In the high-stakes chess game of Middle East geopolitics, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/45922022/trump-issues-stark-warning-to-iran-to-make-a-deal-after-israels-strikes-on-nuclear-sites-just-do-it-before-its-too-late">Israel's airstrikes on Iran's</a> nuclear and drone facilities appear to have lit a fuse under defense and cybersecurity stocks.



As Tehran rattles sabers and markets quiver, the S&amp;P 500 futures dipped 1.1% post-strikes. Savvy investors are, however, eyeing a fortress of opportunity in companies that thrive when tensions soar. 



Defense plays such as Lockheed Martin Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>) stock was up over 6.26% during day trading by Friday noon, Rtx Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RTX#NYSE">RTX</a>) (aka Raytheon Technologies) was up almost 3% and Elbit Systems Ltd (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ESLT#NASDAQ">ESLT</a>) was up 7.43%.



Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/06/45928637/lockheed-martin-lmt-stock-surges-as-middle-east-tensions-fuel-defense-sector-rally">Lockheed Martin (LMT) Stock Surges As Middle East Tensions Fuel Defense Sector Rally</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Missile Defense: The New Gold Rush</h2>



Lockheed Martin and Raytheon Technologies are stealing the spotlight, with their missile defense systems, like Israel's Arrow, poised to win contracts.



Israel's precision strikes, which <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/6/13/sounds-of-explosions-heard-in-irans-capital-tehran">targeted</a> Iran's military and nuclear sites supplying Houthi rebels, have left a gap that Western tech is itching to fill.



Israel-based Elbit Systems Ltd (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ESLT#NASDAQ">ESLT</a>), a drone and defense electronics darling, saw its shares jump 10.57% over the past five days alone. The stock has gained 21.51% over the past month and 77% YTD.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Cyber Shields Up: Digital Warfare Heats Up</h2>



But it's not just hardware. Cyber warfare is the new battlefield, and Iran's vow to retaliate has cybersecurity firms like Palo Alto Networks Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PANW#NASDAQ">PANW</a>) and Crowdstrike Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRWD#NASDAQ">CRWD</a>) on high alert. 



Israel's Stuxnet legacy looms large, hinting at digital skirmishes ahead. Check Point Software Technologies Ltd (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CHKP#NASDAQ">CHKP</a>), another Israeli gem, is buzzing with about 20% stock spike YTD, as governments and corporations scramble to fortify digital walls. 



For investors, it's a rare two-for-one: defense offers recession-proof stability, while cybersecurity rides a secular growth wave. 



But beware &#8211; Lockheed Martin's lofty 20.23x P/E and potential de-escalation could cool the rally. Still, with Trump's pro-defense stance and Middle East volatility, these stocks are a hedge worth betting on. 



Read Next: 



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/commodities/25/06/45924154/the-120-oil-shock-just-became-a-real-risk-are-we-back-in-2022">The $120 Oil Shock Just Became A Real Risk: Are We Back In 2022?</a></li>
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Photo: Shutterstock

Movers

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CHKP

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Missiles And Firewalls: Defense Stocks Surge As Israel-Iran Tensions Ignite

Heightened geopolitical tensions have triggered a classic flight to traditional safe-haven assets following Israel's strike on <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/45922022/trump-issues-stark-warning-to-iran-to-make-a-deal-after-israels-strikes-on-nuclear-sites-just-do-it-before-its-too-late">Iran on Friday.&nbsp;</a>



Gold prices surged to near two-month highs, with spot gold jumping over 1% and futures rising as much as 1.6% after news of the airstrikes broke. On the other hand, Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) fell 1.3%, in-line with broad U.S. stock indices.&nbsp;



Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45885805/nvidias-jensen-huang-sparks-quantum-stock-frenzy?utm_source=articleShare">Nvidia&#8217;s Jensen Huang Sparks Quantum Stock Frenzy</a>



The Details: The S&amp;P 500, as tracked by the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>), slid 0.58% and the Dow Jones Index fell 1.11% as investors weighed the growing risks in the Middle East.&nbsp;&nbsp;



GOLD: Gold typically rallies when other assets fall. In fact, gold marched toward record-highs, jumping more than 1% to above $3,420 on Friday. Shares of the SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GLD#NYSE">GLD</a>) and iShares Gold Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IAU#NYSE">IAU</a>) were up 1.21% and 1.2%, respectively.&nbsp;



BTC: Bitcoin has been marketed as "digital gold" due to its fixed supply and decentralized nature. However, its safe-haven credentials are less established.&nbsp;



Bitcoin often moves in tandem with risk assets like equities, especially during periods<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/commodities/25/06/45924154/the-120-oil-shock-just-became-a-real-risk-are-we-back-in-2022"> of market stress</a>.The cryptocurrency's price is also influenced by leverage and speculation, increasing its volatility.&nbsp;



"The airstrikes sent oil spiking, which jolted inflation expectations and yanked rates higher, creating a chain reaction across risk assets," said Ben Kurland, CEO at crypto research platform DYOR, per <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/12/stock-market-today-live-updates.html">CNBC</a>. 



"Crypto, in particular, got hit because it's highly sensitive to liquidity and macro volatility. When oil rips and yields rise, the appetite for leverage shrinks," Kurland added.&nbsp;



Alongside gold, other traditional safe havens such as the U.S. dollar and government bonds also saw increased interest, but gold's proven track record in crisis situations makes it a preferred choice for investors seeking protection against volatility and potential market shock.&nbsp;



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Gold Vs. Bitcoin: We Now Know Which Is The Real Safe Haven

Oil is on track for its strongest weekly rally in nearly three years as traders brace for a possible supply crunch after Israel launched major airstrikes against Iran's nuclear and missile infrastructure, reigniting fears of broader conflict <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/middle-east">in the Middle East.</a> 



West Texas Intermediate crude futures briefly spiked as high as $77.50 per barrel during the Asian session before easing to $73 by 8:00 a.m. in New York, still 7% above Thursday&#8217;s close. 



For the week, oil prices – as tracked by the United States Oil Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USO#NYSE">USO</a>) &#8211; have risen by nearly 13%, their largest weekly gain since October 2022.



U.S. gasoline futures were up 4% on Friday to $2.21 a gallon, heading for the strongest weekly rally in three months.



The Israeli strikes killed top Iranian military officials and targeted critical installations, including nuclear and ballistic missile sites, raising the specter of retaliatory moves that could disrupt vital oil flows in the region.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Oil Set For Strongest Weekly Rally Since 2022 As Middle East Tensions Flare</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="528" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/13080023/image-219-1024x528.png" alt="" class="wp-image-948898" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/13080023/image-219-1024x528.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/13080023/image-219-300x155.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/13080023/image-219-768x396.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/13080023/image-219-1536x792.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/13080023/image-219-2048x1056.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



Chart: TradingView



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">How High Could Oil Go? ING Analyst Sees $120 Risk Scenario</h2>



Warren Patterson, head of commodity strategy at ING, said Iran's role in the global oil market makes the situation highly sensitive. 



"Iran is a meaningful oil producer, pumping 3.3 million barrels per day and exporting around 1.7 million," he said in a research report Friday.



Patterson said disruptions could hit the Strait of Hormuz, a maritime chokepoint that handles nearly one-third of global seaborne crude shipments, in a scenario of continued escalation.



"It still leaves roughly 14 million barrels per day of oil supply at risk," he said, noting that a serious disruption could push prices to $120 per barrel.



He added that Brent crude could test its all-time high of nearly $150 per barrel if disruptions persist toward year-end.



"The renewed standoff between the two countries risks spiraling into a wider conflict," said Alejandro Cuadrado, a strategist at BBVA. He said the volatility spike in oil may spill over into other markets over the weekend.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Wall Street Pulls Back: Energy And Defense Names Surge, Travel Stocks Hit Hard</h2>



U.S. equity futures slid Friday as investors reacted to escalating Middle East tensions, with broad declines across major indexes. The S&amp;P 500 fell 0.9%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 1% and the Nasdaq 100 dropped 1.1%.



Energy stocks outperformed sharply during premarket trading, buoyed by the surge in crude prices. Occidental Petroleum Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OXY#NYSE">OXY</a>) rose 4.8% to $46.91, APA Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/APA#NASDAQ">APA</a>) added 4.76% and Diamondback Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FANG#NASDAQ">FANG</a>) advanced 4.68%. 



