Market Signal Briefing

Shares of Asahi Kasei Corp. (AHKSY - Free Report) have been struggling lately and have lost 14.8% over the past two weeks. However, a hammer chart pattern was formed in its last trading session, which could mean that the stock found support with bulls being able to counteract the bears. So, it could witness a trend reversal down the road.

The formation of a hammer pattern is considered a technical indication of nearing a bottom with likely subsiding of selling pressure. But this is not the only factor that makes a bullish case for the stock. On the fundamental side, strong agreement among Wall Street analysts in raising earnings estimates for this company enhances its prospects of a trend reversal.

Understanding Hammer Chart and the Technique to Trade ItThis is one of the popular price patterns in candlestick charting. A minor difference between the opening and closing prices forms a small candle body, and a higher difference between the low of the day and the open or close forms a long lower wick (or vertical line). The length of the lower wick being at least twice the length of the real body, the candle resembles a 'hammer.'

In simple terms, during a downtrend, with bears having absolute control, a stock usually opens lower compared to the previous day's close, and again closes lower. On the day the hammer pattern is formed, maintaining the downtrend, the stock makes a new low. However, after eventually finding support at the low of the day, some amount of buying interest emerges, pushing the stock up to close the session near or slightly above its opening price.

When it occurs at the bottom of a downtrend, this pattern signals that the bears might have lost control over the price. And, the success of bulls in stopping the price from falling further indicates a potential trend reversal.

Hammer candles can occur on any timeframe -- such as one-minute, daily, weekly -- and are utilized by both short-term as well as long-term investors.

Like every technical indicator, the hammer chart pattern has its limitations. Particularly, as the strength of a hammer depends on its placement on the chart, it should always be used in conjunction with other bullish indicators.

Here's What Increases the Odds of a Turnaround for AHKSYThere has been an upward trend in earnings estimate revisions for AHKSY lately, which can certainly be considered a bullish indicator on the fundamental side. That's because a positive trend in earnings estimate revisions usually translates into price appreciation in the near term.

Over the last 30 days, the consensus EPS estimate for the current year has increased 8.7%. What it means is that the sell-side analysts covering AHKSY are majorly in agreement that the company will report better earnings than they predicted earlier.

If this is not enough, you should note that AHKSY currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), which means it is in the top 20% of more than 4,000 stocks that we rank based on trends in earnings estimate revisions and EPS surprises. And stocks carrying a Zacks Rank #1 or 2 usually outperform the market. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .

Moreover, the Zacks Rank has proven to be an excellent timing indicator, helping investors identify precisely when a company's prospects are beginning to improve. So, for the shares of Asahi Kasei, a Zacks Rank of 2 is a more conclusive fundamental indication of a potential turnaround.

Ripple looks to expand crypto and payment services in BrazilThe blockchain firm is adding custody, payments and brokerage tools for digital asset management and tokenization as it plans to apply for regulatory approval from the central bank. Mar 17, 2026, 1:06 p.m.

Ripple, the payments-focused blockchain company closely associated with the XRP Ledger (XRP) network, is expanding its digital asset services in Brazil while preparing to apply for a license with the country’s central bank, a move that would place it under the nation’s new crypto framework.

The company said Tuesday it is rolling out a broader set of services that bundle cross-border payments, digital asset custody, brokerage and treasury tools. It said the combined offering targets banks and fintechs that want to move money across borders, hold crypto and manage liquidity in one system.

It said it also plans to apply for a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) license with the Central Bank of Brazil (BCB), in line with the country's crypto regulation.

"Latin America has always been a priority market for Ripple — not just because of the scale of the opportunity, but because Brazil has built one of the most advanced and forward-thinking financial ecosystems in the world," Monica Long, president at Ripple, said in a statement."

The firm said that several Brazilian firms already use Ripple’s payments network and crypto services. Banco Genial, for example, handles same-day U.S. dollar transfers, while Braza Bank uses the system for foreign exchange flows and issued a real-backed stablecoin on the XRP Ledger. Fintech Nomad and others use the network to shift funds between Brazil and the U.S. and settling in stablecoins.

Ripple is also pushing its custody product in the country, aimed at institutions that need secure storage tied to trading and tokenization. The firm said partners such as CRX and Justoken are using the setup to issue tokenized assets, including real-world assets like commodities.

The Brazil push comes as Ripple has been quickly expanding through acquisitions, building services around trading and digital asset infrastructure. That included the $1.25 billion purchase of prime brokerage Hidden Road and buying corporate treasury business GTreasury for $1 billion. The firm also issues a U.S. dollar stablecoin, the $1.5 billion RLUSD$0.9998, via its custody arm.

The firm said it has processed over 100 billion in transactions across its payments ecosystem. Recently, Ripple started a share buyback program that valued the the firm at $50 billion.

More For You

Mastercard agrees to buy stablecoin platform BVNK for up to $1.8 billion

48 minutes ago

Payments giant Mastercard moves to bridge fiat and crypto with $1.8 billion acquisition of the U.K. based stablecoin startup.

What to know:

Mastercard agreed to buy U.K.-based stablecoin infrastructure firm BVNK for as much as $1.8 billion.The deal is intended to link onchain stablecoin payments with Mastercard’s global network for cross-border transfers, remittances and business-to-business transactions.The acquisition, which follows failed talks between BVNK and Coinbase, underscores Mastercard’s broader push into digital assets amid rising stablecoin payment volumes and is expected to close by year-end pending regulatory approvals.

Recent geopolitical tensions have triggered sharp moves across global markets, with oil prices rising, the dollar strengthening, and equities facing pressure.

In contrast, Bitcoin has shown relative resilience, prompting fresh debate over its role during periods of macro uncertainty.

At the time of writing, the cryptocurrency is trading at around the $74,000 mark.

While correlations with risk assets remain strong, short-term divergences have emerged.

In this interview, Sonali Gupta, Senior Research Analyst at AMINA Bank, discusses the drivers behind Bitcoin’s recent outperformance, the impact of derivatives and institutional flows, and how evolving regulation, market cycles, and infrastructure developments could shape the trajectory of crypto markets in the months ahead.

Here are the edited excerpts:

Invezz: Over the past few weeks, markets have reacted sharply to geopolitical developments. How do you interpret what has happened across asset classes?

According to Gupta, the recent geopolitical escalation has had a clear impact on global markets, particularly through energy prices and currency movements.

“Bitcoin has risen in the last few weeks despite heightened global uncertainty,” she says.

The geopolitical shock, including attacks on regional oil infrastructure and disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, sent oil prices sharply higher before some stabilisation occurred after intervention from the International Energy Agency. Even after the retracement, oil prices remain significantly elevated.

“We know that strikes on oil refineries in the Gulf region and the closure of Strait of Hormuz have sent oil and gas prices to new highs.”

Higher oil prices and a stronger dollar have weighed on equities, but Bitcoin has held up comparatively well.

Gupta attributes part of this resilience to earlier market conditions.

A significant liquidation event in the first few months of the year flushed leverage out of the system, while derivatives positioning and expiring short positions also contributed to the recent move.

Invezz: Bitcoin is often said to trade like a high-risk tech stock. Yet recently it has diverged somewhat from equities. Why do you think that happened?

Gupta acknowledges that Bitcoin has historically shown strong correlation with equities.

“In my experience, I have seen that crypto correlates more with equity markets or higher risk beta stocks.”

Over shorter time frames, the correlation between crypto and equities can exceed 80%.

However, the relationship is not constant. During periods of geopolitical stress, crypto can temporarily diverge.

“Bitcoin is a much smaller asset class than gold… but we see crypto catching up to gold in periods of geopolitical stress as a safe haven hedge.”

She notes that such divergence tends to be temporary, but it highlights that Bitcoin’s market dynamics are still evolving as the asset class matures.

Invezz: Gold has not performed as strongly as some investors expected during this period. Why do you think Bitcoin has held up better?

Gupta attributes Bitcoin’s relative strength to several market-specific factors, particularly the earlier leverage flush and changing institutional positioning.

“The first is the leverage flush that happened in the month of February.”

Bitcoin is currently trading well below its previous peak, and significant selling pressure earlier in the year pushed key metrics to historically low levels.

One indicator she highlighted is the Coinbase Premium Index.

“The Coinbase Bitcoin Premium Index has been negative for weeks, and now I see it turning positive in the month of March.”

This shift suggests renewed demand from US-based buyers.

At the same time, profitability indicators across the Bitcoin network have fallen to levels last seen during the 2022 downturn.

“Bitcoin profitability is so low now… the monthly average profit signals are at levels last seen in 2022.”

Such conditions have historically coincided with potential market reversals.

Gupta also notes that institutional exposure to crypto remains relatively small.

“Bitcoin allocation of institutions towards crypto has been on average less than 5%.”

That limited allocation means macro shocks affect crypto markets less directly than traditional assets, even though price movements often occur simultaneously.

Invezz: Looking ahead, how could the market evolve depending on how the geopolitical situation develops?

Gupta says the key variable for markets remains uncertainty.

“Equities or risk markets hate uncertainty.”

If geopolitical tensions ease, several macro factors could shift simultaneously.

Oil prices would likely fall, the dollar could weaken, and expectations around interest rate cuts could return.

“The moment the conflict is near resolution, we will see an impact in declining oil prices, a weakening dollar… and a general risk-on sentiment.”

