Track the evolution of major financial and economic events
On March 17, activist investor Jana Partners urged Six Flags Entertainment to explore a potential sale. Jana Partners also called for the immediate replacement of the company's board chair.
The European Commission approved Leonardo's acquisition of Iveco Group's defense unit on March 17, valued at nearly $2 billion. The Commission concluded that the deal would not raise competition concerns due to its limited impact on relevant markets. This approval represents a significant step in Leonardo's expansion within the European defense sector.
On March 17, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) updated its 2026 Clinical Practice Guidelines to include ANKTIVA in combination with BCG for treating patients with BCG-unresponsive non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. On March 24, ImmunityBio's shares fell by 20% after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning letter regarding a television advertisement and podcast promoting its cancer therapy, which were deemed false or misleading and in violation of federal law.
On March 17, the Reserve Bank of Australia raised its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to 4.1%, amid a surge in oil prices due to geopolitical tensions between the US and Iran. Samsung and Nvidia announced deeper collaboration in AI chip manufacturing. By March 23, the war between Iran, Israel, and the US had entered its fourth week, with the Iranian Parliament Speaker warning of potential attacks on financial institutions linked to the US Treasury.
Tesla and LG Energy plan to build a $4.3 billion battery plant in Michigan, with an annual capacity of 50 GWh, set to begin production next year. The American-made batteries will power Tesla's Megapack 3 energy storage systems. Additionally, Tesla aims to add 100 gigawatts of solar capacity in the United States.
BNP Paribas targets doubling pre-tax income from its asset management platform by 2030. This plan is part of the Group's strategy to achieve a 13% Return on Tangible Equity (ROTE) by 2028. The expansion relies heavily on successful integration following the acquisition of AXA IM.
On March 17, the Reserve Bank of Australia raised the cash rate target by 25 basis points to 4.10% amid ongoing inflation concerns. The RBA noted that capacity pressures contributed to rising inflation, warning that fuel-price shocks related to the Iran war could push inflation higher. Further rate hikes are expected in June and August, with peak interest rate forecasts revised to 4.85%.
US gas prices surged nearly 25% in March, marking the largest monthly increase on record. Brent crude is trading near $102 a barrel, while WTI is around $95. JPMorgan warned that policy measures will have limited impact unless safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz is assured. On March 27, oil prices rose again above $110.
On March 17, Trump stated that China, Japan, and Korea should thank the US for military strikes aimed at protecting vessels. The President mentioned that numerous nations have vowed to help protect commercial vessels. However, the UK and Germany have refused to be drawn into a wider conflict. On March 30, Trump said the US could take the oil in Iran and indicated he is considering seizing strategic Kharg Island even as negotiations continue.
On March 16, Beyond Meat forecasted Q4 revenue below Wall Street estimates. The company also announced a delay in filing its 2025 annual report, attributed to material weakness in internal financial controls.
On March 16, Vertiv announced converged physical infrastructure models (power and cooling) for NVIDIA's Vera Rubin AI factories. On the same day, Wiwynn showcased NVIDIA Vera Rubin NVL72 infrastructure solutions at GTC 2026 in collaboration with Wistron. The new designs aim to accelerate deployment and reduce integration risk in high-density AI factories. On March 23, Ecolab acquired CoolIT for $4.75B to enhance its AI data center cooling platform. On March 24, Vertiv announced an agreement to acquire ThermoKey, enhancing its cooling solutions portfolio.
Rhythm Pharmaceuticals' experimental drug for genetic obesity failed to meet the primary goal of its late-stage clinical trial, leading to a sharp drop in its shares. Meanwhile, competing drugs have shown positive weight loss results, including Wegovy® HD, which received FDA approval. Novo Nordisk also cut prices on obesity drugs in India in response to the influx of cheaper generic medications in the market.
T. Rowe Price has filed an amended SEC application for an actively managed crypto ETF, including meme coins like Dogecoin and Shiba Inu. In related news, 21Shares launched the TDOG ETF, the first Dogecoin Foundation-backed ETF, on Nasdaq. Additionally, Shiba Inu's price saw a 76% increase in netflow. Meanwhile, Bitmine has increased its Ethereum holdings to 71,179 ETH.
