Market Signal Briefing

Key Takeaways KO sees volume growth from Coca-Cola Zero Sugar and Sprite Zero Sugar in North America and Latin America.Coca-Cola says zero-sugar drinks support pricing power and attract health-conscious and younger consumers.PEP and MNST are also seeing growth and pricing support from expanding zero-sugar drink portfolios. The shift toward zero-sugar beverages is increasingly shaping the profitability profile of The Coca-Cola Company’s (KO - Free Report) portfolio. As consumer preferences evolve toward healthier and lower-calorie options, the company has been scaling its zero-sugar offerings, which are emerging as important levers for growth and margin expansion.

Management highlighted strong performance from products, such as Coca-Cola Zero Sugar and Sprite Zero Sugar, across several markets. These variants delivered notable volume growth in regions like Latin America and North America, reinforcing the company’s strategy of expanding its zero-sugar lineup within the broader sparkling portfolio.

The profitability advantage stems from multiple factors. Zero-sugar products typically benefit from strong brand equity and premium positioning, allowing Coca-Cola to sustain pricing power even in a challenging consumer environment. The company noted that underlying pricing actions remained a key driver of price/mix growth, supporting top-line expansion.

Zero-sugar variants often attract incremental consumers rather than merely cannibalizing traditional sugary drinks. By appealing to health-conscious consumers and younger demographics, the company expands its addressable market while maintaining the relevance of its core brands.

Zero-sugar products align with Coca-Cola’s broader portfolio strategy of offering more consumer choice. The company has steadily diversified beyond traditional sparkling beverages, yet it continues to reinvigorate growth in flagship brands by introducing formulations and extensions that meet changing preferences.

While Coca-Cola’s margin expansion is supported by multiple operational levers, including supply-chain efficiencies and disciplined marketing investments, the momentum in zero-sugar beverages provides an additional tailwind. As consumer demand continues shifting toward lower-calorie options, these products could remain a meaningful contributor to both revenue growth and profitability across Coca-Cola’s global portfolio.

Is Zero Sugar Strategy Also Working for KO’s Peers: PEP, MNSTThe success of zero-sugar offerings is not unique to Coca-Cola, as peers like PepsiCo Inc. (PEP - Free Report) and Monster Beverage Corporation (MNST - Free Report) are also leveraging low and no-sugar innovations to drive growth and strengthen their beverage portfolios.

Zero-sugar beverages are becoming an important growth lever for PepsiCo as the company expands healthier drink options. Products like Pepsi Zero Sugar delivered double-digit net revenue growth and market share gains, supported by marketing initiatives and consumer demand for lower-calorie beverages. The momentum in zero-sugar platforms also strengthens product mix and pricing power, helping support profitability within the PepsiCo Beverages North America segment.

Zero-sugar energy drinks are gaining momentum within Monster Beverage’s portfolio as consumers increasingly shift toward lower-calorie alternatives. Management highlighted continued growth in zero-sugar variants of the Monster Energy line, reflecting strong consumer acceptance across markets. These products enhance portfolio mix and help sustain pricing power. As demand for healthier energy drinks expands, zero-sugar offerings are supporting revenue growth and margin stability for Monster Beverage.

Zacks Rundown for Coca-ColaKO shares have risen 9.5% in the past three months compared with the industry’s growth of 5.1%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, Coca-Cola is trading at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 23.58X, higher than the industry’s 19.07X.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for KO’s 2026 and 2027 earnings implies year-over-year growth of 8% and 7.3%, respectively. Earnings estimates for both years have moved up by a penny in the past 30 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Coca-Cola currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Key Takeaways PBR plans to hike diesel price to distributors by 0.38 reais per liter to narrow gap with global benchmarks.PBR says pump impact about 0.06 reais per liter after Brazil removed federal diesel taxes to shield consumers.PBR is running refineries at about 97% capacity and delaying maintenance to boost diesel output. Petrobras (PBR - Free Report) has announced a significant adjustment to diesel prices, increasing the price charged to distributors by 0.38 reais per liter, according to Reuters. The change, which will take effect, reflects the company’s strategy of balancing domestic fuel prices with global market conditions while attempting to minimize the impact on Brazilian consumers. According to CEO Magda Chambriard, the increase is expected to translate into an additional 0.06 reais per liter at the pump, a figure she described as “residual” thanks to federal tax reductions implemented by the Brazilian government.

This move marks a critical moment for Brazil’s fuel market, as rising international oil prices and geopolitical tensions have widened the gap between domestic diesel prices and global benchmarks. The adjustment reflects Petrobras’ ongoing efforts to maintain market stability while ensuring it remains financially sustainable in an increasingly volatile energy environment.

Global Oil Prices Driving Domestic AdjustmentsThe diesel price increase is closely tied to the recent surge in global oil prices, which has been fueled by geopolitical tensions, particularly the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran in the Middle East. The conflict has contributed to uncertainty in global energy markets, pushing oil prices higher and forcing oil companies worldwide to reconsider pricing strategies.

For Petrobras, the divergence between local diesel prices and international benchmarks reached a record level in recent days. Maintaining artificially low domestic prices in such an environment can create severe distortions in supply and demand. Distributors become hesitant to sell fuel purchased at Petrobras’ lower prices, fearing they may need to replenish stocks at significantly higher international costs.

By raising the price charged to distributors, PBR aims to narrow the gap between domestic and global prices, ensuring the supply chain remains functional while avoiding shortages in the Brazilian market.

Government Measures Cushion the Impact on ConsumersThe Brazilian government has simultaneously taken steps to shield consumers from the full impact of rising energy prices. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s administration recently eliminated federal taxes on diesel, a measure designed to soften the financial burden on households and businesses.

This tax removal offsets a large portion of the diesel price increase announced by Petrobras. As a result, the expected increase at the consumer level remains minimal. The government’s decision reflects the political sensitivity surrounding fuel prices in Brazil, particularly during an election year when diesel costs can influence transportation, food prices and overall inflation.

The government introduced a 12% levy on oil exports to compensate for lost revenues from the tax cuts. This strategy allows the government to maintain fiscal stability while preventing domestic fuel prices from rising sharply.

Higher Oil Prices Boost Petrobras RevenuesWhile diesel price adjustments can create public concern, rising oil prices also present significant advantages for Petrobras. The company has experienced strong revenue growth driven by increased oil exports, particularly as global crude prices have surged.

Chambriard highlighted that PBR previously exported oil at around $60 per barrel, whereas current prices have climbed close to $100. This dramatic increase significantly boosts export revenues, offsetting the financial impact of the government’s new export tax.

The rise in oil prices is also positive news for shareholders. PBR distributes substantial dividends and stronger oil prices typically translate into higher returns for both government and private investors. According to Chambriard, shareholders remain satisfied with the company’s performance under current market conditions.

Brazil’s Dependence on Diesel ImportsDespite Petrobras’ large refining capacity, Brazil remains partially dependent on imported diesel. Approximately 25% of the diesel consumed in the country comes from international suppliers, leaving the domestic market vulnerable to fluctuations in global fuel prices.

This dependency makes pricing strategies particularly complex. If PBR maintains domestic prices significantly below international levels, importers may struggle to compete and distributors could face supply shortages. Conversely, raising prices too quickly could place pressure on consumers and businesses.

Balancing these competing priorities requires careful coordination between PBR and the Brazilian government. The current diesel price adjustment represents an effort to maintain market equilibrium while protecting domestic supply chains.

Petrobras Expands Efforts to Increase Local ProductionTo reduce reliance on imported diesel and strengthen energy security, PBR has intensified efforts to boost domestic refining output. The company is currently operating its refineries at approximately 97% of capacity, significantly higher than the 91% utilization rate recorded last year.