However, she emphasises that crypto markets also have internal catalysts independent of macro developments. One example is regulatory progress in the United States.

“For instance, the Clarity Act, which is being discussed in the United States market.”

The proposed legislation could change how certain digital assets are classified, potentially enabling broader institutional participation.

Such changes could significantly expand institutional demand for crypto through structured investment products.

Invezz: What do you see as the main catalysts that could drive crypto markets higher in the coming years?

Gupta believes the crypto market still follows a cyclical pattern.

“I am tempted to admit to the cyclical aspect of the cryptocurrency market… the four year cycles.”

Having entered the industry in 2017, she says she has observed multiple cycles and believes the pattern continues to influence investor sentiment.

Beyond cyclical factors, she sees infrastructure development as an important driver of the next phase of growth.

“More institutional exposure to cryptocurrencies… through the efforts of tokenization.”

Major financial institutions are increasingly exploring blockchain-based settlement systems and tokenized financial products.

Developments around tokenised stocks and digital asset infrastructure are already underway.

“We saw many infrastructure developments take shape in 2025.”

For Gupta, the next phase of the market may be less driven by speculation and more by integration with traditional financial systems.

“I think 2026 would be less sentiment-driven… rather more infrastructure-building.”

Invezz: ETF inflows into Bitcoin have been strong recently. What could be driving that trend?

Gupta says ETF flows are often linked to derivatives market dynamics rather than simple spot demand.

“Oftentimes… institutions invest into BTC spot ETFs more often to earn the positive funding rate in the derivatives markets.”

As derivatives markets grow larger than spot markets, institutional investors can use ETF exposure as part of broader trading strategies.

“And as we see more volumes in the derivatives market, we have seen inflows in the BTC spot ETFs as well.”

She believes this dynamic could trigger a short-term recovery rally but warns that volatility is likely to remain high.

“We remain in a highly volatile environment.”

Much of the exposure in the market now comes through structured products, derivatives, and yield strategies rather than direct spot purchases.

Invezz: Some critics continue to predict that Bitcoin could fall dramatically, even to $10,000 or $20,000. How do you respond to those views?

Gupta views such predictions as largely speculative.

“I would say that their reactions and their beliefs are more like memes or noise.”

She argues that there remains strong demand for Bitcoin at lower price levels, both from institutional investors and retail participants.

“I see a massive demand at lower levels from both institutional and retail markets.”

More broadly, she says most participants in the industry remain fundamentally optimistic about the asset class.

“You cannot be in this space unless you are biased or emotionally invested or absolutely bullish in the space.”

Invezz: Finally, what are your expectations for Bitcoin over the rest of the year?

Gupta believes the outlook for the year remains constructive.

“I think we will definitely be above $100k at the end of this year.”

While volatility is likely to continue, she sees a six-figure price level as a realistic outcome given the combination of institutional adoption, market cycles, and evolving infrastructure.

Sui (SUI) joined Uniswap (UNI) as an underperformer, declining 4% from Monday.

PEPE trades near $0.00000368, facing bearish pressure. The falling wedge pattern suggests a potential short-term bullish reversal is imminent.

PEPE is trading at around $0.00000368 at the time of writing, down roughly 9.41% over the last 24 hours. The price struggled to hold above $0.00000395 before sellers pushed it lower. Bearish pressure increased as support weakened, leading to a steady downward move. Lower highs continue forming, confirming short-term weakness in momentum. If $0.00000370 fails, the price may drop toward $0.00000350.

PEPE Eyes Bullish Breakout as Falling Wedge Signals Potential RallyThe PEPE/USDT 2-day chart, analyzed by Cryptorphic, shows price forming a Falling Wedge pattern, a classic bullish reversal setup. Current price sits at $0.00000401, approaching the upper wedge resistance, signaling potential upside if broken. The lower trendline has acted as strong support multiple times, indicating buyers are stepping in near lows. Recent candles suggest growing bullish momentum, hinting at a possible short-term trend reversal. 

Cryptorphic points out that the RSI indicator confirms a bullish divergence, bouncing from oversold levels while the price made lower lows. A breakout above $0.00000478 could trigger further gains, attracting more buyers and increasing market attention. Traders should watch the trendline closely, as breaking this wedge could accelerate PEPE’s rally, potentially reversing the broader downtrend. Volume and momentum in the coming sessions will be key to confirming the move.

PEPE Nears $0.0000198 Target as Falling Wedge Breakout LoomsMeanwhile, according to analyst AvatardOnXRPL, PEPE is compressing within a falling wedge, showing weakening selling pressure. The price is hovering near $0.0000038, close to the wedge apex, where breakouts often occur. The structure reflects tightening lower highs and lower lows, signaling a potential shift in momentum. A breakout above the descending resistance could trigger a strong bullish reversal.

The projected breakout target sits near $0.0000198, suggesting significant upside potential if momentum builds. Volume contraction supports the expectation of an imminent volatility spike. If buyers step in with strength, price could transition quickly into an aggressive rally phase. However, failure to break upward may keep the price consolidating along support before another breakout attempt.

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Newton Gitonga covers cryptocurrencies, blockchain, and digital finance. He specializes in breaking down complex trends with clear, data-driven reporting. His work focuses on market analysis, technical insights, and the evolving role of altcoins in shaping global markets.

Zcash price shot up over 25% on Tuesday, outpacing the broader crypto market and taking the spot of the leading gainer of the day.

Summary

Zcash price surged over 25%, becoming the top gainer of the day after confirming a multi-month falling wedge breakout on the daily chart. Technical indicators, including a bullish MACD crossover and a green Supertrend, signal strengthening upward momentum. On-chain fundamentals remain strong as shielded pool liquidity hit a record high, and the network hashrate reached a new all-time peak. According to data from crypto.news, Zcash (ZEC) price briefly hit a daily high of $288.12 on March 17, bringing its market cap to over $4.78 billion. Trading at $273 at press time, the privacy token still remains 34% higher than its weekly low and 41% above its lowest level this month.

Zcash’s sharp surge appears to have been fueled by investor interest after the privacy token’s price confirmed a multi-month falling wedge breakout on the daily chart.

Zcash price has confirmed a breakout from a symmetrical triangle pattern on the daily chart — March 17 | Source: crypto.news Falling wedges are formed with two descending and converging trendlines, and a confirmed breakout from the upper trendline of the pattern has historically served as the precursor to sustained rallies over subsequent sessions.

Other technical indicators appear to support a potential bullish outlook for the token. Notably, the Supertrend has flipped green, which occurs when the price closes above the volatility-based resistance level, signaling that the short-term trend has shifted back to the buyers.

At the same time, the MACD lines have also formed a bullish crossover and are on the verge of moving above the zero line. When such a move occurs, it means that the positive momentum is accelerating and the asset is entering a more aggressive bullish phase.

As such, Zcash price eyes a rally to $318 next, a target that aligns with the 23.6% Fibonacci retracement level. If bullish momentum lasts, bulls could push the price toward $400, where the next key psychological resistance lies.

Bullish catalysts for Zcash price Zcash has several bullish catalysts lined up that could help it sustain its uptrend.

First, the total amount of ZEC held in shielded pools has hit a new record high of $5.15 billion in March, a figure that equals 31% of the total circulating supply. A jump in shielded liquidity suggests that a greater number of holders are now using Zcash’s core privacy features, which translates to genuine utility and more demand for the token.

Second, Zcash’s hashrate surged to a new all-time high this month. A stronger hashrate means greater involvement of the mining community, likely fueled by expectations of higher profits as the privacy token gains traction in the coming weeks.

Furthermore, investor appeal for the token increased after the Zcash Open Development Lab managed to raise millions from key backers such as Paradigm and a16z. This influx of capital is calming investor doubts that emerged earlier this year after a core part of the development team staged a mass resignation, which had briefly cast a shadow over the future of the project.

Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only.

Ripple accelerates a sweeping expansion across Brazil's financial system, positioning itself at the center of institutional crypto infrastructure as demand surges for faster payments, tokenization, and dollar-backed assets in Latin America.

Author of The Bitcoin Standard, Saifedean Ammous, believes that fiat is the central problem plaguing society. "The 20th century is just an enormous amount of wealth being taken away from people who produced it and being sent to the meat grinder of war. And this is what fiat does," he told Cointelegraph.

"If you take that away, we get a lot less murder and death, and then we get a lot more prosperity, productivity and a lot more wealth.”

In his latest book, The Gold Standard, he explores this very concept. What if the civil, political and social upheavals of World War One never happened? What if a new, decentralized form of money took hold, soon after the war began in 1915?

In our timeline, the four-year war destroyed Europe, exacting a death toll that exceeded 40 million across 30 participant countries. The war sparked revolutions across Europe. By the time the dust settled, the imperial houses of Habsburg, Romanov and Hohenzollern ruled no more. The Ottoman Empire descended into a civil war.

The English class system was challenged, and women in the UK gained the vote. New, independent nations like Finland, Poland, Georgia, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia emerged. Novel political movements like communism and fascism gained popularity amid the catastrophic economic fallout.

The assassination of Archduke Ferdinand, a key catalyst of WWI, as depicted in an Italian newspaper. Source: Wikimedia CommonsThe central thesis of The Gold Standard is that these outcomes of the war were ultimately a result of the fiat banking system. Ammous imagined a world in 1915, just after the Great War broke out, where a decentralized, immutable system of value transfer with gold was invented.

