Market Signal Briefing

March 19, 2026 02:00 ET  | Source: Molecular Partners

Highly comparable biodistribution profiles of Radio-DARPin candidates labeled with imaging isotopes 177Lu or 203Pb allows for rapid expansion of pipeline with multiple therapeutic isotopes
ZURICH-SCHLIEREN, Switzerland and CONCORD, Mass., March 19, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Molecular Partners AG (SIX: MOLN; NASDAQ: MOLN), a clinical-stage biotech company developing a novel class of custom-built protein drugs known as DARPin therapeutics (“Molecular Partners” or the “Company”), today announced it will hold an oral presentation outlining new preclinical data on Radio-DARPins at the 3rd Global Radiopharmaceuticals Development Summit, taking place in Shanghai, China on March 19–20, 2026.

The presentation will outline the Radio-DARPins’ suitability to different isotopes with data on two Radio-DARPin candidates, each specific for a different tumor target. The results of studies in tumor-bearing mice show highly comparable biodistribution profiles for both Radio-DARPin candidates labeled with Lutetium-177 (177Lu) or with Lead-203 (203Pb), with similar uptake and washout rates. Imaging with 177Lu can be indicative of behavior with the therapeutic isotope Actinium-225 (225Ac), and similarly with 203Pb for 212Pb.

“Our recent data confirms that our Radio-DARPin-vector design allows interchangeability of alpha-isotopes, including 212Pb and 225Ac,” said Patrick Amstutz, Ph.D., CEO of Molecular Partners. “This feature offers us the opportunity and flexibility to evaluate Radio-DARPin candidates in an isotope-agnostic manner and to choose the most suitable therapeutic isotope, as late as with initial clinical data, without having to restart the entire drug discovery and development process – a significant advantage to tailor our candidates to patient needs.”

Details of the presentation

DARPins for targeted alpha therapy: from promising MP0712 first in-human data to opportunities for next Radio-DARPin candidates
Presenter: Daniel Steiner, Ph.D., SVP of Technology and Research
Time: 9:25 am CST, Friday, March 20
Location: Meeting Room B – IND Filing and Clinical Development Progress

The full presentation can be found here.

MP0712, Molecular Partners’ DLL3-targeted 212Pb-based Radio-DARPin candidate co-developed with strategic partner Orano Med, is in an ongoing Phase 1/2a trial in the US (NCT07278479). Imaging data of MP0712 carrying the diagnostic isotope 203Pb under compassionate care are supportive of clinical development plans of MP0712 carrying the therapeutic isotope 212Pb for patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and other DLL3-expressing neuroendocrine cancers.

In February 2026, Molecular Partners entered into an agreement with Eckert & Ziegler, leading specialist in isotope-related components for nuclear medicine and radiation therapy, to enable the development and manufacturing of Radio-DARPin therapeutics. Eckert & Ziegler will support Molecular Partners with a comprehensive range of services covering development activities for Radio-DARPins with 225Ac as therapeutic payload and 177Lu as imaging payload.

About Radio-DARPins
Molecular Partners’ Radio-DARPins are designed as ideal vectors for precise delivery of potent alpha-emitting isotopes to tumor lesions and have the potential to unlock a broad range of tumor targets for targeted radiopharmaceuticals. Building on the DARPins’ unique properties, Molecular Partners has developed a proprietary Radio-DARPin platform to address historic limitations of radioligand therapy, such as kidney accumulation and toxicity, and suboptimal tumor uptake. Molecular Partners’ Radio-DARPins addresses these limitations through half-life extension technologies and surface engineering approaches, while preserving the advantages of the small protein format.

About DARPin Therapeutics
DARPin (Designed Ankyrin Repeat Protein) therapeutics are a novel class of protein drugs based on natural binding proteins, which have been clinically validated across several therapeutic areas and developed through to the registrational stage. The key properties of DARPins – intrinsic high affinity and specificity, small size, flexible architecture, and high stability – offer unmatched advantages to drug design, such as multispecificity, broad target range, and tunable half-life. The Company’s Radio-DARPins enable highly effective and specific delivery of potent radioactive payloads to tumor lesions while sparing healthy tissues. Molecular Partners’ Switch-DARPins allow conditional, tumor-localized immune activation, which enables increased safety and potency for next-generation immune cell engagers. Powered by twenty years of DARPin leadership in the clinic, Molecular Partners has built an innovative, rapid and cost-effective DARPin drug design engine, including proprietary DARPin libraries and platforms, for candidates produced with optimized properties and tailored to therapeutic needs.

About Molecular Partners AG 
Molecular Partners AG (SIX: MOLN, NASDAQ: MOLN) is a clinical-stage biotech company pioneering a novel class of protein drugs known as DARPin therapeutics, for medical challenges other treatment modalities cannot readily address. Molecular Partners leverages the key properties of DARPins to design and develop differentiated therapeutics for cancer patients, including targeted radiopharmaceuticals and next-generation immune cell engagers. The Company has proprietary programs in various stages of pre-clinical and clinical development, as well as programs developed through partnerships with leading pharmaceutical companies and academic centers. Molecular Partners, founded in 2004, has offices in both Zurich, Switzerland and Concord, MA, USA. For more information, visit www.molecularpartners.com and find us on LinkedIn and Twitter / X @MolecularPrtnrs

For further details, please contact:
Seth Lewis, EVP Corporate Finance
Concord, Massachusetts, U.S.
[email protected]
Tel: +1 781 420 2361

Laura Jeanbart, Ph.D., Head of Portfolio Management & Communications 
Zurich-Schlieren, Switzerland
[email protected]
Tel: +41 44 575 19 35

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Any statements contained in this press release that do not describe historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, including without limitation: implied and express statements regarding the clinical development of Molecular Partners’ current or future product candidates; expectations regarding timing for reporting data from ongoing clinical trials or the initiation of future clinical trials; the potential therapeutic and clinical benefits of Molecular Partners’ product candidates and its RDT and Switch-DARPin platforms; the selection and development of future programs; Molecular Partners’ collaboration with Orano Med including the benefits and results that may be achieved through the collaboration; the expected benefits of the strategic review; and Molecular Partners’ expected business and financial outlook, including anticipated expenses and cash utilization for 2026 and its expectation of its current cash runway. These statements may be identified by words such as “aim”, “anticipate”, “expect”, “guidance”, “intend”, “outlook”, “plan”, “potential”, “will” and similar expressions, and are based on Molecular Partners’ current beliefs and expectations. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in such statements. Some of the key factors that could cause actual results to differ from Molecular Partners’ expectations include, but are not limited to, those set forth in under the heading “Risk Factors” in Molecular Partners’ Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2025 and other filings Molecular Partners makes with the SEC from time to time. These documents are available on the Investors page of Molecular Partners’ website at www.molecularpartners.com. In addition, this press release contains information relating to interim data as of the relevant data cutoff date, results of which may differ from topline results that may be obtained in the future.

Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and are based on information available to Molecular Partners as of the date of this release, and Molecular Partners assumes no obligation to, and does not intend to, update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Hello, I am Priyanka Salve, writing to you from Singapore.

Welcome to the latest edition of Inside India — your one-stop destination for stories and developments from the world's fastest growing large economy.

This week, I unpack what's driving the rapid surge in gold‑loan growth in the world's second‑largest bullion market. Loans against gold are a multibillion‑dollar industry in India, powered by households holding $5 trillion in bullion.

Enjoy!

Any thoughts on today's newsletter? Share them with the team.

The big storyIndian households are sitting on a mountain of gold.

They own more than 34,000 tons of the yellow metal, as per a Morgan Stanley report from October last year, with Kotak Mahindra Bank pegging its value at about $5 trillion.

That vast reserve is now powering one of the fastest-growing lending segments in India. As other forms of consumer credit slow, gold loans have surged, driven by tighter banking rules for unsecured loans, a sharp rally in global gold prices, improved access, and perhaps a rising financial stress among households.

While about 90% of Indian households' hoardings are still lying idle, according to Shripad Jadhav, business head of gold loans at Kotak Mahindra Bank, gold-backed lending is beginning to reshape India's retail credit landscape, even drawing some global investors.

Global private equity firm Bain Capital has made a bold bet on loans against gold, with plans to acquire up to 41.7% stake in Manappuram Finance, India's second‑largest gold loan provider.

The deal, approved by the Reserve Bank of India last month, signals how international investors see opportunity in the country's most traditional but underutilized asset.

In December last year, Japanese financial behemoth MUFG said it was acquiring a 20% stake in Indian shadow banking firm Shriram Finance, which plans to double down on loans against gold.

RBI data shows gold loans more than doubled in one year, rising to 4 trillion rupees ($43.3 billion) in January from 1.75 trillion rupees a year earlier. Gold-backed lending is now the largest retail loan segment in the country after home and vehicle loans, as well as the fastest-growing retail credit category.

The actual size of gold loans in India is estimated to be 14 trillion rupees, said Yan Wang, chief emerging market strategist at Canadian firm Alpine Macro, adding that the RBI data only captures personal gold loans from certain commercial banks.

Non-banking financial companies, or NBFCs, account for 45%–50% of gold loan volume, according to a Macquarie report from last month — which is not captured by the RBI.

Gold rushAs India's central bank tightened the rules around unsecured lending in late 2023, it cut off access to this line of credit for many small and private business borrowers, Hanna Luchnikava-Schorsch, head of Asia-Pacific economics at S&P Global Market Intelligence, told me.

"Personal loans growth has slowed from an average of 30% in six months to December 2023 to 12.2% in 2025," she said. During the same time, global gold prices have soared.

From 2024 to date, gold has gained more than 140% to cross $5000 per ounce, hitting several records this year.

Higher gold prices increase the value borrowers can unlock with the same amount of metal — making gold loans more appealing, Luchnikava-Schorsch said.

Historically, demand for loans against gold was driven by South Indian states and the semi-urban market, especially among agricultural communities, experts said.