Increasing refinery utilization allows PBR to produce more diesel locally, reducing the need for imports and helping stabilize domestic fuel prices. The company has also postponed scheduled maintenance shutdowns at two refineries to maintain high production levels during a period of strong demand.

These operational adjustments demonstrate Petrobras’ commitment to ensuring a consistent diesel supply for the Brazilian market, particularly during periods of international price volatility.

Strategic Approach to Fuel PricingPetrobras continues to follow a commercial pricing strategy designed to avoid transferring the full volatility of international oil markets directly to Brazilian consumers. Instead of adjusting fuel prices in response to every fluctuation in global crude prices, the company evaluates broader market conditions before making changes.

This strategy seeks to maintain long-term stability in the domestic fuel market while preserving Petrobras’ financial health. By balancing global market dynamics with domestic economic considerations, the company aims to support both energy security and economic stability in Brazil.

Broader Economic ImplicationsDiesel prices play a crucial role in Brazil’s economy because the fuel powers much of the country’s transportation and logistics network. Trucks carry the majority of goods across Brazil’s vast territory, meaning even small changes in diesel prices can influence the cost of food, construction materials and consumer goods.

The government’s tax reduction, combined with Petrobras’ controlled price increase, ensures that the broader economic impact remains limited. By keeping the increase at the pump close to 0.06 reais per liter, policymakers hope to prevent inflationary pressures while maintaining sufficient incentives for fuel production and distribution.

Outlook for Brazil’s Fuel MarketLooking ahead, Brazil’s diesel market will continue to be shaped by global oil prices, geopolitical developments and domestic policy decisions. Petrobras’ strategy of increasing refinery utilization, maintaining balanced pricing policies and expanding export positions enables it to remain a dominant force in the global energy sector.

For consumers, the latest diesel price increase represents a manageable adjustment rather than a dramatic surge. With tax reductions and increased domestic production helping stabilize supply, Brazil’s fuel market appears poised to navigate current global uncertainties while maintaining relative price stability.

In this evolving energy landscape, PBR remains at the center of Brazil’s strategy to balance economic growth, energy security and shareholder returns, ensuring the country’s fuel supply remains resilient in the face of global market volatility.

PBR's Zacks Rank & Key PicksCurrently, PBR has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Investors interested in the energy sector might consider better-ranked stocks such as TechnipFMC (FTI - Free Report) and Eni (E - Free Report) , both of which sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), along with Nabors Industries (NBR - Free Report) , which currently holds a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

TechnipFMC is valued at $25.2 billion. It is a global energy technology company that provides subsea, surface, and offshore and onshore project solutions to the oil and gas industry. TechnipFMC specializes in integrated engineering, procurement, construction and installation services for complex energy developments.

Eni is valued at $86.69 billion. It is an Italian multinational energy company headquartered in Rome. Eni operates across the entire energy value chain, including oil and gas exploration, production, refining, marketing and growing renewable energy businesses worldwide.

Nabors Industries is valued at $1.12 billion. The company is a global leader in drilling rigs and associated services, focusing on both land-based and offshore drilling operations. With operations in more than 20 countries, Nabors Industries supports oil and gas exploration and production through innovative solutions and advanced technology.

10.28K Followers

Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of GOOGL either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. 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.

Shares of Meta Platforms rose more than 3% on Monday after a Reuters report that the social media giant may consider cutting more than 20% of its workforce as it ramps up spending on artificial intelligence infrastructure.

The company, however, dismissed the claims, saying the reports were speculative and not reflective of confirmed plans.

According to the report by Reuters published over the weekend, senior executives at Meta had asked leaders across the organization to start preparing for possible headcount reductions.

The report cited three anonymous sources familiar with the discussions.

No date has been set for the cuts and the magnitude has not been finalized, the people said.

However, Meta responded to the report saying the claims referred to “speculative reporting about theoretical approaches” and did not confirm that such layoffs were under consideration.

Potentially the largest layoffs since 2022If Meta were to cut around 20% of its workforce, the move would represent the company’s largest round of layoffs since the restructuring effort led by chief executive Mark Zuckerberg during what he called the “year of efficiency” in 2022 and early 2023.

During that period, the company eliminated roughly 21,000 jobs as part of a sweeping cost-cutting effort aimed at streamlining operations following rapid expansion during the pandemic.

This included cutting 11,000 jobs in 2022, and slowing hiring to rein in costs.

However, despite the earlier layoffs, Meta’s workforce has gradually grown again, rising 6% in 2025 to reach nearly 79,000 employees by the end of December, 2025.

A reduction of 20% would affect more than 15,000 workers.

AI spending intensifies cost pressuresThe potential job cuts come as Meta accelerates spending to build infrastructure needed for artificial intelligence.

After falling behind rivals in the race to develop advanced AI models, the company has dramatically increased investments in data centers, computing capacity and specialized talent.

Meta expects capital expenditures of as much as $135 billion in 2026, roughly double the level seen last year.

Much of the spending is aimed at securing the computing power needed to train and operate large AI models.

The company said Monday it would spend up to $27 billion on cloud and computing services from Nebius as part of a new agreement.

While those investments have helped improve Meta’s advertising tools and contributed to stronger revenue growth, the company has yet to release an AI model capable of competing with offerings from leaders such as OpenAI, Anthropic and Google.

Meta has been developing a new model known internally as Avocado, though its performance has reportedly fallen short of expectations.

Analysts weigh cost savingsAnalysts say potential layoffs could generate meaningful cost savings, though they would represent only a small portion of Meta’s overall expense base.

According to analysts at JP Morgan, a 20% workforce reduction could save between $5 billion and $6 billion annually, assuming costs of $300,000 to $400,000 per employee.

However, those savings would make only a modest dent in Meta’s projected expense base of between $162 billion and $169 billion this year, which has expanded significantly because of AI-related investments, the analysts said.

With Meta's total expenses nearly twice what they were in 2022 given the heavy AI spending, $6 billion in savings "doesn't make as big of a dent", they said.

If the savings were reflected in profits by 2027, they could add roughly $2 per share to earnings estimates currently projected at $31.50, they said.

Analysts at Rosenblatt Securities also estimate that a 20% reduction in staff could translate into about $6 billion in cost savings, potentially boosting adjusted core earnings by around 5%.

"This doesn't have to stop at 20%. There could be more down the road if AI is truly this impactful on staff productivity," they said.

Debate over AI and jobs intensifiesThe broader debate about whether artificial intelligence will replace human workers has intensified across the technology sector.

Last month, Jack Dorsey, chief executive of Block, said his company planned to cut nearly half its staff, arguing that advances in AI were reshaping how businesses operate.

Other industry leaders have been more cautious in attributing layoffs directly to AI.

Sam Altman, chief executive of OpenAI, recently suggested that some companies might be using AI as a justification for job cuts that would have happened regardless.

Analysts at Bernstein said investors would likely scrutinize companies closely if they cite artificial intelligence as the main reason for workforce reductions.

Still, they noted that that Meta was "probably the best placed incumbent to pivot to an AI-enabled organization", pointing to the success of its post-pandemic restructuring.

Jefferies' analyst Brent Thill said that the report reinforced the narrative that artificial intelligence is improving productivity across the tech sector.

"The takeaway is not just better Meta margins, but a broader read-through for tech/software as investors reassess the link between headcount, growth and profitability," Thill said.

