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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



You might have missed…



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



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Equities

Large Cap

Macro Economic Events

Commodities

Econ #s

Economics

Federal Reserve

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

Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) and SpaceX have both raised <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/tariffs">concerns about the tariffs</a>, warning that retaliatory measures could harm their respective industries. 



The companies, both led by Elon Musk, submitted letters to U.S. Trade Representative Jamison Greer urging consideration of the broader economic impacts when shaping trade strategies, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/03/14/elon-musks-spacex-tesla-lobby-trump-trade-rep-on-tariffs.html">CNBC</a> reports.



What Happened: In its letter, Tesla warned that previous U.S. trade actions had increased costs for vehicles both in the domestic market and abroad, weakening the company&#8217;s competitiveness, ABC News <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/tesla-letter-tells-trump-administration-worried-tariffs/story?id=119796605">reports</a>. Meanwhile, SpaceX highlighted concerns that tariffs on key spacecraft components could disrupt production and add significant costs to future projects. 



Both companies stressed that retaliatory tariffs imposed by China and Canada were placing additional strain on U.S. exporters.



Tesla's letter, as reported by ABC News, did not identify its author, and it&#8217;s unclear whether Musk personally influenced the communication. Musk has not publicly commented on the letters, though he has previously supported reduced government spending. The White House has yet to respond to Tesla and SpaceX&#8217;s concerns. 



Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/03/44340164/market-bottom-or-another-scared-cat-bounce-wall-street-veteran-remains-skeptical">Market Bottom Or Another &#8216;Scared Cat Bounce&#8217;? Wall Street Veteran Remains Skeptical</a>



Why It Matters: Concerns from Tesla and SpaceX emerge at a turbulent time for Musk's public image. Musk's growing political involvement, including his role in the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency, has faced skepticism.



According to a recent CNN/SSRS poll, 62% of respondents believe Musk lacks the necessary experience to influence government changes, while 53% expressed <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/politics/25/03/44319499/elon-musk-disapproval-rating-53-in-new-poll-62-say-tesla-ceo-doesnt-have-right-experience-to-make-changes-to-government">disapproval of his involvement.</a> 



This discontent has coincided with declining Tesla stock prices. Since the start of 2025, Tesla's valuation has fallen over 34%. The drop follows widespread concerns about Musk's dual focus on government work and corporate leadership. Critics argue that his involvement in political matters could further hinder investor confidence.



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44337983/economists-react-to-march-consumer-confidence-plunge-this-is-a-horrific-report">&#8216;Horrific Report&#8217;: Economists Warn Consumer Confidence Collapse Signals Economic Trouble</a></li>
</ul>



Photo: Shutterstock

Government

News

Politics

Tech

TSLA

Tesla, SpaceX Warn Tariffs Could Harm US Innovation And Industry

Harold Hamm, oil magnate and founder of Continental Resources, issued a stark warning: if oil prices remain at current levels, drilling in key U.S. shale fields could <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44168987/oil-prices-hit-multi-year-lows">come to a standstill. </a>



The Details: Speaking at CERAWeek in Houston, Hamm emphasized that with oil prices hovering near $65 per barrel, many fields are already struggling to remain viable.&nbsp;



"When you get below the cost of supply, you can't ‘drill, baby, drill,'" he told Bloomberg, per OilPrice.com.



Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/03/44310724/doge-cuts-to-ftc-sow-confusion-in-case-against-amazon">DOGE Cuts To FTC Sow Confusion In Case Against Amazon</a>&nbsp;



While industry leaders have applauded the rollback of Biden-era climate regulations, Trump's trade policies—particularly his tariff disputes with Canada—are creating uncertainty and further pressuring crude oil prices. Trump has described the lower prices as "phenomenal news," but many in the oil sector are expressing concern.&nbsp;



"There are a lot of fields that are getting to the point that's real tough to keep that cost of supply down," Hamm told Bloomberg Television.&nbsp;



"When you get down to that $50 oil that you talked about, then you're below the point where you're going to ‘drill, baby, drill.'"



ConocoPhillips (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COP#NYSE">COP</a>) CEO Ryan Lance also highlighted inflationary pressures and investor anxiety over Trump's unpredictable trade policies affecting the industry.&nbsp;



Scott Sheffield, former CEO of Pioneer Natural Resources, told Bloomberg Television that the price publicly traded oil drillers need to cover costs and turn a profit is between $50 and $55 a barrel. 



The oil industry could be at a turning point as low oil prices benefit consumers but pose significant challenges for producers. 



The United States Oil Fund LP (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USO#NYSE">USO</a>) ETF, tracking the daily price movements of light, sweet crude oil, is down more than 4% in 2025. 



Read Next:&nbsp;



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/25/03/44253259/uncertainty-rocks-the-trump-trade-how-maga-seven-stocks-look-now">Uncertainty Rocks The Trump Trade: How &#8216;MAGA Seven&#8217; Stocks Look Now</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock&nbsp;

Specialty ETFs

Management

Markets

ETFs

Oil Titan Harold Hamm Warns Drilling Could Stop If Oil Prices Remain Low: 'You Can't Drill, Baby, Drill'

Wall Street is enjoying a strong bounce at the end of a turbulent week that sent the S&amp;P 500 into correction territory for the first <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/03/44338243/wall-street-bounces-back-as-shutdown-risks-fade-stocks-eye-strongest-day-in-4-months-whats-driving-markets-friday">time since October 2023.</a>



The S&amp;P 500 – as tracked by the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) – was up 2% by late afternoon trading in New York, eyeing the strongest surge in more than four months.



Yet, veteran investor Ed Yardeni isn't convinced the worst is over, calling the rebound more of a "scared cat bounce" rather than a sign of a final market bottom.



In an email sent Friday, Yardeni, president of Yardeni Research, highlighted two key developments that fueled the end-week rally. 



The first is the likelihood that a government shutdown will be avoided. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said Thursday he would support a Republican-backed short-term funding bill, removing an immediate threat to government operations.



The second, more surprising catalyst was President Donald Trump's silence on tariffs.



Investors appeared to cheer the absence of trade-related rhetoric, with Yardeni saying, "Any day without a Trump tariff comment is a good day for the market."



Yardeni pointed to a key development that could potentially soften Donald Trump's aggressive trade stance going forward. 



In an unsigned letter to the U.S. trade representative, Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) said that while it &#8220;supports&#8221; fair trade, it fears U.S. exporters could face &#8220;disproportionate impacts&#8221; if other nations retaliate against tariffs.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Is This A Real Bottom?</h3>



Despite Friday's relief rally, Yardeni remains cautious. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/03/44320528/wall-street-bull-turns-cautious-ed-yardeni-cuts-s-p-500-target-as-trumps-tariffs-threat-stagflation">He recently cut his year-end S&amp;P 500 price target</a> from 7,000 to 6,400 for 2025 and from 8,000 to 7,200 for 2026, citing ongoing risks to economic growth. 



Yet, he stopped short of forecasting a recession, a growing concern among market watchers.



"We continue to bet on the resilience of the economy," Yardeni said. He expects Trump will avoid policies that could trigger a downturn before the 2026 midterms, as a recession would threaten Republican control of Congress.



The market's choppy start to 2025 hasn't been entirely unexpected, but the downside volatility has been sharper than anticipated.



While bearish sentiment is high, Yardeni suggests that a more convincing bottom would come when markets rise despite renewed tariff threats from Trump.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Wall Street Eyes April 2 Tariff Deadline</h3>



Investors are closely watching April 2, when the Trump administration is set to impose new reciprocal tariffs on multiple nations. 



The expectation is that Trump, whom Yardeni dubbed "Tariff Man," will respond aggressively, potentially unsettling markets.