How could it change the course of human history for the better?

Gold, planes and central bankingThe Gold Standard begins by setting the political chessboard at the end of the Belle Epoque, the extended period of prosperous but armed peace in Europe from 1871 to 1915.

Ammous describes the political boundaries within Europe and the rise of central banks. Chiefly, he describes how the solidity of the traditional gold standard “had a major problem that prevented it from functioning optimally in its ideal form: the incessant extension of bank credit without corresponding savings.”

In Ammous’ account, a combination of imperial ambitions, poor decision making from politicians, and irresponsible monetary policies allowed the powers of Europe to sleepwalk into the First World War. 

In 1915, the alternate history starts with a real-life hero: French aviator Louis Blériot. In The Gold Standard, Blériot realizes the pernicious power that central banks pose to the world, and partners with the American Wright brothers to found the Blériot Transport Corporation (BTC). 

They create a fleet of ingenious planes that, piloted by early aviation pioneers of the time, deliver gold from point to point. 

“The automobile and aviation industries traded with one another across international borders without having to resort to central banks. As the war raged on and more restrictions were imposed on withdrawing gold, demand steadily increased. Old money became anxious about the banking system. They increasingly demanded that gold be kept on hand and wished to rely on BTC for trade. Most important, perhaps, was that BTC had freed people from having to turn in all their gold to the banks in response to their governments’ pleas.”

This eventually leads to a capital flight which, combined with other circumstances, emptied the belligerent countries’ central bank vaults of all their gold reserves. With countries increasingly unable to finance the war, generals begin to pull back their troops. By early 1915, the guns are silent, the trenches are empty, and peace breaks out in Europe. 

Blériot built the Blériot V canard monoplane in 1907. Source: Wikimedia CommonsThe end of the war is codified in the “Treaty of Geneva” and the establishment of the International Committee for Self-­Determination (ICSD).

The enduring peace, enabled by a worldwide, immutable gold standard, then leads to unprecedented prosperity in the 20th century. This leads to a massive appreciation in gold value, or “hypergoldenization.” 

The form of a governance-for-hire corporate government emerges:

“The tribal considerations of nationality, ethnicity, and religion became increasingly separated from government, and people pragmatically chose to live under the governments that provided them security and services at the lowest cost.”Without central banks to finance them, and with a conflict resolution framework in the form of the ICSD, wars are far more difficult and expensive to wage. 

The prosperity of the gold standard has also eliminated some historical events, economic and natural phenomena that we take for granted, including the rise of socialism, World War II, depressions, climate change, “fiat food” and unemployment. 

The book concludes with an accounting of an average day in the life of the Smith family in London in this brave new world.

“Comfort is taken for granted, and prosperity is ordinary. Technology shortens chores, meat is plentiful and affordable, travel is fast, and energy is so abundant that they barely think about it.”From gold bug to Bitcoin to the trenchesAmmous first became immersed in Austrian economics in 2007, “and by 2008 I would have pretty much called myself an Austrian,” he told Cointelegraph.

Initially, he was a gold bug. “I already had a good grasp of the problems of inflation, the problems of fiat. And I was hanging out on the parts of the internet where Austrian economics nerds discuss these things. At that point, it was a lot smaller than what it is now.”

It was here that he first came across Bitcoin in the context of “sound money” or “hard money.” He wasn't sold on the concept until 2014, after reading about Bitcoin mining. Soon after, he wrote the best-selling book The Bitcoin Standard.

The Gold Standard, his latest, departs from his usual format by depicting a twist on modern history's most pivotal event.

Source: Saifedean.com“I've always been so fascinated by World War I. It's always been the most fascinating historical thing for me,” Saifedean Ammous said. “If you think about World War One, you'll see World War Two is essentially just the continuation of the same war. But really, the turning point was World War One.”

The central thesis of the book is that the evils of the war, along with the concomitant social and political changes, were ultimately a result of the fiat banking system. Once rendered ineffective by “BTC,” the course of human history changes.

But creating a credible alternative history isn’t really easy.  Ammous said he wanted to make it “so that it isn't just a pink unicorn” where “world peace breaks out.” He wanted it to be “tenable, believable, credible” that allows the reader to “think in an accurate way about the implications [...] in a useful way and a more robust way.” 

Creating this new form of monetary transfers was necessary because “the world isn't going to really change much. Not if there was no war. Then we're going to continue in the same way.”

Alternative histories are trickyDespite the clear depth of research that went into the book, some of the historical turns strain credulity. 

In the book, Blériot and the Wright brothers’ 1911 airplane prototype, the Lightning, was capable of reaching speeds of 280 km/h with a range of 1,400. This is an over threefold increase in airspeed from Blériot’s record-breaking crossing of the English Channel just two years prior, where he averaged around 80 km/h. 

The speed and range of the planes that comprise “BTC’s” fleet far outstrip anything that would be made until the mid-to-late 1930s, making them something of a Deus Ex Machina for the new monetary system.

The Blériot XI airplane with which the aviator crossed the English Channel in 1909. Source: Bain News ServiceIn chapter 10, as the “BTC”-induced capital flight drains resources from governments to pay their armies, the trenches simply empty as soldiers peacefully desert and go home. History before WWI is riddled with examples of armies going without pay, but they are frequently accompanied by mutiny, looting, pillaging, and, in the more dramatic cases, the sacking of entire cities. 

As the generals empty the trenches, Ammous removes some of the belligerent leaders of the war from office. In the cases of Tsar Nicholas II and Kaiser Wilhelm II, this happens through murder. Nicholas II is shot by his cousin Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolaevich and replaced by his brother Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich. The Kaiser is stabbed in the back by his son, the Crown Prince Wilhelm. 

Both of these resolve without so much as a word of protest. World history is absolutely littered with wars of succession after the murder or death of a monarch. It is difficult to imagine the lack of one here, on a continent just recently at war, with a mass of soldiers missing their pay. 

Furthermore, the extrapolations into the future are necessarily uncertain, as no one has a crystal ball. Still, some of them, like the idea that climate change would not happen, or that we would all eat more beef, seem fairly heterodox. 

Ultimately, the book is “a different way of imparting the fundamental lessons of my three other books,” per Ammous. He said that some people prefer to think in terms of “fiction, in terms of thought experiments, in terms of hypotheticals,” which was a different approach than his first two books.

WWI also provided a unique example, “because we need to know how the world went off the rails” and envision what could have been.

“If that money is kept, then people will save it, they will accumulate capital. Then the world becomes more capital abundant. We have more capital. Capital becomes cheaper. People are able to invest more. They're able to save more. They're able to grow more. And so you put all of these things together and then you have an amazing world and it's just a very different world,” Ammous told Cointelegraph.

Magazine: All 21 million Bitcoin is at risk from quantum computers

Cointelegraph Features publishes long-form journalism, analysis, and narrative reporting produced by Cointelegraph’s in-house editorial team with subject-matter expertise. All articles are edited and reviewed by Cointelegraph editors in line with our editorial standards. Research or perspective in this article does not reflect the views of Cointelegraph as a company unless explicitly stated. Content published in Features does not constitute financial, legal, or investment advice. Readers should conduct their own research and consult qualified professionals where appropriate. Cointelegraph maintains full editorial independence. The selection, commissioning, and publication of Features and Magazine content are not influenced by advertisers, partners, or commercial relationships. This content is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy.

Bitcoin is playing out a price movement that has convinced many traders that October 2025 was the cycle peak. However, an interesting technical analysis shows that the market structure still does not look complete. Analyst CryptoAmsterdam made the case that Bitcoin is moving through a temporary correction inside a much larger phase. If that reading is correct, then Bitcoin could still stage a stronger rally than previous bull markets.

Bitcoin May Still Be Inside An Unfinished Macro Bull Cycle Every major Bitcoin bull run has followed a recognizable five-stage sequence: a bull phase, a bear phase, accumulation below the macro range, a disbelief rally back into range, and finally a parabolic move into new all-time highs. This structure has held across the 2013, 2017, and 2021 cycles, each one completing all five stages within roughly a four-year window. The current cycle has not.

According to CryptoAmsterdam’s analysis, Bitcoin reached a new peak without delivering the characteristic Stage 5 parabolic expansion. The chart comparisons he shared by plotting Bitcoin’s weekly price action against prior cycles show that the 2013, 2017, and 2021 cycles each measured approximately 1,456 to 1,477 days from trough to peak, with Stage 5 accounting for the most explosive price movement in each case.

That phase, however, appears structurally absent in the current cycle. Price action has entered a corrective period since the peak at $126,000, but the cycle framework, by this reading, is still open.

Price Chart Comparison. Source: @damskotrades On X

The technical analysis also shows that price action can look weak on a shorter time frame and still remain bullish on a much larger one. That is where Bitcoin appears to be sitting now. The chart setup shows the recent correction is only a mini-cycle correction forming inside a broader macro continuation.

This reading becomes more interesting when placed beside gold and Alphabet. In both examples, price also advanced within a larger macro cycle, paused for a mid-cycle correction, and then resumed higher once that smaller reset was complete. 

