Adds

• The US Labor Department reported that employers added 178,000 jobs in March 2026, significantly surpassing economists' expectations of 60,000 jobs polled by LSEG. • The unemployment rate declined to 4.3% from 4.4% in February, lower than the projected 4.4%, with January revised up to 160,000 jobs and February down to 133,000. • This rebound follows February's unexpected job losses and signals labor market resilience despite geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty.

• The White House added Jentadueto, Jentadueto XR for Type 2 diabetes, and Striverdi Respimat for COPD to TrumpRx, enabling cash discounts on brand-name drugs from Boehringer Ingelheim. • Consumers can bypass insurance for lower prices on these medications via the website, expanding access amid high health care costs. • The move supports broader efforts to reduce drug prices as NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya's acting CDC role ends March 26.

• The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) updated its Covered List on March 24, 2026, to include all consumer-grade routers produced outside the US due to national security risks. • China controls at least 60% of the US home router market; the ban prohibits new FCC equipment authorizations for these devices, though existing models remain unaffected. • Malicious actors exploited vulnerabilities in foreign routers for cyberattacks like Volt, Flax, and Salt Typhoon targeting US infrastructure, enabling espionage and IP theft.

• The State Department announced on March 18 that effective April 2, 2026, citizens from 12 additional countries—Cambodia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Grenada, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles, and Tunisia—must post bonds of up to $15,000 when applying for U.S. visas. • After April 2, the total number of countries subject to the visa bond requirement will expand to 50, primarily targeting nations with high overstay rates, particularly in Africa; visa applicants must post bonds ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 depending on their circumstances and consular officer discretion. • The Trump administration program, rolled out last year to combat visa overstays and illegal migration, has demonstrated effectiveness, with the State Department reporting that nearly 97% of almost 1,000 bond-posting applicants have not overstayed their visas.

• The EPA issued a final rule on February 27, 2026, adding sodium perfluorohexanesulfonate (PFHxS-Na) to the list of chemicals subject to toxic chemical release reporting under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act. • The rule implements a mandate from the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 and requires reporting for chemicals subject to the Pollution Prevention Act beginning with reporting year 2026. • The final rule becomes effective March 30, 2026, and the EPA determined notice-and-comment rulemaking was unnecessary as the action conforms regulations to Congressional legislative mandate.

Growing stress in the global private credit market contributed to US investors dumping stocks before the March 13, 2026, close, alongside geopolitical risks and hedge fund losses. This pressure, distinct from recession fears, prompted defensive positioning as markets grappled with Persian Gulf uncertainties. Private credit strains, involving non-bank lending to companies, risk amplifying volatility if oil disruptions persist. Watchers note this as a key signal beyond traditional equity drivers.