Market Pulse Brief

Inflation Data & Fed Response

• 🔥 PPI Rises 0.7% in February: Producer prices rose 0.7% in February versus 0.5% in January, with a 12-month rate...

McDonald's smashes Q4 2025 earnings expectations, reporting EPS of $3.12. A bright spot for consumer stocks amid earnings season.

Massive $1.3 trillion corporate stock buyback surge is reshaping investor returns.

• EPS impact: Fewer shares mean higher earnings per share.
• Stock...

• Unexpected Surge: Producer prices rose more than twice as fast as expected in February, up 0.7% from January's 0.5%—most in seven months.
• Annual...

SpaceX and OpenAI's potential 2026 IPOs represent the most significant shift in capital markets since the Big Tech era began, creating a trillion-dollar gravity well.

S&P Global (SPGI) acquires Enertel AI to add real-time, AI nodal power price forecasting for traders and utilities. Key boost to energy market tools.

Salesforce (CRM) quarterly revenue rose 12.1% year-over-year to $11.20 billion, topping analysts' expectations of $11.18 billion.

Fed holds rates at 3.5-3.75% as Iran war drives oil over $100, gas up 88¢.

• Projections signal zero cuts this year, inflation forecast to 3% by late...

AI hype drives massive bets across tech giants:

• OpenAI's record $110B round—largest private tech financing—led by Amazon, Nvidia ($30B), SoftBank;...

Major Deals

• 🔥 Google Acquires Wiz: Google has finalized a $32 billion deal to acquire cybersecurity startup Wiz, marking its biggest deal...

• Largest-ever deal closed: Alphabet acquires cybersecurity startup Wiz for $32B, marking Google's biggest purchase.
• Strategic cybersecurity push:...

Key Adobe AI strategy risks from Q1 earnings deep dive:

• CEO Shantanu Narayen steps down, marking end of era amid AI shift
• Free tier & credit...

Key risks for households from the new Fed strategy:

• Tackles massive debt via inflation, rates, and savings erosion – slow pressure over crisis.
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• Oil rebound limited stock market gains on March 17.
• Key focus: ASML, Ensign Group, Constellium as top stock movers.
• Hosts Alissa Coram and Ed Carson recap Tuesday's action.

The latest Global Liquidity Watch reveals liquidity slipping with risks rising. Key signal for markets ahead of policy events.

Semtech detailed its three key segments in the Q4 2026 earnings call:

• Signal Integrity: Optical/copper data comms, ICs for data centers/enterprise...

Major Tech M&A

• 🔥 Google Closes $32B Wiz Acquisition: Google completed its $32 billion acquisition of cybersecurity company Wiz, marking the...

• WTI crude rally amid Middle East tensions (Iran, Hormuz) pressures next-year corporate earnings
• Energy plays like INPEX, ENEOS benefit; others...

• Huge AI commitment: Up to $27 billion over 5 years for Nebius Group AI infrastructure to compete with top frontier models
• Layoff rumors rejected:...

• Historic Scale: Google completes $32B Wiz acquisition, its largest ever.
• Cloud Boost: Deal targets cloud security enhancement in broader...