According to CryptoAmsterdam, Bitcoin could now be doing something similar. If the reading is correct, then Bitcoin’s current price action is Stage 3 of a mini-cycle nested within the larger Stage 5 of that macrocycle. Therefore, the parabolic phase would still be ahead.

Gold And Alphabet Inc. Source: @damskotrades On X

Possibility Of A New Price High Another reason for a stronger rally is Bitcoin’s tendency to lag other assets. Over the last several years, Bitcoin has often printed macro structures similar to large-cap stocks, only with a delay that can stretch into hundreds of days. That makes Bitcoin look less like the leader of the cycle and more like the final participant.

Notably, technical analysis shows that gold has always bottomed well before Bitcoin did. For instance, Bitcoin moved higher during gold’s advance in the previous cycle in 2021 but underwent an entire mini-cycle correction while gold was trending straight up. Only when gold completed and topped its parabolic rally did Bitcoin take over into a vertical move, as shown in the chart below.

Gold And BTC. Source: @damskotrades On X

The next outlook now is that Bitcoin will continue its larger Stage 5 move like we saw with Gold and Google (Alphabet Inc.). The projected move is expected to push the Bitcoin price into macro cycle highs above $200,000.

BTC bulls pushing to hold $74,000 | Source: BTCUSD on Tradingview.com Featured image created with Dall.E, chart from Tradingview.com

Payments giant PayPal is expanding access to its US-dollar stablecoin, PayPal USD, adding 68 more markets globally in its latest stablecoin push.

PayPal USD (PYUSD) will be made available to customers in 70 countries worldwide in March, allowing them to receive, hold and send the stablecoin, the company announced Tuesday.

With the expansion, PYUSD is now available to users with PayPal accounts across multiple regions, including the Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America and North America. Previously, only customers in the United States and the United Kingdom could hold the stablecoin.

“Enabling PYUSD in users’ accounts across 70 markets gives people faster access to their funds, lower-cost ways to send money across borders, and a more direct path to participating in the global economy,” PayPal head of crypto May Zabaneh said.

Expansion unlocks “balance-type concept” with rewardsAlongside enabling PYUSD transactions, users in newly supported markets can earn rewards on their stablecoin holdings. The expansion supports transactions to third-party digital wallets, the announcement states.

Currently, PayPal users in select countries such as Peru can only withdraw money from their accounts in their country’s native currency, which carries cross-border fees. After the update, users will be able to send, receive and keep funds in US dollars and reduce transfer fees, Zabaneh told Fortune in an interview.

Some countries, such as Malawi, don’t allow users to keep transfers in their PayPal wallets, essentially forcing all funds to be immediately sent to the recipient’s bank account. With PYUSD access, users will be able to keep that money in their PayPal wallets.

“It unlocks a balance-type concept in these accounts and an earnings concept,” Zabaneh said.

PYUSD is issued by Paxos, PayPal distributesThe expansion comes nearly three years after PayPal launched its PYUSD stablecoin in collaboration with the issuer Paxos Trust in August 2023.

The stablecoin has emerged as one of the largest USD-pegged stablecoins worldwide, ranking as the seventh-largest with a market capitalization of around $4.1 billion, according to CoinGecko.

Top eight USD-pegged stablecoins by market capitalization. Source. CoinGeckoPYUSD saw significant growth in 2025, with its market cap rising 600% from around $500 million in early 2025 to $3.6 billion by the end of the year.

Cointelegraph contacted PayPal for comment about the expansion, but had not received a response by publication.

Magazine: CLARITY Act risks repeat of Europe’s mistakes, crypto lawyer warns

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

XRP (CRYPTO: XRP) is up 9% in a week as rising network activity and expanding partnerships fuel bullish momentum.

Trader Notes: Crypto chart analyst Ali Martinez noted XRP is breaking out of a triangle pattern, a structure often associated with strong directional moves. If the breakout holds, technical projections suggest a potential move toward $1.85.

Statistics: Santiment shows XRP adoption continuing to accelerate.

Total holders surpassed 7.7 million for the first time, active addresses surged to 46,767, a 5-week high on Mar. 16. Price jumped 14% in 48 hours, breaking above the $1.60 level.

This combination of rising user activity and price strength points to growing network engagement, often a key driver of sustained rallies.

According to SoSoValue, XRP ETFs recorded a net outflow of around $6 million on Mar. 16.

Despite the short-term outflow, cumulative net inflows remain strong at approximately $1.20 billion, indicating continued institutional interest.

Community News: Ripple continues to build out its ecosystem and real-world use cases as Ripple Payments now enables instant cross-border payouts into the U.S. and Canada, reducing settlement times from days to seconds.

The company also announced expansion into Brazil, aiming to offer a full suite of institutional crypto services, including custody, payments, and treasury solutions.

Growth efforts include partnerships with local banks and fintech's, alongside increasing adoption of its stablecoin RLUSD.

Overall, rising adoption, improving infrastructure, and technical breakout signals are positioning XRP as one of the stronger performers in the current market cycle.

Image: Shutterstock

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TL;DR

Bitcoin flows: Bitcoin ETF inflows hit $199.40 million, led by BlackRock and Fidelity, reinforcing a multi‑day recovery in institutional demand. Market backdrop: Bitcoin hovered below $75,000 after a brief breakout, with technical factors shaping trading behavior and influencing Bitcoin ETF positioning across U.S. funds. Broader ETF activity: Ethereum and several altcoin ETFs posted positive flows, and BlackRock’s new staking‑enabled ETH product added momentum, highlighting expanding institutional interest beyond the Bitcoin ETF segment.
The latest data shows institutional capital returning to crypto, with Bitcoin ETF activity driving most of the momentum. U.S. spot cryptocurrency ETFs recorded $232.86 million in net inflows on March 16, and nearly all of it centered on renewed demand for Bitcoin. The shift comes during a volatile stretch for the asset, which briefly pushed above $75,000 before pulling back, creating a sensitive trading range that investors continue to watch closely.

Institutional Flows Concentrate Around Bitcoin Bitcoin ETF inflows reached $199.40 million on the day, supported by 2,740 BTC added across U.S. funds. BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust purchased 1,920 BTC worth $139.40 million, and Fidelity added 886 BTC for $64.50 million. Together, they absorbed nearly the entire Bitcoin ETF volume. The move aligns with a broader recovery trend seen across recent sessions, where steady inflows have replaced the hesitation that dominated earlier in the year.

Market Conditions Shape Investor Behavior Bitcoin traded just under $75,000 after touching a six-week high, with analysts pointing to the closing of large bearish put positions as a key driver of the brief surge. The range remains technically delicate. A decisive move above $75,000 could open a path toward $80,000, though failure to hold momentum may send the asset back into its early February range. These dynamics continue to influence Bitcoin ETF positioning, as institutions respond to shifting liquidity and sentiment.

Ethereum and Altcoin ETFs Join the Rebound Ethereum ETFs added 16,485 ETH worth $35.90 million, supported by allocations from BlackRock and Fidelity, though partially offset by Grayscale selling roughly 7,000 ETH. Smaller products tracking Solana, Chainlink, and Avalanche also recorded positive flows. XRP was the exception, posting a $5.98 million outflow. Altcoin ETF activity remains thin, and even modest trades can create noticeable percentage swings, though the broader trend still reflects improving appetite.

Staking Products and Expanding ETF Demand A key development for Ethereum arrived on March 12 with BlackRock’s launch of the iShares Staked Ethereum Trust, offering approximately 3.1% APY. The product introduces yield to ETF‑based ETH exposure, giving institutions a new incentive structure. Its success will depend on regulatory interpretation and risk tolerance among allocators, yet its arrival signals that major asset managers are expanding beyond the Bitcoin ETF market and deepening their commitment to the sector.

PayPal is expanding access to its U.S. dollar-pegged stablecoin to customers in 70 markets, the company announced Tuesday. Users in newly supported regions, including Colombia, Costa Rica, Peru, and Singapore, can now buy, hold, send, and receive PayPal USD (PYUSD) directly in their PayPal accounts.

Eligible users in the newly added regions can earn rewards on their PYUSD holdings, though the company noted that rewards are not available to users in Singapore or the UK. PYUSD will only be available to business account holders in Singapore, according to a statement. 

PYUSD was launched in the U.S. in the summer of 2023 following a brief pause tied to regulatory scrutiny of its issuance partner, Paxos Trust Co. The stablecoin was initially issued on Ethereum before expanding to additional networks, including Tron, Avalanche, and Sei via LayerZero in September. Prior to the latest expansion, only users in the U.S. could hold the token directly in PayPal wallets, with the UK added later.

Under the new rollout, users in markets such as Colombia and Peru can access the stablecoin to facilitate cross-border transfers. The company said the stablecoin enables faster settlement and lower costs compared to traditional payment methods. Businesses accepting PYUSD can access proceeds within minutes rather than days or weeks, according to the firm.

"Enabling PYUSD in users' accounts across 70 markets gives people faster access to their funds, lower-cost ways to send money across borders, and a more direct path to participating in the global economy." May Zabaneh, senior vice president and general manager of crypto at PayPal, said in the statement. 

PYUSD growth  The geographic expansion comes as PYUSD’s market capitalization has risen to $4.12 billion, up from about $1 billion in August, a roughly fourfold increase over that period, according to The Block’s data dashboard.