The options market is also flashing warning signs. The CBOE Put/Call Ratio, a measure of bearish bets relative to bullish ones, jumped to 0.94—well above its historical average of 0.66. This suggests investors are hedging against further declines, a potential contrarian buy signal.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">A Contrarian Opportunity?</h3>



Extreme pessimism could signal a buying opportunity for those willing to bet against the prevailing market mood. If history repeats, a strong rally might emerge once traders stop fearing tariff headlines.



Yardeni stays cautious in the short term but optimistic about the market&#8217;s medium- and long-term outlook.



"We thought the stock market would be choppy at the beginning of the year before heading back to record high territory later this year," he said.



Read Next: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/03/44327908/2025-recession-bets-are-on-fire-yet-traders-could-still-pocket-over-50-gains-if-us-economy-just-holds">2025 Recession Bets Are On Fire, Yet Traders Could Still Pocket Over 50% Gains If US Economy Just Holds</a></li>
</ul>



Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

Regulations

Broad U.S. Equity ETFs

Market Bottom Or Another 'Scared Cat Bounce'? Wall Street Veteran Remains Skeptical

Crypto markets are surging into the weekend, sparking speculation on whether Bitcoin's break above $84,000 could fuel further upside.



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Cryptocurrency</td><td>Price&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>Gains +/-</td></tr><tr><td>Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>)</td><td>&nbsp;$84,793.95&nbsp;</td><td>+5%</td></tr><tr><td>Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>)</td><td>&nbsp;$1,939.46</td><td>+4.6%</td></tr><tr><td>Solana (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/sol/usd">SOL</a>)</td><td>&nbsp;$134.25</td><td>+9.2%</td></tr><tr><td>XRP (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/xrp/usd">XRP</a>)</td><td>&nbsp;$2.35</td><td>+4.3%</td></tr><tr><td>Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>)</td><td>&nbsp;$0.1713</td><td>+4.2%</td></tr><tr><td>Shiba Inu (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/shib/usd">SHIB</a>)</td><td>&nbsp;$0.00001265&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>+5.7%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Notable Statistics:



<ul>
<li>IntoTheBlock data shows large transaction volume decreasing by 15.5% and daily active addresses up by 3.6%. Transactions greater than $100,000 are down from 10,064 to 9,548 &nbsp;in a single day. Exchanges netflows are down by 87.8%.</li>



<li>Coinglass data reports 69,998 traders were liquidated in the past 24 hours for $171.48 million.</li>
</ul>



Notable Developments:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://in.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/03/44330826/vladimir-putin-said-nobody-can-ban-bitcoin-now-russia-reportedly-leverages-btc-to-evade-sanctions-when-selling-oil-to-china-india">Vladimir Putin Said &#8216;Nobody Can Ban Bitcoin&#8217;—Now Russia Reportedly Leverages BTC To Evade Sanctions When Selling Oil To China, India</a></li>



<li><a href="https://in.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/03/44327489/trump-backed-world-liberty-financial-raises-590m-in-token-sales">Trump-Backed World Liberty Financial Raises $590M In Token Sales</a></li>



<li><a href="https://in.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/03/44326594/trump-administration-signals-aggressive-cost-neutral-bitcoin-accumulation-strategy">Trump Administration Signals Aggressive Cost-Neutral Bitcoin Accumulation Strategy</a></li>



<li><a href="https://in.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/03/44334930/floki-community-shuts-down-coinbase-delisting-rumors-sets-sight-on-chasing-dogecoin-shiba-inu">Floki Community Shuts Down Coinbase Delisting Rumors, Sets Sight On Chasing Dogecoin, Shiba Inu</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/03/44321245/ripple-sec-lawsuit-nears-end-will-xrp-be-classified-as-commodity-like-ethereum">Ripple-SEC Lawsuit Nears End: Will XRP Be Classified As Commodity Like Ethereum?</a></li>
</ul>



Top Gainers:



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Cryptocurrency</td><td>Price&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>Gains +/-</td></tr><tr><td>OFFICIAL TRUMP (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">TRUMP</a>)</td><td>&nbsp;$11.98</td><td>+14.4%</td></tr><tr><td>Sonic (prev. FTM) (CRYPTO: S)</td><td>&nbsp;$0.5392</td><td>+13.8%</td></tr><tr><td>Chainlink (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/link/usd">LINK</a>)</td><td>&nbsp;$14.53</td><td>+12.6%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Trader Notes: With Bitcoin prices moving upwards, crypto chart analyst Ali Martinez <a href="https://x.com/ali_charts/status/1900593013442916409">predicts</a> Bitcoin could push to $90,000 if $84,000 support holds over the weekend.



Trader Jelle <a href="https://x.com/CryptoJelleNL/status/1900590125353972217">voices</a> a similar opinion, highlighting that BTC reclaimed $84,000 after a week of testing. 



Holding this level over the weekend could set up a move toward $90,000. 



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">There we go, after a week of pushing into $84,000 &#8211; we&#39;re now back above it. Want to see the area hold over the weekend &#8211; so we can charge towards $90,000 next. Reclaim that level too &#8211; and the PO3 comes into play. Could get interesting. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bitcoin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bitcoin</a> <a href="https://t.co/jvke9MXZDI">pic.twitter.com/jvke9MXZDI</a>&mdash; Jelle (@CryptoJelleNL) <a href="https://twitter.com/CryptoJelleNL/status/1900590125353972217?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Crypto trader CRG <a href="https://x.com/MacroCRG/status/1900601566119289317">explains</a> U.S. indices are breaking out on low timeframes—a strong close today could fuel a bullish weekend for crypto if momentum holds.



Javon Marks <a href="https://x.com/JavonTM1/status/1900563718976544970">believes</a> this is not Bitcoin's most bullish phase because historical trends and price structure suggest the most explosive bull phase is still ahead.



Bloomberg senior ETF Analyst Eric Balchunas stated Bitcoin ETF inflows have dipped to $35 billion from a peak of $40 billion, but with $115 billion in assets under management, over 95% of investor cash has held strong despite a 25% price drop.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Nice <a href="https://twitter.com/JSeyff?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JSeyff</a> chart of Bitcoin ETF inflows which are down to $35b (from peak of $40b). Based on $115b of aum that means more than 95% of inv cash has held strong despite painful 25% decline = the Boomers are showing y&#39;all how it&#39;s done.. &#x2A;ducks&#x2A; <a href="https://t.co/8OtH6NM33g">pic.twitter.com/8OtH6NM33g</a>&mdash; Eric Balchunas (@EricBalchunas) <a href="https://twitter.com/EricBalchunas/status/1900282396739555381?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Read Next:&nbsp;



<ul>
<li><a href="https://in.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/03/44337275/bitcoin-reclaims-84000-what-does-technical-analysis-say">Bitcoin Reclaims $84,000: What Does Technical Analysis Say?</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

Cryptocurrency

$BTC

$DOGE

$ETH

$INJ

$LINK

$SHIB

$SOL

$TRUMP

$XRP

Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Dogecoin Rally: Can BTC Hold $84,000 Over The Weekend For A Push To $90,000?

The University of Michigan&#8217;s March consumer confidence survey <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/03/44331170/us-consumer-confidence-plunges-as-inflation-fears-hit-highest-level-since-1993">showed a rapid decrease </a>in consumer confidence amid historically high inflation expectations. Economists say this could be a bad omen for the United States economy.



The Report: The report, released Friday, showed an 11% monthly-over-month drop and a 22% decline from December 2024. Meanwhile, inflation expectations jumped from 4.3% in February to 4.9% in March, the highest reading since November 2022.



The survey showed some signs of political polarization, though Republicans, Democrats and Independents all reported declines in their economic expectations.



Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/specialty-etfs/25/03/44335436/gold-etfs-shine-as-spot-price-tops-3000-during-safe-haven-demand">Gold ETFs Shine As Spot Price Tops $3,000 During Safe-Haven Demand</a>



Economist Reactions: Experts didn&#8217;t sugarcoat the results of the survey, calling them a serious warning sign for the U.S. economy.