Now, that growth is broad‑based across India, says Kotak Mahindra Bank's Jadhav, as middle‑class as well as high-net-worth individuals in big cities are using gold loans to fund time‑sensitive financial needs.

The biggest beneficiaries of this demand for gold loans have been NBFCs such as Manappuram Finance and industry leader Muthoot Finance. Their shares have risen 24% and 47%, respectively, over the last year, outpacing the benchmark Nifty 50 index by a wide margin.

"Most NBFCs can disburse a loan within an hour of a customer walking into a branch," said Shreya Shivani, an NBFC analyst at Nomura.

Even a person with a "poor" credit score who owns good quality gold can get a loan at a much better lending rate compared to unsecured personal loans, she said. While that widens access to credit, it also raises questions.

A rapidly growing loan segment that bypasses traditional credit assessments could indicate stress in the economy, with Macquarie's report also attributing people feeling financially squeezed, and incomes not keeping pace with costs, among the reasons driving the boom in gold loans.

Shripad says that the rise in gold loans is "a marker of financial maturity" as people are monetizing the precious metal and using it as a hassle-free, quick, and low‑cost credit line.

Need to knowIndia's Modi reaches out to Iran. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian within hours of Tehran's new supreme leader vowing to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed, as New Delhi scrambles to mitigate energy supply risks.

India's U.S.-Israel tilt is testing ties with Iran. While millions of barrels of oil flow to China via the Strait of Hormuz, India — Tehran's old ally — is yet to secure a safe passage for its ships stuck in the critical waterway as New Delhi's deepening ties with the U.S. and Israel strain relations with Iran.

India's consumer inflation rises for a fourth straight month. India's consumer inflation rose to 3.21% in February, up from 2.75% in the previous month, but in line with expectations of economists polled by Reuters.

Coming up

March 20: Weekly RBI updated on India FX reserve.

March 20: Central Mine Planning & Design Institute IPO opens.

March 24: India HSBC manufacturing and services flash PMI.

SHENZHEN, China, March 19, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LexinFintech Holdings Ltd. (“Lexin” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: LX), a leading technology-empowered personal financial service enabler in China, today announced its unaudited financial results for the quarter ended December 31, 2025.

Mr. Jay Wenjie Xiao, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Lexin, commented, “The fourth quarter marked an important transition for us as we adapted to the new regulatory framework. Amid heightened industry risk volatility, our proactive compliance efforts and disciplined risk management enabled us to secure a stable transition, while balancing business scale and overall asset quality.

Despite the complex macro environment in the fourth quarter, we concluded 2025 with robust full-year results. For the full year of 2025, net profit stood at RMB1.7 billion, representing a year-over-year increase of 52.4%. These results underscore the fundamental resilience and diversity of our unique business ecosystem.

Going forward, we believe that the market will continue to consolidate toward leading, compliant platforms with prudent risk management. Leveraging our unique business ecosystem, we are well-positioned to capture potential opportunities as the industry enters this new stage of high-quality development.

We also remain deeply committed to enhancing shareholder returns. In accordance with our dividend policy, our board of directors has approved a dividend of US$0.188 per ADS, representing 30% of net income from the second half of 2025. In addition to cash dividends, we have cumulatively repurchased US$39 million worth of ADSs as of the date of this announcement. Furthermore, my personal US$10 million share purchase plan has been fully implemented. We will continue to explore various avenues to deliver sustainable value to our shareholders.”

Mr. James Zheng, Chief Financial Officer of Lexin, commented, “During the fourth quarter, as we navigated elevated risk volatility and the evolving regulatory landscape, our proactive risk management and pricing adjustments weighed on our bottom line, with net income recording RMB214 million. The resilience of our diversified business ecosystem provided an effective counterbalance to this impact. In parallel, we fortified our balance sheet with ample provisioning, while our funding costs declined substantially. These actions have fundamentally strengthened our foundation for long-term growth.

Looking ahead to 2026, as the industry enters a new phase of normalization, we will leverage our unique business ecosystem and comprehensive product matrix to continue executing our disciplined strategy, and deliver sustainable, long-term returns to our shareholders.”

Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2025 Operational Highlights:

User Base

Total number of registered users across our platform reached 245 million as of December 31, 2025, representing an increase of 7.6% from 228 million as of December 31, 2024.Number of active users1 in the fourth quarter of 2025 was 4.5 million, representing a decrease of 3.8% from 4.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2024. Number of active users1 in 2025 was 8.2 million, representing an increase of 0.3% from 8.2 million in 2024.Number of cumulative borrowers with successful drawdown was 36.7 million as of December 31, 2025, an increase of 8.9% from 33.8 million as of December 31, 2024. Loan Facilitation Business

As of December 31, 2025, we cumulatively originated RMB1,530.5 billion in loans, an increase of 15.5% from RMB1,325.1 billion as of December 31, 2024. Total loan originations2 in the fourth quarter of 2025 was RMB50.0 billion, a decrease of 3.8% from RMB52.0 billion in the fourth quarter of 2024. Total loan originations2 in 2025 was RMB205 billion, a decrease of 3.2% from RMB212 billion in 2024.Total outstanding principal balance of loans3 was RMB96.6 billion as of December 31, 2025, representing a decrease of 12.4% from RMB110 billion as of December 31, 2024. Credit Performance4

90 day+ delinquency ratio5 was 3.1% as of December 31, 2025, as compared with 3.0% as of September 30, 2025.First payment default rate (30 day+) for new loan originations was below 1% as of December 31, 2025. Installment E-commerce Platform Service

GMV6 in the fourth quarter of 2025 for our installment e-commerce platform service was RMB2,154 million, representing an increase of 122% from RMB969 million in the fourth quarter of 2024. GMV6 in 2025 for our installment e-commerce platform service was RMB7,622 million, representing an increase of 110% from RMB3,633 million in 2024.In the fourth quarter of 2025, our installment e-commerce platform service served over 480,000 users. Other Operational Highlights

The weighted average tenor of loans originated in the fourth quarter of 2025 was approximately 11.9 months, as compared with 13.1 months in the fourth quarter of 2024. The weighted average tenor of loans originated on our platform in 2025 was approximately 12.9 months, as compared with 12.9 months in 2024.Repeated borrowers’ contribution7 of loans across our platform for the fourth quarter of 2025 was 88.3%. Repeated borrowers’ contribution7 of loans across our platform for 2025 was 86.4%. Fourth Quarter 2025 Financial Highlights:

Total operating revenue was RMB3,043 million, representing a decrease of 16.8% from the fourth quarter of 2024.Credit facilitation service income was RMB2,485 million, representing a decrease of 8.4% from the fourth quarter of 2024. Tech-empowerment service income was RMB170 million, representing a decrease of 71.7% from the fourth quarter of 2024. Installment e-commerce platform service income was RMB388 million, representing an increase of 12.5% from the fourth quarter of 2024.Net income attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company was RMB214 million, representing a decrease of 41.0% from the fourth quarter of 2024. Net income per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company was RMB1.24 on a fully diluted basis.Adjusted net income attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company8 was RMB239 million, representing a decrease of 38.9% from the fourth quarter of 2024. Adjusted net income per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company8 was RMB1.38 on a fully diluted basis. Full Year 2025 Financial Highlights:

Total operating revenue was RMB13,152 million, representing a decrease of 7.4% from 2024.Credit facilitation service income was RMB9,562 million, representing a decrease of 13.1% from 2024. Tech-empowerment service income was RMB2,081 million, representing an increase of 10.6% from 2024. Installment e-commerce platform service income was RMB1,509 million, representing an increase of 14.1% from 2024.Net income attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company was RMB1,677 million, representing an increase of 52.4% from 2024. Net income per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company was RMB9.45 on a fully diluted basis.Adjusted net income attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company8 was RMB1,795 million, representing an increase of 49.2% from 2024. Adjusted net income per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company8 was RMB10.11 on a fully diluted basis. __________________________

Active users refer to, for a specified period, users who made at least one transaction during that period through our platform or through our third-party partners’ platforms using the credit line granted by us.Total loan originations refer to the total principal amount of loans originated during the given period through our platform or through our third-party partners' platforms.Total outstanding principal balance of loans refers to the total amount of principal outstanding for loans facilitated and originated at the end of each period, including loans guaranteed by our financial guarantee companies and the loans facilitated across third party platforms that we bear principal risk and excluding loans delinquent for more than 180 days that are charged-off.Loans under Intelligent Credit Platform are excluded from the calculation of credit performance. Intelligent Credit Platform (ICP) is an intelligent platform on our “Fenqile” app, under which we match borrowers and financial institutions through big data and cloud computing technology. For loans facilitated through ICP, the Company does not bear principal risk.“90 day+ delinquency rate” refers to the outstanding principal balance of on- and off-balance sheet loans that were 91 to 180 calendar days past due as a percentage of the total outstanding principal balance of on- and off-balance sheet loans across our platform and those loans across third party platforms that we bear principle risk as of a specific date. Loans that are charged-off and loans under “ICP”, E-commerce business and overseas are not included in the delinquency rate calculation.GMV refers to the total value of transactions completed for products purchased on our e-commerce and Maiya channel, net of returns.Repeated borrowers’ contribution for a given period refers to the principal amount of loans borrowed during that period by borrowers who had previously made at least one successful drawdown as a percentage of the total loan facilitation and origination volume through our platform during that period.Adjusted net income attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company, adjusted net income per ordinary share and per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company are non-GAAP financial measures. For more information on non-GAAP financial measures, please see the section of “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures Statement” and the tables captioned “Unaudited Reconciliations of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results” set forth at the end of this press release. Fourth Quarter 2025 Financial Results:

Operating revenue was RMB3,043 million in the fourth quarter of 2025, as compared to RMB3,659 million in the fourth quarter of 2024.

Credit facilitation service income was RMB2,485 million in the fourth quarter of 2025, as compared to RMB2,712 million in the fourth quarter of 2024. The decrease was due to the decrease in loan facilitation and servicing fees-credit oriented and financing income, partially offset by the increases in guarantee income.