Oilfield service firms joined the rally, with Halliburton Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HAL#NYSE">HAL</a>) and Schlumberger Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SLB#NYSE">SLB</a>) both gaining over 4%.



Defense contractors also moved up. Northrop Grumman Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOC#NYSE">NOC</a>) rose 3.94% to $516.71, while Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>) and RTX Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RTX#NYSE">RTX</a>) climbed 3.1% and 4%, respectively.



By contrast, travel stocks faced heavy pressure as higher energy costs and geopolitical uncertainty pressured the sector. Carnival Corp. &amp; plc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CCL#NYSE">CCL</a>) sank 5.24%, United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UAL#NASDAQ">UAL</a>) fell 4.82% and Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DAL#NYSE">DAL</a>) slid 4.58%.



Read now: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/macro-economic-events/25/06/45922984/trump-numbskull-fed-powell-inflation-interest-rates-israel-iran-oil">Trump&#8217;s &#8216;Numbskull&#8217; Insult Comes Back To Bite—In Record Time</a>



Photo: Shutterstock

FANG

The $120 Oil Shock Just Became A Real Risk: Are We Back In 2022?

In response to Israel&#8217;s recent strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, President Donald Trump issued a stern warning to Iran, urging the country to negotiate or face dire consequences.



What Happened: Trump, via his Truth Social account on Friday, criticized Iran for failing to secure a nuclear deal despite multiple opportunities. He highlighted the military prowess of the U.S. and Israel, emphasizing their advanced weaponry and preparedness.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="606" height="529" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/13063653/image-218.png" alt="" class="wp-image-948795" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/13063653/image-218.png 606w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/13063653/image-218-300x262.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 606px) 100vw, 606px" /></figure>



Trump, referring to Israel&#8217;s &#8220;Rising Lion&#8221; strikes that damaged Natanz and eliminated Revolutionary Guard leaders, including Chief Hossein Salami, warned of severe repercussions.&nbsp;He stated that Iranian hardliners, now &#8220;all DEAD,&#8221; had underestimated the response. &nbsp;Trump urged Iran to swiftly engage in negotiations to prevent further &#8220;slaughter&#8221; and &#8220;brutal&#8221; planned attacks, cautioning of the potential collapse of the &#8220;Iranian Empire.&#8221;



The President&#8217;s post corresponds with reports of rising tensions in the Middle East and the cancellation of U.S.-Iran talks. His message, while advocating for diplomacy, also threatens the use of overwhelming force, sparking fears of a broader conflict in the region.



SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/crypto/25/06/45897204/gamestop-themed-crypto-skyrockets-over-500-after-retailer-announces-1-75-billion-investment-plan" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">GameStop-Themed Crypto Skyrockets Over 500% After Retailer Announces $1.75 Billion Investment Plan &#8211; Benzinga</a>



Why It Matters: The Trump administration had&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/45919250/trump-administration-distances-us-from-israels-strikes-on-iran-we-are-not-involved-says-marco-rubio">distanced itself </a>from Israel&#8217;s recent military actions against Iran, a move that was expected to complicate Trump&#8217;s efforts to negotiate a nuclear deal with Tehran. The U.S. was preparing for another round of talks on Iran&#8217;s uranium enrichment program, scheduled for Sunday.



Earlier, Trump had made a significant diplomatic gesture towards Iran, expressing hope for improved relations in the Middle East. This came as he lauded the transformative efforts of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates in turning their capitals into thriving commercial centers. Trump&#8217;s softer tone towards Iran was seen as an indication of his administration&#8217;s&nbsp;willingness to seek a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45395894/trump-makes-peace-gesture-at-iran-amid-middle-east-optimism-willing-to-end-past-conflicts-and-forge-new-partnerships">nuclear deal</a> with Tehran.



The recent events have had a significant impact on the markets, with U.S. stocks likely to open lower following Israel&#8217;s strikes on Iran. The geopolitical risks have also offered an upside for the dollar, raising concerns about a further rise in tensions in the Middle East and their impact on supply routes.



Meanwhile, defense stocks like Lockheed Martin (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>), RTX (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RTX#NYSE">RTX</a>), and General Dynamics (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GD#NYSE">GD</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/06/45921574/lockheed-martin-rtx-general-dynamics-and-other-defense-stocks-rise-in-friday-pre-market-whats-going-on">climbed higher </a>in Friday&#8217;s pre-market trading session amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.



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<li>READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45920468/barack-obama-once-told-airbnb-ceo-brian-chesky-not-to-lead-like-a-self-driving-car-heres-what-former" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Barack Obama Once Told Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky Not To Lead Like A &#8216;Self-Driving Car:&#8217; Here&#8217;s What Former President Meant</a></li>
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Image via Shutterstock



Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Trump Issues Stark Warning To Iran To 'Make A Deal' After Israel's Strikes On Nuclear Sites: 'Just Do It Before It's Too Late'

Gold extended its remarkable 2025 rally on Friday, rising about 1.5% to $3,446 per ounce in New York morning trading as safe-haven demand accelerated following Israel's overnight airstrikes on Iran's nuclear and missile infrastructure — a move that threatens to destabilize an <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/commodities/25/06/45924154/the-120-oil-shock-just-became-a-real-risk-are-we-back-in-2022">already volatile Middle East.</a>



Israel&#8217;s targeted strikes reportedly destroyed key components of Iran's nuclear facilities and killed senior military officials, including the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.



Iran has vowed retaliation, raising fears that oil supply routes through the Strait of Hormuz could be compromised. This, alongside broader fears of a regional war, has rattled markets and pushed investors into traditional safe havens. 



With Friday's gains, gold is now up 31% year-to-date through June 13, marking its strongest first-half performance in over four decades. The last time bullion posted a bigger six-month gain was in the second half of 1982, when it climbed 42%. On a rolling six-month basis, the current rally is the strongest since the 2007–2008 financial crisis period.



Gold — as tracked by the SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GLD#NYSE">GLD</a>) — is now just shy of its April record high of $3,500, with renewed momentum pushing it closer to a fresh peak.



Yet, analysts say investors remain underexposed to the yellow metal, raising the possibility that fear of missing a major bull cycle could soon take hold.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="528" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/13102326/image-224-1024x528.png" alt="" class="wp-image-949224" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/13102326/image-224-1024x528.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/13102326/image-224-300x155.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/13102326/image-224-768x396.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/13102326/image-224-1536x792.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/13102326/image-224-2048x1056.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Investors Have Yet To Increase Their Gold Exposure</h3>



&#8220;We estimate that investors have allocated 3.5% of their portfolios, which does not seem excessive&nbsp;and&nbsp;it is still short of the all-time highs in 2011,&#8221; said Bank of America&#8217;s commodity analyst Michael Widmer in a note shared Friday. 



Meanwhile, central banks have sharply ramped up their purchases, now holding gold equivalent to nearly 18% of outstanding U.S. public debt, up from 13% a decade ago.



At market valuations, gold's share of total global foreign reserves rose to 20% by the end of 2024, overtaking the euro's 16% share. 



Emerging and developing nations in particular were responsible for over 1,000 tonnes of gold purchases last year, double the previous decade's average.



Daan Struyven, analyst at Goldman Sachs, said central bank gold buying has averaged 88 tonnes per month this year — ahead of the firm's projection of 80 tonnes per month through mid-2026.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">US Debt Problems Now Central To Gold's Next Move</h3>



Analysts say the metal's long-term trajectory will hinge on fiscal and monetary dynamics in the United States.



President Donald Trump's expansive "Big Beautiful Bill," currently advancing through Congress, is expected to widen the budget deficit further in the second half of 2025. 



According to economists tracking the legislation, even under optimistic scenarios, deficits will remain persistently high — keeping investor anxiety over fiscal sustainability elevated regardless of Senate negotiations.



This macro backdrop—marked by fiscal stress, volatile interest rates, and a weakening U.S. dollar—forms the structural foundation for gold's continued rise. Should the U.S. Treasury or Federal Reserve be forced to intervene in markets, analysts say gold could see a further tailwind.



"Continued apprehension over trade and U.S. fiscal deficits may well divert more central bank purchases away from U.S. Treasuries to gold,&#8221; said Bank of America&#8217;s Widmer.