"This is an horrific report," Samuel Tombs, chief U.S. economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/14/business/inflation-consumer-sentiment.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&amp;referringSource=articleShare">told</a> the New York Times. "Elevated economic policy uncertainty and the sharp drop in stock prices have greatly undermined consumers' confidence."



Stanford professor Neale Mahoney <a href="https://x.com/nealemahoney/status/1900551798827458677">called</a> stagflation expectations &#8220;scary&#8221; in a post on X.



Diane Swonk, chief economist for KPMG, had similar worries.



&#8220;Sadly, the consumer sentiment figures have a stagflation vibe, which poses a challenge to the Federal Reserve. The current tariffs we saw are so large and staggered that they hit both margins and prices,&#8221; Swonk <a href="https://x.com/DianeSwonk/status/1900561364571041848">posted</a> on X.



Bill Adams, Chief Economist for Comerica Bank, similarly expressed concern about whether high inflation expectations would keep the Federal Reserve from cutting interest rates.



&#8220;This is bad news. People who fear losing jobs pull back on discretionary spending,&#8221; Adams said Friday. &#8220;Don't hold your breath for the Fed to ride to the rescue if spending falls as inflation expectations are soaring.&#8221;



Retailer Warns Pressure: On Tuesday, Kohl&#8217;s Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KSS#NYSE">KSS</a>) warned of a challenging outlook for fiscal 2025, expecting sales to decline by 5% to 7%, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44262764/kohls-ceo-warns-of-pretty-challenging-environment-for-consumers-expects-value-seeking-to-grow-over-next-3-months">citing &#8220;constrained&#8221; shoppers</a>. 



CEO Ashley Buchanan said much of Kohl&#8217;s customer base is under pressure from rising costs in rent, housing, and groceries, noting, &#8220;If you&#8217;re making less than 50 [thousand], that consumer is pretty constrained from a discretionary standpoint,&#8221; and adding that value-seeking behavior will &#8220;probably expand… across income cohorts over the next probably three or four months.&#8221;



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44335131/vacation-planning-hits-15-year-low-in-latest-sign-of-cash-strapped-us-consumer">Vacation Planning Hits 15-Year Low In Latest Sign Of Cash-Strapped US Consumers</a></li>
</ul>



Photo: Shutterstock

'Horrific Report': Economists Warn Consumer Confidence Collapse Signals Economic Trouble

Gold hit a fresh record high on Thursday, with spot gold <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44325928/gold-smashes-through-3000-mark-as-markets-brace-for-turbulence-and-fed-signals">crossing $3,000 per ounce</a>, up 1.8%. It has surged 13% in 2025, outperforming all major asset classes. On Friday, spot gold pared some of the gains and was trading at $2,982.73 as of 11:50 a.m. EST.



Needless to say, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs">gold ETFs</a>, which offer investors exposure to gold without owning the metal, have gained from this rally. Some top-performing gold ETFs include:



SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GLD#NYSE">GLD</a>): Tracks spot gold prices closely and has an expense ratio of 0.4%. It has risen 12% year-to-date, illustrating the strong demand for gold as a safe-haven asset.



iShares Gold Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IAU#NYSE">IAU</a>): Follows the performance of the price of gold bullion. It carries an expense ratio of 0.25%. The ETF has climbed 12% YTD, closely mirroring gold's price action.



VanEck Vectors Gold Miners ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GDX#NYSE">GDX</a>): Focuses on gold mining stocks and carries an expense ratio of 0.5%. The ETF has gained 23.5% YTD, benefiting from rising gold prices and improved miner profitability.



VanEck Junior Gold Miners ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GDXJ#NYSE">GDXJ</a>): Targets smaller, high-growth mining firms. The ETF has surged 22.8% YTD as speculative interest in smaller miners has picked up.



Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/03/44331708/billionaire-hedge-funder-adds-mining-stocks-before-gold-makes-record-highs-gold-will-go-up-paulson-says">Billionaire Hedge Funder Adds Mining Stocks Before Gold Makes Record-Highs: &#8216;Gold Will Go Up,&#8217; Paulson Says</a>



<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Surging Gold ETF Inflows</h1>



Investor interest in gold ETFs is on the rise. The World Gold Council <a href="https://www.gold.org/goldhub/research/gold-etfs-holdings-and-flows/2025/03">reported </a>recently that global physically-backed gold ETFs saw $9.4 billion in inflows in February, the highest since March 2022. This marks three consecutive months of strong inflows, pushing total assets under management (AUM) to $306 billion. Holdings have also risen to 3,353 tonnes, the highest since July 2023. 



North American flows rebounded after two months of outflows, while Asian demand remained strong and European inflows narrowed. 



<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Why Is Gold Soaring?</h1>



Simply, economic uncertainty and geopolitical risks are driving gold's rally.



President Donald Trump's administration has reignited trade war fears by threatening tariffs. The <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/03/44308014/gold-hits-record-highs-as-trade-war-fears-fuel-safe-haven-demand-mining-stocks-soar">Atlanta Federal Reserve's GDPNow model projects</a> a 2.4% contraction for the U.S. economy in the first quarter of 2025, and JPMorgan raised the probability of a recession to 40%.



A key unknown factor is also influencing gold prices. 



"A large and unknown player is driving gold's recent rally," said Ross Norman, CEO of Metals Daily Ltd., speculating that this could explain the unusual movements in gold prices.



Macquarie Group analysts are bullish, forecasting gold at $3,500 per ounce by the third quarter. "We view gold's price strength to date, and our expectation for it to continue, as primarily being driven by investors' and official institutions' greater willingness to pay for its lack of credit or counterparty risk," Macquarie wrote.



With trade tensions, recession fears and global uncertainty, demand for gold, and naturally, gold ETFs, is expected to stay strong. As price targets rise, investors seeking a hedge against volatility may find gold ETFs a compelling option.



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Trading Ideas

GDXJ

Gold ETFs Shine As Spot Price Tops $3,000 During Safe-Haven Demand

Stocks staged a sharp rebound on Friday as concerns over a potential government shutdown eased after Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) opted not to veto <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44320221/chuck-schumer-says-a-government-shutdown-will-give-trump-the-keys-to-the-city-state-and-country-and-elon-musk-the-chance-to-destroy-government-services">a Republican spending bill. </a>



The S&amp;P 500 jumped 1.9%, eyeing track for its strongest daily rally since November 6, 2024, when investors piled into equities following Donald Trump&#8216;s presidential election victory. 



Tech stocks and small caps both gained 2.3%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 1.5%. 



Despite Friday's gains, the broader market remains deeply in the red for the week, with the S&amp;P 500 heading for its fourth consecutive weekly decline, marking the longest losing streak since May 2022. 



All S&amp;P 500 sectors traded in positive territory on Friday, though only utilities and energy are poised to end the week with gains.



Economic data painted a concerning picture. The <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/03/44331170/us-consumer-confidence-plunges-as-inflation-fears-hit-highest-level-since-1993">University of Michigan&#8217;s consumer sentiment index</a> fell more than anticipated, while inflation expectations spiked. A key gauge tracking five-year forward inflation expectations among consumers climbed to 3.9%, the highest level since March 1993.



Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) surged 4% to $84,000, flipping to weekly gains and lifting other crypto-related assets. Meanwhile, gold, as tracked by the SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GLD#NYSE">GLD</a>), was flat on the day but reached a historic milestone, hitting $3,000 per ounce for the first time ever. 



The precious metal is on pace to post its tenth positive week in the past eleven, outperforming all major asset classes year-to-date.