Loan facilitation and servicing fees-credit oriented was RMB1,293 million in the fourth quarter of 2025, as compared to RMB1,624 million in the fourth quarter of 2024. The decrease was primarily due to the decrease in the APR of off-balance sheet loans and the decrease in origination of off-balance sheet loans.

Guarantee income was RMB685 million in the fourth quarter of 2025, as compared to RMB577 million in the fourth quarter of 2024. The increase was primarily due to the increase of outstanding balances in the off-balance sheet loans funded by certain institutional funding partners, which are accounted for under ASC 460, Guarantees.

Financing income was RMB506 million in the fourth quarter of 2025, as compared to RMB510 million in the fourth quarter of 2024.

Tech-empowerment service income was RMB170 million in the fourth quarter of 2025, as compared to RMB602 million in the fourth quarter of 2024. The decrease was primarily due to the decrease of loan facilitation volume through ICP.

Installment e-commerce platform service income was RMB388 million in the fourth quarter of 2025, as compared to RMB345 million in the fourth quarter of 2024. The increase was primarily driven by the increase in transaction volume with third-party sellers.

Cost of sales consisted of cost of inventory sold and other costs. Cost of sales was RMB248 million in the fourth quarter of 2025, as compared to RMB353 million in the fourth quarter of 2024. The decrease was primarily driven by the decrease in transaction volume of online direct sales which is recorded on a gross basis.

Funding cost was RMB34.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2025, as compared to RMB57.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2024. The decrease was primarily driven by the decrease in funding rates and balance of funding debts to fund the on-balance sheet loans.

Processing and servicing costs was RMB633 million in the fourth quarter of 2025, as compared to RMB583 million in the fourth quarter of 2024. The increase was primarily due to the increase in risk management expenses.

Provision for financing receivables was RMB250 million in the fourth quarter of 2025, as compared to RMB297 million in the fourth quarter of 2024. The decrease was primarily driven by the increase in performance of oversea business, offset by the increase in the outstanding loan balances of on-balance sheet loans.

Provision for contract assets and receivables was RMB159 million in the fourth quarter of 2025, as compared to RMB154 million in the fourth quarter of 2024.

Provision for contingent guarantee liabilities was RMB935 million in the fourth quarter of 2025, as compared to RMB941 million in the fourth quarter of 2024.

Gross profit was RMB784 million in the fourth quarter of 2025, as compared to RMB1,274 million in the fourth quarter of 2024.

Sales and marketing expenses was RMB388 million in the fourth quarter of 2025, as compared to RMB464 million in the fourth quarter of 2024. The decrease was primarily driven by the decrease in personnel-related costs.

Research and development expenses was RMB132 million in the fourth quarter of 2025, as compared to RMB151 million in the fourth quarter of 2024. The decrease was primarily due to the decrease in personnel-related costs.

General and administrative expenses was RMB70.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2025, as compared to RMB95.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2024. The decrease was primarily driven by the decrease in personnel-related costs.

Change in fair value of financial guarantee derivatives and loans at fair value was a gain of RMB79.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2025, as compared to a loss of RMB144 million in the fourth quarter of 2024. The change was primarily driven by the fair value gains realized as a result of the release of guarantee obligation as loans are repaid, partially offset by the fair value loss from the re-measurement of the expected loss rates.

Income tax expense was RMB51.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2025, as compared to RMB67.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2024. The decrease was primarily due to the decrease in income before income tax expense.

Net income was RMB214 million in the fourth quarter of 2025, as compared to RMB363 million in the fourth quarter of 2024.

Full Year 2025 Financial Results:

Operating revenue was RMB13,152 million in 2025, as compared to RMB14,204 million in 2024.

Credit facilitation service income was RMB9,562 million in 2025, as compared to RMB11,000 million in 2024. The decrease was due to the decrease in loan facilitation and servicing fees-credit oriented and guarantee income, partially offset by the increases in financing income.

Loan facilitation and servicing fees-credit oriented was RMB4,989 million in 2025, as compared to RMB6,326 million in 2024. The decrease was primarily due to the decrease in the APR of off-balance sheet loans and the decrease in origination of off-balance sheet loans.

Guarantee income was RMB2,424 million in 2025, as compared to RMB2,664 million in 2024. The decrease was primarily due to the decrease of annual average outstanding balances in the off-balance sheet loans funded by certain institutional funding partners, which are accounted for under ASC 460, Guarantees.

Financing income was RMB2,150 million in 2025, as compared to RMB2,010 million in 2024. The increase was primarily driven by the increase in the outstanding balances of on-balance sheet loans.

Tech-empowerment service income was RMB2,081 million in 2025, as compared to RMB1,881 million in 2024. The increase was primarily driven by the increase in referral services.

Installment e-commerce platform service income was RMB1,509 million in 2025, as compared to RMB1,322 million in 2024. The increase was primarily driven by the increase in transaction volume with third-party sellers.

Cost of sales consisted of cost of inventory sold and other costs. Cost of sales was RMB1,206 million in 2025, as compared to RMB1,320 million in 2024. The decrease was primarily driven by the decrease in transaction volume of online direct sales which is recorded on a gross basis.

Funding cost was RMB229 million in 2025, as compared to RMB326 million in 2024. The decrease was primarily driven by the decrease in funding rates and balance of funding debts to fund the on-balance sheet loans.

Processing and servicing costs was RMB2,443 million in 2025, as compared to RMB2,292 million in 2024. The increase was primarily driven by the increase in risk management expenses.

Provision for financing receivables was RMB1,017 million in 2025, as compared to RMB866 million in 2024. The increase was primarily due to the increase in the outstanding loan balances of on-balance sheet loans.

Provision for contract assets and receivables was RMB614 million in 2025, as compared to RMB718 million in 2024. The decrease was primarily driven by the decrease of the outstanding loan balances of off-balance sheet loans.

Provision for contingent guarantee liabilities was RMB3,175 million in 2025, as compared to RMB3,656 million in 2024. The decrease was primarily due to the decrease of outstanding balances in the off-balance sheet loans funded by certain institutional funding partners, which are accounted for under ASC 460, Guarantees.

Gross profit was RMB4,469 million in 2025, as compared to RMB5,026 million in 2024.

Sales and marketing expenses was RMB1,919 million in 2025, as compared to RMB1,787 million in 2024. The increase was primarily driven by the increase in online advertising costs.

Research and development expenses was RMB595 million in 2025, as compared to RMB578 million in 2024. The increase was primarily due to the increase in personnel-related costs..

General and administrative expenses was RMB362 million in 2025, as compared to RMB375 million in 2024.

Change in fair value of financial guarantee derivatives and loans at fair value was a gain of RMB508 million in 2025 as compared to a loss of RMB979 million in 2024. The change was primarily driven by the fair value gains realized as a result of the release of guarantee obligation as loans are repaid, partially offset by the fair value loss from the re-measurement of the expected loss rates.

Income tax expense was RMB399 million in 2025, as compared to RMB253 million in 2024. The increase was primarily due to the increase in income before income tax expense.

Net income was RMB1,677 million in 2025, as compared to RMB1,100 million in 2024.

Recent Development

Semi-Annual Dividend

The board of directors of the Company has approved a dividend of US$0.094 per ordinary share, or US$0.188 per ADS, for the six-month period ended December 31, 2025 in accordance with the Company’s dividend policy, which is expected to be paid on June 3, 2026 to shareholders of record (including holders of ADSs) as of the close of business on April 24, 2026 New York time.

Update of Share Repurchase Program

Pursuant to the Company’s share repurchase program of up to US$50 million adopted in July 2025, the Company repurchased a total of approximately 9.6 million ADSs (equivalent to 19.2 million Class A ordinary shares) for approximately US$39 million. The remaining amount under the share repurchase program was US$11 million as of the date of this announcement. The total number of shares repurchased by the Company since the adoption of the share repurchase program amounted to approximately 5.8% of its total ordinary shares outstanding as of December 31, 2025.

In addition, Mr. Jay Wenjie Xiao has informed the Company that he has purchased a total of approximately 2.3 million ADSs (equivalent to 4.6 million Class A ordinary shares) for approximately US$10 million as of the date of announcement, after his indication to purchase up to US$10 million worth of the Company’s ADSs in July 2025.

Business Outlook

Looking ahead, while our risk metrics continue to improve, we remain prudent in light of ongoing macroeconomic uncertainties and expect total loan origination for the first quarter of 2026 to remain flat.

This forecast reflects our current preliminary views, which are subject to the impact of macroeconomic factors. The Company may adjust its performance outlook as appropriate based on evolving circumstances.

Conference Call

The Company’s management will host an earnings conference call at 7:00 AM U.S. Eastern time on March 19, 2026 (7:00 PM Beijing/Hong Kong time on March 19, 2026).

Participants who wish to join the conference call should register online at:

https://register-conf.media-server.com/register/BIa035db521c9d4308ac218dd480679390

Once registration is completed, each participant will receive the dial-in number and a unique access PIN for the conference call.

Participants joining the conference call should dial in at least 10 minutes before the scheduled start time.

A live and archived webcast of the conference call will also be available at the Company's investor relations website at http://ir.lexin.com.

About LexinFintech Holdings Ltd.

We are a leading credit technology-empowered personal financial service enabler. Our mission is to use technology and risk management expertise to make financing more accessible for young generation consumers. We strive to achieve this mission by connecting consumers with financial institutions, where we facilitate through a unique model that includes online and offline channels, installment consumption platform, big data and AI driven credit risk management capabilities, as well as smart user and loan management systems. We also empower financial institutions by providing cutting-edge proprietary technology solutions to meet their needs of financial digital transformation.

For more information, please visit http://ir.lexin.com.

