Carney has won the Liberal Party leadership race to succeed Justin Trudeau as Canada&#8217;s prime minister, vowing to stand firm against U.S. President Donald Trump&#8217;s trade threats as tensions escalate <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42806662/justin-trudeau-set-to-resign-as-prime-minister-of-canada-report">between the neighboring countries</a>.



What Happened: Carney, 59, the former governor of both the Bank of Canada and Bank of England, secured 85.9% of the vote in a landslide victory over rivals including former Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c36wkg47z1po">reported</a> BBC. The political newcomer has never held elected office but brings significant financial and crisis <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/markets/25/03/44102599/canadian-pm-justin-trudeau-retaliates-with-25-tariffs-on-us-goods-amid-escalating-trade-war">management experience to the role</a>.



&#8220;Americans should make no mistake,&#8221; Carney said in his victory speech. &#8220;In trade, as in hockey, Canada will win.&#8221; He promised to maintain retaliatory tariffs on U.S. imports &#8220;until the Americans show us respect.&#8221;



The leadership transition comes amid escalating trade tensions after Trump <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/03/44102599/canadian-pm-justin-trudeau-retaliates-with-25-tariffs-on-us-goods-amid-escalating-trade-war">imposed 25% tariffs on Canadian goods</a> last week, though some products were later exempted. Canada responded with reciprocal tariffs on C$155 billion ($109 billion) worth of U.S. imports.



&#8220;I know these are dark days,&#8221; Carney told supporters. &#8220;Dark days brought on by a country we can no longer trust.&#8221;



See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/03/44212386/stock-futures-drop-as-reverse-trump-trade-takes-holdpeter-schiff-says-market-shift-long-overdue-and-will-likely-continue-for-a-decade" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stock Futures Drop As ‘Reverse Trump Trade' Takes Hold—Peter Schiff Says Market Shift ‘Long Overdue' And Will Likely Continue For A Decade</a>



Why It Matters: Carney&#8217;s economic platform includes pushing forward major energy projects like pipelines, investing in housing and clean energy, liberalizing inter-provincial trade, and diversifying <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44212152/mark-carney-takes-justin-trudeaus-job-as-canadas-new-pm-ready-to-face-trumps-tariff-threats-i-know-how-to-manage-crises">Canada&#8217;s economy beyond U.S. dependence</a>. He also pledged to cap federal government size, which expanded by 40% under Trudeau.



Carney, who will lead a minority government, faces significant challenges beyond trade disputes, including Canada&#8217;s housing crisis and rising cost of living that contributed to Trudeau&#8217;s declining popularity.



The Harvard-educated former Goldman Sachs banker&#8217;s appointment marks a historic shift in Canadian politics as he becomes the first prime minister without prior <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42806662/justin-trudeau-set-to-resign-as-prime-minister-of-canada-report">legislative or cabinet experience</a>.



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/03/44212672/jamie-dimon-cashed-out-234-million-in-jpmorgan-stock-warren-buffett-stockpiled-334-billion-in-cash-weeks-later-markets-crashed-coincidence" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jamie Dimon Cashed Out $234 Million In JPMorgan Stock, Warren Buffett Stockpiled $334 Billion In Cash — Weeks Later, Markets Crashed. Coincidence?</a></li>
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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.

Canada's Next PM Mark Carney Vows To Win Trade War With Trump: 'Americans Should Make No Mistake'

At first blush, commodities don't seem to be popping in 2025 – not with the benchmark S&amp;P GSCI Commodities Index down by 1% this year.



Yet if you start chiseling away at the index, it's easier to see one sub-sector outperforming early in 2025 – precious metals. Take the S&amp;P GSCI Precious Metals Index (SPGSPM), up 9.9% year-to-date. The S&amp;P GSCI Gold Index (SPGSGC) is up over 10%, and the S&amp;P (SPSSI) GSCI Silver Index is riding high at 10.9% over the same time period.



All are well ahead of the S&amp;P 500 (-1.2% year-to-date) and the Nasdaq Composite Index (-4.70%).



Here are the five metals with the best prospects for a golden 2025.



Sitting side by side precious metals are looking better and better for 2025, as investors lean back for an old perennial in chaotic market times – not that metal commodities are immune from volatility right now.



"The 2025 metals market is chaotic, driven by geopolitical tensions, supply constraints, and shifting demand," said Brad Thor, CEO at Thor Metals Group in Beverly Hills, Cal. "China's restrictions on critical mineral exports and U.S. tariffs on foreign metals have created price instability, while central banks continue devaluing currencies through reckless monetary policies. Meanwhile, inflation remains sticky, and fiat confidence is eroding."



Yet simultaneously, investors are fleeing paper assets in search of actual stores of value—driving demand for hard assets like physical silver, platinum, and palladium, Thor noted. "The rise in gold prices has acutely observed this," he said. "However, given metals&#8217; tendency to move as a tribe, these macro drivers also provide similar tailwinds for other metals markets."



What's to like about precious metals in 2025? Here are the five hard commodities to make room for in your portfolio.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Silver is popping</h2>



Silver is emerging as the standout metal of 2025.



"Industrial demand is skyrocketing due to its irreplaceable role in solar panels, electronics, and medical technologies," Thor said. "Global silver inventories are shrinking, with supply deficits projected to widen."



Thor noted that as central banks hoard gold, silver remains the undervalued alternative—historically lagging behind gold's moves before experiencing exponential gains. " The gold-to-silver ratio remains wildly distorted, signaling silver is dramatically underpriced," he said.



The best way to invest in metal is through physical silver.



"Forget ETFs, mining stocks, or futures—if you don't hold it, you don't own it," Thor said. "Physical silver is real money with no counterparty risk. Unlike paper assets, it can't be frozen, defaulted on, or manipulated by Wall Street. I believe owning physical silver is the most lucrative and secure way for retail investors to gain exposure to the silver market."



[<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-7-days-free-trial/?el=ResearchDaily&amp;he={{email}}&amp;adt_ei={{email}}&amp;utm_adType=SponsorAd&amp;utm_ad=RD0310&amp;utm_campaign=BZEdgeRankings">The #1 Ranked Stock Right Now Is…</a>]



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Aluminium rising</h2>



Another shining commodity in 2025 is aluminum, which seems immune to the trade and tariff wars emerging across the globe.



"Recent data from the London Metal Exchange (LME) indicates that a single entity controls up to 90% of available aluminum inventories, valued at approximately $505 million," said Tracy Shuchart, senior economist at NinjaTrader. "This concentration has contributed to price increases, with aluminum reaching its highest levels in nearly nine months, in addition to new tariffs."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Copper is worth a look, too</h2>



Demand for copper is surging due to its critical role in green energy technologies, with prices up 7.8% year to date. "However, the market remains volatile, with miners facing challenges related to extraction costs, taxation, and environmental concerns," Shuchart noted.