Stock markets also rallied worldwide. Chinese equities soared on expectations of increased government stimulus, while European stocks surged after Germany secured a historic deal to raise its debt ceiling.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Friday&#8217;s Performance In Major US Indices, ETFs</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Major Indices</td><td>Price</td><td>1-day %chg</td></tr><tr><td>Nasdaq 100</td><td>19,636.47</td><td>2.3%</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>2,038.13</td><td>2.3%</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>5,615.85</td><td>1.8%</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>41,408.07</td><td>1.5%</td></tr></tbody></table><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated as of 1:30 p.m. ET</figcaption></figure>



According to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">Benzinga Pro</a>&nbsp;data:



<ul>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) rose 1.8% to $561.04.</li>



<li>The&nbsp;SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>) rose 1.5% to $414.39.</li>



<li>The tech-heavy&nbsp;Invesco QQQ Trust Series&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>)&nbsp;rallied 2.3% to $477.99.</li>



<li>The&nbsp;iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) surged 2.3% to 203.12 </li>



<li>The&nbsp;Energy&nbsp;Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLE#NYSE">XLE</a>) outperformed, up 2.6%; the&nbsp;Consumer Staples&nbsp;Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLP#NYSE">XLP</a>) was the laggard, up 0.1%.</li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Friday&#8217;s Stock Movers</h3>



Stocks reacting to earnings report included: 



<ul>
<li>DocuSign Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DOCU#NASDAQ">DOCU</a>), up 17%,</li>



<li>Ulta Beauty Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ULTA#NASDAQ">ULTA</a>), up 12.4%,</li>



<li>Li Auto Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LI#NASDAQ">LI</a>), down 3.1%,</li>



<li>Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WPM#NYSE">WPM</a>), up 1.8%, </li>



<li>Crown Castle Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CCI#NYSE">CCI</a>), up 8.7%. </li>
</ul>



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DOCU

ULTA

Wall Street Bounces Back As Shutdown Risks Fade, Stocks Eye Strongest Day In 4 Months: What's Driving Markets Friday?

On Friday, CVS Health&nbsp;Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVS#NYSE">CVS</a>) released data from the CVS Weight Management&nbsp;program, in which participants achieved more than 15% weight loss on average. This included existing anti-obesity medication users who succeeded in nearly doubling their pre-program weight loss while working with program clinicians <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/weight-loss" rel="noreferrer noopener">on diet and lifestyle</a>.



Results are derived from a population of 265,000 members from 2023-2024.&nbsp;



Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/25/02/43709040/cvs-health-gains-momentum-after-q4-performance-analyst-upgrades-stock" rel="noreferrer noopener">CVS Health Gains Momentum After Q4 Performance, Analyst Upgrades Stock</a>



The initial results demonstrate improved weight loss and high program satisfaction for CVS Caremark clients&#8217; plan members trying a lifestyle-first approach, as well as additional clinical effectiveness and cost savings for members receiving clinical support while taking weight management <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/03/n44324587/cvs-weight-management-program-improves-health-outcomes-while-also-lowering-costs" rel="noreferrer noopener">medications like GLP-1s</a>.



GLP-1 products from Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVO#NYSE">NVO</a>) and Eli Lilli And Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LLY#NYSE">LLY</a>) have gained substantial traction. The CVS Weight Management program provides one-on-one support from a dedicated registered dietitian in a virtual setting, including personalized nutrition planning.



The program can integrate into a member&#8217;s existing pharmacy benefit with plan sponsors&#8217; direction.



CVS Caremark clients who adopted the CVS Weight Management program spent up to 26% less on&nbsp;GLP-1&nbsp;medications for weight loss than clients who did not adopt the program.



The program also has a lasting impact, with 92% of participating plan members expressing satisfaction after six months.



As of&nbsp;February 1, 2025, the CVS Weight Management program is now available to over 3.5 million CVS Caremark plan members.



Despite FDA prescription drug labeling recommendations to take&nbsp;GLP-1&#8217;s in combination with diet and physical activity, 70% of members were using a weight management drug without any lifestyle or nutrition support before enrolling in the CVS Weight Management program.



<ul>
<li>Before program enrollment, nearly 30% of members had lost less than 1% of their body weight on anti-obesity medication. These same members lost, on average, 11.7% of body weight after enrollment.</li>



<li>The program accelerated weight loss and delivered an average of 20% weight loss for those with moderate success before enrollment.</li>



<li>Members who chose to discontinue anti-obesity medication and retain lifestyle support maintained 94% of their weight loss after 6 months.</li>
</ul>



Price Action: CVS stock is up 1.33% at $66.64&nbsp;at the last check Friday.



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Health Care

General

CVS Weight Management Program Yields 15% Average Weight Loss, 26% Cost Saving Among Participants

Consumer confidence in the U.S. plunged to its lowest level in four months, raising concerns about a slowing economy and persistent inflation, according to data released Friday <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/econ-s">by the University of Michigan</a>. 



With inflation expectations jumping to their highest level in decades, fears of a stagflationary environment—where growth stagnates while inflation remains elevated—are mounting.



The University of Michigan said its preliminary March Consumer Sentiment Index fell from February's 64.7 to 57.9 points, well below economists&#8217; expectations of 63.1. This marks an 11% monthly drop and a staggering 22% decline from December 2024.



The report also showed that consumer expectations for future economic conditions plummeted, with the Consumer Expectations Index falling to 54.2 from 64.0, well below the 64.3 consensus forecast. 



Meanwhile, the Current Conditions Index, which measures consumers' assessment of their present financial situation, dropped slightly to 63.5 from 65.7.



Year-ahead inflation expectations jumped from 4.3% in February to 4.9% in March, the highest since November 2022. 



Long-run inflation expectations surged from 3.5% to 3.9%, marking the largest increase since 1993. 



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Survey – March 2025</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><thead><tr><th>Indicator</th><th>March 2025</th><th>February 2025</th><th>Consensus Estimate (TradingEconomics)</th><th>Key Takeaway</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Consumer Sentiment Index</td><td>57.9</td><td>64.7</td><td>63.1</td><td>Lowest level since November 2023, down 22% from December 2024.</td></tr><tr><td>Consumer Expectations Index</td><td>54.2</td><td>64.0</td><td>64.3</td><td>Lowest since July 2022</td></tr><tr><td>Current Conditions Index</td><td>63.5</td><td>65.7</td><td>65.0</td><td>Four straight months of decline</td></tr><tr><td>1-Year Inflation Expectations</td><td>4.9%</td><td>4.3%</td><td>N/A</td><td>Highest since November 2022</td></tr><tr><td>5-Year Inflation Expectations</td><td>3.9%</td><td>3.5%</td><td>N/A</td><td>Highest since March 1993</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Chart: 5-Year Inflation Expectations Jump To A 32-Year High</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="529" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/14102420/image-128-1024x529.png" alt="" class="wp-image-825036" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/14102420/image-128-1024x529.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/14102420/image-128-300x155.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/14102420/image-128-768x396.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/14102420/image-128-1536x793.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/14102420/image-128.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">What's Driving the Decline In Confidence?</h3>



The report revealed that confidence deteriorated across all demographic and political groups. 



Sentiment fell "consistently across all groups by age, education, income, wealth, political affiliations, and geographic regions," Joanne Hsu, director of the Surveys of Consumers, said. 



According to the survey, consumers are increasingly worried about inflation, business conditions, stock markets, and labor markets.



Frequent shifts in economic policy and uncertainty around government actions are making it increasingly difficult for consumers to plan for the future, Hsu said.



Even though Republicans initially felt more optimistic after the 2024 elections, their expectations index still fell 10% in March. Independents and Democrats reported even steeper declines of 12% and 24%, respectively.



The spike in both short-term and long-term inflation expectations could challenge the Federal Reserve&#8217;s plans for potential rate cuts in 2025, as persistent price pressures remain a top concern for consumers.



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



The S&amp;P 500 trimmed session gains following the UMich sentiment report. The index – as tracked by the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) – was up 1.5% before the release but moderated to a 0.7% increase by 10:15 a.m. ET.