To follow us on Twitter, please go to: https://twitter.com/LexinFintech.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures Statement

In evaluating our business, we consider and use adjusted net income attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company, non-GAAP EBIT, adjusted net income per ordinary share and per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company, four non-GAAP measures, as supplemental measures to review and assess our operating performance. The presentation of the non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. We define adjusted net income attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company as net income attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company excluding share-based compensation expenses, interest expense associated with convertible notes, and investment income/(loss) and we define non-GAAP EBIT as net income excluding income tax expense, share-based compensation expenses, interest expense, net, and investment income/(loss).

We present these non-GAAP financial measures because they are used by our management to evaluate our operating performance and formulate business plans. Adjusted net income attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company enables our management to assess our operating results without considering the impact of share-based compensation expenses, interest expense associated with convertible notes, and investment income/(loss). Non-GAAP EBIT, on the other hand, enables our management to assess our operating results without considering the impact of income tax expense, share-based compensation expenses, interest expense, net, and investment income/(loss). We also believe that the use of these non-GAAP financial measures facilitates investors’ assessment of our operating performance. These non-GAAP financial measures are not defined under U.S. GAAP and are not presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

These non-GAAP financial measures have limitations as an analytical tool. One of the key limitations of using adjusted net income attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company and non-GAAP EBIT is that they do not reflect all items of income and expense that affect our operations. Share-based compensation expenses, interest expense associated with convertible notes, income tax expense, interest expense, net, and investment income/(loss) have been and may continue to be incurred in our business and are not reflected in the presentation of adjusted net income attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company and non-GAAP EBIT. Further, these non-GAAP financial measures may differ from the non-GAAP financial information used by other companies, including peer companies, and therefore their comparability may be limited.

We compensate for these limitations by reconciling each of the non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure, which should be considered when evaluating our performance. We encourage you to review our financial information in its entirety and not rely on a single financial measure.

Exchange Rate Information Statement

This announcement contains translations of certain RMB amounts into U.S. dollars (“US$”) at specified rates solely for the convenience of the reader. Unless otherwise stated, all translations from RMB to US$ were made at the rate of RMB6.9931 to US$1.00, the exchange rate set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board on December 31, 2025. The Company makes no representation that the RMB or US$ amounts referred could be converted into US$ or RMB, as the case may be, at any particular rate or at all.

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Lexin’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “confident” and similar statements. Among other things, the expectation of the collection efficiency and delinquency, business outlook and quotations from management in this announcement, contain forward-looking statements. Lexin may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: Lexin’s goal and strategies; Lexin’s expansion plans; Lexin’s future business development, financial condition and results of operations; Lexin’s expectation regarding demand for, and market acceptance of, its credit and investment management products; Lexin’s expectations regarding keeping and strengthening its relationship with borrowers, institutional funding partners, merchandise suppliers and other parties it collaborates with; general economic and business conditions; and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Lexin’s filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of this press release, and Lexin does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

LexinFintech Holdings Ltd.

IR inquiries:

Will Tan

Tel: +86 (755) 3637-8888 ext. 6258

E-mail: [email protected]

Media inquiries:

Ruifeng Xu

Tel: +86 (755) 3637-8888 ext. 6993

E-mail: [email protected]

SOURCE LexinFintech Holdings Ltd.

LexinFintech Holdings Ltd.
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets As of (In thousands)December 31, 2024 December 31, 2025  RMB RMB US$ ASSETS      Current Assets      Cash and cash equivalents2,254,213 2,156,133 308,323 Restricted cash1,638,479 1,717,773 245,638 Restricted term deposit and short-term investments138,497 78,458 11,219 Short-term financing receivables, net(1)4,668,715 5,450,418 779,399 Short-term contract assets and receivables, net(1)5,448,057 3,763,096 538,116 Deposits to insurance companies and guarantee companies2,355,343 2,187,609 312,824 Prepayments and other current assets1,321,340 2,858,054 408,696 Amounts due from related parties61,722 84,531 12,088 Inventories, net22,345 24,119 3,449 Total Current Assets17,908,711 18,320,191 2,619,752 Non-current Assets      Restricted cash100,860 91,937 13,147 Long-term financing receivables, net(1)112,427 167,378 23,935 Long-term contract assets and receivables, net(1)317,402 317,496 45,401 Property, equipment and software, net613,110 895,046 127,990 Land use rights, net862,867 828,467 118,469 Long-term investments284,197 243,971 34,887 Deferred tax assets1,540,842 1,763,235 252,139 Other assets500,363 535,242 76,539 Total Non-current Assets4,332,068 4,842,772 692,507 TOTAL ASSETS22,240,779 23,162,963 3,312,259        LIABILITIES      Current liabilities      Accounts payable74,443 101,178 14,468 Amounts due to related parties10,927 8,708 1,245 Short-term borrowings and current portion of long-term borrowings690,772 905,791 129,526 Short-term funding debts2,754,454 2,440,685 349,013 Deferred guarantee income975,102 1,305,911 186,743 Contingent guarantee liabilities1,079,000 544,191 77,818 Accruals and other current liabilities4,019,676 4,371,484 625,110 Total Current Liabilities9,604,374 9,677,948 1,383,923 Non-current Liabilities      Long-term borrowings585,024 566,015 80,939 Long-term funding debts1,197,211 850,590 121,633 Deferred tax liabilities91,380 105,212 15,045 Other long-term liabilities22,784 10,567 1,511 Total Non-current Liabilities1,896,399 1,532,384 219,128 TOTAL LIABILITIES11,500,773 11,210,332 1,603,051 Shareholders’ equity:      Class A Ordinary Shares205 209 32 Class B Ordinary Shares41 41 7 Treasury stock(328,764)(493,846)(70,619)Additional paid-in capital3,314,866 3,396,667 485,717 Statutory reserves1,178,309 1,260,923 180,310 Accumulated other comprehensive income(29,559)(27,597)(3,946)Retained earnings6,604,908 7,816,234 1,117,707 Total shareholders’ equity10,740,006 11,952,631 1,709,208 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY22,240,779 23,162,963 3,312,259  ____________________________________(1)Short-term financing receivables, net of allowance for credit losses of RMB102,124 and RMB198,694 as of December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2025, respectively.Short-term contract assets and receivables, net of allowance for credit losses of RMB409,590 and RMB259,054 as of December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2025, respectively.

Long-term financing receivables, net of allowance for credit losses of RMB1,820 and RMB3,723 as of December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2025, respectively.

Long-term contract assets and receivables, net of allowance for credit losses of RMB30,919 and RMB14,569 as of December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2025, respectively.

LexinFintech Holdings Ltd.
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

 For the Three Months Ended December 31,  For the Year Ended December 31, (In thousands, except for share and per share data)2024 2025  2024 2025  RMB RMB US$  RMB RMB US$ Operating revenue:             Credit facilitation service income2,712,066 2,484,555 355,286  10,999,931 9,562,072 1,367,358 Loan facilitation and servicing fees-credit oriented1,624,410 1,293,440 184,959  6,325,924 4,988,562 713,355 Guarantee income577,168 684,863 97,934  2,663,824 2,423,570 346,566 Financing income510,488 506,252 72,393  2,010,183 2,149,940 307,437 Tech-empowerment service income601,693 170,317 24,355  1,881,376 2,081,335 297,627 Installment e-commerce platform service income345,074 388,204 55,512  1,322,287 1,508,680 215,738 Total operating revenue3,658,833 3,043,076 435,153  14,203,594 13,152,087 1,880,723 Operating cost             Cost of sales(352,749)(248,121)(35,481) (1,319,526)(1,206,033)(172,460)Funding cost(57,471)(34,185)(4,888) (326,451)(228,958)(32,741)Processing and servicing cost(583,119)(632,479)(90,443) (2,291,904)(2,442,557)(349,281)Provision for financing receivables(296,741)(250,218)(35,781) (865,524)(1,016,742)(145,392)Provision for contract assets and receivables(153,968)(158,797)(22,708) (718,413)(614,364)(87,853)Provision for contingent guarantee liabilities(940,740)(935,194)(133,731) (3,655,548)(3,174,787)(453,989)Total operating cost(2,384,788)(2,258,994)(323,032) (9,177,366)(8,683,441)(1,241,716)Gross profit1,274,045 784,082 112,121  5,026,228 4,468,646 639,007 Operating expenses:             Sales and marketing expenses(464,263)(388,093)(55,497) (1,787,299)(1,918,894)(274,398)Research and development expenses(151,081)(131,947)(18,868) (578,243)(595,316)(85,129)General and administrative expenses(95,335)(69,964)(10,005) (374,481)(361,819)(51,739)Total operating expenses(710,679)(590,004)(84,370) (2,740,023)(2,876,029)(411,266)Change in fair value of financial guarantee derivatives and loans at fair value(143,619)79,433 11,359  (979,234)508,160 72,666 Interest expense, net(2,560)(8,015)(1,146) (9,007)(22,732)(3,251)Investment loss(543)(3,503)(501) (2,417)(21,903)(3,132)Others, net13,754 4,014 574  58,188 19,461 2,783 Income before income tax expense430,398 266,007 38,037  1,353,735 2,075,603 296,807 Income tax expense(67,649)(51,923)(7,425) (253,275)(398,526)(56,988)Net income362,749 214,084 30,612  1,100,460 1,677,077 239,819 Net income attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company362,749 214,084 30,612  1,100,460 1,677,077 239,819               Net income per ordinary share attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company             Basic1.09 0.64 0.09  3.32 4.95 0.71 Diluted1.03 0.62 0.09  3.24 4.72 0.68               Net income per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company             Basic2.18 1.27 0.18  6.64 9.90 1.42 Diluted2.06 1.24 0.18  6.49 9.45 1.35               Weighted average ordinary shares outstanding             Basic333,182,976 336,234,641 336,234,641  331,403,936 338,943,939 338,943,939 Diluted351,577,582 346,075,067 346,075,067  339,261,349 355,089,877 355,089,877  LexinFintech Holdings Ltd.
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