WW International (NASDAQ:WW), the global weight management company formerly known as Weight Watchers, released its fourth quarter and full-year 2025 financial results, showing stronger-than-expected earnings despite a year-over-year decline in total revenue.

The company’s shares surged more than 12% following the report, trading just shy of $24 on Monday morning.

For the fourth quarter, WW reported revenue of $162.8 million, exceeding analysts’ estimates of $149.8 million by 8.7%, though representing an 11.7% decline compared with the same period in 2024.

The company posted a loss per share of $0.58, significantly better than the estimated loss of $2.03 per share, while adjusted EBITDA reached $18.04 million, surpassing estimates of $12.11 million.

The company highlighted continued growth in its clinical subscription business, which generated $27 million in Q4 revenue, up 32% year-over-year, with a total of 130,000 clinical subscribers. Total end-of-period subscribers across all services were 2.8 million.

WW executives emphasized the ongoing transformation of the weight management industry, particularly the rise of GLP-1 medications, which the company is integrating into its broader digital and behavioral support programs.

CEO Tara Comonte noted that members participating in the company’s GLP-1 Success Program lost an average of 29% more body weight than those using medication alone.

“We view 2026 as an important inflection year, unlocking the potential for sustainable future growth. The year ahead will focus on continuing our transformation and positioning Weight Watchers as the premier global destination for weight health in the GLP-1 era,” Comonte said.

Looking ahead, WW provided full-year 2026 guidance of $620 million to $635 million in revenue and adjusted EBITDA of $105 million to $115 million, slightly below analyst expectations.

The company projects approximately 2.65 million total subscribers and 200,000 clinical subscribers by the end of the first quarter of 2026, reflecting targeted marketing efforts to support clinical growth and brand repositioning.

, /PRNewswire/ -- National plaintiffs' law firm Berger Montague PC announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Beyond Meat, Inc. (NASDAQ: BYND) ("Beyond Meat" or the "Company") on behalf of investors who purchased or otherwise acquired Beyond Meat securities during the period from February 27, 2025 through November 11, 2025 (the "Class Period"), inclusive.

Investor Deadline: Investors who purchased Beyond Meat securities during the Class Period may, no later than March 24, 2026, seek to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of the class. To learn your rights, CLICK HERE.

Headquartered in El Segundo, Calif., Beyond Meat is a developer of plant-based food. It sells meat alternative products under the "Beyond" brand name in the U.S. and abroad.

As market conditions worsened and financial pressures mounted, Beyond Meat publicly committed to achieving EBITDA-positive operations by the end of 2026, emphasizing expense reduction, margin improvement, and operational efficiency throughout the Class Period.

On October 24, 2025, Beyond Meat revealed that it expected to record a material impairment charge, causing its stock to fall more than 23% in a single trading day. Additional disclosures in November 2025 concerning delayed SEC filings and $77.4 million in impairment charges caused further stock declines of approximately 16%, 9%, and 9%, resulting in substantial investor losses.

If you are a Beyond Meat investor and would like to learn more about this action, CLICK HERE or please contact Berger Montague: Andrew Abramowitz at [email protected] or (215) 875-3015, or Caitlin Adorni at [email protected] or (267)764-4865.

About Berger Montague

Berger Montague is one of the nation's preeminent law firms focusing on complex civil litigation, class actions, and mass torts in federal and state courts throughout the United States. With more than $2.4 billion in 2025 post-trial judgments alone, the Firm is a leader in the fields of complex litigation, antitrust, consumer protection, defective products, environmental law, employment law, securities, and whistleblower cases, among many other practice areas. For over 55 years, Berger Montague has played leading roles in precedent-setting cases and has recovered over $50 billion for its clients and the classes they have represented. Berger Montague is headquartered in Philadelphia and has offices in Chicago; Malvern, PA; Minneapolis; San Diego; San Francisco; Toronto, Canada; Washington, D.C., and Wilmington, DE.

For more information or to discuss your rights, please contact:
Andrew Abramowitz
Berger Montague
(215) 875-3015
[email protected]

Caitlin Adorni
Berger Montague
(267) 764-4865
[email protected] 

SOURCE Berger Montague

March 16, 2026 09:42 ET  | Source: Nokia Oyj

Press Release
Nokia launches suite of application‑optimized optical solutions for AI-era networks

Nokia introduces a new suite of application-optimized coherent transport solutions enabling significant improvements in network efficiency and providing up to 70% lower total cost of ownership. Nokia launches a compact, in-line amplifier optimized for multi-fiber applications that enables network operators to deliver up to 40x more services in the same footprint.Nokia shares its vision for optical networking highlighting its latest optical networking innovations at the OFC conference in Los Angeles. 16 March 2026
Espoo, Finland – Nokia today announced a suite of new optical networking innovations designed to address the unprecedented scale and application diversity demands driven by the AI supercycle.

AI traffic and data center interconnect (DCI) requirements are continuing to accelerate, exceeding the practical limits of approaches based solely on incremental improvements over previous generations. As applications diversify, network operators increasingly require solutions that are specifically optimized for different performance, reach, and efficiency requirements. Nokia’s latest innovations represent a fundamental shift in how optical transport products are designed and developed, delivering application-optimized connectivity that maximizes performance while significantly reducing cost, space, and power and simplifying network operations.

The innovations include a new suite of coherent optical solutions and a compact, multi-fiber optimized in-line amplifier. Nokia executives will be at the OFC conference in Los Angeles this week to share the company’s latest vision for optical networking in the AI era.

“The industry is at a critical inflection point, requiring a whole new dimension of scale, trust and innovation.  At Nokia, we are connecting intelligence by leveraging our unmatched global scale, deep vertical integration, and a co-creation model with our customer base. The result is trusted solutions that drive the best economics, lowest power and AI-enabled efficiency to advance connectivity for the AI era,” said David Heard, President of Network Infrastructure, at Nokia.

New suite of application-optimized coherent optical solutions
At the core of Nokia’s announcement is a new approach to building coherent optical solutions for AI-era networks. Rather than developing discrete solutions for each application, Nokia is introducing a building block-based development methodology that enables technologies to be easily assembled and integrated across a broad range of optical transport use cases. These building blocks include four new digital signal processors and multiple optical front ends built using both Indium Phosphide and Silicon Photonics. This approach results in a comprehensive suite of coherent optical transport solutions that are specifically optimized to address both existing and emerging network applications improving cost, space, and power efficiency while delivering up to 70% total cost of ownership savings.

The new solutions include:

A 1.6T-capable coherent pluggable optimized for IP over DWDM DCI and scale across applications.A 2.4T-capable coherent pluggable optimized for thin transponder deployments supporting a broad range of terrestrial and subsea network applications.A 3.2T-capable coherent lite solution optimized for low power to address shorter reach campus and enterprise applications.A new class of double-sided pluggables optimized to pair with CPO-, LPO-, and NPO-based switches, supporting campus, metro and regional DCI and scale across applications. A new class of full-band transponders that combine hundreds of coherent components into a single, operationally simplified solution optimized for hyperscale capacity demands across campus, metro, regional, long-haul, and submarine applications. 2.4T and a 3.2T embedded transponders optimized to maximize fiber capacity at any distance for fiber-constrained applications. The new family of coherent optical solutions is expected to begin sampling in mid-2027 with general availability anticipated to begin in the second half of 2027.

Multi-rail in-line amplifier
As bandwidth demands increasingly exceed what can be delivered over a single pair of fibers, network operators are adopting multi-fiber architectures to scale capacity. A key constraint to multi-fiber network expansion is the physical space limitations of in-line amplifier huts required for network spans beyond 80 kilometers.