&#8220;While wars and conflicts are usually not sustained price drivers, we see a path for gold to rally to $4,000/oz over the next 12 months,&#8221; he added.



Goldman maintains its price forecast of $3,700 per ounce by year-end and $4,000 by mid-2026, reiterating a "long gold" recommendation.



Now Read



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Image: Shutterstock

Econ #s

Economics

Gold's Biggest Boom In Decades—And Investors Are Still Missing Out

President Donald Trump has never been one to hold back, but his latest jab at Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell might be aging worse than milk left out in the sun. Less than a day after <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/45913481/trump-rips-jerome-powell-over-rates-but-supreme-court-shields-fed-from-firing">calling Powell a "numbskull"</a> for refusing to slash interest rates, the financial landscape has shifted dramatically—putting Trump's demand in an awkward position.



At a White House event on Thursday, Trump unleashed a tirade against Powell, frustrated that the Fed hadn't cut rates despite inflation remaining near a four-year low. For months, Trump has been pushing aggressively for lower rates, arguing that cutting them by two percentage points could save the government $600 billion a year in financing costs.



Vice President JD Vance also turned up the heat on Powell, calling the central bank's refusal to cut rates "monetary malpractice" in a June 12 post on X.



Read More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/45898797/trump-and-jd-vance-push-fed-to-slash-interest-rates-after-mild-inflation-report-calling-current-policy-monetary-malpractice">Trump And JD Vance Push Fed To Slash Interest Rates After Mild Inflation Report, Calling Current Policy &#8216;Monetary Malpractice&#8217;</a>



But Powell, ever cautious, has refused to budge as the rate of consumer-price increases is still above the central bank&#8217;s 2% target. Trump has dismissed those concerns outright, insisting that inflation was under control and that the Fed could simply hike rates again later if needed.



Renewed Inflation Risk Suggests Powell&#8217;s Caution Is Justified



Well, the fear of higher inflation may have resurfaced faster than Trump anticipated. Within hours of his remarks, global crude prices surged as much as 14%, following Israel's large-scale airstrikes on Iran's nuclear infrastructure, reigniting fears of an inflationary shock. The sudden spike in crude prices threatens to ripple through the economy, pushing up costs for businesses and consumers alike—precisely the kind of scenario Powell had warned about when resisting Trump's aggressive push for rate cuts.



Peter Schiff, a well-known economist and financial commentator, weighed in on the situation in an X post on Thursday, highlighting the inflationary risks ahead.



"Since the May low, the oil price is up 30%," Schiff wrote. "Anyone hoping for lower inflation or Fed rate cuts based on falling oil prices needs to rethink their assumptions. Both oil prices and inflation will be higher under Trump than they were under Biden. Rate cuts will just fuel both fires."



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Since the May low, the oil price is up 30%. Anyone hoping for lower inflation or Fed rate cuts based on falling oil prices needs to rethink their assumptions. Both oil prices and inflation will be higher under Trump than they were under Biden. Rate cuts will just fuel both fires.&mdash; Peter Schiff (@PeterSchiff) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeterSchiff/status/1933337765787414948?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 13, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Will Trump Blink Or Double Down?



Schiff's warning underscores the dilemma now facing Trump. His argument for slashing rates hinged on the idea that inflation was under control—but with oil prices surging, the Fed's cautious approach looks increasingly justified. The geopolitical turmoil in the Middle East has thrown a wrench into Trump's economic playbook, making his "numbskull" insult to Powell seem premature at best.



In March 2022, Powell testified before the U.S. Senate Banking Committee that every $10 per barrel increase in crude oil prices raises U.S. headline inflation (CPI) by approximately 0.2 percentage points and sets back economic growth by 0.1 percentage points—a warning that feels increasingly relevant amid the latest oil price surge.



In a September 2021 study, the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas examined the inflationary effects of rising oil prices. The research found that if crude prices climbed to $100 per barrel for three months, the annual inflation rate could increase by up to 3 percentage points in the short term.



As markets brace for further volatility, the question now is whether Trump will adjust his stance—or double down on his demand for rate cuts, even as inflation risks mount.



Read Next:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/macro-economic-events/25/06/45798570/exclusive-should-fed-chair-powell-resign-heres-what-benzinga-readers-said">Should Fed Chair Powell Resign? Here&#8217;s What Benzinga Readers Said</a></li>
</ul>



Image created using photos from Shutterstock and Fed.

Macro Economic Events

Politics

Trump's 'Numbskull' Insult Comes Back To Bite—In Record Time

U.S. stocks could open on a negative note on Friday after closing higher on Thursday. The decline comes amid Israel's pre-emptive strikes on Iran and retaliatory attacks from Iran, raising concerns about a further rise in tensions in the Middle East, impacting supply routes.



President Donald Trump once again threatened to impose unilateral tariffs within two weeks if the U.S.'s trade partners don't agree to a deal.



"At a certain point, we're just going to send letters out. And I think you understand that, saying this is the deal, you can take it or leave it," Trump told reporters at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>Futures</td><td>Change (+/-)</td></tr><tr><td>Nasdaq 100</td><td>-1.43%</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>-1.21%</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>-1.18%</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>-1.74%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



In premarket trading on Friday, the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) declined 1.23% to $596.34 and the Invesco QQQ ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) declined 1.49% to $525.73, according to <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/lxquj26b2sag">Benzinga Pro data</a>.



Cues From Last Session:



U.S. stocks ended Thursday on a mixed note, with the major indices in the green and the Russell 2000 ending in the red.



Crude oil surged to over $73 amid the Israel-Iran conflict.



Boeing Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>) declined by nearly 5% after an Air India <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/06/45911791/boeing-dreamliner-carrying-over-200-passengers-crashes-shortly-after-takeoff-near-indias-ahmedabad-b">Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner</a> carrying over 200 passengers crashed on Thursday near the Ahmedabad airport in India.



Most sectors on the S&amp;P 500 closed on a positive note, with only consumer discretionary, industrials, and communication services ending lower. Utilities, information technology and health care recorded the highest increase.



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>Index</td><td>Performance (+/-)</td><td>Value</td></tr><tr><td>Nasdaq Composite</td><td>0.24%</td><td>19,662.48</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>0.38%</td><td>6,045.26</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>0.24%</td><td>42,967.62</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>-0.38%</td><td>2,140.09</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Insights From Analysts:



While equities could bear the brunt of an increase in geopolitical risks and tensions in the Middle East due to the Israel-Iran conflict, analysts <a href="https://think.ing.com/articles/fx-daily-geopolitical-risk-storms-back-into-the-picture/">at</a> ING said that this could create some room for a brief rebound in the U.S. dollar.



"In other conditions, the DXY rally would likely be much larger than the roughly 0.75% rebound from the overnight lows we have seen so far, because the dollar would also benefit from the negative shock in equities and bonds," the research firm said.



The main concern, though, is a spike in oil prices. ING analysts highlighted that an energy price shock could force the Jerome Powell-led Federal Reserve to maintain its cautious stance on interest rate policy, which is something that has irked President Trump and others in his administration.



Upcoming Economic Data



Friday's major economic updates include:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>The preliminary consumer sentiment data for June will be announced at 10:00 a.m. ET.</li>
</ul>



Stocks In Focus:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Adobe Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ADBE#NASDAQ">ADBE</a>): The digital media company reported record revenue in Q2, beating Wall Street expectations. It raised the full-year revenue guidance to $23.50 billion &#8211; $23.60 billion, from $23.30 billion &#8211; $23.55 billion.</li>



<li>Boeing Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>), General Electric Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GE#NYSE">GE</a>): Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg skipped the Paris Airshow, while GE delayed its investor day after the deadly Air India crash took the lives of 241 people.</li>



<li>Chime Financial Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CHYM#NASDAQ">CHYM</a>): Chime stock closed 37% higher on Thursday following a blockbuster debut on the bourses.</li>



<li>Investors are awaiting earnings results from&nbsp;MoneyHero Ltd.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MNY#NASDAQ">MNY</a>) today.</li>
</ul>



Commodities, Gold, And Global Equity Markets:



Crude oil futures were trading higher in the early New York session by 7.14% to hover around $72.90 per barrel.



Spot prices of gold rose 1.14% to hover around $3,425.35 per ounce. Its last record high stood at $3,500.33 per ounce. The U.S. Dollar Index spot was up by 0.33% at the 98.2400 level.