Cboe Global Markets has submitted a proposal to the SEC to launch near 24/5 U.S. equities trading on its EDGX exchange. The launch is targeted for December 2026, pending regulatory approval and industry infrastructure readiness. The expanded trading hours will be implemented on the Cboe EDGX Equities Exchange.
On March 16, the U.S. Export-Import Bank issued letters of interest for $4.2 billion to support Japan and South Korea's purchases of enriched uranium. $2.4 billion is allocated for Japanese utilities and $1.8 billion for South Korean utilities. This move aims to reduce reliance on Russian suppliers and secure a domestic nuclear fuel chain within the U.S. On March 17, Oklo announced that the U.S. Department of Energy approved its Nuclear Safety Design Agreement for its test reactor. On March 21, Amazon-backed X-energy filed for an IPO, capitalizing on rising interest in nuclear power due to increasing energy demand from AI.
On March 16, NVIDIA announced DLSS 5 technology, which uses AI to infuse pixels with photorealistic lighting and materials. This new technology aims to bridge the gap between rendering and reality in video games. On March 18, NVIDIA introduced the NemoClaw platform, an enterprise-ready version of the OpenClaw AI agent platform, adding security and privacy features. Eco Wave Power's technology was showcased during Jensen Huang's keynote at NVIDIA GTC. On March 19, Shutterstock announced a major expansion of licensed training datasets to power the next generation of generative AI.
SoFi CEO Anthony Noto purchased $1 million in shares at approximately $17.88 each. The company projects a 30% revenue growth to reach $4.7 billion by 2026, with adjusted EBITDA expected to rise 52% to $1.6 billion. Meanwhile, Muddy Waters claims that SoFi has inflated the fair value of its loan portfolios. Nevertheless, SoFi has expanded its Loan Platform Business with new agreements totaling over $3.6 billion.
Niu Technologies' shares plummeted by 13% on March 16 as global e-scooter sales collapsed by 68%. On March 25, Amprius Technologies secured a $21 million purchase order for lithium-ion batteries, including SiCore® cylindrical cells for light electric vehicles. By the end of March, Also, spun out of Rivian, reached a $1 billion valuation in a new funding round and struck a partnership with DoorDash for autonomous deliveries.
In early 2026, the war in Iran was identified as the latest 'worst-case scenario' facing the travel industry. Consumer confidence in Europe has plummeted due to the conflict, while airline stocks such as Delta and American have risen. On April 12, a two-week ceasefire was agreed upon between the US and Iran, but the situation remains tense with ongoing fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.
On March 16, Cingulate Inc received approval from the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for a key patent application related to its ADHD treatment. The patent protects the proprietary technology behind CTx-1301, the company's lead ADHD drug candidate. Following this announcement, Cingulate Inc (CING) shares surged in Monday morning trading.
On March 16, the Canadian Department of National Defence signed a 10-year agreement to lease a dedicated launch pad at Spaceport Nova Scotia. This agreement marks a historic milestone in establishing Canada's sovereign launch capability from its own soil. The site operator is Maritime Launch Services Inc., traded under the ticker MAXQ.
US markets are awaiting Micron Technology's earnings results this week as its stock approaches an all-time high. Major US indices experienced significant declines, influenced by the ongoing war in Iran affecting market sentiment. However, companies like Williams-Sonoma and DocuSign reported positive earnings, contributing to improved sentiment towards the end of the month.
On March 16, Apple launched the MacBook Neo at $599, its cheapest laptop to date, along with the iPhone 17e at the same price. This move is seen as a price war aimed at pressuring rivals in the hardware sector. Apple's sales in China surged by 23% in the first nine weeks of this year, despite a 4% downturn in the Chinese smartphone market. There is also strong consumer interest in a potential major form-factor change for Apple. On March 27, Apple announced plans to end its exclusive partnership with ChatGPT and will open Siri to rival AI assistants in iOS 27.
On March 16, Savills PLC completed the acquisition of the US real estate investment bank Eastdil Secured for $1.1 billion. This deal marks the largest acquisition in the history of the British firm Savills. The move aims to strengthen Savills' position in the global real estate finance market and major US transactions.