The token's supply has grown amid broader expansion in the stablecoin sector and as PayPal has integrated PYUSD into new business verticals. Last year, the company enabled U.S.-based YouTube creators to receive payouts in PYUSD through its Hyperwallet infrastructure. 

In March, Coinbase and Paxos used USDC and PYUSD, respectively, to settle insurance premiums with Aon, marking a pilot for stablecoin-based payments at a global broker operating in more than 120 countries. Trade finance provider TCS Blockchain has also used PYUSD to support same-day funding and onchain settlement for trucking invoices.

Despite the growth, PYUSD remains a small share of the dollar-pegged stablecoin market. Total supply stands at around $298.4 billion, with USDT accounting for about $184 billion and USDC nearly $80 billion.

Disclaimer: The Block is an independent media outlet that delivers news, research, and data. As of November 2023, Foresight Ventures is a majority investor of The Block. Foresight Ventures invests in other companies in the crypto space. Crypto exchange Bitget is an anchor LP for Foresight Ventures. The Block continues to operate independently to deliver objective, impactful, and timely information about the crypto industry. Here are our current financial disclosures.

© 2026 The Block. All Rights Reserved. This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

Morning Minute is a daily newsletter written by Tyler Warner. The analysis and opinions expressed are his own and do not necessarily reflect those of Decrypt. And check out our new daily news show covering all of the top stories in 5 minutes or less, downloadable on Apple Pod or Spotify.

₿ Strategy’s $1.58B Buy Pushes BTC to $75kStrategy disclosed its largest Bitcoin purchase of 2026 on Monday, buying 22,337 BTC for $1.57B between March 9 and March 15 at an average price of $70,194 per coin.

The company said the purchase was funded through a mix of capital raised from its common stock ATM and its STRC preferred shares, with STRC accounting for a whopping $1.18B (75%).

As of March 15, Strategy held 761,068 BTC acquired for about $57.61 billion at an average cost basis of $75,696 per Bitcoin.

Bitcoin rallied to $75,500+ in late night trading Monday before reversing this morning, now back at $73.9k.

On the Ethereum side, Tom Lee’s BitMine also kept buying. The company added 60,999 ETH ($138M) over the past week, bringing its total holdings to about 4.596 million ETH. That puts BitMine at roughly 4% of Ethereum’s circulating supply, extending its lead as the largest ETH treasury firm.

ETH jumped as high as $2,360 on Monday in the wake, now at $2,330 this morning.

Key Details

• Strategy’s latest purchase was its biggest BTC buy of 2026 so far
• The purchase was funded ~75% through STRC preferred-share issuance
• BitMine added 60,999 ETH in one week and now holds about 4.596M ETH

🛠 Vitalik Keeps Sketching Ethereum’s Future, Now With Easier NodesVitalik Buterin said running an Ethereum node should be less like “rocket science,” highlighting a new unified client effort from the Nimbus team aimed at simplifying the process.

Vitalik wants the node experience to become far less technical, reducing the configuration and maintenance burden for users who want to participate directly in the network.

The comment fits a broader pattern from Buterin over the past several months. He has increasingly been speaking in public not just about Ethereum’s immediate technical roadmap, but about the network’s long-term shape - how it should feel to use, how decentralization should work in practice, their focus on privacy and censorship resistance, and what participation in Ethereum should look like for normal users rather than just power users.

Key Details

• Buterin specifically praised Nimbus’ unified client approach as a step toward easier node operation.
• The goal is to simplify running both execution and consensus software so node participation is more accessible.
• The node comments land as part of a wider stretch of Buterin publicly outlining how he wants Ethereum’s future architecture and usability to evolve.

💵 Circle Has Doubled in a Month as Stablecoins Become the TradeCircle stock is up roughly 100% over the past month, making it one of the strongest public-market trades in crypto.

Analyst credit the rally to a mix of higher-for-longer rates, geopolitical tension, oil-driven macro uncertainty, and growing investor interest in stablecoin-linked earnings.

The bullish setup also lines up with comments from Stanley Druckenmiller, who told Morgan Stanley that he assumes “our whole payments systems will be stablecoins in 10 or 15 years.”

Mizuho added another important data point last week: USDC has done about $2.2 trillion in adjusted transaction volume year-to-date, versus roughly $1.3 trillion for USDT. That is the first time since 2019 that USDC has overtaken USDT on that adjusted basis.

Key Details

• CoinDesk tied Circle’s rally to stablecoin growth plus a macro backdrop that favors reserve-income businesses.
• Druckenmiller said he expects stablecoins to become central to payments over the next 10 to 15 years.
• Mizuho said USDC reached about $2.2T in adjusted YTD volume versus $1.3T for USDT.

🏀 Kalshi Is Running a $1B March Madness Bracket ContestYesterday, Kalshi launched a March Madness bracket challenge with a headline prize of $1 billion for a perfect bracket.

According to Kalshi’s official rules, entries opened on March 16 and lock on March 19 before the first first-round game.

SIG Parametrics (a member of Susquehanna) is financially backing this promotion.

If you’re wondering about the odds of hitting a perfect bracket - well they’re 1 in 9.2 quintillion. So Kalshi and SIG aren’t sweating it too much (especially with the 10M entry cap).

Kalshi says it will award $1 million to the highest-scoring bracket instead if no one submits a perfect bracket.

Key Details

Grand prize: $1B for a perfect bracket. Odds of a perfect bracket: 1 in 9.2 quintillion Backup prize: $1M for the highest-scoring bracket if nobody is perfect. The $1 Billion Kalshi Perfect Bracket Challenge

$1 Billion for a perfect bracket
$1 Million guaranteed to the top scoring bracket
$1 Million to charity and scholarships

See the full rules and submit your bracket: https://t.co/VMEZInpNUE

No purchase or deposit required. SIG… pic.twitter.com/5UPohB8wTC

— Kalshi (@Kalshi) March 16, 2026

🌊 OpenSea Delays SEA AirdropOpenSea is delaying the launch of its SEA token and its airdrop, pushing back plans that had been tied to its March 30 event.

In his public statement, CEO Devin Finzer said the company decided not to force the original date because “market conditions are challenging across crypto right now” and because SEA “only launches once.” He said OpenSea wanted to make sure every part of the launch was in place rather than rush it under weak conditions.

Finzer also laid out several changes for users:

The current rewards wave will be the last OpenSea will offer optional fee refunds for platform fees retained during reward waves 3 through 6 Users who opt for a refund will have the related Treasures removed from their account. He also said existing Treasures will still be “meaningfully considered” at TGE, and that OpenSea will cut its own token trading fees to 0% for 60 days starting March 31.

Those changes are meant to address the delay while keeping users on the platform as OpenSea continues pushing OS2, cross-chain token trading, mobile, and perps.

Key Details

• Finzer said OpenSea chose not to force the March 30 timing because crypto market conditions are weak and SEA “only launches once.”
• No more reward waves beyond the current one and users in waves 3–6 can request optional fee refunds.
• OpenSea will set its own token trading fees to 0% for 60 days starting March 31.

🌎 Macro Crypto and Markets Crypto majors are slightly green but falling from local highs; BTC -0.4% at $73.7k; ETH +2% at $2,330; SOL even at $94 ZEC (+14%), FET (+4%) and KAS (+6%) led top movers HYPE passed $40 yesterday for the first time since November, now at $41 Oil is at $96 but rebounding after another tanker struck in the Strait of Hormuz; GOLD flat at $5,000 BlockFills filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Delaware after a court froze its Bitcoin tied to a creditor dispute Abra Financial Holdings is going public via SPAC at a $750M valuation, listing on Nasdaq as ABRX; Abra pitches itself as the first publicly traded SEC-registered digital asset RIA with a target of $10B+ AUM by 2027 Corporate Treasuries & ETFs

The Bitcoin ETFs saw $199.4M in net inflows on Monday; the ETH ETFs had $35.9M in inflows Meme Coin Tracker

Meme majors were mostly red; DOGE -2%, SHIB -2%, PEPE -8%, TRUMP -4%, PENGU -3%, SPX +1%, FARTCOIN +6% PUNCH (+50%), testicle (+33%) and Surge (+23%) led top onchain movers 💰 Token, Airdrop & Protocol Tracker World Liberty Financial put a $5.3M price tag on "guaranteed access" to its leadership team via a new super node tier, where interested holders can stake 50M WLFI tokens for 180 days The Messari CEO stepped down amidst broader layoffs and pivot to AI focus Ironlight raised $21M to expand its marketplace for tokenized securities USDAI announced allocations for its ICO, with airdrop live and refunds available A Buenos Aires court has ordered access to Polymarket blocked in all of Argentina after an investigation from the city’s gambling prosecution office 🚚 What is happening in NFTs? NFT leaders were mixed; Punks +3% at 29.1 ETH, Pudgy -1% at 4.27 ETH, BAYC -1% at 5.32 ETH; Hypurr’s -6% at 410 HYPE Mocaverse (+6%) led notable movers OpenSea announced an indefinite delay in SEA, along with refunds for the past 3 farming waves and 0 fees starting March 31 for 60 days

MONTREAL, March 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Volatus Aerospace Inc. (TSXV: FLT) (OTCQB: TAKOF) (FSE: ABB.F) (“Volatus” or the “Company”), a Canadian aerospace and defence company delivering integrated uncrewed systems and mission-critical operational services, today announced it has been approved for non-dilutive funding support of up to $320,000 from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP).

