Stock

• Broadcom announced the acquisition of a major semiconductor competitor in an all-stock transaction valued at $82 billion, marking one of the largest chip industry consolidations in five years and aimed at reducing competition in core infrastructure markets. • The deal includes a 28% premium to the target company's 30-day volume-weighted average price and is expected to generate $8 billion in annual cost synergies through manufacturing optimization and R&D consolidation. • Regulatory approval is anticipated by late 2026, with both companies maintaining competitive positions in data center and 5G markets, though the transaction signals ongoing industry consolidation pressures amid AI infrastructure buildout and margin compression.

• The Dow Jones Industrial Average and Nasdaq Composite have officially entered correction territory, each falling more than 10% from their recent peaks, signaling sustained market weakness across major indices. • The S&P 500 declined 25.13 points to close at 6,343.72, down 0.4%, while deepening losses to 9.1% below its record set in early 2026; the Nasdaq composite fell 0.7% to 20,794.64. • Wall Street has recorded its fifth consecutive week of losses, driven by rising geopolitical tensions from the US-Iran conflict combined with aggressive Trump administration tariff measures heightening market uncertainty.

• U.S. stocks edged higher on March 30, 2026, with the S&P 500 rising 0.2% in afternoon trading after its worst week since the war with Iran began. • The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 257 points, or 0.6%, while the Nasdaq and Russell 2000 also advanced amid ongoing market volatility. • Oil prices continued climbing due to uncertainty over the timeline of the U.S.-Iran war, contributing to swinging trading sessions on Wall Street.

• Alcoa shares surged 11-12% and Century Aluminum 13.6% as aluminum prices reached near four-year highs due to Middle East infrastructure strikes. • Iranian missile strikes hit critical metal industry infrastructure, disrupting supply and driving the commodity rally amid the widening conflict. • The gains in metal stocks contribute to broader market recovery, underscoring sector sensitivity to geopolitical supply shocks.

• Every Magnificent 7 stock has fallen into double-digit losses from 52-week highs, with Microsoft down roughly 32% from its October peak, marking its worst start to a year in history, as the group enters correction territory. • Oil prices surged following Operation Epic Fury beginning February 28, reigniting inflation expectations and shifting rate outlook; markets now price in greater likelihood of rate hikes by year-end rather than cuts. • Excitement around AI infrastructure spending has waned amid concerns over combined capital expenditures for Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta expected to exceed $650 billion in 2026, up 60% from 2025.

• John Higgins, chief markets economist, concludes the AI stock bubble debated in late 2025 has already burst as of March 2026. • This marks the end of the hyped AI market surge, shifting investor focus amid ongoing tech sector volatility. • While one AI bubble deflates, a rare new growth phase in AI investments persists, per market analysis.

• The Nasdaq 100 and Dow Jones Industrial Average have both entered correction territory, defined as a more-than-10% decline from recent peaks, marking a significant milestone in the market downturn. • Tech stocks have been particularly hard hit, with Amazon dropping 3.1% and Meta Platforms falling 3.5%, as the sector faces pressure from both high valuation concerns and geopolitical tensions related to the Iran war. • The S&P 500 has suffered five consecutive weeks of losses—its longest losing streak in nearly four years—and is now 8.7% below its record set in early 2026.