The 10-year Treasury note yield was slightly down by 0.01%.



All of the major Asian markets were in the red on Friday, with the Taiwan Weighted index plunging the most at 0.97%, followed by the Nikkei 225, which fell 0.90%. Similarly, European markets were in the red at the time of writing.



Read Next:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/market-summary/25/06/45918802/middle-east-tensions-rattle-markets-us-stock-futures-slide-oil-jumps-8-gold-surges-above-3400-after-israel-strikes-iran">Middle East Tensions Rattle Markets: US Stock Futures Slide, Oil Jumps 8%, Gold Surges Above $3,400 After Israel Strikes Iran</a></li>
</ul>



Photo courtesy: godongphoto / Shutterstock.com

Equities

ADBE

CHYM

US Stocks Likely To Open Lower As Israel Strikes Iran: Geopolitical Risks Offers Upside For Dollar, Say Experts

Shares of defense stocks Rtx Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RTX#NYSE">RTX</a>), Lockheed Martin Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>) and General Dynamics Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GD#NYSE">GD</a>) climbed 4.6%, 4.2% and 1.2%, respectively, during Friday&#8217;s pre-market trading session amid Israel&#8217;s intensifying military <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/06/45921212/us-stocks-likely-to-open-lower-as-israel-strikes-iran-geopolitical-risks-offers-upside-for-dollar-say-experts">operations in Lebanon and Iran.</a>



What Happened: Israel recently initiated an invasion of Lebanon and executed <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/45919250/trump-administration-distances-us-from-israels-strikes-on-iran-we-are-not-involved-says-marco-rubio">leaders of Iran&#8217;s IRGC. </a>This act provoked Iran to launch extensive strikes against targets within Israel. Lockheed Martin (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>), the largest arms manufacturer globally, produces the F-35 aircraft, which Israel employs in its regular bombardments of Gaza. 



RTX Corporation, formerly Raytheon, the second-largest arms manufacturer, provides Israel with &#8220;bunker buster&#8221; bombs, which are prohibited in densely populated areas.



Meanwhile, General Dynamics (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GD#NYSE">GD</a>), another manufacturer of bunker busters, produces the BLU-109 bombs currently used by Israel.



SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/10/ab41310379/claritycheck-launches-innovative-reverse-lookup-tool-to-empower-users-against-digital-scams" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ClarityCheck Launches Innovative Reverse Lookup Tool to Empower Users Against Digital Scams &#8211; Benzinga</a>



Why It Matters: The escalating tension in the Middle East has had a profound impact on global markets. Israel&#8217;s preemptive strike on Iran caused U.S. stock <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/market-summary/25/06/45918802/middle-east-tensions-rattle-markets-us-stock-futures-slide-oil-jumps-8-gold-surges-above-3400-after-israel-strikes-iran">futures to slide</a>, oil prices to jump 8%, and gold to surge above $3,400.



Moreover, the Trump administration has distanced itself from Israel&#8217;s recent <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/45919250/trump-administration-distances-us-from-israels-strikes-on-iran-we-are-not-involved-says-marco-rubio">military actions </a>against Iran. These strikes are expected to complicate President Donald Trump's efforts to negotiate a nuclear deal with Tehran.



Lastly, President Trump&#8217;s ambitious $175 billion plan <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45548110/trumps-golden-dome-launches-new-era-for-defense-stocks-like-rtx-lockheed-martin-l3harris">to develop</a> a &#8220;Golden Dome&#8221; missile defense system announced in May is expected to usher in a new era for defense stocks like RTX, Lockheed Martin, and L3Harris (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LHX#NYSE">LHX</a>).



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45897537/jamie-dimon-recalls-first-palantir-meeting-holy-christ-this-is-unbelievable-jpmorgan-now-has-600-ai-" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jamie Dimon Recalls First Palantir Meeting: &#8216;Holy Christ, This Is Unbelievable—&#8217; JPMorgan Now Has 600 AI Use Cases, $2 Billion Annual Investment On AI</a></li>
</ul>



Image via Shutterstock



Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Lockheed Martin, RTX, General Dynamics And Other Defense Stocks Rise In Friday Pre-Market: What's Going On?

Boeing Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>) is facing mounting pressure as India's aviation ministry reportedly considers temporarily grounding the country's Boeing 787-8 fleet following a catastrophic <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/06/45911791/boeing-dreamliner-carrying-over-200-passengers-crashes-shortly-after-takeoff-near-indias-ahmedabad-b">Air India crash that killed over 240 people</a> near Ahmedabad.



What Happened: The fatal incident occurred when Air India flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner bound for London, crashed moments after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.



According to NDTV Profit sources, India's Ministry of Civil Aviation is reviewing safety protocols for all Boeing 787-8s in Indian service.



Air India operates 34 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners, the largest domestic fleet of the aircraft type. The airline faces potential scrutiny over maintenance practices as talks proceed with Boeing India, the National Transportation Safety Board, and the Federal Aviation Administration, though outcomes remain uncertain.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NDTVProfitExclusive?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NDTVProfitExclusive</a> &#x7C; India considers <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dreamliner?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Dreamliner</a> safety probe after <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AirIndiaPlaneCrash?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AirIndiaPlaneCrash</a> For the latest news and updates, visit <a href="https://t.co/by4FF5oyu4">https://t.co/by4FF5oyu4</a> <a href="https://t.co/8H5cPTFEkP">pic.twitter.com/8H5cPTFEkP</a>&mdash; NDTV Profit (@NDTVProfitIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/NDTVProfitIndia/status/1933358226495660327?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 13, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



India&#8217;s Ministry of Civil Aviation did not immediately respond to&nbsp;<a href="http://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga</a>'s request for comment.



Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg canceled his planned Paris Airshow attendance, telling staff he and Commercial Airplanes head Stephanie Pope would &#8220;focus on our customer and the investigation.&#8221; The decision disrupts Boeing&#8217;s presence at aviation&#8217;s premier trade event, running June 16-20 at Le Bourget, Reuters reported.



General Electric Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GE#NYSE">GE</a>) also postponed its June 17 investor day, originally scheduled to coincide with the airshow, according to Reuters. GE Aerospace, whose engines powered the crashed aircraft, said it would deploy a team to India for data analysis. &#8220;GE Aerospace&#8217;s senior leadership is focused on supporting our customers and the investigation,&#8221; the company stated.



Why It Matters: The crash snapped Boeing&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/travel/25/06/45915389/india-crash-survivor-emerges-from-wreckage-has-no-idea-how-he-survived">recent recovery momentum</a>. Analysts had upgraded the stock with RBC and TD Cowen issuing $230 price targets, while Bank of America moved to Buy. Boeing gained 13% year-to-date through Tuesday, boosted by resumed 737 MAX deliveries to China and a $96 billion Qatar Airways deal.



The incident adds to Boeing&#8217;s safety challenges following the 2024 JejuAir crash that <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/06/45899174/boeing-dreamliner-carrying-over-200-passengers-crashes-shortly-after-takeoff-near-indias-ahmedabad-ba-stock-falls-over-5-in-thursday-pre-market">killed 179 passengers</a> and ongoing FAA production caps on 737 MAX aircraft. Boeing&#8217;s entire 787 fleet was previously grounded in 2013 due to battery safety issues.



BA shows strong momentum but lags on growth and valuation metrics, according to Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings. However, the stock maintains a positive price trend across short to long-term periods. See <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">the full breakdown here</a>.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="872" height="632" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/13010735/image-212.png" alt="" class="wp-image-948470" style="width:418px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/13010735/image-212.png 872w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/13010735/image-212-300x217.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/13010735/image-212-768x557.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 872px) 100vw, 872px" /></a></figure>



Read Next: 



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/market-summary/25/06/45918802/middle-east-tensions-rattle-markets-us-stock-futures-slide-oil-jumps-8-gold-surges-above-3400-after-israel-strikes-iran">Middle East Tensions Rattle Markets: US Stock Futures Slide, Oil Jumps 8%, Gold Surges Above $3,400 After Israel Strikes Iran</a></li>
</ul>



Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.