Copper is also reshaping itself as a diversified commodity.



"Copper has always been a reliable industrial metal, but with the expansion of infrastructure projects worldwide and the electrification movement, its value has surged," said Benson Varghese, an attorney and the founder and managing partner of the Texas-based law firm Varghese Summersett, which advises clients on financial investments. "Everything from EV charging networks to wind and solar farms depends on copper, and supply struggles keep prices high. Investors hedge against inflation by holding copper futures or stocks in mining companies with stable supply chains.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Platinum shines</h2>



Platinum has performed well this year, with the S&amp;P GSXCI Platinum Index up 7.5% in 2025.



"Upward price movement has been driven by increased industrial demand and supply constraints," Shuchart said. "The metal&#8217;s use in automotive catalytic converters, as we have seen car makers in the West scale down EV production and return to more ICE vehicle production, and potential applications in hydrogen fuel cells have bolstered its demand."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Lithium in play</h2>



Another metal that's been making waves in 2025 is lithium.



"The demand for lithium has skyrocketed as the electric vehicle (EV) market expands, and despite temporary corrections, long-term supply shortages continue to push prices upward," Varghese said. "Governments worldwide are pumping incentives into renewable energy storage, which means lithium isn&#8217;t slowing down. I've had clients diversify into lithium investments, whether through mining stocks or ETFs, to capitalize on this growth while traditional assets flounder."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Roundabout Ways of Investing in Precious Metals</h2>



Investors may consider unconventional strategies when first investing in precious metals.



"For instance, instead of only investing in the metals themselves, look at companies that manufacture essential components using these metals," Varghese advised. "Processors, refineries, and battery manufacturers can often see higher returns than the raw commodities themselves. Understanding where the money flows after extraction is just as important as the metal itself."



If you're investing for the long term, aim for direct ownership.



"It's best to own physical metals and hold for years," said Brett Elliott, American Precious Metals Exchange (APMEX) marketing director. "It's easier than ever to shop for precious metals online and have them delivered safely and anonymously directly to your doorstep."



Elliot noted that direct metal ownership is one of the only ways to invest in something with zero counterparty risk.



"If you prefer some form of digital gold, consider buying metal and paying a vaulting company to store the metal," he added. "This has the advantage of enhanced liquidity if you go with the right company, but make sure you read the fine print and know how to either sell the metal or take ownership in the future. Fully allocated, insured, and third-party-audited vaults are the only ones you should consider."



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-7-days-free-trial/?el=ResearchDaily&amp;he={{email}}&amp;adt_ei={{email}}&amp;utm_adType=SponsorAd&amp;utm_ad=RD0310&amp;utm_campaign=BZEdgeRankings">The #1 Best Stock to Buy Now Is…</a>



The new Benzinga Rankings show you exactly how stocks stack up—scoring them across five key factors that matter most to investors. Every day, one stock rises to the top. Which one is leading today? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-7-days-free-trial/?el=ResearchDaily&amp;he={{email}}&amp;adt_ei={{email}}&amp;utm_adType=SponsorAd&amp;utm_ad=RD0310&amp;utm_campaign=BZEdgeRankings">Click here to reveal the top-ranked stocks today.</a>



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Opinion

5 Precious Metals That Could Add Luster To Your Portfolio in 2025

U.S. stock futures declined on Monday after a small bout of relief on Friday as indices neared the correction zone. Futures of all four benchmark indices fell in premarket trading.



President Donald Trump, on Sunday, did not rule out the possibility of a recession this year. Acknowledging the potential of short-term turbulence from his economic agenda, he expressed confidence in future prosperity. In a Fox News interview, he said, &#8220;I hate to predict things like that&#8221; and called the changes being brought about by his administration as &#8220;very big.&#8221;



Meanwhile, China responded with retaliatory tariffs on U.S. agricultural goods including its largest import from the U.S. — Soybeans.



Investors will watch out for the inflation data slated to be released this week on Wednesday.



Meanwhile, the 10-year Treasury yield stood at 4.24%, while the two-year yield was at 3.94%. According to the CME Group's FedWatch <a href="https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-fedwatch-tool.html">tool</a>, there is a 97% 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>-1.22%</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>-1.15%</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>-0.95%</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>-1.04%</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, fell in premarket on Monday. SPY lost 1.03% to fall at $570.00 level, and QQQ declined 1.12% to $486.26, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.



Cues From The Last Session



Utilities, information technology, and energy sectors led Friday&#8217;s U.S. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/03/44212927/dow-gains-over-200-points-but-records-weekly-loss-fear-among-investors-eases-but-greed-index-remains-in-extreme-fear-zone">stock gains</a>, pushing the Dow Jones over 200 points higher. However, consumer staples and financials declined, countering the broader market&#8217;s positive trend. 



Despite Friday&#8217;s rally, all major indices recorded weekly losses: the S&amp;P 500 fell 3.1%, its worst week since September, the Dow dropped 2.4%, and the Nasdaq tumbled 3.5%. Last week, Nasdaq 100 entered the correction territory on Friday, falling nearly 10% from its last high, which eased to 9.1% after Friday&#8217;s sessions, whereas the S&amp;P 500 was 6.1% lower from its last record.



Economic data revealed a mixed picture, with February&#8217;s jobs report showing a moderate increase of 151,000 jobs, below expectations, and a surprise rise in the unemployment rate to 4.1%.



In company news, Genesco Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GCO#NYSE">GCO</a>) shares plummeted over 16% on disappointing earnings, while American Public Education Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/APEI#NASDAQ">APEI</a>) shares surged 22% on strong results.



<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>0.70%</td><td>18,196.22</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>0.55%</td><td>5,770.20</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>0.52%</td><td>42,801.72 </td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>0.43%</td><td>2,075.48</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Insights From Analysts



According to the Yardeni Research&#8217;s QuickTakes by Ed Yardeni and Eric Wallerstein, &#8220;Anything is possible in Trump World.&#8221;



&#8220;We can&#8217;t rule out the possibility that a bear market started on Feb. 20, the day after the S&amp;P 500 rose to a record high. It could be like the &#8216;flash crashes&#8217; that occurred during 1962 and 1987. It could happen quickly and reverse just as quickly. So the selloff could provide buying opportunities, especially in overvalued names that are now less so,&#8221; the note stated.



According to the note, Trump administration&#8217;s rapid-fire policy initiatives are stress-testing the economy, which has been remarkably resilient so far, and raising fears of a recession.



