Notable market news this past week (01-Mar-26)
Here is the Skeptivest roundup of the latest market headlines for the week
🌍 United States and Israel launch strikes on Iran, Tehran retaliates with regional missile attacks
United States and Israel launched a coordinated, high-intensity military operation against Iranian targets, involving waves of bombings and airstrikes across Iranian territory. Described as Operation Epic Fury, the strikes targeted military infrastructure, air defences, leadership facilities and nuclear-related sites, to deter Iran’s nuclear ambitions and degrade its missile and military strength. Iran responded with missile and drone strikes on Israel and US military bases in the Gulf region, signalling a rapid and widespread retaliation. The conflict has resulted in significant civilian casualties and infrastructure damage across the Middle East, including Dubai’s international airport and other Gulf cities from Iranian missile barrages. Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was also reportedly killed in the joint strike. While the situation remains highly fluid, there are widespread concerns about escalation into a broader regional war, with international airspace closures and disruptions to global travel and trade.
Renewed US-Iran tensions fuel market volatility, driving up oil prices and inflation: The escalation has lifted geopolitical risk premiums, particularly in oil and gas markets, where concerns over potential disruption across the Gulf and through the Strait of Hormuz are driving high volatility and upside risks for crude prices, feeding directly into fuel, electricity and transportation costs globally. While spare capacity within OPEC+ may limit sustained oil price spikes, elevated energy costs will raise inflation risks and complicate the outlook for global monetary easing. Energy-importing regions such as Asia and some parts of Europe, may face higher input costs, adding inflationary pressure on households and businesses. Other risk assets also saw increased volatility, with safe-haven flows moving into gold, US treasuries, and the US dollar.
☕️ Quick fire happenings to note
🌏 Global macro
- Trump’s new global tariff comes into effect at 10%: The United States Trade Representative implemented a 10% global tariff on imported goods following a recent US Supreme Court ruling that struck down many of Trump’s earlier tariff measures under IEEPA. Trump’s administration has signalled intentions to potentially raise that rate to 15%, which he had previously threatened, or more and is reported to be exploring additional national-security-justified tariffs under alternative legal authority, which could impact strategic sectors in the future. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court ruling, which has curtailed some of Trump’s previous tariff authorities, has sparked political and legal pushback at the state level, with lawmakers and businesses seeking tariff refunds, underlining ongoing domestic fallout from the policy changes.
- China’s Politburo calls for more proactive and better-coordinated macroeconomic policies to support growth and stability: The country’s top decision-making body has emphasized the need to continue active fiscal support and moderately accommodative monetary policy, strengthen domestic demand, stabilise employment and enterprises, and deepen reforms while enhancing technological self-reliance. The gathering also reviewed drafts of the next five-year plan and the upcoming government work report ahead of the National People’s Congress in March next week, where leaders are expected to set a 2026 GDP target of around 4.5% – 5%, after meeting its 2025 growth target.
- Japan’s inflation cools below BOJ’s 2% target: Core inflation excluding fresh food eased to 1.8% y/y in February vs 2.0% y/y in January. This was the first time it dipped below BOJ’s target in more than a year. Government measures, such as energy subsidies, and fading food price effects drove inflation lower quite meaningfully. While industrial production and retail sales rebounded in January, the cooler inflation print complicates BOJ’s messaging on ongoing rate hikes, and gives policymakers reason to proceed cautiously, leaving markets watching closely for future BOJ decisions.
🏦 Individual stocks/companies
- Netflix Inc (+23.69% past 5D) officially withdrew from its bid to acquire Warner Bros Discovery, leading to a sharp rebound in its share price. Investors reacted positively to Netflix’s decision not to increase its bid to match a higher offer from Paramount Skydance, which was deemed a “superior proposal.” The stock’s rally reflected relief among shareholders that Netflix avoided overpaying and taking on additional debt, with the company signalling a renewed focus on its core business, including content investment and share buybacks. This upside move came after months of pressure on its share price tied to the acquisition uncertainty, and illustrates how market sentiment shifted sharply when Netflix chose financial discipline over escalating the takeover battle.
- Block Inc (+22.38% past 5D) shares rallied sharply in response to a bold strategic shift announced by CEO Jack Dorsey. The technology company reported solid Q4 2025 earnings, including a ~24% y/y increase in gross profit, and unveiled plans to reduce its workforce by roughly 40% as part of a major AI-driven restructuring aimed at boosting efficiency and profitability. CEO Jack Dorsey framed the layoffs as a forward-looking pivot toward artificial intelligence and a leaner operating model rather than a reaction to financial distress, which resonated with investors. The announcement, which also coincided with an upgraded outlook and guidance for 2026, contributed to the bullish sentiment and increased significant upside in Block’s share price.
- CoreWeave Inc’s (-9.02% past 5D) share price slid sharply following the release of its fourth-quarter earnings and forward guidance, with the stock dropping as much as 15% in a single session. While the company beat revenue expectations, reporting roughly US$1.57 billion in Q4 sales, which was up over 100% y/y, the market focused on widening losses and a weaker outlook for profitability, including lighter than anticipated first-quarter guidance and anticipated margin pressures. Investors were also concerned about the firm’s plan to dramatically increase capital expenditures in 2026 to about US$30-35 billion, more than double last year’s level, which raised concerns about short-term returns, financing, and cash burn amid heavy infrastructure build-outs for AI cloud platform.
🇸🇬 Singapore related
- Singapore’s record-low fertility rate raises demographic alarm: Singapore’s total fertility rate dropped to 0.87 in 2025, the lowest ever recorded, raising concerns about long-term population decline and its implications for the workforce, economy, and social services. The government has acknowledged the challenge, noting that without effective interventions to support family formation and child-rearing, the declining fertility trend may “profoundly reshape” Singapore’s societal and economic landscape. Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong told Parliament that the country will continue to use immigration to supplement the low birth rate. As part of this, Singapore plans to grant between 25,000 and 30,000 new citizenships each year over the next five years, up from 25,000 in 2025, and expects to increase permanent resident (PR) intake to around 40,000 annually.