To address this challenge, Nokia is introducing a new multi-rail in-line amplifier designed for scalable multi-fiber deployments. This solution delivers a 40-fold increase in in-line amplifier density over today’s solutions or 160 fiber pairs in a single rack. This enables them to expand capacity and services within their existing network footprint while reducing cost and operational complexity.

Nokia’s new multi-rail optical line system will be available in the second half of 2026.
“With the industry’s highest level of vertical integration and in-house manufacturing capabilities, Nokia is uniquely positioned to provide innovative solutions for our customers. Our building block approach to solution development will enable us to provide application optimized solutions for our customers improving scalability and simplifying operations while driving down cost, power and space per bit,” said Ron Johnson, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Optical Networks at Nokia.

“AI is fundamentally changing optical networks — the connectivity demands are unprecedented. Hyperscalers, service providers, and enterprises are each investing heavily in network infrastructure, but with distinct deployment models and performance requirements that cannot be efficiently addressed with a one-size-fits-all approach," said Kyle Hollasch, Lead Analyst, Transport Hardware at Cignal AI. "Nokia's innovative building-block approach to optical engine development and its vertically integrated manufacturing capabilities positions it to meet the wide range of power, performance, and economic demands driven by the AI supercycle."

Nokia will hold an executive investor, analyst and media briefing at OFC on March 18 from 8:30 – 9:30 a.m. PDT at the Los Angeles Convention Center​ in Room #409A, Concourse Hall, Level 2. Nokia’s leadership team will present the company’s next-generation optical networking vision.

The event will be publicly available via live webcast and replay on the Investor Relations section of Nokia’s website, under Events.

For more information on Nokia’s participation at OFC, visit us at Nokia at OFC 2026 | Nokia.com.

Multimedia, technical information and related news
Web Page: Nokia at OFC 2026 | Nokia.com
Web Page: Nokia Optical Networks

About Nokia
Nokia is a global leader in connectivity for the AI era. With expertise across fixed, mobile, and transport networks, we’re advancing connectivity to secure a brighter world.

Media inquiries
Nokia Press Office
Email: [email protected]

Follow us on social media
LinkedIn X Instagram Facebook YouTube

Oscar Munoz, former United Airlines chairman and CEO, joins 'Squawk Box' to discuss the impact of the ongoing partial government shutdown on TSA workers, the open letter from airline executives urging Congress to end the shutdown, impact of TSA staffing shortages on travel, and more.

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 16, 2026) - LaFleur Minerals Inc. (CSE: LFLR) (OTCQB: LFLRF) (FSE: 3WK0) ("LaFleur Minerals" or the "Company") announces today the appointment of Paul Ténière, Peter Espig and Jeff Swinoga to the Company's Board of Directors. These appointments bring significant expertise in the "gold producer" mining industry, capital markets, and corporate leadership to the Company as LaFleur Minerals advances development of its Swanson Gold Project and plans to restart gold production at the Beacon Gold Mill in Québec's Abitibi Gold Belt.

Scan QR code to install app

Important DisclaimersFXEmpire is owned and operated by Empire Media Network LTD., Company Registration Number 514641786, registered at 7 Jabotinsky Road, Ramat Gan 5252007, Israel. The content provided on this website includes general news and publications, our personal analysis and opinions, and materials provided by third parties. This content is intended for educational and research purposes only. It does not constitute, and should not be interpreted as, a recommendation or advice to take any action, including making any investment or purchasing any product. Before making any financial decision, you should conduct your own due diligence, exercise your own discretion, and consult with competent advisors. The content on this website is not personally directed to you, and we do not take into account your individual financial situation or needs. The information contained on this website is not necessarily provided in real time, nor is it guaranteed to be accurate. Prices displayed may be provided by market makers and not by exchanges. Any trading or other financial decision you make is entirely your own responsibility, and you must not rely solely on any information provided through the website. FXEmpire does not provide any warranty regarding the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information contained on the website and shall bear no responsibility for any trading losses you may incur as a result of using such information. The website may include advertisements and other promotional content. FXEmpire may receive compensation from third parties in connection with such content. FXEmpire does not endorse, recommend, or assume responsibility for the use of any third-party services or websites. Empire Media Network LTD., its employees, officers, subsidiaries, and affiliates shall not be liable for any loss or damage resulting from your use of the website or reliance on the information provided herein.Risk DisclaimersThis website contains information about cryptocurrencies, contracts for difference (CFDs), and other financial instruments, as well as about brokers, exchanges, and other entities trading in such instruments. Both cryptocurrencies and CFDs are complex instruments and involve a high risk of losing money. You should carefully consider whether you understand how these instruments work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. FX Empire encourages you to conduct your own research before making any investment decision and to avoid investing in any financial instrument unless you fully understand how it works and the risks involved.

The acquisition of the US real estate investment bank is a calculated gamble on a transactions recovery that could redefine the British firm's global standing

For a company that has spent decades building a respected but regionally uneven business, Savills PLC's (LSE:SVS) acquisition of Eastdil Secured represents something altogether more ambitious: a deliberate lurch toward the centre of global real estate finance.

The $1.1 billion deal, the largest in Savills' history, brings in one of the most prestigious names in US real estate investment banking, a firm that has advised on some of the most significant property transactions in the world and whose client relationships are the envy of the industry.

The price reflects that reputation.

At 9.9 times Eastdil's 2025 earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation, Savills is paying a full but defensible multiple for a business that occupies a dominant position in a market where scale, relationships and deal flow are deeply self-reinforcing.

The more telling number is what the deal does to Savills' league table standing.

Before the acquisition, Savills ranked seventh globally in real estate transactional advisory, a respectable position but one that left it firmly outside the group of firms that shape the largest and most complex cross-border deals.

After completion, it will rank second.

The global real estate transactions market, which was brutally compressed by the combination of rising interest rates and geopolitical uncertainty over the past three years, is widely expected to recover meaningfully through 2026 and 2027 as central banks ease policy and capital that has sat on the sidelines is redeployed.

Savills, through Eastdil, will be far better placed to capture that recovery than it would have been as a mid-table operator.

Deutsche Bank analyst Chris Millington estimates the deal will add 15% to Savills' adjusted earnings per share in its first full year of ownership and 19% in 2028, leaving the enlarged group trading on less than seven times forward earnings against roughly eight times on a standalone basis.

That discount to global peers, which trade at materially higher multiples, is one Deutsche Bank describes as unjustified, and one that the Eastdil deal makes newly relevant as a comparison point given the enlarged group's genuinely international profile.

The risks are real and should not be understated.

Integrating a high-margin, relationship-driven US investment banking business into a British property services firm is an exercise that requires cultural sensitivity, careful management and patience, and the history of cross-border professional services acquisitions is littered with deals that destroyed the very thing they were bought to capture.

Execution will be everything.

But the strategic case is difficult to argue with.

Savills has identified a window in which a major US real estate advisory franchise was available, has paid a price its own analysts consider fair, and has positioned itself to benefit from a transactions cycle that most expect to run for several years.

For a company trading at 902p against Deutsche Bank's 1,343p price target, the market is some way from sharing that optimism.

The new AirPods Max is showcased as Apple holds an event at the Steve Jobs Theater on its campus in Cupertino, California, U.S. September 9, 2024. REUTERS/Manuel Orbegozo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

March 16 (Reuters) - Apple (AAPL.O), opens new tab on Monday unveiled the second generation of its premium AirPods Max over-ear headphones ​at $549, more than five years after the ‌first version's launch.

The update marks Apple's first major refresh of the over-ear headphones since their 2020 debut, as ​the company adds new features and improved ​noise cancellation to compete more aggressively in ⁠the premium headphones market.