The current bull market, which began in October 2022, has entered its third year. According to Ryan Detrick, the chief market strategist at Carson Research, it is normal to see some fluctuations in the third year of a bull 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">Not all bull markets make it to their third year, but when they do it is perfectly normal to see some chop and frustration. <a href="https://t.co/moLsIkXAhS">pic.twitter.com/moLsIkXAhS</a>&mdash; Ryan Detrick, CMT (@RyanDetrick) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanDetrick/status/1898930376824803647?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 10, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



While the conflict around tariffs has raised the speculation of a slowdown and recession, Louis Navellier of Navellier &amp; Associates had a contrarian view. According to him, &#8220;The anxiety over tariffs may be holding back some consumers, but I want to assure you that I do not expect most tariffs to be inflationary. As an example, the tariffs that have been imposed on China are expected to be suppressed by Chinese deflation as well as a weak Chinese yuan.&#8221;



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 on this week:



<ul>
<li>No data is scheduled to be released on Monday.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>On Tuesday, February&#8217;s NFIB optimism index data will be released at 6:00 a.m., ET.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>January&#8217;s job openings data will be out by 10:00 a.m., ET.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>On Wednesday, February&#8217;s core and headline consumer price index data will be out by 8:30 a.m., ET.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Monthly U.S. federal budget data for February will be announced at 2:00 p.m., ET.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>On Thursday, the initial jobless claims data for the week ended March 8 will be released at 8:30 a.m., ET.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>The core and headline producer price index data for February will also be announced at 8:30 a.m., ET.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>On Friday, the preliminary consumer sentiment data for March will be released by 10:00 a.m., ET.</li>
</ul>



Stocks In Focus:



<ul>
<li>BioNTech SE ADR (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BNTX#NASDAQ">BNTX</a>) slipped 1.06% in premarket on Monday ahead of its earnings, which will be released before the opening bell. Analysts expect it to report earnings of 58 cents per share on revenue of $1.15 billion.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Oracle Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>) dropped 1.44% as Wall Street expects it to report quarterly earnings of $1.49 per share and revenue of $14.40 billion after the closing bell.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Mission Produce Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVO#NASDAQ">AVO</a>) was down 0.33% ahead of its earnings, which will be released after the closing bell. Analysts expect it to report earnings of 3 cents per share on revenue of $285.50 million.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Vail Resorts Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MTN#NYSE">MTN</a>) was flat at -0.01% as Wall Street expects it to report quarterly earnings of $6.31 per share on revenue of $1.14 billion after the closing bell.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CTSH#NASDAQ">CTSH</a>) jumped by 3.33% following a report on Friday suggesting activist investor, Mantle Ridge, built a more than $1 billion stake in the company.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg. Co. Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSM#NYSE">TSM</a>) declined 1.41% despite posting a year-on-year rise in its February 2025 revenue. The sales fell on a monthly basis from January by 11.3%.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Checkpoint Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CKPT#NASDAQ">CKPT</a>) surged 66.40% after Sun Pharma acquired the company for up to $355 million, securing FDA-approved cancer drug UNLOXCYT.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Sharps Technology Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STSS#NASDAQ">STSS</a>) zoomed 62.15% after providing business updates. The company raised $20 million, cleared its debt and expanded in Hungary. Also signed a five-year, $50 million syringe deal with a U.S. supplier, which is set to begin revenue generation in the second half of 2025.</li>
</ul>



Commodities, Gold And Global Equity Markets:



Crude oil futures were trading lower in the early New York session by 0.04% to hover around $67.02 per barrel.



The gold spot index was up by 0.28% to $2,903.10 per ounce. Its last record high was at $2,956.37 per ounce. The Dollar Index was down 0.20% at the 103.628 level.



Asian markets closed mixed on Monday as Australia's ASX 200, Japan's Nikkei 225, and South Korea's Kospi index advanced, whereas China's CSI 300, and Hong Kong's Hang Seng index declined. European markets were lower in trade.



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44214169/mark-zuckerbergs-meta-platforms-a-lucrative-bet-as-investors-favor-less-leveraged-tech-stocks-says-expert-amid-mag7s-2025-underperformance">Mark Zuckerberg&#8217;s Meta Platforms A Lucrative Bet As &#8216;Investors Favor Less Leveraged Tech Stocks,&#8217; Says Expert Amid Mag7&#8217;s 2025 Underperformance</a></li>
</ul>



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Earnings

Equities

Government

Market Summary

Futures

Pre-Market Outlook

Markets

APEI

BNTX

CKPT

CTSH

ORCL

STSS

US Stocks Likely To Open Lower After Trump Hints At Looming Recession: Expert Says Can't Rule Out A Bear Market As Indices Inch Towards Correction Territory

China's Manus AI is being hyped as the next big leap in agentic AI—maybe even a "DeepSeek moment"—but early testers say the platform might be more sizzle than substance.



What Happened: Developed by Chinese startup Monica, the daughter company of The Butterfly Effect, Manus is billed as an "autonomous agent" capable of handling complex tasks like booking flights, ordering food, and even programming video games.



Its invite-only beta sparked massive buzz, with over 130,000 users joining its Discord server and invite codes reportedly selling for thousands of dollars on Chinese reselling app Xianyu, <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/09/manus-probably-isnt-chinas-second-deepseek-moment/">reported</a> TechCrunch.



Some influencers and tech executives praised Manus as revolutionary. Hugging Face's head of product called it "the most impressive AI tool I've ever tried," while AI researcher Dean Ball dubbed it "the most sophisticated computer using AI."



See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44070969/former-intel-ceo-craig-barrett-warns-that-splitting-the-company-would-be-a-costly-mistake-a-far-better-move-might-be-to-fire-the-intel-board-and-rehire-pat-gelsinger" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">‘Fire The Intel Board,' Says Former CEO Craig Barrett As He Pushes Back On Breakup Plans, Urges Focus On Chipmaking Wins</a>



<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">It is wrong to call manus a "deepseek moment." Deepseek was about replication of capabilities already publicly achieved by American firms. Manus is actually advancing the frontier. The most sophisticated computer using ai now comes from a Chinese startup, full stop.&mdash; Dean W. Ball (@deanwball) <a href="https://twitter.com/deanwball/status/1898771696796270672?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 9, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<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">Got access and it&#39;s true&#8230; Manus is the most impressive AI tool I&#39;ve ever tried. &#8211; The agentic capabilities are mind-blowing, redefining what&#39;s possible. &#8211; The UX is what so many others promised&#8230; but this time it just works. prompt: &quot;code a threejs game where you control a… <a href="https://t.co/rUD2XV4ZVK">pic.twitter.com/rUD2XV4ZVK</a>&mdash; Victor M (@victormustar) <a href="https://twitter.com/victormustar/status/1898505307896131708?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



But some user experience tells a different story.



<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">if the problem in the pic is not obvious to you, it is obvious to my young Ph.D biochem friend and also to Sonnet 3.7, which (seeing as it took a few hours for this project) points to an easy improvement with a MoA "Am I bullshitting?" check. (also probably monomer, not dimer) <a href="https://t.co/PbZZNFHhBB">pic.twitter.com/PbZZNFHhBB</a>&mdash; Teortaxes&#x25b6;&#xFE0F; (DeepSeek 推特&#x1f40b;铁粉 2023 – ∞) (@teortaxesTex) <a href="https://twitter.com/teortaxesTex/status/1898716653468221848?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 9, 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.