Treasury yields were higher for the session, with the 10-year yield rising to 4.30%, reflecting concerns that persistent inflation could delay Fed rate cuts. 



The U.S. dollar index – tracked by the Invesco DB USD Index Bullish Fund ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UUP#NYSE">UUP</a>) – dipped 0.1%, heading for its second consecutive week of declines.



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Currency ETFs

US Consumer Confidence Plunges As Inflation Fears Hit Highest Level Since 1993

Tesla&nbsp;Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>)&nbsp;is eyeing the production of an affordable version of its popular <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/tesla" rel="noreferrer noopener">Model Y in Shanghai</a>, Reuters reported, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter. The company plans to commercialize in 2026 at its Shanghai Gigafactory for its China market



The smaller size car will cost at least 20% less to produce than the refreshed Model Y, the report said



Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44306214/gm-and-pge-team-up-to-let-evs-power-homes-offer-up-to-4500-in-energy-incentives" rel="noreferrer noopener">GM And PG&amp;E Team Up To Let EVs Power Homes, Offer Up To $4,500 In Energy Incentives</a>



The electric vehicle company is developing the model using existing production lines under a project dubbed &#8220;E41.&#8221; Reuters report added that it plans to launch&nbsp;a six-seat&nbsp;variant of the Model Y in China later in 2025.



Tesla&#8217;s China sales in February 2025 fell to 30,688, marking the lowest since July 2022. Deliveries slumped 51.5% from January 2025 and 49.2% from February 2024, SCMP <a target="_blank" href="https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3302132/tesla-pins-hope-refreshed-model-y-regain-share-after-sales-dive-china" rel="noreferrer noopener">reports</a>.



The new Model Y has a revamped exterior and interior, a longer driving range, and adaptive headlights. Tesla reportedly <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/03/44187868/tesla-receives-200000-orders-for-refreshed-model-y-in-china-report" rel="noreferrer noopener">received 200,000 orders</a> for the new Model Y, which retails for a minimum of 263,500 yuan ($36,292).&nbsp;



Analysts told SCMP they expect Tesla&#8217;s self-driving system to boost Tesla&#8217;s sales in China, the leading automotive and EV market.



Tesla&#8217;s market share in China&#8217;s battery-only EV market fell to 10.4% in 2024 from 11.7% in 2023 as it battled intense competition from Xiaomi.



BYD and Xiaomi have launched dozens of models to compete with Tesla.



Tesla will also produce the budget model in Europe and North America, where sales have suffered.



Tesla&#8217;s weak sales in China for February aligned with its decline in Europe and Australia. The EV maker stock has plunged 37% year-to-date.



Tesla&#8217;s <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44283118/tesla-loses-ground-in-us-ev-market-while-rivals-accelerate-ahead-in-january-report" rel="noreferrer noopener">U.S. registrations dropped</a> 11% in January, while rivals like Ford Motor Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/F#NYSE">F</a>) and Volkswagen AG (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VWAGY#OTC">VWAGY</a>) saw a 44% surge. Tesla&#8217;s EU registrations halved in January as brand sentiment and political backlash weigh on growth.



Tesla chief Elon Musk has acknowledged the challenges of running his business while working with President Donald Trump&#8217;s Department of Government Efficiency&nbsp;(DOGE).&nbsp;Tesla has faced backlash in the U.S. and Europe, with demonstrators criticizing Musk&#8217;s political activities.&nbsp;



JPMorgan expects&nbsp;Tesla to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44295808/tesla-braces-for-lowest-quarterly-deliveries-since-2022-jpmorgan-predicts-a-brand-has-lost-so-much-value-so-quickly" rel="noreferrer noopener">face its&nbsp;weakest quarter</a> for car deliveries&nbsp;since 2022, citing Musk&#8217;s political activities. Analyst Ryan Brinkman cut Tesla&#8217;s first-quarter delivery forecast by 20%, from 444,000 to 355,000, below the consensus analyst&nbsp;projection of 430,000.



Brinkman also highlighted that Musk&#8217;s remarks on the Ukraine war, U.S. participation in NATO, and far-right political groups affected Tesla&#8217;s European sales.



Previously, other Wall Street firms like Goldman Sachs, UBS, and Wedbush Securities had echoed similar sentiments.



Price Action: TSLA stock is up 0.81% at $242.78 at last check Friday.



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Media

VWAGY

Tesla Bets On Low-Cost EVs in China After February Sales Hit Two-Year Low

Wagers on a U.S. recession in 2025 have climbed sharply in recent weeks, as softer-than-expected economic data and cautious outlooks from <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/expert-ideas">economists fuel investor anxiety.</a>



The likelihood of the U.S. economy entering a recession this year has hit 37%, according to betting markets tracked by CFTC-regulated Kalshi.



A $100 wager on a "yes" outcome in the market "Recession this year?" would yield $243 if a recession materializes.



<iframe loading="lazy" src="https://kalshi.com/external-widgets/events/RECSSNBER-25/markets/RECSSNBER-25?color_scheme=light&#038;widget_size=medium&#038;variant=a&#038;utm_campaign=benzinga_widget" width="488px" height="242px" style="border:0"></iframe>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Is A 2025 Recession Really Inevitable?</h3>



"There's also confusion over the outlook for U.S. economic growth,&#8221; said David Morrison, senior market analyst at Trade Nation. 



&#8220;The current expectation is that this is about to slow sharply, thanks to a great extent to tariffs, with an increased probability of an outright recession in 2025," he added. 



Latest economic forecasts paint a concerning picture. The Atlanta Federal Reserve's GDPNow model forecasts a 2.4% contraction in the first quarter. That&#8217;s a stark reversal from the 2.3% expansion in the fourth quarter of 2024.



Interest rate expectations reflect these concerns, as Morrison highlighted. Traders now anticipate three 25-basis-point rate cuts from the Federal Reserve in 2025, a notable shift from just one expected cut two months ago.



Trump-related tariffs are a major driver of rising recession risks. &#8220;Tariff fears are pushing companies to increase prices, raising the likelihood of higher inflation this summer and complicating the Fed's policy amid recession concerns,&#8221; said George Vessey, forex and macro strategist at Convera.



Several institutions have adjusted their recession probabilities higher, with JPMorgan economists now estimating a 40% likelihood of a recession in 2025.



The Atlanta Fed's GDPNow model projects a 2.4% contraction in the first quarter, a stark reversal from the 2.3% growth rate seen in the final quarter of 2024. 



Yet, a single quarter of negative GDP does not meet the technical definition of a recession. A recession occurs if there are two consecutive quarters of negative GDP growth.



This still leaves room for the economy to avoid a prolonged slump. 



Bettors wagering $100 on a &#8220;no recession&#8221; outcome stand to earn $153 if the economy remains in positive territory.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Political Stakes And Recession Risks</h3>



The political landscape may also play a role in determining whether the U.S. slips into a recession. 



On Friday, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick dismissed the Atlanta Fed's contraction forecast as "ridiculous.



&#8220;It remains to be seen if all of the revolutionary changes to the economy and trans-Atlantic alliances will lead to a recession or if it will lead to higher growth rates in the future,&#8221; Chris Zaccarelli, chief investment officer for Northlight Asset Management, said. 



"We expect [Trump] will avoid a recession that would cost the Republicans their majorities in both houses of Congress in the mid-term elections in late 2026," Ed Yardeni, president of Yardeni Research, said.



Last Sunday, Trump seemed to acknowledge <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/03/44222440/trump-says-economy-faces-period-of-transition-recession-ahead">the possibility of a recession</a> in 2025, citing a &#8220;period of transition.&#8221;



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">A No-Recession Scenario Could Lift Markets </h3>



The S&amp;P 500—tracked by the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>)—has entered correction territory. It slid more than 10% from its February peak. The market selloff has coincided with rising growth concerns and increasing recession probabilities.



Yet, if the economy defies expectations and avoids a downturn, equities could be poised for a strong rebound. 