Photo courtesy: JHVEPhoto / Shutterstock.com

Boeing Faces Fresh Turmoil As India Mulls 787-8 Grounding, Safety Review After Fatal Crash, CEO Kelly Ortberg Cancels Paris Trip: Report

Gold and its cryptocurrency derivatives surged Thursday night as investors sought refuge in the safe haven following <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/06/45918307/bitcoin-ethereum-dogecoin-bleed-after-israel-launches-premptive-strike-against-iran-analyst-foresees-lower-levels-for-eth-if-it-fails-to-hold-this-support">Israel's strikes on Iran</a>.



What happened: Spot gold was up 1.20% to $3,427.51 per ounce as of this writing, its highest level in more than a month. Gold futures on the Commodity Exchange were up 1.63% to $3,457.70.



The latest spike extended the yellow metal's year-to-date gains past 30%.



The gains flowed down to physical gold-backed cryptocurrencies, causing similar increases in Tether Gold and PAX Gold.



The two coins also extended their year-to-date gains past 30%, becoming one of the most valuable cryptocurrency investments in 2025.



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>Cryptocurrency</td><td>Gains +/-</td><td>YTD Gains +/-</td><td>Price (Recorded at 11:30 p.m. ET)</td></tr><tr><td>Pax Gold (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/pax/usd">PAX</a>)</td><td>+1.98%</td><td>+31.46%</td><td>$3,435.82</td></tr><tr><td>Tether Gold (CRYPTO: XAUT)</td><td>+1.95%</td><td>+30.95%</td><td>$3,456.47</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



See Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44621245/gold-backed-cryptos-match-yellow-metals-highs-following-trumps-liberation-day-shock"> </a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/06/45740537/forget-dollars-willy-woo-says-bitcoin-will-be-priced-against-global-gdp-gold-used-to-be-that-money-btc-is-the-challenger">Forget Dollars: Willy Woo Says Bitcoin Will Be Priced Against Global GDP — &#8216;Gold Used To Be That Money, BTC Is The Challenger&#8217;</a>



These returns contrasted with the drop in heavyweights like Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) and Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>), which were down 3.38% and 8.91%, respectively, as of this writing.



Renowned gold bug Peter Schiff contrasted gold's rise with Bitcoin's decline, calling into question the apex cryptocurrency&#8217;s widely touted safe-haven narrative.



"How can anyone consider Bitcoin to be a digital version of gold?," he asked.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Israel attacks Iran. Oil prices jump 5% while S&amp;P futures fall 1.5%. In response, investors seeking a safe haven buy gold, sending its price up 0.85%. Meanwhile, investors dump Bitcoin, pushing its price down 2%. How can anyone consider Bitcoin to be a digital version of gold?&mdash; Peter Schiff (@PeterSchiff) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeterSchiff/status/1933327752297591281?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 13, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Read Next:&nbsp;



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/06/45876652/trump-family-backed-bitcoin-mining-firm-acquires-23-million-worth-of-btc-signals-more-accumulation-in-the-future">Trump Family-Backed Bitcoin Mining Firm Mines $23 Million Worth Of BTC, Signals More Accumulation In The Future</a></li>
</ul>



Image via Shutterstock

Cryptocurrency

$ETH

$PAX

Gold-Backed Cryptos Surge As Israel-Iran Tensions Ignite Safe-Haven Rush — Coins Linked To Tether, PAX Top 30% YTD, Outshine Bitcoin

The CNN Money Fear and Greed index showed a slight decline in the overall market sentiment, while the index remained in the &#8220;Greed&#8221; zone on Thursday.



U.S. stocks settled higher on Thursday, with the S&amp;P 500 recording gains during the session amid a rally in Oracle Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>) shares. Shares of Oracle jumped more than 13% on Thursday after the company reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter financial results and issued upbeat outlook commentary.



The Boeing Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>) shares fell around 5% on Thursday after an Air India 787-8 Dreamliner crashed near the Ahmedabad airport.



On the economic front, U.S. producer prices rose by 0.1% month-over-month in May compared to a revised 0.2% decline in April and versus market estimates of a 0.2% increase. U.S. initial jobless claims came in steady at 248,000 during the first week of June, versus market estimates of 240,000.



President Donald Trump renewed pressure on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell to cut interest rates.



Most sectors on the S&amp;P 500 closed on a positive note, with utilities, information technology and health care stocks recording the biggest gains on Thursday. However, communication services and consumer discretionary stocks bucked the overall market trend, closing the session lower.



The Dow Jones closed higher by around 102 points to 42,967.62 on Thursday. The S&amp;P 500 rose 0.38% to 6,045.26, while the Nasdaq Composite gained 0.24% to 19,662.48 during Thursday's session.



Investors are awaiting earnings results from MoneyHero Limited (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MNY#NASDAQ">MNY</a>) today.



What is CNN Business Fear &amp; Greed Index?



At a current reading of 61.4, the index remained in the &#8220;Greed&#8221; zone on Thursday, versus a prior reading of 61.7.



The Fear &amp; Greed Index is a measure of the current market sentiment. It is based on the premise that higher fear exerts pressure on stock prices, while higher greed has the opposite effect. The index is calculated based on seven equal-weighted indicators. The index ranges from 0 to 100, where 0 represents maximum fear and 100 signals maximum greediness.



Read Next: 



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/short-ideas/25/06/45902941/top-2-defensive-stocks-that-may-keep-you-up-at-night-in-q2">Top 2 Defensive Stocks That May Keep You Up At Night In Q2</a> </li>
</ul>



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

ORCL

S&P 500 Gains Amid Surge In Oracle Shares: Investor Sentiment Edges Lower, But Fear Index Remains In 'Greed' Zone

U.S. stock futures slipped Thursday evening as tensions continued to flare in the Middle East, following Israel&#8217;s preemptive strike against Iran. 



Starting with the&nbsp;S&amp;P 500 Futures, which trades at 5,959.25, down 1.49%, followed by&nbsp;Nasdaq Futures&nbsp;at 21,580.25, down 1.59%, and&nbsp;Dow Jones Futures&nbsp;down 1.36%, trading at 42,404.00, at the time of writing this.



The futures markets dipped following Israel&#8217;s Defense Minister, Israel Katz declared a state of emergency, following the attack on Iran. Katz said, &#8220;Following the State of Israel's preemptive strike against Iran, a missile and drone attack against the State of Israel and its civilian population is expected in the immediate future,&#8221; according <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/12/israels-defense-minister-announces-special-situation-after-israeli-attack-on-iran.html">to</a> CNBC.



On Wednesday, President Donald Trump announced that all non-emergency U.S. personnel located at its bases and embassies in the Middle East <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/commodities/25/06/45897276/oil-etfs-surge-over-6-as-trump-orders-middle-east-evacuation-amid-iran-tensions-warns-region-could-be-dangerous">will be evacuated</a>, saying that it &#8220;could be a dangerous place.&#8221;



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/45916986/walmart-heiress-takes-on-trump-with-no-kings-ad-white-house-calls-it-burning-some-of-her-inheritance-for-a-pr-stunt">Walmart Heiress Takes On Trump With &#8216;No Kings&#8217; Ad: White House Calls It &#8216;Burning Some Of Her Inheritance For A PR Stunt&#8217;</a>



Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a statement following Israel&#8217;s unilateral strikes, stating that the U.S. was not involved in the strikes against Iran and that the government&#8217;s top priority is protecting American troops in the region. &#8220;Let me be clear,&#8221; he said, &#8220;Iran should not target U.S. interests or personnel.&#8221;



<figure class="wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><a href="https://t.co/aqh7QXYtiy">pic.twitter.com/aqh7QXYtiy</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1933324586214395966?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 13, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Asian markets opened lower on Friday, with Japan&#8217;s benchmark Nikkei 225 down 1.44%, trading at 37,625.30, with services, electronics, and export-oriented industries leading the decline. South Korea&#8217;s KOSPI Composite Index is following suit, down 0.97% in early-morning trade, at 2,891.73.



Crude oil prices are up 8% on Friday, trading at $73.36 a barrel, marking a steep ascent from its 52-week low of $58.4 in early May. 



Oil ETFs are once again on the ascent after hours, with the United States Oil Fund LP (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USO#NYSE">USO</a>) up 1.68%, ProShares Ultra Bloomberg Crude Oil (ARCA: UCO) up 2.75%, and finally the SPDR S&amp;P Oil &amp; Gas Exploration &amp; Production ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XOP#NYSE">XOP</a>) up 0.41%.