Alexander Doria, co-founder of AI startup Pleias, wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that he encountered "endless loops" and errors.



<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">To give more detail: it never manages to fill a file with synthetic human: assistant: exchange. Instead there are regular &quot;encountered errors&quot; and generation examples being outputted directly through injection. <a href="https://t.co/UnpWEgbNxa">pic.twitter.com/UnpWEgbNxa</a>&mdash; Alexander Doria (@Dorialexander) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dorialexander/status/1898722227756859506?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 9, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Zengyi Qin, a generative AI researcher, also took to X and shared his views saying, "Manus is NOT a technology breakthrough," because it mainly follows pre-defined workflows to perform tasks and operates within fairly limited environments.



<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 people ask me about Manus <a href="https://twitter.com/ManusAI_HQ?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ManusAI_HQ</a> and here are my thoughts: <a href="https://t.co/PgwCqzzb6y">pic.twitter.com/PgwCqzzb6y</a>&mdash; Zengyi Qin (@qinzytech) <a href="https://twitter.com/qinzytech/status/1897505798974267730?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Manus' website makes lofty claims—like buying real estate or building apps autonomously—but some of the platform's core functions reportedly rely on fine-tuned versions of existing models like Anthropic's Claude and Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.'s (NYSE BABA) Qwen.



Yichao "Peak" Ji, a research lead for Manus, called the tool a "completely autonomous agent" and claimed it outperforms OpenAI's Deep Research on the GAIA benchmark.&nbsp;



<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">Introducing Manus: the first general AI agent. Try Manus today and see the future of human-machine collaboration: <a href="https://t.co/IKBPiiHsta">https://t.co/IKBPiiHsta</a> <a href="https://t.co/z3C8fUK3eN">pic.twitter.com/z3C8fUK3eN</a>&mdash; ManusAI (@ManusAI_HQ) <a href="https://twitter.com/ManusAI_HQ/status/1897294098945728752?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 5, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



But a viral video touting Manus' capabilities was later confirmed by Ji to not be a real demo.



<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">Co-founder of Manus AI here! Thanks for your interest in Manus <a href="https://twitter.com/heyBarsee?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@heyBarsee</a>, but this video is definitely NOT Manus&#x1f923;. Our official account is <a href="https://twitter.com/ManusAI_HQ?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ManusAI_HQ</a> , and Manus is a web-based AI agent, like OpenAI Operator/DeepResearch, not a VNC for smartphones.&mdash; Yichao &#39;Peak&#39; Ji (@peakji) <a href="https://twitter.com/peakji/status/1898225941954142430?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Why It's Important: &nbsp;The rise of Manus comes at a time when the AI landscape in China is rapidly evolving. DeepSeek, another Chinese AI firm, has been under <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/03/44201104/usa-targets-deepseek-weighs-restrictions-on-chinas-ai-firm-that-shook-nvidias-market-value-by-600-billion">scrutiny by the U.S. government</a>, which is considering restrictions on its operations.



DeepSeek&#8217;s AI models have been made open-source, allowing them to be freely downloaded and copied.



In January 2025, DeepSeek&#8217;s assertion that its AI model was developed at a fraction of the cost compared to its U.S. competitors resulted in Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) losing $600 billion in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/43256425/nvidia-says-deepseek-an-illustration-of-how-new-ai-models-can-be-created-while-being-export-control-compliant-amid-600-billion-market-value-plunge">market value in just one day</a>.



Moreover, a study by Copyleaks revealed that <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/03/44103985/74-of-deepseeks-output-mimics-openais-chatgpt-new-study-reveals-it-does-raise-questions-about-its-development">74% of DeepSeek&#8217;s output</a> mimics OpenAI&#8217;s ChatGPT, raising questions about its development process.



Meanwhile, earlier this month, <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/25/03/44101621/deepseek-loses-top-spot-as-tencents-yuanbao-ai-becomes-no-1-iphone-app-amid-intensifying-ai-battle">Tencent&#8217;s Yuanbao AI</a> has surpassed DeepSeek as the most downloaded iPhone app in China.



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:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/02/44055314/mrbeast-lost-millions-on-amazons-beast-games-now-hes-looking-to-raise-hundreds-of-millions-to-take-h" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MrBeast Lost Millions On Amazon's ‘Beast Games'—Now He's Looking To Raise Hundreds Of Millions To Take His Brand To The Next Level</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.



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Media

Move Over DeepSeek? Not So Fast: China's Manus AI Goes Viral, But Early Users Say It Crashes, Loops, And Fumbles The Basics

Gary Black has highlighted a ‘misinterpretation' by the media regarding Tesla Inc.'s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) first-quarter delivery shortfall.



As per the Tesla bull, reports have attributed Elon Musk&#8216;s political comments and DOGE spending cutbacks, but Black points to a different cause.



What Happened: In a social media post on X, Black said the actual reason for the delivery shortfall is that buyers are delaying their <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/01/42905406/tesla-launches-refreshed-model-y-in-china-amid-rising-competition">Model Y</a> purchases until the refreshed version is launched.



While some Democrats may be less inclined to buy Teslas due to Musk&#8217;s political stance, Black suggests that Republicans might appreciate Musk&#8217;s statements and his involvement with DOGE.



This perspective challenges the narrative that political factors are the main reason for the delivery delays.



<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 in the media are starting to recognize the shortfall in <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24TSLA&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$TSLA</a> 1Q delivs is due in large part to buyers delaying taking deliveries of Model Y until the refreshed version is available. The naive media keeps blaming the 1Q delivery shortfall on Elon's political comments and… <a href="https://t.co/zhq9S6TONj">pic.twitter.com/zhq9S6TONj</a>&mdash; Gary Black (@garyblack00) <a href="https://twitter.com/garyblack00/status/1898098447011475660?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 7, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Black&#8217;s post suggests that the media&#8217;s focus on Musk&#8217;s political activities may overlook other significant factors affecting Tesla&#8217;s sales performance. As the refreshed Model Y becomes available, it could potentially shift the delivery numbers in future quarters.



Why It Matters: The delivery shortfall comes at a time when Tesla&#8217;s sales have been under scrutiny. In September 2024, Gene Munster, a tech venture capitalist, noted that Tesla might report a<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/09/41082647/tesla-could-report-slight-q3-deliveries-miss-amid-musks-political-controversies-mun"> slight miss</a> in Q3 deliveries due to Musk&#8217;s political controversies. Despite this, Munster remained optimistic about Tesla&#8217;s growth potential.