Jeff Buchbinder, chief equity strategist at LPL Financial, highlighted that if a recession is averted and the current decline remains within the bounds of a correction, rather than evolving into a full-blown bear market — characterized by a decline of 20% or more — &#8220;then the upside potential over the next nine to 12 months may be as much as double the downside risk.&#8221;



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<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44325928/gold-smashes-through-3000-mark-as-markets-brace-for-turbulence-and-fed-signals">Gold Breaches $3,000 Mark On Market Turbulence And Fed Signals</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

2025 Recession Bets Are On Fire, Yet Traders Could Still Pocket Over 50% Gains If US Economy Just Holds

Gold extended its rally on Friday, surging past the $3,000 mark in early trading, driven by escalating trade tensions, economic uncertainty, and expectations of a Federal Reserve rate cut.



Spot gold, as tracked by the SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GLD#NYSE">GLD</a>), traded at $3,004 per ounce at 7:30 a.m. ET, rising 1.78% and marking its third consecutive session of gains.



The VIX index, which is also known as the fear gauge, is up 63% in the last 12 months and up 39% year-to-date.



Related: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/03/44300810/us-producer-inflation-stalls-in-february-as-services-costs-drop-eggs-price-skyrockets" rel="noreferrer noopener">US Producer Inflation Stalls In February As Services Costs Drop, Egg Prices Skyrocket</a>



Rising recession risks, renewed trade war threats from former President Donald Trump, and unusual market dynamics fuel the rally. Analysts point to hidden buyers and increasing demand for safe-haven assets as key drivers.



Gold, which is also seen as a safe-haven asset, usually trades in an inverse relationship with the VIX. When the market experiences fear, the money moves in gold for safety.



February&#8217;s weaker-than-expected PPI and CPI reports <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/econ-s/25/03/44307019/latest-inflation-data-excludes-tariffs-trump-policy-changes-2025-will-be-much-more-volatile-year-economist-says" rel="noreferrer noopener">raised hopes for 2025 rate cuts</a>, but economists caution that rising tariffs and volatile food prices could challenge ongoing disinflation trends.



Experts warn that markets remain highly reactive to geopolitical developments, with inflation volatility, trade tensions, and shifting global alliances creating uncertainty about the economic path ahead.



Meanwhile, Bitcoin is <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/03/44314127/gold-hits-all-time-highs-while-bitcoin-disappoints-did-fed-chair-jerome-powell-jinx-the-digital-gold" rel="noreferrer noopener">underperforming</a> as gold surged to a record high, casting renewed doubts on its status as &#8220;digital gold.&#8221;



The SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GLD#NYSE">GLD</a>), which tracks the price of gold, rose 0.49% to $276.48 in the premarket. The VanEck Gold Miners ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GDX#NYSE">GDX</a>) rose 1.02% premarket, and The VanEck Junior Gold Miners ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GDXJ#NYSE">GDXJ</a>) gained 1.08%.



Mining Stocks Soar Premarket: Newmont Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NEM#NYSE">NEM</a>) rose 1.71%, B2Gold Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BTG#NYSE">BTG</a>) up 0.69%, Kinross Gold (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KGC#NYSE">KGC</a>) +1.84%, Franco-Nevada Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FNV#NYSE">FNV</a>) up 0.71% and Barrick Gold Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOLD#NYSE">GOLD</a>) rose 1.23%.



Read Next:



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/44280431" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Inflation Moves In The &#8216;Right Direction&#8217; But Forecast Is Hazy, Economist Says</a></li>
</ul>



Photo via Shutterstock

Movers

GOLD

Gold Breaches $3,000 Mark On Market Turbulence And Fed Signals

Li Auto Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LI#NASDAQ">LI</a>) reported fiscal fourth-quarter 2024 revenue growth of 6.1% year-on-year to 44.3 billion Chinese yuan ($6.07 billion), missing the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/03/g44323458/li-auto-inc-announces-unaudited-fourth-quarter-and-full-year-2024-financial-results" rel="noreferrer noopener">analyst consensus of 44.6 billion Chinese yuan</a>.&nbsp;



Its adjusted net earnings per ADS&nbsp;were&nbsp;3.79 Chinese yuan ($0.52), beating the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/earnings" rel="noreferrer noopener">analyst consensus of 2.87 Chinese yuan</a>. The stock price fell after the print.



Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44306214/gm-and-pge-team-up-to-let-evs-power-homes-offer-up-to-4500-in-energy-incentives" rel="noreferrer noopener">GM And PG&amp;E Team Up To Let EVs Power Homes, Offer Up To $4,500 In Energy Incentives</a>



Vehicle sales increased 5.6% to $5.8 billion&nbsp;due&nbsp;to increased vehicle deliveries partially offset by the lower average selling price, mainly due to different product mixes. Total vehicle deliveries were 158,696 units in the quarter,&nbsp;a 20.4% year-over-year&nbsp;increase.



The vehicle margin declined by 300 bps&nbsp;year over year&nbsp;to 19.7%, and the gross margin decreased by 320 bps&nbsp;year over year&nbsp;to 20.3%.&nbsp;



Adjusted income from operations&nbsp;was $577.6 million, up by 9.1% Y/Y. Adjusted net income decreased 12.0% Y/Y to $553.4 million.



Li Auto held cash and equivalents of $15.5 billion as of December 31, 2024, and generated $1.2 billion in operating cash flow for the quarter. Free cash flow was $830.1 million.



As of December 31, 2024, the company had 502 retail stores covering 150 cities, 478 servicing centers,&nbsp;Li Auto-authorized body and paint shops operating in 225 cities, and 1,727&nbsp;supercharging&nbsp;stations with 9,100 charging stalls.



Chair and CEO Xiang Li noted the fourth quarter propelled its full-year deliveries to surpass the 500,000 milestone, making it a leading premium automotive brand in China. Looking ahead to 2025, it plans to launch its next-generation autonomous driving architecture and new BEV models.



Q1 Outlook: Li Auto expects quarterly revenue of 23.4 billion Chinese yuan ($3.2 billion)-24.7 billion Chinese yuan ($3.4 billion), representing a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/guidance">decrease of 8.7%–3.5% year over year.</a>



LI expects quarterly vehicle deliveries of 88,000-93,000, representing an increase of 9.5%–15.7%&nbsp;year over year.



Price Action: LI stock is down by 3.93% at $27.59 in premarket at the last check on Friday.



Also Read:



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/03/44305045/archer-taps-palantirs-ai-to-supercharge-electric-aircraft-production-and-flight-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Archer Taps Palantir&#8217;s AI to Supercharge Electric Aircraft Production and Flight Tech</a></li>
</ul>



Photo by Postmodern Studio on Shutterstock.

Earnings

Guidance

Li Auto Tops 500K Deliveries In 2024, Sees Q1 Slowdown

A top White House representative informed crypto leaders this week that the Trump administration is eager to increase <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/03/44258476/bitcoin-reserve-upgrades-crypto-but-paypal-ripple-stablecoins-lag-behind">its Bitcoin reserves</a> as part of a broader financial strategy.



Bo Hines, the Presidential Working Group on Digital Assets lead, shared with attendees of a confidential meeting hosted by the Bitcoin Policy Institute on Tuesday the government's intent to gather substantial Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) stocks, <a href="https://decrypt.co/309948/trump-admin-acquire-much-bitcoin-possible-white-house">according </a>to those present.



The session, following a public "Bitcoin for America" gathering, included key industry figures such as Michael Saylor of Strategy (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>), Fred Thiel of Marathon Digital (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MARA#NASDAQ">MARA</a>), Nathan McCauley of Anchorage Digital, and David Bailey of Bitcoin Magazine, alongside senators Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tn.) and Bernie Moreno (R-Oh.).



When pressed on the specific amount the government might target, Hines responded with a lighthearted comparison to asking someone how many dollars they'd like, one participant relayed to Decrypt. 



