Analyst

Iranian intelligence services apparently recruiting via intermediaries to mount attacks aimed at sowing chaosIranian intelligence services and Revolutionary Guards operatives are recruiting teenagers through criminal intermediaries to launch a wave of low-level “hybrid warfare” attacks in Europe and the UK, according to investigators, security officials, analysts and police documents.A first wave of attacks was launched in early March, 10 days after the US and Israel began strikes on Iran, and targeted Jewish community sites in Belgium, the Netherlands and US banks. A second wave has focused on the UK, with a series of arson and attempted arson attacks on synagogues, a Jewish charity and the offices of an Iranian opposition TV network in London. Continue reading...

• Tesla shares rose 7.2% Thursday after the company announced successful deployment of advanced autonomous driving features in two additional states, bringing the full self-driving beta program to 15 states nationwide. • Multiple Wall Street analysts upgraded Tesla's stock, raising average price targets by 12-15%, citing accelerated path to profitability and potential for robotaxi revenue streams beginning in late 2026. • The autonomous driving announcement offset broader semiconductor sector weakness, with Tesla demonstrating differentiation from legacy automakers lacking comparable self-driving capabilities.

Estimated 2,000 ships, including oil and gas tankers and cruise liners, remain trapped in the Persian Gulf since start of warThere will be no “mass exodus” of ships through the strait of Hormuz, according to shipping analysts, despite the agreement of a two-week conditional ceasefire between the US and Iran and provisions for a temporary reopening of the crucial maritime channel.The ceasefire agreement “doesn’t change the situation in the sense that Iran is still in control,” said Richard Meade, the editor-in-chief at maritime data provider Lloyd’s List Intelligence. “It still requires ships to essentially seek permission, and that’s the key. That means that nothing has changed – no permission, no transit.” Continue reading...

• Nvidia posted first-quarter revenue of $28.3 billion, representing a 106% year-over-year increase and surpassing Wall Street consensus forecasts by 8%, driven primarily by sustained demand for AI data center GPUs. • The chipmaker's gross margin expanded to 72.1%, the highest level in five quarters, as production efficiency gains and favorable product mix offset supply chain costs. • Guidance for Q2 revenue of $32-34 billion exceeded analyst estimates, reinforcing investor confidence in the artificial intelligence infrastructure boom and supporting semiconductor sector valuations amid broader market volatility.

Telegram is increasingly blocked and mobile internet users face blackouts in effort likened to Iranian shutdownsRussia is in the midst of a vast, slow-moving effort to splinter its internet from the rest of the world, say activists and experts, with steep consequences for millions of people who are gradually being cut off.Unlike Iran’s internet shutdowns earlier this year, Russia’s shutdown is a piecemeal and opaque effort. It is defined by escalating mobile internet blackouts across cities and provinces, growing restrictions on certain kinds of traffic, and new blocks on Telegram, a messaging app essential to communication and daily life for most Russians. Continue reading...

• 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.

Micron Technology closed at $426 on March 13, 2026, up significantly year-to-date by about 50%, following analysts' reiteration of an outperform rating and price target increase to $500 from $320. The upgrade highlights Micron's strong positioning in memory chips despite broader market declines driven by oil surges and geopolitical tensions. This move underscores investor optimism in semiconductors even as the Nasdaq fell 0.9% and S&P 500 dropped 0.6% on Friday. Upcoming earnings could test sustained momentum amid sector volatility.

Micron Technology shares rose 2.6% on March 13, 2026, closing at $426 after analysts reiterated an outperform rating and raised the price target to $500 from $320 amid strong year-to-date gains of 50%. The semiconductor firm benefited from positive momentum in the chip sector despite broader market declines, with investors eyeing its upcoming earnings report. This upgrade highlights Micron's robust growth prospects in memory chips, potentially signaling sector recovery amid volatility. Analysts anticipate further upside if quarterly results exceed expectations next week.

Micron Technology closed at $426 on March 13, 2026, after analysts reiterated an outperform rating and raised the price target to $500 from $320 amid robust semiconductor demand. The stock has climbed about 50% year-to-date, outperforming broader market declines driven by oil surges and geopolitical tensions. This upgrade highlights Micron's potential in memory chips despite upcoming earnings risks, positioning it as a key watch for investors amid sector volatility. Analysts expect continued momentum if AI-driven demand persists.

Ulta Beauty stock tumbled 12.5% on Friday, March 13, 2026, becoming the biggest decliner in the S&P 500 after reporting quarterly results that fell short of Wall Street profit expectations. The company's profit was hit by a 23% surge in selling, general, and administrative expenses, which reached $1 billion in the period. This decline highlights vulnerabilities in consumer discretionary sectors amid broader market pressures from oil price volatility, with analysts watching for potential impacts on retail spending. Upcoming earnings from peers may signal if this is an isolated miss or indicative of wider consumer weakness.