Get a daily digest of breaking business news straight to your inbox with the Reuters Business newsletter. Sign up here.

Currently, the segment is ​largely dominated by Japan's Sony Group (6758.T), opens new tab, Bose and ​Sennheiser.

Powered by Apple's in-house H2 chip, which runs the latest range of AirPods devices, the new headphones will be available ​to order from March 25 in more ​than 30 countries, with retail availability beginning early next month, ‌the ⁠company said.

Upgrades to the AirPods Max 2 include better active noise cancellation, an improved microphone system and a range of new features including Adaptive Audio, ​Conversation Awareness ​and Live ⁠Translation.

Live translation, first introduced on the AirPods Pro 3 in September, enables ​users to translate in-person conversations across ​languages ⁠using Apple Intelligence, the company's artificial intelligence platform.

AirPods Max 2 also supports high-resolution lossless audio when ⁠connected ​via USB-C, targeting music creators ​and professional users who require higher fidelity audio, Apple said.

Reporting by ​Akash Sriram in Bengaluru; Editing by Jonathan Ananda

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab

US stocks opened higher on Monday as Wall Street attempted to rebound from a difficult week, while oil prices retreated after a sharp rally driven by escalating tensions in the Middle East.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 305 points, or 0.66%, while the S&P 500 gained 0.9%.

The Nasdaq Composite advanced 1.15%.

The gains came after the S&P 500 recorded its third consecutive losing week and ended Friday at its lowest level of the year.

Oil retreats after surge above $100Oil prices eased on Monday following a sharp rally last week that pushed Brent crude above $100 per barrel for the first time since 2022.

Crude prices had surged as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil transit routes, was effectively halted amid the ongoing conflict in the region.

In Monday trading, West Texas Intermediate crude fell about 3% to just below $95 a barrel after briefly trading near $100.

Brent crude slipped more than 1.2% to around $101 a barrel.

The pullback came after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the United States was allowing Iranian oil shipments to move through the strait.

“The Iranian ships have been getting out already, and we’ve let that happen to supply the rest of the world,” Bessent told in a CNBC interview.

According to officials, tanker traffic through the Strait has dropped sharply as Iran attacks commercial vessels in the Persian Gulf.

Despite the disruption, the country has continued exporting oil through the narrow route.

Iran exports roughly 1.5 million barrels of oil per day.

Oil prices were also pressured by a report from the Wall Street Journal stating that the United States is preparing to announce a coalition of countries to escort ships through the Strait.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump ordered strikes on Iranian military assets located on Kharg Island on Friday.

Although the attack did not affect oil infrastructure, Trump said the United States would consider targeting those facilities if Iran continues to block the shipping route.

Technology and AI-related stocks move higherSeveral technology and artificial intelligence-linked companies led the market’s gains.

Shares of Meta rose about 2.4% after a report — which the company called “speculative” — suggested the social media giant was preparing layoffs affecting more than 20% of its workforce.

The cuts are reportedly tied to the company’s AI strategy.

Nvidia also gained more than 2% ahead of its GTC conference, which began Monday.

AI infrastructure firm Nebius Group surged 15% after announcing a deal with Meta.

Under the agreement, the company said it would “provide $12 billion of dedicated capacity across multiple locations.”

Chipmaker Micron Technology rose 6% after announcing plans to build a second manufacturing facility in Taiwan to expand supply of advanced DRAM products.

Crypto-related stocks also climbed as bitcoin moved higher.

Mara Holdings and Strategy gained about 4% each, while Circle Internet Group advanced 5.4%.

Elsewhere, National Storage Affiliates surged more than 28% after agreeing to be acquired by Public Storage in an all-stock deal valued at roughly $10.5 billion.

The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter.

Markets remain resilient despite geopolitical tensionsDespite ongoing geopolitical uncertainty, the broader stock market has shown resilience.

The S&P 500 remains about 5% below its record high reached earlier this year.

Analysts say optimistic earnings expectations are helping support the market.

“The apparent resilience in the S&P 500 is attributable to the increasing bullishness of industry analysts’ consensus estimates for earnings per share in 2026 and 2027,” Ed Yardeni, president of Yardeni Research, wrote. “Apparently, they did not get the memo about the possible negative consequences of a protracted war and closure of the Strait.”

BP is positioned to benefit from surging oil prices amid renewed Middle East conflict and supply fears. BP's strategic pivot away from net zero targets towards core oil and gas growth underpins a bullish investment thesis. With Brent crude above $100/barrel and BP targeting 2.5M bpd by 2030 in total production, earnings and free cash flow are set for significant upside.

Wall Street watches a company's quarterly report closely to understand as much as possible about its recent performance and what to expect going forward. Of course, one figure often stands out among the rest: earnings.

Life and the stock market are both about expectations, and rising above what is expected is often rewarded, while falling short can come with negative consequences. Investors might want to try to capture stronger returns by finding positive earnings surprises.

Hunting for 'earnings whispers' or companies poised to beat their quarterly earnings estimates is a somewhat common practice. But that doesn't make it easy. One way that has been proven to work is by using the Zacks Earnings ESP tool.

The Zacks Earnings ESP, ExplainedThe Zacks Earnings ESP, or Expected Surprise Prediction, aims to find earnings surprises by focusing on the most recent analyst revisions. The basic premise is that if an analyst reevaluates their earnings estimate ahead of an earnings release, it means they likely have new information that could possibly be more accurate.

The core of the ESP model is comparing the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate, where the resulting percentage difference between the two equals the Expected Surprise Prediction. The Zacks Rank is also factored into the ESP metric to better help find companies that appear poised to top their next bottom-line consensus estimate, which will hopefully help lift the stock price.

When we join a positive earnings ESP with a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or stronger, stocks posted a positive bottom-line surprise 70% of the time. Plus, this system saw investors produce roughly 28% annual returns on average, according to our 10 year backtest.

Stocks with a #3 (Hold) ranking, which is most stocks covered at 60%, are expected to perform in-line with the broader market. But stocks that fall into the #2 (Buy) and #1 (Strong Buy) ranking, or the top 15% and top 5% of stocks, respectively, should outperform the market. Strong Buy stocks should outperform more than any other rank.

Should You Consider Jabil?The last thing we will do today, now that we have a grasp on the ESP and how powerful of a tool it can be, is to quickly look at a qualifying stock. Jabil (JBL - Free Report) holds a #2 (Buy) at the moment and its Most Accurate Estimate comes in at $2.61 a share two days away from its upcoming earnings release on March 18, 2026.

JBL has an Earnings ESP figure of +2.86%, which, as explained above, is calculated by taking the percentage difference between the $2.61 Most Accurate Estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.54. Jabil is one of a large database of stocks with positive ESPs. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.

JBL is one of just a large database of Computer and Technology stocks with positive ESPs. Another solid-looking stock is Globant (GLOB - Free Report) .

Globant is a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock, and is getting ready to report earnings on May 21, 2026. GLOB's Most Accurate Estimate sits at $1.52 a share 66 days from its next earnings release.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Globant is $1.48, and when you take the percentage difference between that number and its Most Accurate Estimate, you get the Earnings ESP figure of +2.84%.

Because both stocks hold a positive Earnings ESP, JBL and GLOB could potentially post earnings beats in their next reports.

Find Stocks to Buy or Sell Before They're ReportedUse the Zacks Earnings ESP Filter to turn up stocks with the highest probability of positively, or negatively, surprising to buy or sell before they're reported for profitable earnings season trading. Check it out here >>

Two factors often determine stock prices in the long run: earnings and interest rates. Investors can't control the latter, but they can focus on a company's earnings results every quarter.