 For the Three Months Ended December 31,  For the Year Ended December 31,(In thousands)2024 2025  2024 2025 RMB RMB US$  RMB RMB US$Net income362,749 214,084 30,612  1,100,460 1,677,077 239,819Other comprehensive income            Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of nil tax642 (1,297)(185) (16,014)1,962 281Total comprehensive income363,391 212,787 30,427  1,084,446 1,679,039 240,100Total comprehensive income attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company363,391 212,787 30,427  1,084,446 1,679,039 240,100 LexinFintech Holdings Ltd.
Unaudited Reconciliations of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results

 For the Three Months Ended December 31, For the Year Ended December 31,(In thousands, except for share and per share data)2024 2025 2024 2025 RMB RMB US$ RMB RMB US$Reconciliation of Adjusted net income attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company to Net income attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company           Net income attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company362,749 214,084 30,612 1,100,460 1,677,077 239,819Add: Share-based compensation expenses27,244 21,119 3,020 94,623 96,175 13,753Investment loss543 3,503 501 2,417 21,903 3,132Adjusted net income attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company390,536 238,706 34,133 1,203,195 1,795,155 256,704            Adjusted net income per ordinary share attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company           Basic1.17 0.71 0.10 3.63 5.30 0.76Diluted1.11 0.69 0.10 3.55 5.06 0.72            Adjusted net income per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company           Basic2.34 1.42 0.20 7.26 10.59 1.51Diluted2.22 1.38 0.20 7.09 10.11 1.45            Weighted average shares used in calculating net income per ordinary share for non-GAAP EPS           Basic333,182,976 336,234,641 336,234,641 331,403,936 338,943,939 338,943,939Diluted351,577,582 346,075,067 346,075,067 339,261,349 355,089,877 355,089,877            Reconciliations of Non-GAAP EBIT to Net income           Net income362,749 214,084 30,612 1,100,460 1,677,077 239,819Add: Income tax expense67,649 51,923 7,425 253,275 398,526 56,988Share-based compensation expenses27,244 21,119 3,020 94,623 96,175 13,753Interest expense, net2,560 8,015 1,146 9,007 22,732 3,251Investment loss543 3,503 501 2,417 21,903 3,132Non-GAAP EBIT460,745 298,644 42,704 1,459,782 2,216,413 316,943
Additional Credit Information

Vintage Charge Off Curve1

Dpd30+/GMV by Performance Windows1

First Payment Default 30+1

        1.Loans facilitated under ICP and E-commerce business are excluded from the charts.

Micron Technology (MU) slipped notably after market close on March 18, even though the memory chips specialist posted a blowout quarter featuring a nearly 200% year-on-year increase in revenue to $23.86 billion.

And while this weakness is being attributed primarily to the firm’s warning that capex will step up “meaningfully” this year, part of it is actually related to an attack on Qatar’s energy infrastructure, specifically the Ras Laffan industrial complex, amidst continued escalations between the US and Iran.

While Qatar is known predominantly for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), its role as a “linchpin” in the global helium supply chain is what makes the attack a direct bearish catalyst for Micron stock.

Significance of Qatar’s energy sector for Micron stockContrary to popular belief, helium isn’t just for balloons; it’s a “critical” industrial gas used to cool silicon wafers during the fabrication process and to maintain the ultra-clean environments required for lithography.

As of writing, Qatar accounts for roughly one-third of the world’s helium production, and there’s no viable chemical substitute for helium – a byproduct of natural gas extraction – in semiconductor manufacturing.

Typically, most chipmakers maintain roughly two to six weeks of helium inventory.

But with the Ras Laffan complex now offline, the industry is entering a “critical window” where supply shortages could force production slowdowns.

It’s this fear that’s contributing to pressure on MU shares in after-hours.

A potential hit to margins could hurt MU shares in 2026What’s also worth mentioning is that shifting helium supply from Qatar to the US or Australia isn’t a viable alternative either because the financial impact of the Ras Laffan incident is twofold.

For starters, industry experts believe spot helium prices could as much as “triple” as a result of the aforementioned attack, which in itself is a major risk for the semiconductor space.

Additionally, however, since fabrication is incredibly energy-intensive, the broader spike in global LNG prices lifts the cost of electricity and logistics, squeeing margins just as MU was scaling high cost HBM3E production for AI.

The timing of this attack creates a “perfect storm” for Micron’s balance sheet, given it just warned of a more than $10 billion increase in construction-related costs in its fiscal 2027.

In short, the compounding cost structure threatens to derail Micron shares, as the dual pressures of soaring raw material expenses and inflated utility overheads erode the expected returns from their next-gen memory chips.

How Wall Street recommends playing Micron TechnologyDespite a blockbuster Q4 release, Wall Street firms also seem to believe that MU's stock price rally has gone a bit too far in 2026.

While the consensus rating on Micron sits at “strong buy”, the mean target of about $387 suggests potential “downside” of another 13% from here.

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Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - March 18, 2026) - WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of Eos Energy Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ: EOSE) between November 5, 2025 and February 26, 2026, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important May 5, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline.

SO WHAT: If you purchased Eos Energy securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Eos Energy class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=18041 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than May 5, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually handle securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved, at that time, the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Eos Energy was unable to achieve the ramp in production and capacity utilization required to achieve its previously set guidance; (2) Eos Energy's battery line downtime was running well above industry norms, the design intent of the line, and internal forecasts; (3) Eos Energy was experiencing delays in the ability for its automated bipolar production to hit quality targets; (4) Eos Energy's inadequate systems and processes prevented it from ensuring reasonably accurate guidance and that its public disclosures were timely, accurate, and complete; and (5) as a result of the foregoing, defendants' positive statements about Eos Energy's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the Eos Energy class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=18041 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

-------------------------------

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/288995

Source: The Rosen Law Firm PA

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As anybody who's driven down a road in the past couple of weeks knows, gas prices have spiked, jumping by roughly 27% since the war in Iran started.

That's prompted fears of widespread inflation as oil is an input in a wide range of products, and higher fuel prices lead to higher costs for transportation, which includes shipping for retail and industrial products.

On Wednesday, investors got more bad news on the inflation front as the producer price index (PPI), or a measure of wholesale prices, came in much hotter than expected. Monthly prices rose 0.7% in February, well ahead of estimates at 0.3%. That followed a 0.5% increase in January and a 0.4% increase in Dec. 2025. On an annual basis, wholesale prices rose 3.4% in February.

Core prices, which exclude more volatile categories like food, energy, and trade services, were up 3.5%. Wholesale prices tend to be a leading indicator for retail prices, so the higher inflation at the producer level likely portends higher prices for consumers.

Stocks fell modestly on the news on Wednesday, but inflation seems likely to get worse as the February data doesn't take into account the spike in oil prices in March. Additionally, fertilizer prices have also soared due to the war, which is likely to drive food prices higher.

At times like these, it makes sense to consider putting some inflation-proof stocks in your portfolio. Keep reading to see two that look attractive.

Image source: Getty Images.

1. AutoZone Very few stocks are countercyclical, meaning they perform better at the bottom of the economic cycle than they do at the top. AutoZone (NYSE: AZO) is one of them.

Like other aftermarket auto parts retailers, AutoZone benefits from consumers delaying new car purchases, which is common during inflationary or recessionary environments. Typically, the company sees its strongest growth in comparable sales during the tail end of recessions, or when consumers have the least discretionary income available. Most purchases at AutoZone aren't discretionary. Americans need a functioning vehicle, and if they can't afford a new one, the other option is to keep their existing one on the road, so they or their mechanic must make repairs and buy replacement parts at AutoZone or a competitor.

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Over its history, AutoZone has also proven to be one of the best operators in its industry, along with O'Reilly Automotive, in its industry. Over the last decade, the stock is up more than 300% over the last decade, and it's gained more than 10,000% since its IPO in 1991. AutoZone hasn't necessarily been a high-growth stock for most of its history, but it's rewarded investors through steady share buybacks, which have reduced shares outstanding by nearly 50% over the last decade.

AutoZone is coming off a solid quarter with 3.3% comparable sales growth. If inflation becomes a concern, the auto parts retailer should deliver strong returns for investors.

2. Dollar General In tough times, consumers tend to trade down to cheaper stores and products, and few other retailers benefit from that behavior more than Dollar General (DG 3.25%), the nation's biggest retailer by number of stores, with more than 20,000 locations across the U.S.

Dollar General was already seeing some of that behavior last year as a weakening labor market and new tariffs pressured consumer spending, driving the stock up 75% last year, and that movement could accelerate in 2026 if inflation rises.

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The company is coming off a strong 2025 as its turnaround efforts, which include improvements to distribution and store-level issues like out-of-stocks and slow checkouts, are paying off. Comparable sales rose 3% and accelerated over the course of the year, while margins improved as inventories fell 7%, allowing the company to avoid markdowns.

Investors were disappointed with 2026 guidance, which calls for comparable sales growth of 2.2%-2.7%, but that may reflect some conservatism at the beginning of the year. Dollar General also continues to open new stores with 460 planned for 2026, as well as more than 2,000 remodels.

Based on guidance, the stock trades at a forward P/E of less than 18. If inflation returns, the discount retailer looks poised for another strong year.

March 18, 2026 22:34 ET  | Source: Reviva Pharmaceuticals

CUPERTINO, Calif., March 18, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reviva Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: RVPH) (“Reviva” or the “Company”), a late-stage pharmaceutical company developing therapies that seek to address unmet medical needs in the areas of central nervous system (CNS), inflammatory and cardiometabolic diseases, today announced the pricing of its previously announced public offering with healthcare focused institutional investors for the purchase and sale of 6,666,667 shares of its common stock (or common stock equivalents in lieu thereof) together with Series G warrants to purchase up to 6,666,667 shares of common stock (the "Series G Warrants") and Series H warrants to purchase up to 6,666,667 shares of common stock (the "Series H Warrants"), at a combined offering price of $1.50 per share and accompanying warrants, for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $10 million before deducting placement agent fees and other offering expenses.

The Series G Warrants and the Series H Warrants will have an exercise price of $1.50 per share. The Series G Warrants will be exercisable immediately and will expire five years from the issuance date. The Series H Warrants will be exercisable immediately and will expire 12 months from the issuance date.