The funding supports development activities related to the Volatus Condor XL heavy-lift uncrewed aerial system, including avionics architecture development, autonomy integration, and flight validation activities supporting future commercial and government applications. The project also supports Volatus’ long-term strategy to expand sovereign Canadian capabilities in autonomous aerospace systems and next-generation aerial logistics platforms.

Glen Lynch, Chief Executive Officer of Volatus Aerospace, commented, “Last week, the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) announced over $900 million in funding over five years under the Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) to bolster the Defence Industrial Strategy, focusing on domestic R&D and dual-use technologies. Today, we are pleased to acknowledge the financial contribution of the Government of Canada through NRC-IRAP. This support helps advance Canadian innovation in autonomous aerial systems and aligns with our strategy to build domestic capabilities in dual-use aerospace technologies.”

The Condor XL platform is being developed to support heavy-lift logistics, infrastructure support, emergency response, and government applications requiring runway-independent cargo delivery capabilities. The project is expected to run through early 2027 and supports Volatus’ ongoing investments in Canadian engineering and advanced aerospace development. The Company expects the initiative to contribute to domestic innovation capacity and support high-value technical employment in Canada.

Government Support Acknowledgement

This project is supported by the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP). Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the Company and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Research Council of Canada.

About Volatus Aerospace

Volatus Aerospace Inc. is a Canadian-based global aerospace and defence company delivering crewed and uncrewed aerial systems, manufacturing, advanced autonomy capabilities, and mission-critical operational services. The Company provides aerial intelligence, inspection, logistics, surveillance, training, and autonomous aerial solutions supporting infrastructure, energy, public safety, healthcare, and government operations.

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs, and current expectations of the Company with respect to future business activities, events, developments and operating performance. Often, but not always, forward-looking information and forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", “seeks”, “strategy” or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or statements formed in the future tense or indicating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" (or other variations of the foregoing) be taken, occur, be achieved, or come to pass. Forward-looking information includes information regarding: (i) the business plans, business outlook and expectations of the Company; and (ii) expectations for other economic, business, and/or competitive factors. Forward-looking information is based on currently available competitive, financial, and economic data and operating plans, strategies, or beliefs as of the date of this news release, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors may be based on information currently available to the Company, including information obtained from third-party industry analysts and other third-party sources, and are based on management's current expectations or beliefs. Any and all forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking information is not based on historical facts but instead reflects expectations, estimates or projections concerning future results or events based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates of management considered reasonable at the date the statements are made. Forward-looking information and forward-looking statements reflect the Company's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to it and on assumptions it believes to be not unreasonable in light of all of the circumstances. In some instances, material factors or assumptions are discussed in this news release in connection with statements containing forward-looking information. Such material factors and assumptions include but are not limited to: the commercialization of drone flights beyond visual line of sight and potential benefits to the Company; and meeting the continued listing requirements of the TSXV. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. The forward-looking information contained herein is made as of the date of this news release and, other than as required by law, the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For additional Information, please contact:
Rob Walker, Chief Commercial Officer
+1-833-865-2887
[email protected]

COMPANY WEBSITE
https://volatusaerospace.com
SOURCE: Volatus Aerospace Inc.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1b569795-fbf0-473b-afb1-d30aa4788fbb

Volatus Aerospace Condor XL Condor XL: Long-Range Logistics for the FrontlineThe Condor XL is a gasoline-powered, heavy-lift dro...

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Most dividend investors seek solid passive income streams from quality dividend stocks. Passive income is a steady stream of unearned income that doesn’t require active traditional work. Shared ideas for earning passive income include investments such as dividend stocks, bonds, and mutual funds, as well as real estate and additional income-producing side hustles. The more passive income can help cover rising costs, such as mortgages, insurance, taxes, and other expenses, the easier it is for investors to set aside money for future needs as they prepare for retirement. Dependable recurring dividends from quality, high-yield stocks are a recipe for success. When those stocks trade at $20 or below, investors can purchase more shares, which in turn will deliver higher income payments.

We screened our 24/7 Wall St. high-yield dividend stock research database for companies trading below $20 that offer investors enormous total return potential. While more suited for growth and income investors with somewhat higher risk tolerance, all five of these stocks look like solid ideas as we head into the second quarter. All are rated Buy at the top Wall Street firms that we cover.

Why do we cover high-yield dividend stocks?

While not suited for everybody, those trying to build strong passive income streams can do exceptionally well with some of these top companies in their portfolios. Paired with more conservative blue-chip dividend giants, investors can use a barbell approach to generate substantial passive income.

Ares Capital The company specializes in providing financing solutions for the middle market and appears poised to reach new highs, garnering a Buy rating from seven analysts and yielding a 10.30% dividend. Ares Capital (NASDAQ: ARCC) is a high-yielding business development company (BDC) that specializes in acquisitions, recapitalizations, mezzanine debt, restructurings, rescue financing, and leveraged buyout transactions for middle-market companies.

It also makes growth capital and general refinancing. It prefers to invest in companies in basic and growth manufacturing, business services, consumer products, healthcare products and services, and information technology.

The fund will also consider investments in industries such as:

Restaurants Retail Oil and gas Technology It focuses on investments in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, and Southwest regions from its New York office; the Midwest region from its Chicago office; and the Western region from its Los Angeles office.

The fund typically invests between $20 million and $200 million, with a maximum of $400 million, in companies with EBITDA between $10 million and $250 million annually. It makes debt investments between $10 million and $100 million

The fund invests through:

Revolvers First-lien loans Warrants Unitranche structures Second-lien loans Mezzanine debt Private high yield Junior Capital Subordinated debt Non-control preferred and common equity The fund also selectively considers third-party-led senior and subordinated debt financings and opportunistically acquires stressed and discounted debt positions.

Ares Capital prefers to act as an agent and lead transactions in which it invests. The fund also seeks board representation in its portfolio companies.

Royal Bank of Canada has an Outperform rating with a $22 price target.

CTO Realty Growth CTO Realty Growth (NYSE: CTO) is a publicly traded real estate investment trust (REIT) that owns and operates a portfolio of high-quality, retail-based properties. With a rich 7.77% dividend yield and solid upside potential, this lesser-known REIT makes sense for passive-income investors.

CTO Realty Growth owns and operates a portfolio of high-quality, retail-based properties located primarily in higher-growth markets in the United States. With a 96% leased occupancy rate and a strategy targeting high-yield acquisitions, CTO offers strong income potential. In addition, its smaller market cap and focus on retail REITs in specific growth markets make it less visible compared to larger, more diversified REITs.

The company’s segments include:

Income properties Management services Commercial loans and investments Real estate operations CTO holds a stake in Alpine Income Property Trust, further diversifying its holdings. With a 96% leased occupancy rate and a strategy targeting high-yield acquisitions, CTO offers strong income potential. It has paid dividends for 49 consecutive years, reflecting reliability.

The commercial loans and investments segment includes a portfolio of five commercial loan investments and two preferred equity investments.

Its income property operations consist of income-producing properties.

CTO Realty Growth’s business includes its investment in Alpine Income Property Trust. The portfolio of properties includes:

Carolina Pavilion Millenia Crossing Lake Brandon Village Crabby’s Oceanside Fidelity LandShark Bar & Grill Granada Plaza The Strand at St. Johns Town Center The Shops at Legacy Price Plaza Jones Trading has a Buy rating on the shares, with a $21 target price.

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Energy Transfer Energy Transfer (NYSE: ET) is one of North America’s largest and most diversified midstream energy companies. This top master limited partnership is a safe option for investors seeking energy exposure and income, as the company pays a 7.10% distribution yield.

Energy Transfer owns and operates one of the largest and most diversified portfolios of energy assets in the United States, with a strategic footprint across all major domestic production basins. The company is a publicly traded limited partnership with core operations that include:

Complementary natural gas midstream, intrastate, and interstate transportation and storage assets Crude oil, natural gas liquids (NGL), and refined product transportation and terminalling assets NGL fractionation Various acquisition and marketing assets Following the acquisition of Enable Partners in December 2021, Energy Transfer owns and operates over 114,000 miles of pipelines and related assets in 41 states, spanning all major U.S. producing regions and markets. This further solidifies its leadership position in the midstream sector.

Through its ownership of Energy Transfer Operating, formerly known as Energy Transfer Partners, the company also owns Lake Charles LNG Company, the general partner interests, the incentive distribution rights, and 28.5 million standard units of Sunoco (NYSE: SUN), and the public partner interests and 39.7 million standard units of USA Compression Partners (NYSE: USAC).

TD Cowen has a Buy rating on the shares, with a $21 target price.

Healthpeak Properties This leading company invests in real estate in the healthcare industry, including senior housing, life sciences, and medical offices. Healthpeak Properties (NYSE: DOC) shares have lagged peers over the past year due to lower-than-expected rent increases. The fully integrated REIT currently trades at a significant discount to its fair value and pays a 7.01% dividend.

The company acquires, develops, owns, leases, and manages healthcare real estate across the United States. It owns, operates, and develops real estate focused on healthcare discovery and delivery.

Healthpeak Properties segments include:

Lab Outpatient medical Continuing care retirement community (CCRC) The Outpatient medical segment owns, operates, and develops outpatient medical buildings, hospitals, and lab buildings.