Life and the stock market are both about expectations, and rising above what is expected is often rewarded, while falling short can come with negative consequences. Investors might want to try to capture stronger returns by finding positive earnings surprises.

Hunting for 'earnings whispers' or companies poised to beat their quarterly earnings estimates is a somewhat common practice. But that doesn't make it easy. One way that has been proven to work is by using the Zacks Earnings ESP tool.

The Zacks Earnings ESP, ExplainedThe Zacks Expected Surprise Prediction, or ESP, works by locking in on the most up-to-date analyst earnings revisions because they can be more accurate than estimates from weeks or even months before the actual release date. The thinking is pretty straightforward: analysts who provide earnings estimates closer to the report are likely to have more information.

The core of the ESP model is comparing the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate, where the resulting percentage difference between the two equals the Expected Surprise Prediction. The Zacks Rank is also factored into the ESP metric to better help find companies that appear poised to top their next bottom-line consensus estimate, which will hopefully help lift the stock price.

In fact, when we combined a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better and a positive Earnings ESP, stocks produced a positive surprise 70% of the time. Perhaps most importantly, using these parameters has helped produce 28.3% annual returns on average, according to our 10 year backtest.

Stocks with a #3 (Hold) ranking, which is most stocks covered at 60%, are expected to perform in-line with the broader market. But stocks that fall into the #2 (Buy) and #1 (Strong Buy) ranking, or the top 15% and top 5% of stocks, respectively, should outperform the market. Strong Buy stocks should outperform more than any other rank.

Should You Consider Goldman Sachs?The final step today is to look at a stock that meets our ESP qualifications. Goldman Sachs (GS - Free Report) earns a #2 (Buy) 28 days from its next quarterly earnings release on April 13, 2026, and its Most Accurate Estimate comes in at $16.60 a share.

Goldman Sachs' Earnings ESP sits at +2.84%, which, as explained above, is calculated by taking the percentage difference between the $16.60 Most Accurate Estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $16.14. GS is also part of a large group of stocks that boast a positive ESP. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.

GS is part of a big group of Finance stocks that boast a positive ESP, and investors may want to take a look at Allstate (ALL - Free Report) as well.

Slated to report earnings on April 29, 2026, Allstate holds a #1 (Strong Buy) ranking on the Zacks Rank, and its Most Accurate Estimate is $7.22 a share 44 days from its next quarterly update.

Allstate's Earnings ESP figure currently stands at +0.77% after taking the percentage difference between its Most Accurate Estimate and its Zacks Consensus Estimate of $7.16.

GS and ALL's positive ESP figures tell us that both stocks have a good chance at beating analyst expectations in their next earnings report.

Find Stocks to Buy or Sell Before They're ReportedUse the Zacks Earnings ESP Filter to turn up stocks with the highest probability of positively, or negatively, surprising to buy or sell before they're reported for profitable earnings season trading. Check it out here >>

Two factors often determine stock prices in the long run: earnings and interest rates. Investors can't control the latter, but they can focus on a company's earnings results every quarter.

The earnings figure itself is key, of course, but a beat or miss on the bottom line can sometimes be just as, if not more, important. Therefore, investors should consider paying close attention to these earnings surprises, as a big beat can help a stock climb and vice versa.

Now that we know how important earnings and earnings surprises are, it's time to show investors how to take advantage of these events to boost their returns by utilizing the Zacks Earnings ESP filter.

The Zacks Earnings ESP, ExplainedThe Zacks Expected Surprise Prediction, or ESP, works by locking in on the most up-to-date analyst earnings revisions because they can be more accurate than estimates from weeks or even months before the actual release date. The thinking is pretty straightforward: analysts who provide earnings estimates closer to the report are likely to have more information.

Now that we understand the basic idea, let's look at how the Expected Surprise Prediction works. The ESP is calculated by comparing the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate, with the percentage difference between the two giving us the Zacks ESP figure.

In fact, when we combined a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better and a positive Earnings ESP, stocks produced a positive surprise 70% of the time. Perhaps most importantly, using these parameters has helped produce 28.3% annual returns on average, according to our 10 year backtest.

Stocks with a #3 (Hold) ranking, which is most stocks covered at 60%, are expected to perform in-line with the broader market. But stocks that fall into the #2 (Buy) and #1 (Strong Buy) ranking, or the top 15% and top 5% of stocks, respectively, should outperform the market. Strong Buy stocks should outperform more than any other rank.

Should You Consider Citigroup?Now that we understand what the ESP is and how beneficial it can be, let's dive into a stock that currently fits the bill. Citigroup (C - Free Report) earns a #3 (Hold) right now and its Most Accurate Estimate sits at $2.63 a share, just 29 days from its upcoming earnings release on April 14, 2026.

Citigroup's Earnings ESP sits at +1.18%, which, as explained above, is calculated by taking the percentage difference between the $2.63 Most Accurate Estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.6. C is also part of a large group of stocks that boast a positive ESP. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.

C is one of just a large database of Finance stocks with positive ESPs. Another solid-looking stock is Blackstone Inc. (BX - Free Report) .

Blackstone Inc. is a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock, and is getting ready to report earnings on April 16, 2026. BX's Most Accurate Estimate sits at $1.42 a share 31 days from its next earnings release.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Blackstone Inc. is $1.39, and when you take the percentage difference between that number and its Most Accurate Estimate, you get the Earnings ESP figure of +2.79%.

C and BX's positive ESP metrics may signal that a positive earnings surprise for both stocks is on the horizon.

Find Stocks to Buy or Sell Before They're ReportedUse the Zacks Earnings ESP Filter to turn up stocks with the highest probability of positively, or negatively, surprising to buy or sell before they're reported for profitable earnings season trading. Check it out here >>

The crypto market is beginning to retrieve its strength after multiple months of extreme weakness, trading consistently in the red zone and the market cap of major cryptocurrencies plunged to their lowest.

As the market volatility reduces, XRP is beginning to find its way back to critical levels as the market capitalization of XRP has jumped past $90 billion.

Although this is not the first time XRP will hit this level, it marks a major recovery from the $80 billion it reached earlier this year.

HOT Stories

XRP surges near $1.50As momentum appears to be returning to the crypto market, XRP might be back on track to reclaim the crucial $2.00 level.

With the past few months seeing XRP pull off only extremely weak price moves, the asset has long lost the $2.00 level, since mid-January, sparking fears about the possibility of adding a zero to its price.

Nonetheless, XRP has just surged near its one-month high of $1.50 as its market cap also reclaimed $2.00. This has stirred optimism about its potential to touch 2025 highs as Ripple continues to push its adoption across the globe.

Source: CoinMarketCap With the current positive price movement, XRP has surged by 4.21% over the last 24 hours and it is trading at $1.47 as of writing time, with an intraday-high of $1.49.

Ripple pushes for XRP adoption Despite the serious regulatory backlash XRP faced in previous years, the asset has finally established a strong foothold in the crypto space, gaining traction across the global space.

All of this is thanks to Ripple for its continued developments and partnerships to propel XRP into gaining mainstream adoption. Notably, the firm has majorly focused on enabling faster cross-border payments, using XRP to facilitate international transfers among corporate entities.

While XRP has consistently been in the spotlight amid Ripple’s continued developments, it has significantly bolstered XRP’s adoption and its payment infrastructure even as the market grew weak.

While the XRP community has expressed excitement about its market capitalization reclaiming $90,000,000,000, it has described the milestone as organic, with claims that it was not driven by hype but rather by its real use case, institutional infrastructure and more.