The closing of the offering is expected to occur on or about March 20, 2026, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. The Company currently intends to use the net proceeds from the offering together with its existing cash and cash equivalents to fund research and development activities, including its planned RECOVER-2 Phase 3 trial for brilaroxazine in schizophrenia, and for working capital and other general corporate purposes.

A.G.P./Alliance Global Partners is acting as the sole placement agent for the offering.

The securities are being offered pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-276848), including a base prospectus, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on February 2, 2024, and declared effective by the SEC on February 13, 2024. A preliminary prospectus supplement related to the offering has been filed with the SEC and is available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Copies of the final prospectus supplement and accompanying base prospectus, when available, may be obtained from A.G.P./Alliance Global Partners, 590 Madison Avenue, 28th Floor, New York, NY 10022, or by telephone at (212) 624-2060, or by email at [email protected].

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities being offered, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

About Reviva

Reviva is a late-stage biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops, and seeks to commercialize next-generation therapeutics for diseases representing unmet medical needs and burdens to society, patients, and their families. Reviva’s current pipeline focuses on the central nervous system (CNS), inflammatory and cardiometabolic diseases. Reviva’s pipeline currently includes two drug candidates, brilaroxazine (RP5063) and RP1208. Both are new chemical entities discovered in-house. Reviva has been granted composition of matter patents for both brilaroxazine and RP1208 in the United States, Europe, and several other countries.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains “forward-looking statements” made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are typically preceded by words such as “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “will,” “may,” “should,” or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements reflect management’s current knowledge, assumptions, judgment and expectations regarding future performance or events. Although management believes that the expectations reflected in such statements are reasonable, they give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct or that those goals will be achieved, and you should be aware that actual results could differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, risks associated with the satisfaction of customary closing conditions related to the offering and uncertainties related to the closing, and use of proceeds from the proposed offering. For a further description of the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to the Company’s business in general, please refer to the Company’s final prospectus supplement to be filed with the SEC, and the documents incorporated by reference therein, including the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 and Forms 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2025, June 30, 2025 and September 30, 2025.

All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary notice. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. We have no obligation, and expressly disclaim any obligation, to update, revise or correct any of the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

REVIVA CONTACTS:

Corporate Contact:
Reviva Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc.
Laxminarayan Bhat, PhD
www.revivapharma.com

Investor Relations Contact:
LifeSci Advisors, LLC
PJ Kelleher
[email protected]

New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - March 18, 2026) - WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of common stock of Corcept Therapeutics Incorporated (NASDAQ: CORT) between October 31, 2024 and December 30, 2025, inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important April 21, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline.

SO WHAT: If you purchased Corcept common stock during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Corcept class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=51868 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than April 21, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved, at that time, the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, throughout the Class Period, defendants represented that the key clinical trials supporting the use of relacorilant as treatment for patients with hypercortisolism were "powerful support" for the New Drug Application ("NDA") that Corcept submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") for this indication. Defendants also stated that they had communicated with the FDA about this NDA and were confident in submitting the NDA, foreseeing no impediments to approval. Toward the latter part of the Class Period, defendants repeatedly told investors that "relacorilant is approaching approval." In truth, the FDA had repeatedly raised concerns about the adequacy of the clinical evidence supporting the relacorilant NDA and, as a result, there was a known material risk that Corcept's relacorilant NDA would not be approved. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the Corcept class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=51868 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

-------------------------------

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/289004

Source: The Rosen Law Firm PA

Ready to Announce with Confidence? Send us a message and a member of our TMX Newsfile team will contact you to discuss your needs.

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BLACKHAWK, Calif., March 18, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vesicor Therapeutics, Inc., a San Gabriel, California-based early development stage biotechnology corporation focused on the development of p53-based cancer therapeutics delivered via precision-engineered microvesicles and a proposed de-SPAC acquisition target for Black Hawk Acquisition Corporation (Nasdaq: BKHA, BKHAU, BKHAR), today announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Michael Tolentino, M.D., an accomplished biotech leader with deep industry experience, as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective March 17, 2026. He succeeds Founder and CEO Luo Feng, Ph.D., who has been appointed Chief Scientific Officer.

New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - March 18, 2026) - WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces a class action lawsuit on behalf of purchasers of common stock of monday.com Ltd. (NASDAQ: MNDY) between September 17, 2025 and February 6, 2026, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"). A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than May 11, 2026.

SO WHAT: If you purchased monday.com common stock during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the monday.com class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=55823 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than May 11, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved, at that time, the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or concealed material adverse facts concerning the true state of monday.com's revenue expansion outlook; notably decelerating growth, reduced expansion momentum and extended sales cycles. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the monday.com class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=55823 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

-------------------------------

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/289045

Source: The Rosen Law Firm PA

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The Bank of Japan on Thursday kept its rates steady at 0.75% as expected, but noted that inflation risks now are tilted to the upside due to the Iran war.

In its statement, the BOJ said the decision was split, with eight of the nine members voting in favor of a hold.

The only dissenter was Hajime Takata, who viewed "overseas developments" as a risk for prices in Japan and proposed a rate hike to 1%.

In its statement, the BOJ said that while core inflation is expected to temporarily decelerate below 2% in the near term due to a slowdown in rice price increases, the conflict in the Middle East will exert "upward pressure, affected by the recent rise in crude oil prices."

"Attention should also be paid to the impact of the rise in crude oil prices on the outlook for underlying CPI inflation," the central bank said.

The decision comes as Tokyo grapples with the fallout from the Iran conflict, which has pushed up energy prices. The country gets about 95% of its energy imports from the Middle East.

Japan has released crude stockpiles, while Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi pledged to keep retail gasoline prices "in check" at a nationwide average of about 170 yen per liter.

Analysts from Dutch bank ING wrote in a note last Friday that "It will be important to examine closely how the BOJ evaluates the economic fallout from the Middle East conflict and the results of the spring wage negotiations. These factors will influence whether a rate hike occurs in April or June."

The central bank closely monitors the spring wage negotiations, also known as "shunto" talks, which involve Japan's labor federations and the country's biggest firms. After years of stagnant wages, these talks are crucial to sustainably achieving the BOJ's 2% inflation target.

Inflation in Japan currently stands at 1.5% as of January, the first time headline inflation has fallen below the 2% target after 45 straight months of surpassing it.

On Wednesday, Japanese media reported that many large companies had fully accepted their unions' pay-hike demands, which would mark the third year in a row that pay hikes have exceeded 5%.

Nikkei reported this was the first such streak since 1989-1991, and that the preliminary results of the shunto talks will be published on March 23 by the Japanese Trade Union Confederation, or Rengo.

The increase will be a welcome relief to Japanese workers, who have seen their real wages dip every month in 2025. In January, however, real wages climbed 1.4% from a year earlier.

The BOJ decision also comes amid reported opposition to rate hikes from Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

After her landslide Lower House victory in February, Japanese newspaper Mainichi Shimbun had reported that in late February, Takaichi had expressed "reluctance" to BOJ governor Kazuo Ueda about raising interest rates further.

This is breaking news, please check back for updates.

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TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (TOKYO: 6503) announced today that two of its Indonesian subsidiaries have secured a major order to supply 66 elevators, 30 escalators, 404 air-conditioning units and 38 hand dryers for Two Sudirman Jakarta, a huge mixed-use urban space scheduled to open in the heart of Jakarta in end of 2028. PT Mitsubishi Jaya Elevator and Escalator manufactures, sells, installs and services elevators and escalators, and PT Mitsubishi Electric Indonesia.

HomeStock IdeasQuick Picks & Lists

SummaryOur largest portfolio company, Samsung Electronics, outperformed in 2025 after underperforming in 2024.Samsung was awarded HBM qualification with NVIDIA in 2025 and ramped production quickly.South Korea is in the process of launching a broad set of reforms as part of its 'value-up' reforms modeled after the program in Japan.U-Haul continues to make astute, long-term capital allocation decisions by using cash flow from the truck rental business to invest in its self-storage business.The Bolloré investment represents a differentiated and attractive value with its positions in Universal Music Group N.V. and Vivendi plus the cash proceeds from its logistics sale. peshkov/iStock via Getty Images

The following segment was excerpted from the AMG Yacktman Fund Q4 2025 Commentary.

Top Ten Holdings¹ Holding % of Net Assets Samsung Electronics Co Ltd Preferred (SSNLF) 9.09 Bolloré SE (BOIVF) 7.36

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TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Almonty Industries Inc. (“Almonty” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: ALM; TSX: AII; ASX: AII; Frankfurt: ALI1), a leading global producer of tungsten concentrate, today announced its financial results for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2025. Financial Summary: Unless otherwise indicated, all figures are expressed in millions of Canadian dollars.       Three Months Ended Year Ended December 31, December 31,   2025 2024 2025 2024 Revenue $8.7 $6.3 $32.5 $28.8 In.

LOS ANGELES, March 19, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Portnoy Law Firm advises monday.com, Ltd., (“monday.com” or the "Company") (NASDAQ: MNDY) investors off a class action on behalf of investors that bought securities between September 17, 2025 and February 6, 2026, inclusive (the “Class Period”). monday.com investors have until May 11, 2026 to file a lead plaintiff motion.

Investors are encouraged to contact attorney Lesley F. Portnoy, by phone 310-692-8883 or email: [email protected], to discuss their legal rights, or join the case via http://portnoylaw.com/monday-com-ltd. The Portnoy Law Firm can provide a complimentary case evaluation and discuss investors’ options for pursuing claims to recover their losses.

monday.com, together with its subsidiaries, develops software applications.