In early 2025, Tesla&#8217;s sales in California dropped by 12%, raising questions about the impact of Musk&#8217;s political support for Donald Trump on <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/25/02/43447273/tesla-sales-drop-12-in-california-is-elon-musks-support-for-donald-trump-hurting-ev-sales">EV sales</a>. Additionally, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43152718/tesla-to-have-a-choppy-first-half-owing-to-new-ev-policies-deliveries-and-margins-however-this-analyst-expect-over-20-upside-from-current-level-with-a-500-target-price">analysts</a> predicted a &#8220;choppy&#8221; first half for Tesla due to new EV policies and uncertainties in deliveries.



Tesla&#8217;s California sales hit a four-year low, with <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43765071/teslas-california-sales-hit-four-year-low-amid-political-concerns-researcher-says-left-leaning-customers-are-turning-away-from-ev-giant">researchers</a> attributing this to Musk&#8217;s political actions. The ongoing political climate, including potential tariffs on Mexico, could further impact Tesla&#8217;s operations, as highlighted in a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44176616/trump-vs-musk-tesla-to-be-hurt-by-tariffs-on-mexico-despite-friendship">March 2025 report</a>.



Check out more of Benzinga's Future Of Mobility coverage by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mobility">following this link.</a>



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><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">Tesla Suspected Of EV Rebate Manipulation In Canada Amid Sudden Sales Surge Before Deadline: &#8216;Tesla Gamed The System&#8217;, Says Industry Body</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

TSLA

Tesla Bull Says EV Giant's Q1 Delivery Shortfall Is Not Due To Elon Musk's Political Comments And DOGE: 'Republicans Are Likely Thrilled'

The establishment of a Strategic Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) Reserve and a Digital Asset Stockpile in the U.S. represents a new paradigm in the evolution of cryptocurrencies and one that could influence monetary policy in countries around the world.



While Bitcoin will have its own reserve, the Digital Asset Stockpile is expected to have Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>), XRP (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/xrp/usd">XRP</a>), Cardano (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ada/usd">ADA</a>), and Solana (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/sol/usd">SOL</a>), according to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44068814/bitcoin-ethereum-dogecoin-rally-on-trumps-strategic-crypto-reserve-announcement-cardano-xrp-solana-skyrocket-analyst-says-btcs-new-ath-possible-later-in-the-month">Trump&#8217;s earlier announcement</a>.



The connecting thread among them all? They are the largest cryptocurrencies by market capitalization. In fact, excluding stablecoins, the reserve will contain five of the top six coins in terms of valuation.



But, if it was so obvious, the next logical question is why BNB Coin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/bnb/usd">BNB</a>), the fourth-largest cryptocurrency, was not included in the reserve.



Several analysts that Benzinga spoke to blamed it on the ‘China' angle.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Ties With An &#8216;Unfriendly&#8217; Trade Partner</h2>



"President Trump's decision to omit Binance Coin from the U.S. Crypto Reserve, despite its substantial market capitalization, may well have been influenced by the ongoing trade tensions between the U.S. and China, as Binance has strong ties to China," said Shant Kevonian, CEO and founder of Web3 email platform EtherMail.



It's worth noting that Binance was initially headquartered in China but moved out before the Chinese government <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/09/40985461/china-controls-55-of-bitcoin-hashrate-despite-crypto-ban-but-the-us-is-catching-up">restricted cryptocurrency trading</a> in the country. As of this writing, the company has no official headquarters.



See Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/06/39359780/dogecoin-shiba-inu-floki-are-dino-coins-says-trader-he-likes-these-3-other-meme-coins-as-b?itm_source=parsely-api"> </a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/03/44212481/dogecoin-plunges-9-but-top-analyst-believes-meme-coin-could-stage-a-strong-rebound-in-case-this-happens">Dogecoin Plunges 9% But Top Analyst Believes Meme Coin Could Stage A &#8216;Strong&#8217; Rebound In Case This Happens</a>



Kadan Stadelmann, blockchain developer and Chief Technology Officer of Komodo Platform, also emphasized the Chinese nationality of Yi He, the company's <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/01/36468045/changpeng-zhao-is-out-but-yi-he-stays-inside-the-unseen-power-of-binances-co-founder">little-known co-founder</a>, apart from Changpeng "CZ" Zhao.



It's not news that Trump <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">champions an "America First"</a> policy, placing it at the center of his political rhetoric. He has spoken about putting the U.S. at the forefront of cryptocurrency innovation and avoiding ceding the space to China.



However, the China link wasn't the only cause for concern.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Is BNB CZ-Tainted?</h2>



"BNB was started and majority-owned by CZ—in fact, that&#8217;s how Binance funded itself for the 2017 ICO. CZ was recently jailed by the U.S. (Biden administration) for improper KYC, so there&#8217;s no way they&#8217;d include it in a strategic reserve," said Michael Terpin, CEO of Transform Ventures and author of the book Bitcoin Supercycle.



Indeed, CZ served a four-month prison sentence <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/05/38547115/ex-binance-ceo-changpeng-zhao-sees-crypto-industry-entering-new-phase">for anti-money laundering violations</a>, paid a $50 million fine, and stepped down from the CEO's role.&nbsp;



Moreover, according to a Forbes <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/javierpaz/2024/06/14/how-cryptos-richest-billionaire-doubled-his-net-worth-behind-bars/">report</a>, he owns an estimated 94 million BNB tokens, roughly 64% of the total circulating supply.



Binance has yet to respond to Benzinga's request for comment on the exclusion from the reserve.



See Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/06/39359780/dogecoin-shiba-inu-floki-are-dino-coins-says-trader-he-likes-these-3-other-meme-coins-as-b?itm_source=parsely-api"> </a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/03/44212481/dogecoin-plunges-9-but-top-analyst-believes-meme-coin-could-stage-a-strong-rebound-in-case-this-happens">Dogecoin Plunges 9% But Top Analyst Believes Meme Coin Could Stage A &#8216;Strong&#8217; Rebound In Case This Happens</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Litecoin&#8217;s Privacy: The Reason Behind Exclusion?</h2>



Another popular coin whose exclusion might have surprised some was Litecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ltc/usd">LTC</a>).&nbsp;



After all, the altcoin is <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/01/43047964/litecoin-surges-12-after-analyst-says-altcoin-most-likely-to-have-next-etf-after-bitcoin-ethereum">expected to be the next exchange-traded fund</a> on Wall Street after Bitcoin and Ethereum, with characteristics deemed "very" similar to the apex cryptocurrency.



So, what happened?



Stadelmann believes a privacy-friendly update executed by the Litecoin network in 2022 could be the reason.



"Perhaps Litecoin's 2022 MimbleWimble update, which allows for private transactions where only the sender and receiver know the details, gives Trump pause," Stadelmann told Benzinga.&nbsp;



Notably, the newly added privacy features created a storm, leading to <a href="https://upbit.com/service_center/notice?id=2714">delisting</a> from South Korean cryptocurrency exchanges over conflict with the country's reporting requirements.  