Michael Saylor's Strategy made another huge buy of bitcoin, adding $1.57 billion worth last weekThe company's stack now stands at 761,068 bitcoin, acquired for $57.61 billion. Updated Mar 16, 2026, 12:14 p.m. Published Mar 16, 2026, 12:11 p.m.

Strategy (MSTR), the world's largest publicly traded holder of bitcoin, continued with its large string of weekly purchases, adding $1.57 billion worth of BTC, according to a Monday filing.

Led by executive chairman Michael Saylor, the company added 22,337 bitcoin at an average price of $70,194 per coin, bringing holdings to 761,068 coins, acquired for $657.61 billion, or an average of $75,696 per coin.

In terms of bitcoin acquired, it was the fifth-largest ever weekly purchase of coins by the company.

Bitcoin was trading at $73,600 on Monday morning, higher by 2.6% over the past 24 hours.

The latest addition to the company's bitcoin stash was mostly funded via $1.1 billion in sales of the firm's STRC series of preferred stock. The company also sold $396 million of common stock.

MSTR shares are up 4% in pre-market trading as bitcoin rose through the weekend, currently trading at $73,600, up 2.6% over the past 24 hours.

More For You

Metaplanet raises $255 million to accelerate bitcoin accumulation

4 minutes ago

The Japanese bitcoin treasury firm structured the financing with premium-priced shares and warrants that could unlock up to $531 million.

What to know:

Metaplanet raised 40.8 billion yen ($255 million) through a share placement priced at a 2% premium, paired with warrants carrying a 10% premium strike that could add another 44.5 billion yen if exercised.The company introduced a new warrant structure tied to net asset value and suspended older warrants representing up to 210 million shares to limit dilution and prioritize funding for additional bitcoin purchases.

Strategy, the Virginia-based software company that has transformed itself into the largest corporate holder of Bitcoin, acquired 22,337 Bitcoin during the week ending March 15 for approximately $1.6 billion.

Strategy has acquired 22,337 BTC for ~$1.57 billion at ~$70,194 per bitcoin. As of 3/15/2026, we hodl 761,068 $BTC acquired for ~$57.61 billion at ~$75,696 per bitcoin. $MSTR $STRChttps://t.co/YNpkYHYSg1

— Strategy (@Strategy) March 16, 2026

The purchase, disclosed in a regulatory filing today, brings the firm’s total holdings to 761,068 Bitcoin valued at $56 billion at current market prices.

The company funded the latest acquisition through its at-the-market equity offering program, selling 11.8 million shares of its STRC preferred stock for nearly $1.2 billion in net proceeds and 2.8 million shares of its MSTR common stock for $396 million.

Strategy paid an average price of $70,194 per Bitcoin during the reporting period, representing a discount to current spot prices.

The filing reveals that Strategy retains substantial firepower for future purchases. Across its various securities, the company has around $34 billion remaining available for issuance and sale.

Its STRK preferred stock alone accounts for over $20 billion of that capacity, while over $6 billion remains under its common stock program. The STRF, STRD, and STRC preferred offerings hold an additional $7.6 billion in combined capacity.

Disclosure: This article was edited by Vivian Nguyen. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.

World Liberty Fi will introduce three-tier staking, following a governance discussion. The organization aimed at prioritizing active support from dedicated holders. 

World Liberty Fi governance approved a proposal to create a three-tiered node structure to serve the long-term goals of the ecosystem. The proposal passed with 99.12% support and will change the use cases of the WLFI token.

As Cryptopolitan reported, World Liberty Fi increased the importance of WLFI staking. Despite this, whales have a significant influence on vote outcomes. 76% of the support for the latest vote came from just 10 wallets, bringing back concerns that World Liberty Fi is controlled by whales.

Currently, the World Liberty Fi main wallet holds over 44B tokens, while 21.15B are in the lockbox. World Liberty Fi sits on $4.73B in assets, of which WLFI and USD1 are the main holdings.

Top tier whales to gain access to the World Liberty Fi team Following the vote, stakers with 50M WLFI (valued at around $5M) will operate the top tier nodes. Those node operators will also have direct access to the World Liberty Fi team and become an even more important part of the decision process. 

All nodes will have a 180-day WLFI lockup period, including the base node, with no minimum amount of tokens. Nodes will also grant 2% annualized yield for all tiers.

Small-scale nodes will have USD1 deposit incentives without swapping privileges. The six-month lockup period matches the previous ideas of granting governance rights only after showing a long-term commitment.

Mid-tier nodes will be unlocked for a $1M investment. All high-value nodes will have the opportunity to swap USD1 on an OTC market for fiat, and will receive additional incentives for high-volume activity for the first 1,000 nodes. 

World Liberty Fi has onboarded multiple institutional holders and whale buyers, who may be seeking more returns from the project. The new vote prioritizes whale partners and may keep WLFI out of circulation. 

WLFI still trades close to all-time lows of around $0.10, after a recent dip to a $0.09. The token has put together short-term rallies, but overall, it feels pressure from ongoing selling. 

World Liberty Fi diminishes the supply of USD1 USD1 is the main tool for DeFi participation for World Liberty Fi users. Since February 10, the supply of tokens diminished from a peak of $5.3B, down to $4.7B. 

USD1 will also become a part of the staking program, further diminishing the supply. The token was widely used for meme trading on BNB Chain. 

USD1 mostly spread to BNB Chain and Solana, although activity slowed down in the past month. | Source: DeFi Llama Currently, BNB Chain makes up the bulk of USD1 activity. Some of the supply has also shifted to Solana. 

The velocity of USD1 has fallen in the past month on all its major chains, with the exception of Aptos, where activity grew by 23% in the past day. The bulk of USD1 centralized volume is still on Binance. The lower USD1 activity is also one of the reasons to encourage staking as a new use case for the token. 

Michael Saylor’s Strategy, the world’s largest public holder of Bitcoin, continued aggressively stacking Bitcoin last week, bringing the company’s total reserves to above 760,000 BTC.

Strategy acquired 22,337 Bitcoin (BTC) for $1.57 billion last week, according to a US Securities and Exchange Commission filing on Monday.

The purchase ranks among the five largest Bitcoin acquisitions by Strategy on record, following a massive 17,994 Bitcoin buy for $1.28 billion a week earlier. 

Source: SECThe purchase was made at an average price of $70,194 per Bitcoin, below the company’s overall average acquisition price of $75,696, Strategy said. Bitcoin averaged a price of $70,571 for the week of March 9-15, based on daily closing prices.

The acquisition brings its holdings to 761,068 BTC, acquired for a total cost of roughly $57.61 billion, the company said.

STRC now the most liquid preferred stock in the market, Saylor saysThe purchase came amid Strategy selling record amounts of its perpetual preferred equity, Stretch (STRC), after easing its sales rules on March 9.

“This was the first week Strategy could run the STRC ATM in extended hours with a second broker,” Bitcoin Quant founder Rohan Hirani noted in a post on X.

According to STRC Live, the stock saw a record week last week, with 10,767 BTC estimated to be bought across four active days.

Source: Michael SaylorAccording to the filing, Strategy sold 11.9 million STRC shares for $1.18 billion during the week, with net proceeds accounting for 75% of the entire purchase. The company also sold 2.8 million Common A shares (MSTR), generating $396 million.

Source: SECWith Strategy now holding 761,068 BTC, the company would need to acquire 238,932 BTC to reach 1 million, an average of about 5,700 BTC per week over the remaining 42 weeks of 2026.