The U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) is up 0.21%, trading at 98.105 against a basket of foreign currencies, in a rather volatile trading session, as geopolitical concerns weigh.



Gold spot prices have surged 3.33%, trading at $3,435.68 per ounce, as investors pursue safe-haven assets amid rising geopolitical risks.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="192" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/12215155/Screenshot-2025-06-13-at-7.21.28-AM-1024x192.png" alt="" class="wp-image-948339" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/12215155/Screenshot-2025-06-13-at-7.21.28-AM-1024x192.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/12215155/Screenshot-2025-06-13-at-7.21.28-AM-300x56.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/12215155/Screenshot-2025-06-13-at-7.21.28-AM-768x144.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/12215155/Screenshot-2025-06-13-at-7.21.28-AM.png 1176w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>



The ProShares Ultra Bloomberg Crude Oil ETF, one of the leading ETFs to track crude oil prices, has a momentum of 21.13. It has a favorable price trend in the short, medium, and long term, but how does it compare with other energy and crude oil ETFs? Click <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">here</a> to find out. 



Read More: 



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/emerging-markets/25/06/45913847/the-dollar-is-crumbling-and-hedge-fund-analyst-says-a-new-global-trade-is-brewing">The Dollar Is Crumbling, And Hedge Fund Analyst Says A New Global Trade Is Brewing</a></li>
</ul>



Image Via Shutterstock

GENC

Middle East Tensions Rattle Markets: US Stock Futures Slide, Oil Jumps 8%, Gold Surges Above $3,400 After Israel Strikes Iran

Chip giant Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) has revised its financial strategy after <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/44971572/nvidia-chip-ban-wont-stop-chinas-ai-momentum-say-analysts-blocking-h20-would-hand-market-to-huawei-amid-trump-era-export-crackdown">U.S. export controls</a> blocked AI chip sales to China, resulting in a multibillion-dollar revenue shortfall in the first quarter of 2025.



What Happened: Speaking <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2025/06/12/tech/nvidia-ceo-china-us-ai-chip-exports">to</a> CNN in Paris on Thursday, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said the company will no longer include China in its revenue or profit forecasts due to ongoing U.S. export restrictions.



"I'm not counting on it, but if it happens, then it will be a great bonus," Huang said, referring to the possibility of loosened trade rules. "I've told all our investors and shareholders that, going forward, our forecasts will not include the China market."



Earlier this year, Nvidia was <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45644145/nvidia-stock-is-bullish-ahead-of-q1-earnings-but-will-h20-chip-woes-dampen-the-party">forced to halt shipments</a> of its China-specific H20 AI chips after the U.S. government determined a special license was required.



That decision cost the company $2.5 billion in potential revenue in the first quarter. Although Nvidia <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44830406/nvidia-to-take-55-billion-hit-over-china-chip-export-restrictions-but-top-analyst-dan-ives-says-hes-not-overly-concerned-all-part-of-the-high-game-of-poker">expected a $5.5 billion hit</a> from excess inventory, it ultimately recorded a $4.5 billion charge.



See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44897214/nvidia-discusses-ai-powering-future-with-japan-amid-rising-energy-demands" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nvidia&#8217;s Jensen Huang Meets Japanese PM To Discuss AI&#8217;s Growing Energy Needs</a>



"The goals of the export controls are not being achieved," Huang told the publication. "Whatever those goals are that were being discussed initially, (they) are apparently not working. And so I think, with all export controls, the goals have to be well-articulated and tested over time."



Why It's Important: Speaking at the Viva Tech conference in Paris on Thursday, Huang also cautioned that continued U.S. restrictions on AI chip exports to China could allow Huawei Technologies to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45903869/nvidia-ceo-jensen-huang-says-huawei-has-got-china-covered-if-us-backs-off-despite-american-tech-being-generation-ahead">strengthen its position</a> within China.



On Monday, Kevin Hassett, who heads the U.S. National Economic Council, told CNBC that the Donald Trump administration could consider easing some <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45157365/nvidia-ceo-jensen-huang-warns-us-lawmakers-that-export-bans-are-backfiring-fueling-huaweis-rise-in-global-ai-chip-race">export limits</a> on microchips deemed essential by China for its manufacturing needs, the report noted.



However, he said that the U.S. will continue to restrict access to "very, very high-end" Nvidia chips designed to support artificial intelligence systems.



Price Action: Nvidia shares have gained 4.84% year-to-date and are up 15.81% over the past 12 months. On Thursday, the stock climbed 1.52%, closing at $145, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>.



Benzinga's Edge Stock Rankings show Nvidia maintaining strong upward momentum across short, medium and long-term periods. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound'">Further performance details are available here</a>.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound'"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/12220254/Screenshot-2025-06-13-at-7.30.48%E2%80%AFAM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-948344"/></a></figure>



Read More:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://benzinga.com/news/25/04/44735140/most-people-dont-have-the-balls-to-do-it-says-mark-cuban-praising-musk-for-going-all-in-with-his-own-money-f" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">‘Most People Don't Have The B&#x2A;&#x2A;ls To Do It,' Says Mark Cuban, Praising Musk For Going ‘All In' With His Own Money For His Startups</a></li>
</ul>



Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.



Image via Shutterstock

Tech

Media

NVDA

Nvidia Drops China From Guidance After $2.5 Billion Q1 Revenue Hit, CEO Jensen Huang Says He's 'Not Counting' On US Lifting Export Controls, 'But If It Happens, It Will Be A Great Bonus'

The world's richest billionaire has taken a hit to his wealth in 2025. Even after a year-to-date decline for Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) stock, Elon Musk is still significantly ahead of who is in second place and worth more than several of his automotive rivals combined.



What Happened: Tesla CEO Elon Musk is the world's richest person and gets the majority of his net worth from ownership stakes in the electric vehicle company, SpaceX, xAI and other ventures.



Musk currently ranks first as the world's richest with a wealth of $369 billion according to <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/billionaires/?sref=TBDibEcD">Bloomberg</a>.



This is significantly ahead of the billionaire in second place, Mark Zuckerberg, who is worth an estimated $245 billion.



What's also interesting is that if you look at Musk's wealth, it&#8217;s worth more than several of the largest automotive companies combined.



Take this list, for example:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Stellantis NV (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STLA#NYSE">STLA</a>): $29.7 billion</li>



<li>Ford Motor Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/F#NYSE">F</a>): $41.9 billion</li>



<li>General Motors Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GM#NYSE">GM</a>): $47.4 billion</li>



<li>Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TM#NYSE">TM</a>): $238.2 billion</li>
</ul>



Add it up and it's a value of $357.2 billion. That means Musk is worth more than these four automotive companies combined, with $11.8 billion left over.



You may not be a billionaire like Elon Musk, but you can uncover hidden gems in the stock market using our proprietary data and pattern recognition — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/24/10/41187322/benzingas-stock-whisper-index-5-stocks-investors-secretly-monitor-but-dont-talk-about-yet">check out five stocks flying under the radar that </a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/25/06/45827517/benzingas-stock-whisper-index-5-stocks-investors-secretly-monitor-but-dont-talk-about-yet-68">deserve </a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/24/10/41187322/benzingas-stock-whisper-index-5-stocks-investors-secretly-monitor-but-dont-talk-about-yet">your attention.</a>



Why It's Important: Musk and Tesla have dominated the electric vehicle market in the U.S. and globally.



Tesla is worth over $1 trillion, even with recent struggles with delivery figures and demand.



A recent public feud between Musk and President Donald Trump sent shares of Tesla down significantly, marking the company&#8217;s biggest one-day market capitalization <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/06/45827390/musk-vs-trump-tesla-suffers-record-152b-one-day-crash-as-ceo-warns-tariffs-will-cause-a-recession-up">loss of $152 billion.</a>



That drop also<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/movers-shakers/25/06/45807280/elon-musk-bleeds-34-billion-as-tesla-shares-tank-14-amid-spat-with-trump-how-the-billionaires-fortune-has-fared-so-far-in-2025"> sent the wealth </a>of Musk from $368 billion on June 4 to $335 billion on June 5.



Tesla stock and Musk's wealth have rebounded from that feud-related sell-off.



Tesla stock remains down 15.9% year-to-date.



Musk's wealth has taken a hit in 2025 with a $63.5 billion drop in his net worth over the year. This comes with Tesla stock falling, while other ventures of his such as Neuralink, xAI and SpaceX are seeing higher valuations.