The monday.com class action lawsuit alleges that defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) defendants created the false impression that they possessed reliable information pertaining to monday.com’s projected revenue outlook and anticipated growth on the back of its continued expansion of its core platform, AI-driven investments, increasing enterprise adoption and multi-product integration; (ii) monday.com was seeing new customer growth decelerating, weaker expansion within existing accounts and longer enterprise sales cycles, making monday.com’s $1.8 billion 2027 target increasingly unlikely to be met; and (iii) defendants misled investors by providing the public with materially flawed statements of confidence and growth projections which did not account for these variables.

The monday.com class action lawsuit further alleges that on February 9, 2026, monday.com disclosed that “we will no longer be discussing our previously provided 2027 targets, but we’ll be centering our discussion on our 2026 outlook, which reflects the continued momentum we see across our AI work platform, new product introductions and upmarket sales motion.” On this news, the price of monday.com stock fell nearly 21%, according to the complaint.

The Portnoy Law Firm represents investors in pursuing claims caused by corporate wrongdoing. The Firm’s founding partner has recovered over $5.5 billion for aggrieved investors. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

Lesley F. Portnoy, Esq.
Admitted CA, NY and TX Bar
[email protected]
310-692-8883
www.portnoylaw.com

Attorney Advertising

Trusted Editorial content, reviewed by leading industry experts and seasoned editors. Ad Disclosure

Ethereum has reclaimed the $2,300 level, positioning itself at a critical juncture as the market prepares for a decisive move. After weeks of volatility and corrective pressure, ETH is now testing a key zone that could determine the next phase of price action. While some analysts argue that the current structure is building toward a bullish impulse, others remain cautious, warning that the recent recovery could still lead to a short-term retrace before any sustained upside.

Amid this uncertainty, on-chain data is providing additional context. According to Arkham, Grayscale continues to stake Ethereum and recently staked another 19,200 ETH, worth approximately $44.6 million, just a few hours ago. This adds to its growing position and reinforces its long-term exposure to the asset.

Staking activity from an entity like Grayscale carries structural implications. By locking ETH into staking contracts, the firm is effectively removing liquid supply from the market, reducing the amount of ETH available for immediate selling. At the same time, staking reflects a long-term conviction strategy, as assets are committed to generating yield rather than being actively traded.

For market participants, this behavior can be interpreted as a signal of institutional confidence in Ethereum’s long-term value, even as short-term price direction remains uncertain.

Grayscale Expands Staking While Market Remains Cautious Institutional activity continues to provide a structural backdrop for Ethereum, even as price action remains uncertain. On March 13, Grayscale (Ethereum Mini Trust) staked 57,600 ETH, valued at approximately $121.6 million, marking one of its largest recent allocations into staking. This move reinforces a broader trend of institutional players increasing exposure to Ethereum through yield-generating strategies rather than maintaining liquid positions.

Grayscale Ethereum Mini Trust transfers | Source: Arkham From a supply perspective, this is meaningful. Staked ETH is effectively removed from the circulating supply, reducing immediate sell-side pressure and tightening available liquidity in the spot market. In isolation, this type of behavior would typically be interpreted as supportive of price over the medium to long term.

However, the market response has been more restrained. Despite these large-scale staking inflows, Ethereum’s price action continues to reflect caution rather than conviction. The asset remains near key resistance levels, with limited follow-through after recent attempts to move higher.

This divergence suggests that while long-term capital is positioning aggressively, shorter-term participants are still hesitant. Macro uncertainty, recent volatility, and prior liquidation events continue to weigh on sentiment.

As a result, Ethereum currently presents a mixed structure: institutional accumulation on one side, and cautious, reactive trading behavior on the other.

Ethereum Faces Key Resistance After Reactive Bounce Ethereum’s price structure on the 3-day chart reflects a reactive recovery rather than a confirmed trend reversal, despite the recent reclaim of the $2,300 level. The asset is rebounding from the sharp selloff seen in February, where price briefly capitulated below $2,000 before finding demand and stabilizing.

ETH breaks above $2,300 | Source: ETHUSDT chart on TradingView Technically, ETH is now attempting to push into a dense resistance cluster between $2,300 and $2,600, an area that previously acted as support and has now flipped into resistance. This zone also aligns with the short-term moving averages, which are beginning to flatten but have not yet turned decisively bullish.

The broader structure remains cautious. Price is still trading below the 200-day moving average, indicating that the macro trend has not fully shifted back to bullish. Additionally, prior lower highs from late 2025 remain intact, suggesting that ETH is still operating within a corrective or transitional phase.

Volume dynamics reinforce this interpretation. While the bounce from local lows showed increased participation, follow-through volume appears limited, pointing to selective buying rather than aggressive accumulation.

To confirm a stronger recovery, a sustained break above $2,600 is likely required. Until then, the current move can be interpreted as a relief rally within a broader restructuring market environment.

Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com 

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Sebastian's journey into the world of crypto began four years ago, driven by a fascination with the potential of blockchain technology to revolutionize financial systems. His initial exploration focused on understanding the intricacies of various crypto projects, particularly those focused on building innovative financial solutions. Through countless hours of research and learning, Sebastian developed a deep understanding of the underlying technologies, market dynamics, and potential applications of cryptocurrencies. As his knowledge grew, Sebastian felt compelled to share his insights with others. He began actively contributing to online discussions on platforms like X and LinkedIn, focusing on fintech and crypto-related content. His goal was to expose valuable trends and insights to a wider audience, fostering a deeper understanding of the rapidly evolving crypto landscape. Sebastian's contributions quickly gained recognition, and he became a trusted voice in the online crypto community. To further enhance his expertise, Sebastian pursued a UC Berkeley Fintech: Frameworks, Applications, and Strategies certification. This rigorous program equipped him with valuable skills and knowledge regarding Financial Technology, bridging the gap between traditional finance (TradFi) and decentralized finance (DeFi). The certification deepened his understanding of the broader financial landscape and its intersection with blockchain technology. Sebastian's passion for finance and writing is evident in his work. He enjoys delving into financial research, analyzing market trends, and exploring the latest developments in the crypto space. In his spare time, Sebastian can often be found immersed in charts, studying 10-K forms, or engaging in thought-provoking discussions about the future of finance. Sebastian's journey as a crypto analyst and investor has been marked by a relentless pursuit of knowledge and a dedication to sharing his insights. His ability to navigate the complex world of crypto, combined with his passion for financial research and communication, makes him a valuable asset to the industry. As the crypto landscape continues to evolve, Sebastian remains at the forefront, providing valuable insights and contributing to the growth of this revolutionary technology.

Major Wall Street investors poured $500 million into Ripple in 2025 — a figure that reflects just how embedded XRP has become in the company’s financial backbone, and why analysts say Ripple has little reason to walk away from it.

A newly circulated academic paper, published in Advances in Economics, Business and Management Research, argues that XRP’s role in Ripple’s cross-border payment network makes abandonment not just unlikely, but structurally difficult. The paper was brought to wider attention by XRP community researcher SMQKE.

The Case Against Cutting Ties Ripple Payments — formerly known as RippleNet — uses XRP as a bridge asset to move money across borders quickly and cheaply. According to the paper, that dependency runs deep. XRP helps guard against double-spending risks while cutting the delays that plague traditional payment systems.

Banks like Bank of America and Santander are among the financial institutions connected to Ripple’s network. That kind of institutional footprint makes any sudden pivot away from XRP a complicated proposition, reports indicate.

‼️ WHY RIPPLE WILL NEVER ABANDON XRP‼️

Read closely.😶‍🌫️

“Because RippleNet DEPENDS much on XRP, the XRP will coexist with Ripple Labs.”✅

“In this way, as long as Ripple Labs is widely used for its cross-board real-time payment business, the XRP market will ALWAYS work as a… pic.twitter.com/9YZvBLoExt

— SMQKE (@SMQKEDQG) March 13, 2026

The paper stops short of declaring XRP untouchable. It points to regulatory tightening and rival technologies as real threats that could reshape how Ripple operates in the long run. Still, its central conclusion is that XRP and Ripple are likely to remain tied together for the foreseeable future.

XRP’s Broader Ambitions Beyond payments, Ripple has explored positioning XRP as a neutral go-between for central bank digital currencies, or CBDCs. The idea is that XRP could connect different national digital currencies without requiring the parties to rely on traditional financial intermediaries.

XRPUSD now trading at $1.46. Chart: TradingView That ambition signals something important. Ripple isn’t treating XRP as a legacy product to be quietly retired. Based on reports, the company has been actively expanding its use cases rather than winding them down.

CEO Brad Garlinghouse has publicly described XRP as the company’s guiding purpose. His exact words, often repeated in the XRP community: “XRP is our north star.”

Stablecoin Launch Adds A New Layer Ripple’s rollout of RLUSD, its own stablecoin, has fed speculation that XRP might be getting sidelined. Some observers read the move as a sign that Ripple is hedging its bets with a more stable asset.

Ripple executives have pushed back on that reading. They maintain XRP is not being replaced — that RLUSD operates alongside it, not instead of it.

The academic paper largely supports that position. It frames XRP as central to both network security and overall system efficiency, not as a technology on its way out. Whether that holds as stablecoins gain ground across the broader payments industry remains an open question.

Featured image from Pexels, chart from TradingView

Bitcoin financial services firm Fold reported a 8% surge in revenue in Q4 to $9 million as it gained another 2,000 customers and rolled out more products aimed at integrating Bitcoin reward schemes into consumer spending.

The results come just weeks after it released a Fold Bitcoin Rewards Credit Card, a Visa and Stripe-powered product, offering users cashback and rewards.

During Fold’s Q4 and 2025 full-year earnings call on Tuesday, CEO Will Reeves said they believe that “Bitcoin rewards will overtake the airline miles as the preferred consumer reward in the US.”

“That means that these card programs and our card program needs to scale to millions of cardholders,” Reeves said, adding that better risk and fraud controls must be implemented before it can “really open the floodgates” for mass adoption.

Coinbase, Gemini, Swan Bitcoin and River Financial are among the other crypto platforms offering Bitcoin (BTC) credit card rewards in the US.

Despite the optimism, Fold recorded a 3% year-on-year fall in transaction volume to $215 million and an operating loss of $6 million, contributing to a full-year net loss of $69.6 million for 2025, the company reported in its latest financial statement.