Magazine: Bitcoin’s ‘narrative vacuum,’ Ethereum now inevitable: Trade Secrets

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

Strategy has just completed another massive Bitcoin purchase, adding over 22,000 BTC to its corporate treasury. The aggregate purchase price for this haul was a staggering $1.57 billion. 

Between March 9 and March 15, 2026, Strategy Inc. executed a massive accumulation phase, purchasing 22,337 Bitcoin.

According to the filing, the company managed to secure these assets at an average purchase price of $70,194 per BTC.

To bankroll this multi-billion-dollar acquisition, Strategy utilized its at-the-market (ATM) offering program to sell millions of shares of its own stock. 

You Might Also Like

Over the same week-long period, the company raised roughly $1.576 billion in net proceeds.

As of March 15, the company officially holds 761,068 BTC. The aggregate cost basis for this massive corporate treasury sits at $57.61 billion, bringing Strategy's lifetime average purchase price to $75,696 per Bitcoin.

The MSTR stock is up more than 4% in pre-market trading. The recent rally is being fueled by Bitcoin's price recovery. 

The stock is currently pushing up against local resistance in the $145.00 - $147.00 zone. It is attempting to form a higher low compared to the early March peak.

TLDR Table of Contents

TLDRMSTR Advances in Premarket TradingSaylor Previewed the AcquisitionGet 3 Free Stock Ebooks Strategy acquired 22,337 BTC for approximately $1.57 billion during the week of March 9–15, representing its largest acquisition in 2026 Company’s Bitcoin reserves now total 761,068 BTC, purchased for a cumulative $57.61 billion at an average cost of $75,696 per Bitcoin Financing came primarily from $1.1 billion in STRC preferred stock offerings, supplemented by $396 million from MSTR common stock sales Represents Strategy’s 12th straight week of Bitcoin accumulation Shares climbed more than 4% during premarket hours, peaking at $149 before stabilizing near $145 Strategy completed its largest Bitcoin acquisition of the year last week, purchasing 22,337 BTC valued at $1.57 billion. The transaction was executed at an average cost of $70,194 per Bitcoin, expanding the company’s total cryptocurrency holdings to 761,068 BTC.

The firm’s cumulative Bitcoin investment has reached $57.61 billion, representing an average purchase price of $75,696 per coin across all acquisitions.

This marks the company’s 12th uninterrupted weekly Bitcoin acquisition. Over the past fortnight alone, Strategy has accumulated approximately 40,000 BTC — a holding size that surpasses nearly all other publicly traded corporations with Bitcoin treasury positions.

By volume, this transaction represents the fifth-largest weekly acquisition in Strategy’s corporate history.

The purchase was predominantly financed through the STRC preferred stock initiative. Strategy generated $1.18 billion by distributing 11.8 million STRC shares. An additional $396 million was secured through the sale of 2.8 million MSTR common shares.

This represents the first instance where STRC proceeds exceeded MSTR stock sales in funding a weekly acquisition. The timing aligned with STRC experiencing exceptional trading volume, establishing it as the most actively traded preferred stock this month.

MSTR Advances in Premarket Trading MSTR commenced Monday’s session trading more than 4% above the previous week’s closing price of $140. Shares momentarily touched $149 during premarket activity before consolidating around the $145 level.

Strategy Inc, MSTR

The equity movement coincided with Bitcoin’s weekend price appreciation. BTC surged past $74,000 during Monday’s intraday session before moderating to approximately $73,600, reflecting a 24-hour gain of roughly 2.6%.

Bitcoin has appreciated 10% since February 28 — coinciding with the commencement of U.S. military operations against Iran.

Other cryptocurrency-exposed equities similarly advanced. Coinbase (COIN) appreciated 2.8% in premarket trading. Robinhood (HOOD) increased 1.9%.

Saylor Previewed the Acquisition Michael Saylor shared Strategy’s Bitcoin holdings visualization on Sunday accompanied by the phrase “Stretch the Orange Dots” — an allusion to STRC, colloquially known as “Stretch,” being deployed to finance the transaction.

Market participants interpreted the message as foreshadowing another weekly acquisition, prompting MSTR shares to rise in anticipation ahead of the official SEC disclosure Monday morning.

Strategy’s Monday regulatory filing validated the speculation: 22,337 BTC acquired for $1.57 billion at an average price of $70,194 per coin.

TLDR Table of Contents

TLDRInnovative Warrant Mechanism Linked to Modified Net Asset ValueAmbitious 210,000 BTC Acquisition Strategy Drives Growth InitiativesGet 3 Free Stock Ebooks Through a premium-priced share placement, Metaplanet secured 40.8 billion yen (approximately $255 million) from international institutional backers. Additional warrants featuring a 10% premium strike price could generate another 44.5 billion yen, potentially raising total funding to approximately $531 million. A novel mNAV-linked warrant mechanism was unveiled, ensuring share issuance only occurs when Bitcoin holdings per share increase. Previously issued warrants representing up to 210 million shares were suspended to minimize shareholder dilution. The firm aims to accumulate 100,000 BTC by late 2026 and 210,000 BTC by late 2027, with current holdings at 35,102 BTC. Tokyo-based Metaplanet (3350) has successfully secured approximately $255 million from international institutional investors via a strategic share placement as part of its aggressive Bitcoin treasury expansion strategy.

Metaplanet Inc., 3350.T

The shares were issued at a 2% premium above prevailing market rates. Accompanying the placement are fixed-strike warrants with a 10% premium, potentially generating an additional 44.5 billion yen upon exercise.

Combined, the capital raising initiative could yield approximately $531 million in total funding, as disclosed by CEO Simon Gerovich.

With 35,102 BTC currently in its treasury—worth approximately $2.6 billion at today’s valuations—Metaplanet ranks as the fourth-largest corporate Bitcoin holder globally, trailing Strategy and MARA Holdings, which collectively control 792,553 Bitcoin.

Shares of Metaplanet advanced 5% on Monday, coinciding with Bitcoin’s recovery above the $73,000 threshold.

Innovative Warrant Mechanism Linked to Modified Net Asset Value As part of this funding round, Metaplanet unveiled a groundbreaking series of moving strike warrants incorporating an mNAV clause—a pioneering feature for stock acquisition instruments of this nature.

This innovative structure permits warrant exercise only when the company’s share price reaches or exceeds 1.01 times its modified net asset value. This measurement compares Metaplanet’s total market capitalization against the valuation of its Bitcoin treasury.

According to company statements, this mechanism guarantees that any new share creation will enhance Bitcoin holdings per share, protecting existing shareholders from value dilution.

In conjunction with this new framework, Metaplanet halted exercise privileges on earlier-issued warrants representing up to 210 million shares. This strategic decision aims to prevent dilution while maintaining focus on Bitcoin accumulation objectives.

Ambitious 210,000 BTC Acquisition Strategy Drives Growth Initiatives The capital secured will be allocated primarily toward building Metaplanet’s bitcoin treasury.

Management has established an interim objective of accumulating 100,000 BTC by the conclusion of 2026, progressing toward an ultimate target of 210,000 BTC by the end of 2027.

To facilitate this ambitious roadmap, Metaplanet plans to launch a United States-based subsidiary named Metaplanet Asset Management. This entity will concentrate on venture capital investments and digital asset financial services related to Bitcoin capital markets.

Separately, Strategy—the world’s largest corporate Bitcoin holder—is anticipated to reveal additional Bitcoin acquisitions, following recent statements from Executive Chairman Michael Saylor and last week’s preferred equity offering.

Metaplanet’s current Bitcoin holdings stand at 35,102 BTC with an estimated value of $2.6 billion.