Musk became the first person to have a net worth of more than $400 billion in late 2024 and he could be headed back to that figure if Tesla stock can rally on recent robotaxi news and turn positive on the year.



Read Next: 



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/45845525/exclusive-should-musk-be-fired-from-tesla-after-trump-feud-45-say-this-in-new-poll">EXCLUSIVE: Should Musk Be Fired From Tesla After Trump Feud? 45% Say This In New Poll</a></li>
</ul>



Photo: Shutterstock

Entertainment

Management

STLA

TSLA

Elon Musk Net Worth Down $64 Billion In 2025 — But Tesla CEO Still Richer Than Value Of Ford, General Motors, Stellantis, Toyota Combined

Adobe Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ADBE#NASDAQ">ADBE</a>) released financial results for the second quarter on Thursday after the bell. Here&#8217;s a look at the key details <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/06/b45914097/adobe-reports-record-revenue-in-q2-and-raises-fy25-revenue-and-eps-targets">from the print</a>.



Q2 Earnings: Adobe reported second-quarter revenue of $5.87 billion, beating analyst <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/earnings" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">estimates</a>&nbsp;of $5.79 billion, according to <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Pro</a>. The company reported second-quarter adjusted earnings of $5.06 per share, beating estimates of $4.96 per share.



Total revenue was up 11% year-over-year as digital media revenue climbed 11% year-over-year and digital experience revenue increased 10% year-over-year. At the end of the quarter, Adobe had $19.69 billion in remaining performance obligations. 



Adobe said it repurchased approximately 8.6 million shares during the second quarter. The company ended the period with $4.93 billion in cash and cash equivalents.



&#8220;Adobe&#8217;s AI innovation is transforming industries enabling individuals and enterprises to achieve unprecedented levels of creativity,&#8221; said&nbsp;Shantanu Narayen, chair and CEO of Adobe.



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/45913665/if-you-invested-1000-in-palantir-stock-when-marjorie-taylor-green-disclosed-buying-heres-how-much-youd-have-now">If You Invested $1,000 In Palantir Stock When Marjorie Taylor Green Disclosed Buying, Here&#8217;s How Much You&#8217;d Have Now</a>



Guidance:&nbsp;Adobe expects third-quarter revenue of $5.88 billion to $5.93 billion versus estimates of $5.87 billion. The company anticipates third-quarter adjusted earnings of $5.15 to $5.20 per share versus estimates of $5.10 per share.



Adobe raised expectations for full-year 2025 revenue to $23.5 to $23.6 billion, up from prior guidance of $23.3 billion to $23.55 billion. Adobe also raised its full-year adjusted earnings guidance to a range of $20.50 to $20.70 per share, up from a prior guidance range of $20.20 to $20.50 per share. 



According to <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com">Benzinga Pro</a>, analysts are anticipating full-year revenue of $23.44 billion and full-year earnings of $20.36 per share.



&#8220;We continue to invest in AI innovation across our customer groups to enhance value realization and expand the universe of customers we serve,&#8221; said Dan Durn, executive vice president and CFO of Adobe.



Adobe&#8217;s management team will further discuss the quarter on a conference call with investors and analysts from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. ET.



ADBE Price Action:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ADBE" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Adobe shares</a>&nbsp;were down 1.49% in after-hours, trading at $407.50 at the time of publication Thursday, per <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Pro</a>.



Read Next:



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/06/45910248/stock-market-flat-dollar-inflation-data-thursday">Stocks Flat, Dollar Sinks To Over 2-Year Lows After Inflation Data: What&#8217;s Driving Markets Thursday?</a></li>
</ul>



Photo: <a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/g/Mats+Wiklund">Mats Wiklund</a>/Shutterstock.

Earnings

Guidance

After-Hours Center

Adobe Q2 Earnings: Revenue Beat, EPS Beat, Raised FY Guidance, Continued Investments In AI Innovation

As the U.S. dollar has slumped to its lowest level in over two years, emerging market stocks rallied in near-perfect inverse fashion—a trend that may be just <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/emerging-markets">at its early stages.</a>



The iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EEM#NYSE">EEM</a>), which holds more than 800 EM stocks, posted its ninth consecutive daily gain—the longest streak since the fund&#8217;s inception in 2016—reaching levels last seen before Russia's invasion of Ukraine.



&#8220;As an investor, I want to operate under the assumption that… the dollar is going to be devaluing," Otavio Costa, macro analyst at Crescat Capital, said in an exclusive interview with Benzinga. 



"You want to buy natural resources, you want to buy hard assets, but you also want to buy emerging markets in a big way,&#8221; he added.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="527" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/12152354/image-202-1024x527.png" alt="" class="wp-image-948187" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/12152354/image-202-1024x527.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/12152354/image-202-300x154.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/12152354/image-202-768x395.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/12152354/image-202-1536x790.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/12152354/image-202-2048x1054.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The US Debt Problem Is Now a Dollar Problem</h3>



At the core of Costa's view is the widening gap in interest payments between the U.S. and its developed peers.



The U.S. spends about 5% of its gross domestic product on interest—when combining federal and local levels—far exceeding developed peers like Germany, Japan, and Canada, where interest costs are about 1%.



Because the U.S. has far less fiscal flexibility, Costa believes it will be forced to cut rates more aggressively than other economies.



For Costa, the implication is clear: &#8220;That's going to translate into interest rates differentials contracting and causing the dollar to fall."



Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/commodities/25/06/45891893/is-the-us-secretly-hoarding-gold-expert-says-do-it-first-tell-the-world-after">Is The US Secretly Hoarding Gold? Expert Says &#8216;Do It First, Tell the World After&#8217;</a> 



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">US Valuations Are Stretched, EM Stocks Look Cheap</h3>



Costa emphasized the valuation gap between U.S. and emerging market equities.



 "The Cyclically Adjusted Price-to-Earnings (CAPE) ratio of the U.S. is about 35, one of the highest in history. You look at Brazil, and it's about 12." he said.



"Why would you not deploy capital there?&#8221;



Costa sees emerging markets, hard assets and undervalued foreign equities as the likely beneficiaries of this rotation. 



He sees particular value in Brazil, not just in equities but in fixed income as well. "In Brazil, the equity market looks attractive, the bond market looks very attractive," Costa said.



Among developed markets, Costa is particularly bullish on Canada. He sees the Canadian dollar—historically linked to oil and natural gas—on the verge of a breakout, fueled by its commodity exposure and underweight positioning in global portfolios.



"The Canadian dollar is a contrarian play that could benefit from U.S. weakness and commodity strength," he said, adding that Canadian mining companies could also enjoy capital inflows.



He added that capital markets are already signaling a shift. 



"Argentina starts doing well all of a sudden after politics changes… India is doing quite well. Japanese equities doing better than the U.S. Now you're seeing European equities outperform U.S. equities."



"These things are just starting to occur," he said. "They're big moves."



Read Next: 



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/06/45910211/trumps-first-six-months-these-4-markets-crush-sp-500-as-tariffs-boomerang">Trump&#8217;s First Six Months: These 4 Markets Crush S&amp;P 500 As Tariffs Boomerang</a></li>
</ul>



Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

Analyst Color

Emerging Markets

Emerging Market ETFs

Federal Reserve

Analyst Ratings

The Dollar Is Crumbling, And Hedge Fund Analyst Says A New Global Trade Is Brewing

The greenback hasn&#8217;t been this weak in over two years, as mounting evidence of disinflation and cracks in the labor market stripped away its appeal, prompting a louder call from economists for the Federal Reserve <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/interest-rates">to cut interest rates.</a>



The U.S. dollar index—a trade-weighted gauge measuring dollar strength broadly tracked by the&nbsp;Invesco DB USD Index Bullish Fund ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UUP#NYSE">UUP</a>)—dropped to 97.60 on Thursday, the lowest since late March 2022.



The slide came after a one-two punch of economic reports showed inflation cooling among consumers and producers while jobless claims surged to multi-year highs.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Inflation Broadly Undershoots Forecasts</h3>



Thursday's data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed the Producer Price Index rose 2.6% in May<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/economic-data/25/06/45902987/producer-inflation-rises-less-than-forecasts-in-may-jobless-claims-signal-labor-market-cracks"> from a year earlier,</a> matching expectations but reflecting only a modest rise from April's revised 2.5%. On a monthly basis, PPI increased just 0.1%, below the 0.2% forecast.