The Lab segment properties contain laboratory and office space, and are leased primarily to:

Biotechnology Medical device and pharmaceutical companies Scientific research institutions Government agencies Organizations involved in the life science industry Its CCRC segment is a retirement community that offers independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing units, providing a continuum of care within an integrated campus.

Baird has an Outperform rating and a $20 target price.

Starwood Property Trust Starwood Capital is a well-established global investor with international investments across more than 30 countries and an affiliate of Starwood Property Trust (NYSE: STWD), which boasts a 10.70% dividend yield and is led by real estate legend Barry Sternlicht. It operates as a REIT in the United States, Europe, and Australia.

Since going public 15 years ago, Starwood Property Trust has kept its dividend intact, never once reducing it,  and has held its current payout steady for more than 10 years. The company’s loan portfolio spans commercial, residential, and infrastructure assets, and it operates with a conservative leverage ratio below 3x.

It operates through four segments:

Commercial and Residential Lending Infrastructure Lending Property Investing and Servicing The Commercial and Residential Lending segment:

Originates, acquires, finances, and manages commercial first mortgages Non-agency residential mortgages Subordinated mortgages Mezzanine loans Preferred Equity Commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) Residential mortgage-backed securities The Infrastructure lending segment originates, acquires, finances, and manages infrastructure debt investments.

The Property segment primarily develops and manages equity interests in stabilized commercial real estate properties, including multifamily and net-leased commercial properties, held for investment purposes.

The Investing and Servicing segment:

Manages and works out problem assets Acquires and contains unrated, investment-grade, and non-investment-grade rated CMBS comprising subordinated interests of securitization and re-securitization transactions Originates conduit loans to sell these loans into securitization transactions and acquire commercial real estate assets, including properties from CMBS trusts Wells Fargo has an Outperform rating and a $21 price target.

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New Era Energy & Digital (NASDAQ:NUAI) has announced the appointment of Ted Warner as its chief financial officer, bringing a capital markets executive with nearly two decades of experience in energy, power, and digital infrastructure to its leadership team.

Warner has held roles spanning investment banking and executive leadership. Most recently, he led Northland Capital Markets’ Energy, Power and Digital Infrastructure practice. According to the company, since 2023, Northland has structured and sole managed more than $7 billion in financing solutions for large-scale data center development.

He has also participated in financing and advisory transactions related to high-performance computing infrastructure. Earlier in his career, Warner focused on capital markets and advisory work in upstream oil and gas and oilfield services, and he served as CFO of a private equity-backed oilfield services company based in Dallas.

Warner holds Series 7, 79, and 63 licenses, a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and an MBA from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota.

E. Will Gray II, New Era CEO, said Warner’s experience structuring financing solutions for large-scale infrastructure projects aligns with the company’s strategy, including its development of Texas Critical Data Centers.

“Ted brings deep capital markets expertise and a strong track record structuring financing solutions for large-scale infrastructure development,” Gray said.

“We are excited to welcome Ted to the team and believe his relationships and execution capabilities will be instrumental as we pursue the capital partnerships needed to scale our platform.”

In connection with his appointment, the company’s compensation committee approved inducement equity awards consisting of time-vesting restricted stock units (RSUs) covering approximately 0.6 million shares of common stock and performance-vesting restricted stock units (PSUs) covering approximately 1.2 million shares.

The RSUs vest monthly over a four-year period, contingent on continued employment. The PSUs are tied to performance criteria during the period from January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2030, and also include time-based vesting conditions over four years.

The PSU awards include components tied to entering into a commercial agreement with a hyperscaler, achieving financial closing related to a project in Ector County, Texas, reaching commercial operation and a specified stock price threshold, and completing a credit facility with a financial institution by June 30, 2026.

BALTIMORE, March 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MarketWise, Inc. (NASDAQ: MKTW) (“MarketWise” or the “Company”), a leading multi-brand digital subscription services platform that provides premium financial research, software, education, and tools for self-directed investors, today announced that it has posted an updated investor presentation to its website. The presentation provides an overview of the Company's strategy, recent financial performance, market position, and growth initiatives. It is designed to assist investors, analysts, and other stakeholders in understanding its business and outlook. The presentation is available on the Company's investor relations site at marketwise.com/shareholder-relations.

Turin, 17th March 2026. Iveco Group N.V. (EXM: IVG) announces that all conditions for the closing of the sale of its Defence Business (IDV and ASTRA brands) to Leonardo S.p.A. (EXM: LDO) have been met.

The transaction, which is expected to be finalised in the coming days, is a condition, inter alia, for the completion of the voluntary tender offer by Tata Motors Limited for all issued common shares of Iveco Group (after the separation of its Defence Business), as announced on 30th July 2025.

Iveco Group N.V. (EXM: IVG) is the home of unique people and brands that power your business and mission to advance a more sustainable society. The seven brands are each a major force in its specific business: IVECO, a pioneering commercial vehicles brand that designs, manufactures, and markets heavy, medium, and light-duty trucks; FPT Industrial, a global leader in a vast array of advanced powertrain technologies in the agriculture, construction, marine, power generation, and commercial vehicles sectors; IVECO BUS and HEULIEZ, mass-transit and premium bus and coach brands; IDV, for highly specialised defence and civil protection equipment; ASTRA, a leader in large-scale heavy-duty quarry and construction vehicles; and IVECO CAPITAL, the financing arm which supports them all. Iveco Group employs 36,000 people around the world and has 19 industrial sites and 30 R&D centres. Further information is available on the Company’s website www.ivecogroup.com

Media Contacts:
Francesco Polsinelli, Tel: +39 335 1776091
Fabio Lepore, Tel: +39 335 7469007
E-mail: [email protected]

Investor Relations:
Federico Donati, Tel: +39 011 0073539
E-mail: [email protected]

20260317_PR_Iveco_Group_Defence_sale_to_Leonardo_conditions_fulfilled

Resources Investor Relations Journalists Agencies Client Login Send a Release News Products Contact , /PRNewswire/ -- Purcell & Lefkowitz LLP announces that it is investigating Avanos Medical, Inc. (NYSE: AVNS) on behalf of the company's shareholders.  The investigation seeks to determine whether Avanos Medical's directors breached their fiduciary duties in connection with recent corporate actions.

If you are a shareholder of Avanos Medical, Inc. and are interested in obtaining additional information about your rights and options, please visit us at: https://pjlfirm.com/avanos-medical-inc/

You may also contact Robert H. Lefkowitz, Esq. either via email at [email protected] or by telephone at 212-725-1000.  One of our attorneys will personally speak with you about the case at no cost or obligation.

Purcell & Lefkowitz LLP is a law firm exclusively committed to representing shareholders nationwide who are victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty and other types of corporate misconduct. For more information about the firm and its attorneys, please visit https://pjlfirm.com.   Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. 

SOURCE Purcell & Lefkowitz LLP

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LITTLETON, Colo., March 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vivos Therapeutics, Inc. (“Vivos” or the “Company’’) (NASDAQ: VVOS), a leading medical device and healthcare services company focused on the treatment of breathing related sleep disorders and associated chronic health conditions, today announced that an a recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine supports Vivos’ long maintained belief that dental and facial morphology characterized by narrow palatal (upper) dental arches, high peaked palates, and recessed lower jaws were directly correlated to the prevalence and severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in adults and children.

Over the past decade, Vivos-trained providers have successfully treated tens of thousands of OSA patients using Vivos CARE devices to redevelop and enhance airways.   Vivos CARE devices have been cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for adult patients diagnosed with mild, moderate and severe OSA and moderate-to-severe OSA in children ages 6 to 17. Many Vivos patients finish treatment in less than 12 months with little or no remaining OSA symptoms. Thus, in the majority of such Vivos patients, there is no need for nightly lifetime intervention with CPAP, traditional oral appliances, or neurostimulation implants.

The recent study, the “Correlation Between Severity of Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Dental Arch Form in Adults,” first published in October 2025, affirms what the over 2,000 Vivos-trained providers see every day in clinical practice—that very small changes in the size, shape, and position of the dentition and jaws evoke significant changes in the form, function and patency of the human airway. The study conclusions indicate that maxillary morphology is associated with OSA severity, narrower intermolar distance (IMD) and greater palatal height (PH) linked to higher Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI). Larger airways are less prone to collapse (apnea / hypopnea events) during sleep. Fewer apnea / hypopnea events often means less sleep disruption, less blood oxygen desaturation (hypoxia) and better overall sleep architecture.

One hundred patients participated in the study, with 50 OSA patients and 50 controls. The OSA group exhibited significantly narrower transverse intermolar distance and higher palatal height compared to the control group. Linear regression analysis demonstrated a strong association (p<0.001) between these two key craniofacial parameters and OSA severity, as measured by the industry standard measure AHI. These results held true across all demographics. The figure below reflects the strong anatomical correlations in the study.

After years of research and product development, in November 2024 the FDA granted Vivos CARE devices an unprecedented 510(k) clearance to treat severe OSA patients. No other oral appliance had ever received such a clearance, nor has any similar clearance been granted since. Moreover, the mechanism of action in Vivos CARE devices is unique and capable of creating what are believed to be lasting results by gradually redeveloping and repositioning the dental arches and jaws.     