In its defense. Litecoin has stated that MimbleWimble is an <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/20/10/17746253/maker-cardano-litecoin-american-wrap-1012020">optional feature</a>.



A spokesperson from the Litecoin Foundation backed LTC's inclusion in a U.S. cryptocurrency reserve and expressed optimism that things could change for the better.



"We are hopeful that thoughtful consideration is given to projects that can provide long-term value for a crypto reserve, and we are confident that if a crypto reserve is passed in Congress, that Litecoin would inevitably be added, given its similar characteristics to Bitcoin and value proposition."



Photo Courtesy: Matt Fowler KC on Shutterstock.com



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/03/44212604/peter-schiff-establishes-personal-strategic-bitcoin-reserve-vows-not-to-sell-going-down-with-the-ship-so-others-never-get-on-board">Peter Schiff Establishes Personal &#8216;Strategic Bitcoin Reserve,&#8217; Vows Not To Sell: &#8216;Going Down With The Ship So Others Never Get On Board&#8217;</a></li>
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Cryptocurrency

Exclusives

$ADA

$BNB

$BTC

$ETH

$LTC

$SOL

$XRP

Trump Excluded Binance Coin And Litecoin From US Crypto Reserves,  Analysts Say China, CZ's Past And Privacy Concerns Behind The Move

Leading cryptocurrencies sold off Sunday evening as President Donald Trump declined to rule out the possibility of a recession.



<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>-7.19%</td><td>$80,182.57</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>-9.24%</td><td>$2,004.60</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>-13.00%</td><td>$0.1677</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



What Happened: Bitcoin tumbled to $80,000 overnight, plunging over 7% in the last 24 hours. This was the steepest drop for the apex cryptocurrency since it <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/02/44039431/bitcoin-plummets-below-80000-ethereum-xrp-dogecoin-get-hammered-as-crypto-crash-continues">fell below $80,000</a> ten days ago.&nbsp;



Bitcoin's decline sent ripples through the rest of the market, with leading assets like Ethereum and Dogecoin going blood red just before the start of a new trading week.



Over $615 million was liquidated from the cryptocurrency market in the last 24 hours, with $540 million in upside bets getting wiped out.



Bitcoin's Open Interest fell 2.62% in the last 24 hours, while Ethereum witnessed a 5.57% decline in money locked in its derivatives market.



That said, traders were buying the dip as the number of long positions for Bitcoin dramatically surged vis-à-vis shorts, according to the Long/Short Ratio.



The Crypto Fear and Greed Index moved back into the "Extreme Fear" zone, signaling a bearish sentiment.



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>Story (IP)</td><td>+4.51%</td><td>$4.99</td></tr><tr><td>Tether Gold (XAUt)</td><td>+0.11%</td><td>$2,908.65</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



The global cryptocurrency market capitalization stood at $2.65 trillion, plunging 6.74% in the last 24 hours.



Stock futures plummeted on Sunday evening. The Dow Jones Industrial Average Futures fell 255 points, or 0.59%, as of 8:30 p.m. ET. Futures tied to the S&amp;P 500 sank 0.74%, while Nasdaq 100 Futures lost 0.96%.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/03/44211491/trumps-tariff-delay-gives-americas-favorite-truck-temporary-relief">Tariff developments</a> have weighed on the market, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&amp;P 500 losing 2.49% and 2.85% last week.



In an interview with Fox News, Trump was asked if he expected a recession this year, to which he replied, "I hate to predict things like that. There is a period of transition because what we&#8217;re doing is very big. We&#8217;re bringing wealth back to America."



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Trump says tariffs could go up in the future" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wQ0vjc8UzDw?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



This week, investors will focus on key inflation data, with February's consumer price index scheduled for Wednesday followed by the producer price index on Thursday.



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



Analyst Notes: Arthur Hayes, co-founder of cryptocurrency exchange BitMEX and Chief Investment Officer at Maelstrom Fund, noted the "ugly" start to the week.



&#8220;Looks like BTC will retest $78,000. If it fails, $75,000 is next in the crosshairs," Hayes predicted. "There are a lot of options OI [Open Interest] struck $70-$75,000, if we get into that range, it will be violent.&#8221;



<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">An ugly start to the week. Looks like <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24BTC&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$BTC</a> will retest $78k. If it fails, $75k is next in the crosshairs. There are a lot of options OI struck $70-$75k, if we get into that range it will be violent. <a href="https://t.co/q4cq0rthGJ">pic.twitter.com/q4cq0rthGJ</a>&mdash; Arthur Hayes (@CryptoHayes) <a href="https://twitter.com/CryptoHayes/status/1898867933679616103?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 9, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Widely followed cryptocurrency analyst and trader Daan Crypto Trades highlighted the formation of a new CME gap, suggesting a "choppy" and volatile trading environment.



"There&#8217;s now a new gap open up to ~$86,000. There&#8217;s also still the gap from way before open around ~$77,000, which didn&#8217;t close entirely last time around. So keep an eye out for those levels this week, " the analyst remarked.



CME gaps are the differences in price between the closing price on a given trading day and the opening price on the following trading day on a Bitcoin futures chart.&nbsp;



<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/search?q=%24BTC&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$BTC</a> Another week, another gap created. The fact that we&#39;re making these massive gaps on a weekly basis now just shows how choppy and volatile the current environment has been. There&#39;s now a new gap open up to ~$86K. There&#39;s also still the gap from way before open around ~$77K… <a href="https://t.co/D0ohrpEY0c">pic.twitter.com/D0ohrpEY0c</a>&mdash; Daan Crypto Trades (@DaanCrypto) <a href="https://twitter.com/DaanCrypto/status/1898897882377531636?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 10, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Photo by SvetlanaParnikova on Shutterstock



Read Next:    



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/03/44209192/sam-bankman-fried-says-when-rubber-meets-the-road-on-cryptos-fate-under-trump-slams-bidens-policies">Sam Bankman-Fried Says &#8216;When Rubber Meets The Road&#8217; On Crypto&#8217;s Fate Under Trump, Slams Biden&#8217;s Policies</a></li>
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$DOGE

Bitcoin, Ethereum And Dogecoin Crash As Trump Refuses To Rule Out Recession: Arthur Hayes Predicts BTC To Retest $78,000

Stock futures dropped Sunday evening as investors react to mounting concerns about the U.S. economic outlook and President Donald Trump&#8216;s trade policies.



What Happened: Dow Jones Industrial Average futures fell 0.54% to 42,608.00, while S&amp;P 500 futures declined 0.62% to 5,740.00. Nasdaq-100 futures showed the steepest drop, falling 0.80% to 20,068.25 as of 8:00 pm Sunday, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">data from Benzinga Pro.</a>



The declines follow a difficult week for markets, with the S&amp;P 500 falling 3.10%, the Nasdaq Composite dropping 3.45%, and the Dow losing 2.37%. 