A White House source later verified Hines' statement, noting that any Bitcoin purchases would be conducted without burdening taxpayers, aligning with a cost-neutral policy. 



This approach supports recent statements from senior officials advocating for additional Bitcoin acquisitions—currently around 200,000 BTC from legal confiscations—to enhance a strategic reserve established by Trump's recent directive.



Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/03/44309155/trump-administration-focused-on-real-economy-not-market-swings-says-treasury-secretary-bessent">Trump Administration Focused On Real Economy, Not Market Swings, Says Treasury Secretary Bessent</a>



During the discussion, a question arose about the administration's stance on the Bitcoin Act, a Senate proposal reintroduced by Lummis on Tuesday, which calls for acquiring up to one million BTC, valued at about $80 billion, and legally embedding the reserve. 



Hines reportedly turned to Lummis, seated nearby, and indicated the administration favors legislation to solidify the reserve and will work to ensure its approval in Congress. 



However, a White House representative clarified to Decrypt that Hines did not back any specific bill during the event. 



The proposal's cost-neutral claim is under debate, as it suggests using Federal Reserve funds from revaluing gold certificates—last updated in 1971 and now worth over 6,800% more due to gold's rise—to finance the purchases.



Read Next: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/03/44304170/trump-family-in-talks-to-acquire-stake-in-binance-as-former-ceo-changpeng-zhao-pushes-for-pardon">Trump Family In Talks To Acquire Stake In Binance As Former CEO Changpeng Zhao Pushes For Pardon</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

MARA

MSTR

Trump Administration Signals Aggressive Cost-Neutral Bitcoin Accumulation Strategy

Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>) shares traded higher premarket on Friday after it disclosed that six new <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/03/b44315576/palantir-warp-speed-accelerates-announces-six-new-customers-that-are-re-industrializing-american-m" rel="noreferrer noopener">customers are adopting Warp Speed</a>.



The company said in a statement Thursday that Epirus, Red Cat, Saildrone, Saronic, Ursa Major, and SNC are the latest companies to leverage Warp Speed.



Since launch, Palantir Warp Speed has introduced key advancements, including MRP Speed for continuous network planning that optimizes material resource planning to prevent shortages and quickly address disruptions.



The platform enables rapid ERP data access, unlocking information from 10+ systems in under 24 hours, eliminating costly and time-consuming integrations.



It also enhances AI command and control at the edge, allowing AI-enabled fleets to operate seamlessly across various connectivity, hardware, and compliance environments.



Red Cat is leveraging Warp Speed to accelerate the production and delivery of assets, supporting critical missions for the Department of Defense.



Saildrone leverages Warp Speed for real-time production planning, optimizing fleet management, procurement, and demand forecasting.



Saronic utilizes Warp Speed to scale operations, with an initial focus on material resource planning and engineering change management.



Ursa Major leverages Warp Speed to enhance digital production agility, rapidly scaling solid and liquid rocket motor production while maintaining safety and innovation speed.



Emily Nguyen, Palantir&#8217;s Head of Industrials, said, &#8220;We designed Warp Speed to enable faster, safer, and more efficient production of formidable machinery that is critical to America&#8217;s leadership — from sea vessels, to drones, to propulsion systems.&#8221;



Yesterday, the company disclosed a strategic deal with Databricks to merge AI operating system with Databricks' platform for AI,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/contracts/25/03/44304895/palantirs-new-strategic-deal-with-databricks-accelerates-adoption-of-autonomous-genai-workflows" rel="noreferrer noopener">data warehousing, and data engineering</a>.



Investors can gain exposure to the stock via&nbsp;Roundhill ETF Trust Roundhill PLTR WeeklyPay ETF&nbsp;(BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTW#BATS">PLTW</a>) and&nbsp;Direxion Daily PLTR Bull 2X Shares (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTU#NASDAQ">PLTU</a>).



Price Action: PLTR shares are up 2.55% at $81.65 premarket at the last check Friday.



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/03/44305045/archer-taps-palantirs-ai-to-supercharge-electric-aircraft-production-and-flight-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Archer Taps Palantir&#8217;s AI to Supercharge Electric Aircraft Production and Flight Tech</a></li>
</ul>



Image via Shutterstock.

Contracts

PLTR

PLTU

PLTW

Palantir's Warp Speed Gains Momentum: Six New Customers Onboard

U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated that Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) could invest up to $60 billion in the United States by the end of the year.



What Happened: While taking press questions at the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump stated that the Mark Zuckerberg-led company is likely to invest $60 billion by the end of 2025. This follows the likes of Apple (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) and TSMC (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSM#NASDAQ">TSM</a>). In February, the iPhone maker invested $500 billion, while TSMC invested $10 billion in the United States, in a move to avoid tariffs and give a boost to Trump&#8217;s &#8216;America First&#8217; agenda. When asked about the impact of tariffs, Trump continued to defend them and stated his belief that they would boost the U.S. economy and create more jobs in the country.



An anonymous source disclosed to Reuters on Wednesday that the meeting is part of Zuckerberg&#8217;s continuous discussions with the administration concerning the leadership of American technology. However, Andy Stone, a spokesperson for Meta, did not confirm the White House visit to the publication.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Trump Defends Tariffs On EU: &#039;The European Union Is Very, Very Nasty&#039;" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/whmtshHayp8?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



Notably, Meta has not officially announced the investment yet. The company did not immediately respond to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga&#8217;s request</a> for comments.



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44321998/why-ross-gerber-finds-tesla-stock-expensive-despite-its-50-plunge-fundamental-story-has-to-be-revalued">Ross Gerber Finds Tesla Stock Expensive Despite Its 50% Plunge: Why The Investor Says EV Giant&#8217;s &#8216;Fundamental Story Has To Be Revalued&#8217;</a>



Why It Matters: The possible meeting between Zuckerberg and the Trump administration officials comes at a time when Meta&#8217;s shares are experiencing a downward trend. Meta&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/03/44317112/meta-shares-drop-during-market-sell-off-and-tariff-concerns-whats-going-on">shares traded lower</a> on Thursday amid an overall market weakness that has been impacting social media and tech stocks.



The decline in Meta&#8217;s shares is attributed to the erasure of Wednesday&#8217;s gains by Wall Street, with market sentiment being negatively affected by tariff threats and economic data. The possible meeting with the Trump administration could be seen as a strategic move by Zuckerberg to discuss these issues and potentially influence future policies that could impact Meta and the tech industry at large.



Meta holds a momentum rating of 87.21% and a growth rating of 72.53%, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/report/META" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga&#8217;s Proprietary Edge Rankings</a>. The Benzinga Growth metric evaluates a stock's historical earnings and revenue expansion across multiple timeframes, prioritizing both long-term trends and recent performance. For an in-depth report on more stocks and insights into growth opportunities,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/screener/top-momentum-stocks" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sign</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/screener/top-momentum-stocks" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">up for Benzinga Edge.</a>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="457" height="275" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/14033204/image-118.png" alt="" class="wp-image-824354" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/14033204/image-118.png 457w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/14033204/image-118-300x181.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 457px) 100vw, 457px" /></figure>



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<ul>
<li> <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44281974/alibaba-grab-tencent-meituan-gear-up-for-growth-as-china-bets-on-services-to-revive-economy?utm_source=taboola&amp;utm_medium=exchange&amp;tblci=GiD1tFFNH-r-bulyXzVS-mm-BVNR3nb6Ojb3DSX9l1ZrFSCN1Vco-ob4p_qdgc_WATDviEo#tblciGiD1tFFNH-r-bulyXzVS-mm-BVNR3nb6Ojb3DSX9l1ZrFSCN1Vco-ob4p_qdgc_WATDviEo">Alibaba, Grab, Tencent, Meituan Gear Up For Growth As China Bets On Services To Revive Economy</a></li>
</ul>



Image via Shutterstock



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

AAPL

Trump Suggests Meta May Invest Up To $60 Billion In The US By The End Of 2025

On Thursday, March 13, U.S. markets ended notably lower, with the S&amp;P 500 entering <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/03/44317410/sp-500-enters-technical-correction-as-trade-war-fears-rattle-markets" rel="noreferrer noopener">correction</a> territory as escalating U.S. tariffs overshadowed encouraging inflation data.