Kirk Huntsman, CEO of Vivos Therapeutics, said, “This study reaffirms our longstanding view that cranial and oral morphology is directly correlated to not only the presence of OSA, but also its severity. Traditional treatments such as CPAP, mandibular advancement oral appliances, and neurostimulation implants, all act to temporarily manage symptoms, but require repeated nightly use over a lifetime to remain effective. Vivos CARE devices rehabilitate and restore optimal airway size and shape, allowing patients to breathe more fully and sleep more deeply. After nearly 50 years of limited and undesirable treatment options, patients now have a real choice that is both safe and effective.”

"This year, we estimate that several million Americans will undergo a sleep test. In our experience, nearly half of them will test positive for OSA. Those patients will need to make a serious and life-changing decision—what they will do about their serious medical condition. OSA doesn’t go away on its own, and it will likely get worse with time. If left untreated, it will affect their cardiovascular system, their neurocognitive abilities, their risk of diabetes, chronic fatigue, mental health and more. Yet over 90% will still receive a medical prescription for CPAP, the “Gold Standard” treatment that, statistically, will soon be abandoned by over half of those patients. Then what? That’s why we’re seeing more and more such OSA patients turning to Vivos devices for OSA treatment," concluded Mr. Huntsman.

About Vivos Therapeutics, Inc.

Vivos Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: VVOS) is a medical technology company focused on developing and commercializing innovative diagnostic and treatment methods for patients suffering from breathing and sleep issues arising from certain dentofacial abnormalities such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and snoring in adults. Vivos’ devices have been cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for adult patients diagnosed with all severity levels of OSA and moderate-to-severe OSA in children ages 6 to 17. Vivos’ groundbreaking Complete Airway Repositioning and Expansion (CARE) devices are the only FDA 510(k) cleared technology for treating severe OSA in adults and the first to receive clearance for treating moderate to severe OSA in children. 

OSA affects over 1 billion people worldwide, yet 80% or more remain undiagnosed and unaware of their condition. This chronic disorder is not just a sleep issue—it is closely linked to many serious chronic health conditions. While the medical community has made strides in treating sleep disorders, breathing and sleep health remain areas that are still not fully understood. As a result, legacy OSA treatments like CPAP are often mechanistic and fail to address the root causes of OSA. 

Founded in 2016 and based in Littleton, Colorado, Vivos is working to change this. Through innovative technology, education, and acquisitions of, or commercial collaborations with, sleep healthcare providers, Vivos is empowering healthcare providers to address the complex needs of OSA patients more thoroughly.

Vivos calls the use of its appliances and protocols to treat OSA The Vivos Method, which offers a proprietary, clinically effective solution that is nonsurgical, noninvasive, and nonpharmaceutical, providing hope to allow patients to Breathe New Life.

For more information, visit www.vivos.com. 

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release, including statements of the Company’s management and other parties made in connection therewith, contain “forward-looking statements” (as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) concerning future events. Words such as “may”, “would”, “should”, “expects”, “projects,” “potential,” “intends”, “plans”, “believes”, “anticipates”, “hopes”, “estimates”, “goal”. “aim” and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. In this press release, forward-looking statements include, without limitation, those relating to the actual future impact on Vivos’ revenue and profitability from its operations or the benefits to Vivos of the study as described herein. These statements involve significant known and unknown risks and are based upon several assumptions and estimates, which are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond Vivos’ control. Actual results (including the actual results from the study and individual results of OSA treatment) may differ materially and adversely from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to: (i) the risk that Vivos may be unable to effectively market or continue to integrate business from the acquisition and alliance model into its own or otherwise implement sales, marketing and other strategies that increase revenues, (ii) the risk that some patients may not achieve the desired results from using Vivos’ products, (iii) risks associated with regulatory scrutiny of and adverse publicity in the sleep apnea diagnosis and treatment sector; (iv) the risk that Vivos may be unable to secure additional financing to continue operations, acquire additional sleep centers practices on reasonable terms, or maintain its Nasdaq listing when needed, if at all, (v) market and other conditions that could impact Vivos’ business or ability to obtain financing, and (vi) other risk factors described in Vivos’ filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Vivos’ filings can be obtained free of charge on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Except to the extent required by law, Vivos expressly disclaims any obligations or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in Vivos’ expectations with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any statement is based.

Media Inquiries: 

Jennifer Hauser, Executive Assistant to the CEO

Investor Relations Contact
[email protected]

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2bbc6139-7151-4edd-89dd-5253307b498b

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SummaryPrior to the Q4 print, I downgraded my rating on CoreWeave (CRWV), citing concerns about my estimated $100B+ cumulative funding deficit through 2030. I believe the key issue is financing. I estimate 20%-23% of 2026 CapEx being covered by current liquidity and capacity, leaving the door open for more debt. I still see strong demand, with contracted revenue backlog reaching $66.8 billion, up sharply sequentially and yoy, giving the Street more confidence in revenue through 2030. I see consolidation from a price action perspective, and the forward EV/Sales multiple of 5.6x is quite decent. At this early stage of the buildout, I think revenue growth matters more than margins. The margin story will come later. For now, I remain bullish on the growth of the company. Erik Isakson/DigitalVision via Getty Images

Heading into the Q4 print, I downgraded my rating on CoreWeave, Inc. (CRWV), as my conviction deteriorated after my earlier estimate of $100B+ in cumulative funding deficit through 2030.

I am glad I did

11.7K Followers

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.

Warner Bros Discovery CEO David Zaslav is likely to receive up to $887 ​million after completion of the media ‌company's sale to Paramount Skydance , according to a regulatory filing on Monday.

Stock futures are little changed this morning after major indexes posted big gains to start the week; crude oil prices are rising once again as the Strait of Hormuz remains closed; Israel said it has killed a top Iranian security official and launched operations in Lebanon as the Iran war expands; Federal Reserve officials will begin their two-day policy meeting amid expectations they'll hold interest rates steady; and Nvidia opened its annual GTC event Monday with a speech from CEO Jensen Huang that laid out Nvidia's efforts beyond AI chips. Here's what you need to know today.

Stock Futures Hold Steady After Monday's Big Gains Stock futures are near unchanged on Tuesday while oil prices are rising once again. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 were fractionally higher in recent trading, while Nasdaq futures ticked lower. Crude oil futures, meanwhile, rose more than 2%, though were off earlier highs (more on that below). The major indexes, which had lost ground for the three previous weeks coming into this week, posted gains on Monday as oil prices retreated from recent highs fueled by concerns about the impact of the Iran war. Gold futures ticked higher to $5,010 an ounce this morning, while bitcoin was little changed at around $74,100. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note, which affects rates on a range of consumer loans, was down slightly ay 4.21%, losing ground for the second straight day after hitting their highest level in more than a month last Friday.

Oil Climbs as Strait of Hormuz Remains Blocked Crude oil futures are back on the rise Tuesday after recording a rare day of declines for the commodity since the onset of the Iran war. West Texas Intermediate futures, the U.S. crude oil benchmark, were up 2.3% at $95.70 per barrel in recent trading. Oil prices are up more than 40% since the U.S. and Israel launched attacks on Iran on Feb. 28. On Monday, several countries the U.S. has approached about forming a coalition of Navy ships to help escort oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz said they had declined to participate. Germany, Japan, and Australia have each either declined or indicated they would be unlikely to help with the plan, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday.

Israel Says Iranian Security Official Was Killed Israel said early Tuesday that it had confirmed the death of Iranian security chief Ali Larijani as a result of recent strikes from the U.S. and Israel in Tehran. Among other developments related to the war, Iran attacked a number of locations in Iraq, including strikes near the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, and President Trump said a trip to China in early April would likely be delayed if the war is still going on. The Israeli military has also launched operations in the neighboring country of Lebanon to attack the Iran-backed military group known as Hezbollah.

Fed Set to Begin Two-Day Meeting on Rates The Federal Reserve's policy committee is set to begin two days of deliberations, ahead of an announcement Wednesday on interest rates and a highly anticipated press conference with Fed Chair Jerome Powell. The Fed is widely expected to hold its key rate steady for the second straight meeting, after three consecutive cuts at the end of 2025. Investors will be eager to hear what Powell has to say about the outlook for the U.S. economy as the recent surge in oil prices threatens to spark inflation and weigh on economic activity broadly. Market expectations for the Fed to cut rates at some point this year have fallen significantly since the Iran war began.

Nvidia CEO Unveils Huge AI Chip Revenue Target Nvidia's (NVDA) annual GPU Technology Conference started Monday, with CEO Jensen Huang delivering a keynote speech in which he announced massive revenue growth expectations and talked about opportunities beyond making chips used in data centers. Huang said Nvidia's latest chips, Vera Rubin and Blackwell, could top $1 trillion in orders through the end of next year, and he showcased a range of software efforts to grow Nvidia's AI capabilities. Nvidia is also looking to expand its reach in the self-driving vehicle space, announcing new and expanded partnerships with automakers including Hyundai, Kia and BYD, and with Uber Technologies (UBER), to use Nvidia's software. Earlier this year, Huang announced that Nvidia's autonomous driving software would power a Mercedes Benz car later this year. Nvidia shares, which have been sluggish so far in 2026 but are up more than 50% over the past 12 months, were little changed before the opening bell.

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NYSE issues a pre-market daily advisory direct from the trading floor. NEW YORK, March 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) provides a daily pre-market update directly from the NYSE Trading Floor.