&#8220;The reverse Trump trade continues Sunday night,&#8221; economist Peter Schiff wrote on X. &#8220;U.S. stocks, the dollar, and Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) are selling off, while foreign stocks and gold are rallying. I believe this will be a powerful trend that is long overdue.&#8221;



<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">The reverse Trump trade continues Sunday night. So far this evening, U.S. stocks, the dollar, and Bitcoin are selling off, while foreign stocks and gold are rallying. I believe this will be a powerful trend that is long overdue and will likely continue for the rest of the decade.&mdash; Peter Schiff (@PeterSchiff) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeterSchiff/status/1898873496349835702?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 9, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



In a Fox News interview Sunday, Trump described the economy as going through &#8220;a period of transition&#8221; when asked about recession possibilities. Bond market signals have raised alarm bells, with investors moving into short-dated Treasuries amid anticipation the Federal Reserve may cut <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/03/44211421/us-economy-teetering-recession-may-be-looming-as-bond-market-reacts-to-trump-policies">interest rates as early as May</a>.



The White House recently rolled back some tariffs on Canada and Mexico, but uncertainty persists. Allianz Chief Economic Advisor Mohamed El-Erian suggested market reactions reflect companies valuing &#8220;predictability and clarity of policies&#8221; above all else.



<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">Some are wondering why we haven&#39;t had more of a bounce in US equities after the partial rollback of tariffs on Canada and Mexico. I suspect part of the answer lies in the extent to which companies and households value the predictability and clarity of policies. As one CEO put it…&mdash; Mohamed A. El-Erian (@elerianm) <a href="https://twitter.com/elerianm/status/1897996009609085352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 7, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Economist Justin Wolfers questioned the effectiveness of tariff policies on X Sunday, noting that while successful tariffs should boost American business and stock prices, &#8220;everytime he imposes tariffs, stocks fall. That&#8217;s the market rendering its judgment.&#8221;



<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">If tariffs are going to work in the way Trump hopes they will &#8212; by rebuilding American business &#8212; they&#39;ll cause stocks to rise. But everytime he imposes tariffs, stocks fall. That&#39;s the market rendering its judgment. <a href="https://t.co/WivUUKd9u0">pic.twitter.com/WivUUKd9u0</a>&mdash; Justin Wolfers (@JustinWolfers) <a href="https://twitter.com/JustinWolfers/status/1898837731238621244?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 9, 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/tech/25/03/44185179/elon-musk-mourned-teslas-lack-of-market-share-in-japan-in-2024-ev-giant-to-now-halt-sale-of-new-model-s-x-vehicles-in-country">Elon Musk Mourned Tesla&#8217;s Lack Of Market Share In Japan In 2024: EV Giant To Now Halt Sale Of New Model S, X Vehicles In Country</a>



Why It Matters: &#8220;Just a few weeks ago we were fielding questions about whether the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/03/44211421/us-economy-teetering-recession-may-be-looming-as-bond-market-reacts-to-trump-policies">U.S. economy&#8217;s re-accelerating</a> — and now all of a sudden the R word is being brought up repeatedly,&#8221; said Gennadiy Goldberg of TD Securities.



Warren Buffett recently characterized tariffs as &#8220;an act of war&#8221; that function as a consumer tax, while economist Justin Wolfers noted on X, &#8220;Everytime he imposes tariffs, stocks fall. That&#8217;s the market rendering its judgment.&#8221;



Trump&#8217;s tariff policies remain a central concern. Former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci warned in a Yahoo Finance interview, &#8220;I think he&#8217;s going to put us into a recession, frankly,&#8221; describing tariffs as disproportionately affecting lower-income consumers.



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/03/44210533/buffetts-tariff-warning-trumps-chips-act-repeal-and-sp-500s-post-election-slump-this-week-in-economics">Buffett&#8217;s Tariff Warning, Trump&#8217;s CHIPS Act Repeal, And S&amp;P 500&#8217;s Post-Election Slump: This Week In Economics</a></li>
</ul>



Image Via Shutterstock 



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

Stock Futures Drop As 'Reverse Trump Trade' Takes Hold—Peter Schiff Says Market Shift 'Long Overdue' And Will Likely Continue For A Decade

A former Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) executive has accused the company and CEO Mark Zuckerberg of going to extraordinary lengths—including enabling censorship and offering data access—to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/23/07/33097839/mark-zuckerbergs-chants-against-china-proves-costly-for-his-metaverse-ambitions-in-country">gain a foothold in China</a>.



What Happened: In a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/11/35867623/meta-whistleblower-alleges-that-his-repeated-warnings-to-mark-zuckerberg-about-teen-safety-issues-on">whistleblower complaint</a> filed with the SEC in April, Sarah Wynn-Williams, Meta's former global policy director for China, made these allegations.



She stated that the company, formerly Facebook, developed a China-specific censorship system in 2015 and proposed installing a "chief editor" to manage and potentially shut down content during periods of social unrest.



The 78-page whistleblower complaint, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2025/03/09/meta-china-censorship-facebook-mark-zuckerberg/">reviewed</a> by The Washington Post, claims Meta was prepared to give the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) oversight of all Facebook content in China and store user data locally—making it more accessible to government surveillance.



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/03/44207932/apple-delays-next-gen-siri-its-going-to-take-us-longer-than-we-thought-to-deliver-ai-upgrades">Apple Delays Next-Gen Siri: &#8216;It&#8217;s Going To Take Us Longer Than We Thought&#8217; To Deliver AI Upgrades</a>



"One of the top priorities for President Trump is the West winning this [AI] critical race and yet for many years Meta has been working hand in glove with the Chinese Communist Party, briefing them on the latest technological developments and lying about it," stated Wynn-Williams.



In a response to the publication, Meta spokesperson Andy Stone said that the company "ultimately opted not to go through with the ideas we'd explored," and that this was "widely reported beginning a decade ago."



Meta did not immediately respond to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga's</a> request for comments.



Why It's Important: The complaint underscores long-running concerns about Big Tech's willingness to compromise on free expression and privacy in pursuit of market access.



Earlier this year in January, Meta agreed to a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/legal/25/01/43325503/mark-zuckerbergs-meta-pays-trump-25-million-to-settle-lawsuit-over-facebook-instagram-ban-after-jan-6-riot-a-big-year-for-redefining-our-relationships-with-governments">$25 million settlement</a> with President Donald Trump over his suspension from Facebook and Instagram. Trump's 2021 lawsuit alleged that Meta and other tech companies engaged in improper censorship.



Since the beginning of the year, Meta has reportedly modified its products and policies in line with Trump&#8217;s political stance and directives. Meta&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42960291/metas-content-moderation-changes-alarm-advertisers-as-zuckerberg-aligns-with-trump-and-musk">content moderation updates</a> have also raised concerns among advertisers.