However, Reeves said Fold still hit its goals in its first full year as a public company, stating:

“We continued to add customers and expand our platform while building the foundation to scale a Bitcoin-native financial services ecosystem across multiple interconnected product lines.”Fold’s more recent products include Fold for Business, enabling companies to include Bitcoin in payroll, bonuses, and corporate financial programs. 

One of its most notable partners is Steak ‘n Shake, which accepts Bitcoin and pays employees bonuses in Bitcoin.

Source: FoldReeves noted that Fold has strengthened its balance sheet by “extinguishing our two outstanding convertible debt instruments.” 

This “removes structural overhang and directs financing solely to the growth of our operating businesses,” he said.

“With the credit card now live, the launch of an enterprise product, and a cleaner capital structure in place, 2026 is about scaling what we’ve built across customer acquisition, engagement, cross-sell, and retention.”Fold has been selling BitcoinDespite Reeves’ confidence for the remainder of 2026, Fold has nearly sliced its Bitcoin treasury in half. 

Its holdings, which stood at 1,527 BTC at the end of last year, have dropped to 827 BTC as of March 17.

FLD shares continue to slideThe Bitcoin selloff comes as Fold (FLD) shares have now fallen 59% so far in 2026 and 83.8% over the last 12 months, Google Finance data shows.

FLD rose in after-hours on Tuesday after its results came out, increasing 13.4% to $1.27. 

However, the company's shares then fell 4.46% on Wednesday, sending its share price back to $1.07.

FLD’s change in share price over the last 12 months. Source: Google Finance
Magazine: Big Questions: Can Bitcoin save you from the dreaded Cantillon Effect?

Cointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently. Read our Editorial Policy https://cointelegraph.com/editorial-policy

Leading cryptocurrencies plunged alongside stocks on Wednesday as the Federal Reserve said the escalating Middle East conflict could push inflation higher.

‘Extreme Fear’ ReturnsBitcoin dived below $71,000, reversing a rally that pushed it up to $76,000. Ethereum’s decline was steeper, pulling the second-largest cryptocurrency back to the $2,100 zone.

Over $450 million was liquidated from the cryptocurrency market over the past 24 hours, with $380 million in bullish long bets alone wiped out, according to Coinglass data.

Open interest in Bitcoin futures dipped 3.75% in the last 24 hours. However, derivatives traders on Binance bought this dip, opening more long positions versus shorts.

"Extreme Fear" sentiment returned to the market after a brief reprieve, according to the Crypto Fear & Greed Index.

Top Gainers (24 Hours) 

The global cryptocurrency market capitalization stood at $2.53 trillion, down 1.44% over the last 24 hours.

Stocks Slide Amid Inflation WorriesStocks pulled back sharply on Wednesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 768.11 points, or 1.63%, to end at 46,225.15. The S&P 500 dropped 1.36% to 6,624.70, while the tech-focused Nasdaq Composite slid 1.46% to end at 22,152.42.

New data supported Powell's statements. U.S. producer prices increased 0.7% month-over-month in February, compared to 0.5% in the previous month, and higher than market estimates of 0.3%

How Low Can BTC Go?Leading cryptocurrency analyst and trader Michael van de Poppe weighed in on Bitcoin's latest drop, identifying $69,000-$70,000 as critical support to make another run toward highs.

"If that doesn’t hold, I would assume we’ll see the $58,000-$60,000 lower boundaries tested again," the analyst added. “It’s not looking great for Bitcoin with this drop.”

The views were echoed by Rekt Capital, another widely followed analyst, who suggested Bitcoin's potential retest of the 200-week Exponential Moving Average at $68,200.

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The Algorand Foundation, the organization behind the Algorand layer-1 blockchain, said it had made the “difficult decision” to reduce its headcount by 25% on Wednesday, blaming the crypto slump and wider uncertainty.

“This decision was not taken lightly and is in response to the uncertain global macro environment as well as the broader downturn in crypto markets,” the Algorand Foundation said in an X post.

The Algorand Foundation said the affected employees were “best-in-class contributors” and described the decision as “incredibly tough,” adding that it would support staff through the transition.

“We believe that we now have a more sustainable alignment of Algorand Foundation resources with the protocol’s long-term business, technology, and ecosystem priorities,” the foundation added.

Algorand Foundation is gearing up for a big year aheadThe staff cuts come as the Algorand Foundation prepares for several milestones for the year ahead, including the next major release of its developer toolkit AlgoKit, the launch of the user-friendly Rocca Wallet, the development of a more robust commercial toolkit, and a focus on post-quantum security.

Source: Nik BougalisThe Algorand Foundation said in its roadmap progress report in December 2025 that it made “significant progress” toward greater decentralization, having increased Algorand’s (ALGO) online stake from approximately 1 billion to 2 billion ALGO in just over a year.

The crypto industry has a history of cutting staff during market downturns. Bitcoin (BTC) is trading at $71,067 — 44% below its October all-time high of $126,000 — after falling as low as $60,000 on Feb. 6, according to CoinMarketCap.

Bullish CEO Tom Farley recently predicted that the crypto sector could see more projects acquired by larger firms in the coming months, potentially leading to redundancies, layoffs, and internal restructuring.

Meanwhile, on Monday, blockchain data provider Messari announced a series of layoffs while its CEO, Eric Turner, stepped down to make way for the company’s “next phase” as an AI-first company. 

During the 2022 bear market, Coinbase reduced its workforce by around 18% as Bitcoin hit two-year lows near $21,000. Around the same time, Gemini, the trading platform founded by the Winklevoss twins, reportedly cut 10% of its staff amid the broader crypto slump.

More layoffs could follow if history repeats, with veteran trader Peter Brandt predicting the crypto market may not reach its bottom until the third quarter of this year. 

Magazine: Big Questions: Can Bitcoin save you from the dreaded Cantillon Effect?

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TL;DR:

Peter Brandt identifies two patterns: A bullish “horn” formation versus a potentially devastating “bear flag.” Critique of “Crypto-Cultists”: The veteran trader lashes out against the lack of flexibility and the one-way bias of BTC maximalists. Risk Scenario: If the price breaks the support of the ascending channel, an aggressive drop in the cryptocurrency’s valuation could be triggered. This Wednesday, Peter Brandt issued a warning to the Bitcoin community. The renowned analyst described two contradictory technical setups defining the pioneer crypto’s future, asserting that the market is at a turning point where flexibility will be more valuable than dogmatism.

Comment on Bitcoin
I am well aware that you cryptocultists cannot stand the idea of traders being flexible and not totally dogmatic like you, but Bitcoin is set up for me in two ways.
The horn is constructive
The flag is ugly
Take your pick
Opinions are a dime a dozen $BTC pic.twitter.com/ORFbiI5yo3

— Peter Brandt (@PeterLBrandt) March 18, 2026 From a technical perspective, Brandt highlights that the current consolidation within an ascending channel following a previous drop resembles a “bear flag.” This pattern typically precedes a bearish scenario if it fails to break upward with sufficient volume, putting the current market capitalization at risk.

Technical Flexibility vs. Market Sentiment On the other hand, the expert does not rule out an optimistic scenario through what he calls a “constructive horn.” This structure, which resembles a rounded bottom, suggests that selling pressure may have been exhausted, serving as a launching pad for a sustained bullish reversal in Bitcoin’s price.

However, the trading veteran underscored that “opinions are worth nothing” if they are not accompanied by proper risk management. In his message via X, he emphasized that professional traders must analyze charts as they develop, preparing for multiple outcomes rather than marrying a single narrative.

In an environment marked by persistent inflation and cautious Federal Reserve policies, Brandt’s warning resonates as a call for prudence. The resolution of these technical patterns will determine whether the asset initiates a new rally or, conversely, confirms the “ugly” pattern with a deep correction.

Bitcoin’s [BTC] has been trying to push higher again, but it’s not exactly a smooth ride. Some traders are starting to take profits, while new money is making its way into the market.

So right now, does Bitcoin have enough pace to break through, or is it about to slow down again?

STHs rush to lock in gains BTC’s recent push being hindered by short-term holders (STHs) cashing out early. According to analyst Darkfost, more than 48,000 BTC in profit was sent to exchanges in a single day; that’s a yearly high!

There are repeated spikes in profit-taking whenever the price attempts to climb, so there’s a clear pattern here.

Source: X Many traders aren’t fully convinced by the current rally. Instead of holding on for bigger gains, they’re using every bounce as an opportunity to exit or secure profits quickly.

Global happenings are increasing uncertainty, while risk appetite remains limited. This might be why STHs are rushing for the exit. This trend could continue to cap Bitcoin’s upside.

A crucial crossroads The next move for BTC may come down to the Bull Market Support Band. This is usually a support in strong uptrends. But in weaker or uncertain phases, it tends to flip into resistance.

That’s exactly what’s happened in past cycles. In both 2018 and 2022, Bitcoin failed multiple times to reclaim this band before moving lower.

Source: X Now, Bitcoin has already been rejected twice and is now heading toward a possible third test.

As it stands, resistance is near the $84K level. If price struggles again, this level could be a short-term ceiling or even a potential short opportunity.

Liquidity returns as capital flows turn positive Source: X While STHs sell into strength, the money is coming back. Recent data showed that ETF flows, DeFi (DAT) inflows, and stablecoin activity have all turned positive, with billions of dollars re-entering the crypto market.

Source: X Bitcoin ETF flows, after a period of outflows, have flipped back into the green. At the same time, there’s more liquidity waiting to be deployed.

Source: X These are early calls for confidence, even if it hasn’t shown in price yet.

Profit-taking is keeping Bitcoin in check, while new money is trying to push it higher. The next move likely depends on how BTC reacts near resistance.

Final Summary Bitcoin faces heavy resistance near $84K as 48,000+ BTC in profits hit exchanges. Billions in ETF and stablecoin inflows could help cause the next breakout.