Despite cooler-than-expected PPI and CPI readings and steady jobless claims suggesting inflation is easing, and the labor market remains strong, investor sentiment deteriorated. A broad selloff, led by losses in tech megacaps like the &#8220;Magnificent 7,&#8221; dragged major indexes down. Trade tensions flared as the EU retaliated against U.S. metal tariffs.



In economic data, U.S. producer prices were flat in February, missing expectations of a 0.3% rise after a revised 0.6% gain in January. Jobless claims fell by 2,000 to 220,000, below the forecast of 225,000.



Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/03/44301836/trump-warns-of-200-tariff-on-french-champagne-and-eu-spirits-in-retaliation-to-europes-tariff-on-us-whiskey" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trump Warns Of 200% Tariff On French Champagne And EU Spirits In Retaliation To Europe&#8217;s Tariff On US Whiskey</a>



Most S&amp;P 500 sectors fell Thursday, led by losses in consumer discretionary, real estate, and communication services, while utilities ended higher.



The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1.30% to close at 40,813.57, the S&amp;P 500 slid 1.39% to 5,521.52, and the Nasdaq Composite declined 1.96% to 17,303.01.



Asia Markets Today



<ul>
<li>On Friday, Japan&#8217;s Nikkei 225 rose 0.73% to 37,078.50, led by gains in the Power, Rubber and Chemical, Petroleum &amp; Plastic sectors.</li>



<li>Australia&#8217;s S&amp;P/ASX 200 was up 0.52% and closed at 7,789.70.</li>



<li>India markets closed for the Holi festival holiday.</li>



<li>China&#8217;s Shanghai Composite gained 1.81% to 3,419.56, and the Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 rose   2.43% to 4,006.56.</li>



<li>Hong Kong&#8217;s Hang Seng increased 2.12%, ending the session at 23,959.98.</li>



<li>Chinese stocks rallied on hopes of new economic stimulus, including possible PBOC liquidity measures and policies to boost consumption ahead of Monday&#8217;s press conference with top officials.</li>
</ul>



Eurozone at 05:45 AM ET



<ul>
<li>The European STOXX 50 was up 0.60%.</li>



<li>Germany&#8217;s DAX gained 0.55%.</li>



<li>France&#8217;s CAC rose 0.65%.</li>



<li>U.K.&#8217;s FTSE 100 index traded higher by 0.41%</li>
</ul>



Commodities at 05:45 AM ET



Crude Oil WTI was trading higher by 1.01% at $67.21/bbl, and Brent was up 0.90% at $70.51/bbl.



Oil prices rebounded Friday after prior losses, supported by fading hopes of a quick Ukraine ceasefire and potential cuts in Russian supply.



Natural Gas declined 0.63% to $4.085.



Gold was trading higher by 0.66% at $3,010.96, Silver was up 1.36% to $34.773, and Copper rose 0.04% to $4.9270.



Gold surged to a record high near $3,000 amid trade war fears and rate cut expectations. Strong haven demand, ETF inflows, and Fed policy outlook continue to boost sentiment.



U.S. Futures at 05:45 AM ET



Dow futures were up 0.54%, S&amp;P 500 futures rose 0.76% and Nasdaq 100 futures gained 1.00%.



Forex at 05:45 AM ET



The U.S. dollar index gained 0.08% to 103.92, the USD/JPY rose by 0.076% to 148.93, and the USD/AUD declined by 0.34% to 1.5860.



Photo via Shutterstock

Asia

Emerging Markets

Eurozone

Futures

Forex

ADIV

AGOV

ASHR

BBEU

BOIL

CQQQ

EEMA

FLAX

IEMG

IEUR

KDIV

SPEM

USDU

Asia And Europe Markets Advance, Gold Hits $3,000 - Global Markets Today While US Slept

Sen. Chuck Schumer (N.Y.), the Senate Democratic Leader, expressed concerns about a potential government shutdown on Thursday. He warned that such an event could empower Donald Trump significantly. 



What Happened: Schumer&#8217;s remarks come amid heightened tensions in Congress over federal funding, with Democrats and Republicans blaming each other for the impasse. Schumer specifically mentioned Elon Musk, suggesting that the entrepreneur supports a shutdown and is planning to leverage it to dismantle essential government programs.



Schumer&#8217;s post on X highlighted the stakes involved, stating, &#8220;A shutdown would give Donald Trump the keys to the city, state, and country.&#8221; He accused Musk of wanting a shutdown to &#8220;expedite the destruction of key government programs and services.&#8221;



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">A shutdown would give Donald Trump the keys to the city, state, and country. Musk has said he wants a shutdown, and reporting has shown he is already making plans to use the shutdown to expedite his destruction of key government programs and services.&mdash; Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenSchumer/status/1900339650562011205?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



The tweet was part of the ongoing debate in Congress, where Schumer and other leaders are pushing for a &#8220;clean 30-day CR&#8221; to avoid a shutdown. This situation has escalated as the deadline looms, with both parties intensifying their rhetoric.



Schumer announced he will support advancing a House-passed six-month government funding bill, despite opposition from many Democrats who call it a "slush fund" for Trump and Musk. He argued that while the bill is flawed, failing to pass it could lead to a government shutdown with severe consequences for veterans, seniors, and disabled individuals, <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5194156-schumer-gop-funding-bill-shutdown/">reported</a> The Hill.



Schumer is the second Senate Democrat to back advancing the GOP bill, likely giving cover to others still reviewing it. Senate Republicans, holding 53 seats, need eight Democratic votes to advance the GOP-drafted resolution, which boosts defense spending by $6 billion while cutting non-defense programs by $13 billion. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) opposes it, citing insufficient deficit reduction.



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44239145/elizabeth-warren-raises-questions-on-robert-f-kennedys-mar-a-lago-dinners-with-big-pharma-american-people-deserve-to-know-about-the-deals-made">Elizabeth Warren Raises Questions On Robert F Kennedy&#8217;s Mar-A-Lago Dinners With Big Pharma: American People Deserve To Know About The Deals Made</a>



Why It Matters: The potential government shutdown has significant implications for the nation. Schumer&#8217;s warning about Trump&#8217;s influence highlights the broader political stakes. As reported, Schumer has blamed the GOP for taking a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/03/44294067/chuck-schumer-blames-gop-for-partisan-path-as-shutdown-nears-republicans-say-democrats-fault-if-government-closes">&#8220;partisan path&#8221;</a> in the funding debate, while Republicans argue that Democrats would be at fault if a shutdown occurs. The standoff reflects deep divisions in Congress, with both parties holding firm on their positions.



Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has also criticized Republicans, emphasizing the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44293219/aoc-claps-back-at-mike-johnson-as-senate-moves-closer-to-government-shutdown-if-you-need-democrats-then-you-need-to-negotiate">need for negotiation</a> if they lack the votes to pass their funding bill. She said, &#8220;If you need Democrats, then you need to negotiate with Democrats.&#8221;



Photo via Shutterstock



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<li>Lawmakers Made Huge Investments This Year. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/gov-trades">Get Tips On What They Bought And Sold Ahead Of The 2024 Election With Our Easy-to-Use Tool</a></li>
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This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/shivdeep-dhaliwal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shivdeep Dhaliwal</a>

Chuck Schumer Says A Government Shutdown Will Give Trump The 'Keys To The City, State and Country' And Elon Musk The Chance To Destroy Government Services

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