Last month, Zuckerberg visited the White House to <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/tech/25/02/43551024/mark-zuckerberg-visits-white-house-for-advancing-american-tech-leadership-abroad-as-meta-ceo-continues-to-strengthen-ties-with-trump">discuss how Meta can support</a> and promote American tech leadership overseas.



Price Action: Meta&#8217;s stock ended Friday at $625.66, down 0.36%. In after-hours trading, it slipped another 0.23%. Year to date, Meta has gained 4.41%, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro data</a>.



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock



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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.

Mark Zuckerberg Offered China Full Censorship Control And User Data Access, Says Meta Whistleblower: 'Working Hand In Glove With The Chinese Communist Party'

The CNN Money Fear and Greed index showed some 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 Dow Jones index gaining more than 200 points during the session. However, the index recorded losses last week.



The S&amp;P 500 recorded its worst week since September, falling 3.1% last week. The Dow declined 2.4%, while the Nasdaq Composite tumbled 3.5% during the week.



On the economic data front, the February jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, released Friday, showed a moderate increase in employment and also a slight increase in the unemployment rate.



The U.S. economy added 151,000 jobs in February, up from a downwardly revised 125,000 in January, but below expectations of 160,000, as tracked by Trading Economics. The unemployment rate ticked unexpectedly higher to 4.1%, above the 4.0% expected.



Genesco Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GCO#NYSE">GCO</a>) shares dipped over 16% on Friday after the company reported worse-than-expected fourth-quarter financial results. American Public Education Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/APEI#NASDAQ">APEI</a>) shares surged 22% after the company reported better-than-expected quarterly financial results.



Most sectors on the S&amp;P 500 closed on a positive note, with utilities, information technology and energy stocks recording the biggest gains on Friday. However, consumer staples and financial stocks bucked the overall market trend, closing the session lower.



The Dow Jones closed higher by around 223 points to 42,801.72 on Friday. The S&amp;P 500 rose 0.55% to 5,770.20, while the Nasdaq Composite climbed 0.70% at 18,196.22 during Friday's session.



Investors are awaiting earnings results from BioNTech SE (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BNTX#NASDAQ">BNTX</a>), Oracle Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>) and Vail Resorts Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MTN#NYSE">MTN</a>) today.



What is CNN Business Fear &amp; Greed Index?



At a current reading of 20.5, the index remained in the &#8220;Extreme Fear&#8221; zone on Friday, versus a prior reading of 17.8.



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.



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</ul>



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Dow Gains Over 200 Points But Records Weekly Loss: Fear Among Investors Eases But Greed Index Remains In 'Extreme Fear' Zone

On Thursday, American EV giant Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) said it will stop taking custom orders for new Model S and X vehicles in Japan after April 1.



What Happened: The production of the higher-end Tesla cars for the Japanese market will end on March 31 and after April 1, the company will only sell stock or used vehicles in the country, Tesla said in a post on social media platform X, formerly Twitter. It added that the company will no longer accept custom orders for new Model S and X vehicles starting in April.



&#8220;This period until production ends will be your last opportunity to purchase a new Model S or Model X in Japan, so if you are considering purchasing one, please place your order as soon as possible,&#8221; the company 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">Model SおよびModel Xは2025年3月31日をもって、国内向け生産を終了いたします。 2025年4月1日以降、在庫車または中古車のみの販売となり、新車のカスタムオーダーはお受けできません。 この生産終了までの期間がModel SおよびModel… <a href="https://t.co/eRBBIvJayi">pic.twitter.com/eRBBIvJayi</a>&mdash; Tesla Japan (@teslajapan) <a href="https://twitter.com/teslajapan/status/1897565315363659913?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Tesla did not immediately respond to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga</a>&#8216;s request for comment on the reasons behind this decision. 



Why It Matters:&nbsp;In January 2024, Tesla CEO&nbsp;Elon Musk&nbsp;mourned the company's lack of market share in Japan, terming it "<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43078694/tesla-offers-free-supercharging-on-model-3-y-in-japan-a-year-after-musk-mourns-companys-lack-of-market-share-in-geography">remarkably low</a>."



"Japan is the third-largest car market in the world of any country. So we should at least have a market share proportionate to, say, other non-Japanese carmakers like Mercedes or BMW, which we do not currently have," Musk then said while adding that there is a lack of awareness of Tesla in the country.



The Model S and X are Tesla&#8217;s more premium cars. While the Model S starts at 12.67 million yen in Japan, the Model X starts at 14.17 million yen. 



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



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Elon Musk Mourned Tesla's Lack Of Market Share In Japan In 2024: EV Giant To Now Halt Sale Of New Model S, X Vehicles In Country

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



<ol>
<li>Okta Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OKTA#NASDAQ">OKTA</a>) shares jumped 24.26% after the company reported <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/upgrades/25/03/44108947/okta-stock-is-surging-tuesday-heres-why" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">better-than-expected</a> Q4 financial results, and several analysts upgraded the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/BJ/analyst-ratings" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stock and raised price forecast</a>.</li>



<li>Arcelor Mittal (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MT#NYSE">MT</a>) stock escalated 19.50% amid strength in gold and silver.</li>



<li>ING Groep (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ING#NYSE">ING</a>) stock was up 16.98% after the company announced a €70 million share repurchase program.</li>



<li>POSCO HOLDINGS INC. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PKX#NYSE">PKX</a>) shares escalated 15.55% amid overall market strength, fueled by reports that President Trump will delay auto tariffs.</li>



<li>Moderna Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRNA#NASDAQ">MRNA</a>) shares upped 15.02% after CEO Stephane Bancel Disclosed a share purchase.</li>



<li>Elbit Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ESLT#NASDAQ">ESLT</a>) stock rose 14.80%.</li>



<li>BJ&#8217;s Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BJ#NYSE">BJ</a>) stock gained 14.06% after the company reported better-than-expected <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/44165337" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Q4 financial results</a>. Several analysts <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/BJ/analyst-ratings" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">raised their price forecast</a> on the stock.</li>



<li>Rocket Companies, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RKT#NYSE">RKT</a>) stock grew 12.64%.</li>



<li>Trip.com Group Limited (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TCOM#NASDAQ">TCOM</a>) shares jumped 12.61%, probably after China reportedly set a 2025 GDP growth target of around 5% and unlocked stimulus measures.</li>



<li>MicroStrategy Incorporated (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>) shares rose 12.43% as Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BTC</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/44138476" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">moved closer to the $90,000 mark</a>.</li>
</ol>



Image via Shutterstock

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MRNA

MSTR

OKTA

TCOM

Okta, Moderna and MicroStrategy Are Among Top 10 Large-Cap Gainers Last Week (Mar 3-Mar 7): Are The Others In Your Portfolio?

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