Core PPI, which strips out food and energy prices, cooled to 3.0% year-over-year — its lowest reading since August 2024 — and posted a minimal 0.1% monthly gain, missing the 0.3% estimate. The figures indicate that inflationary pressures in the production pipeline remain soft, despite tariff concerns.



Released a day earlier, the Consumer Price Index for May rose 2.4% annually, a slight uptick from April's 2.3% but under the consensus view of 2.5%. Monthly CPI rose just 0.1%, also below expectations.



Core CPI held steady at 2.8% year-over-year, with monthly gains easing to 0.1%, down from 0.2% the previous month and falling short of the projected 0.3%. 



These numbers reinforce the narrative that price pressures are failing to accelerate, despite lingering tariff-related risks.



Alongside subdued inflation, the labor market showed fresh signs of strain. Initial jobless claims rose to 248,000 in the week ending June 7, exceeding forecasts of 240,000. More significantly, continuing claims climbed to 1.956 million — the highest level since November 2021.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Economists Urge Fed To Cut Rates</h3>



Neil Dutta, economist at Renaissance Macro, said on Bloomberg TV, "The fact that continuing claims are basically running at cycle highs tells you that permanent layoffs are going up… The labor market is cracking."



Dutta indicated that the Fed is now behind the curve. "They should be focusing on the data that's coming in… The train may have already left the station."



The expert warned that "Fed policy is too tight" and urged the central bank to act. "Next week," he said, though he added he doesn't expect the Fed to move in June.



Referencing a prior misstep, Dutta added, "Powell said he was a little bit late when he cut in September. Then what does that make him now?"



&#8220;The Fed is whistling past the graveyard," he added. 



Dutta also emphasized the connection between housing and inflation. "You look at metro areas like Dallas, Phoenix—these are places with significant home price weakness and very benign inflation," he said. 



"If the housing market got worse after 100 basis points of cuts, Fed policy is too tight."



Bill Adams, chief economist at Comerica Bank, said the latest data &#8220;make a federal funds rate cut later this year more plausible,&#8221; although he warned that fiscal stimulus and slower labor supply growth may still keep unemployment stable, limiting the Fed&#8217;s incentive to ease.



Stephen Juneau, economist at Bank of America, was more cautious. "Overall, this would be a good number for the Fed, but it&#8217;s hard to take too much signal given the uncertainty tariffs pose around the inflation path."



Read now: 



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45903869/nvidia-ceo-jensen-huang-says-huawei-has-got-china-covered-if-us-backs-off-despite-american-tech-being-generation-ahead">Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Says Huawei &#8216;Has Got China Covered&#8217; If US Backs Off, Despite American Tech Being &#8216;Generation Ahead&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>



Photo: Shutterstock



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Currency ETFs

Forex

Economists Send Urgent Warning After Dollar Hits 2 Year Low

Editor&#8217;s Note: This article has been updated with additional content.



Producer prices snapped back in May after an April decline, but the rebound fell short of sparking inflation concerns, suggesting tariffs and supply frictions have yet to bleed <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/econ-s">broadly into the economy.</a>



The Producer Price Index rose 2.6% on a year-over-year basis, up from April's upwardly revised 2.5%, according to Thursday's report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 



On a monthly basis, the PPI advanced 0.1%, reversing April's upwardly revised 0.2% decline, and below the 0.2% expected. 



Core PPI, which strips out food and energy prices and is a key indicator of underlying inflation pressures, eased to 3% annually from April's 3.2%. This marks the lowest level since August 2024. On a monthly basis, core PPI inched 0.1%, rebounding from a 0.2% decline in the prior month, below than expected 0.3%. 



Thursday's producer data arrived one day after a softer-than-expected consumer inflation reading. The Consumer Price Index climbed 2.4% year-over-year in May, up slightly from April's 2.3%, but below the anticipated 2.5% increase. 



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><thead><tr><th>Producer Inflation</th><th>May 2025</th><th>April 2025</th><th>Expected</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>PPI YoY</td><td>2.6%</td><td>2.5%</td><td>2.6%</td></tr><tr><td>PPI MoM</td><td>0.1%</td><td>-0.2%</td><td>0.2%</td></tr><tr><td>Core PPI YoY</td><td>3.0%</td><td>3.2%</td><td>3.1%</td></tr><tr><td>Core PPI MoM</td><td>0.1%</td><td>-0.2%</td><td>0.3%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



In a separate release Thursday, the Department of Labor reported that initial jobless claims rose to 248,000 for the week ending June 7, above forecasts for 240,000. Continuing claims surged to 1.956 million, the highest level since November 2021 and above consensus projections of 1.91 million.



The increase in unemployment filings is further evidence of a softening labor market, potentially giving the Federal Reserve additional room to resume the pace of interest rate cuts.



Fed futures currently price in a near-certainty of a first rate cut by October. 



Following the PPI and jobless claims data, traders are assigned roughly 40 basis points of total easing by year-end, implying at least one full 25-basis-point cut and a high probability of a second in December.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Market Reactions: Treasury Yields Fall, Dollar Hits 2-Year Lows</h3>



Both the U.S. dollar and Treasury yields dropped sharply following the cooler inflation readings and signs of labor market weakening.



A trade-weighted measure of the dollar, broadly tracked by the Invesco DB USD Index Bullish Fund ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UUP#NYSE">UUP</a>), slid to 97.70—its lowest level since March 2022.



Bond markets reacted with a broad rally. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell 7 basis points to 4.35%, while the 30-year yield also declined 7 basis points to 4.85%. The more rate-sensitive 2-year yield dropped to 3.87%, approaching its lowest point since early May, as traders ramped up bets on Federal Reserve rate cuts.



The iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TLT#NASDAQ">TLT</a>) was 1.1% higher in the premarket trading. 



Meanwhile, U.S. equity futures pared overnight losses, supported by growing expectations for looser monetary policy and more favorable conditions for risk assets.



Read Next:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/06/45899819/us-stocks-likely-to-open-lower-look-through-near-term-noise-be-deliberate-about-the-kinds-of-risk-youre-taking-leverage-ai-say-experts">US Stocks Likely To Open Lower: &#8216;Look Through Near-Term Noise, Be Deliberate About The Kinds Of Risk You&#8217;re Taking, Leverage AI,&#8217; Say Experts</a></li>
</ul>



Photo: Shutterstock

Producer Inflation Rises Less Than Forecasts In May, Jobless Claims Signal Labor Market Cracks (UPDATED)

Wall Street traded cautiously on Thursday midday, with major indexes mostly flat while the U.S. dollar slumped to over two-year lows, as investors digested a double dose of soft inflation and a surprise uptick in jobless claims that further bolstered expectations <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/interest-rates">for interest rate cuts.</a>



May's Producer Price Index rose just 0.1% from the prior month, undershooting forecasts of 0.2%, while the annual rate held steady at 2.6%. Core PPI, which excludes food and energy, cooled to 3.0% year-over-year—its lowest since August 2024—and gained only 0.1% on the month, missing the 0.3% projection.



Jobless claims added to the cautious mood. Initial claims climbed to 248,000 last week, above the 240,000 estimate, while continuing claims hit 1.956 million—the highest level since November 2021—suggesting weakening labor demand. 



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Trump Pressures Powell, Again</h3>



President Donald Trump renewed pressure on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell to cut interest rates.



Speaking from the White House, Trump said he told Powell "we don't need to keep interest rates this high" and added that he "may have to force something," hinting at political frustration over tight monetary policy.



The S&amp;P 500 inched 0.2% higher to 6,035 points by midday trading in New York. The tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 also rose 0.2% to 21,900 points. 



Blue-chip stocks, tracked by the Dow Jones Industrial Average, were flat at 42,860, while small-cap shares fell 0.5%.



The U.S. dollar index — tracked by the Invesco DB USD Index Bullish Fund ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UUP#NYSE">UUP</a>) — fell 0.6% to 97.60, hitting its weakest level since March 2022 amid broad disinflation and labor market concerns.



Treasury yields declined across the curve, with 5- to 6-basis-point drops. In response, the iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TLT#NASDAQ">TLT</a>) surged nearly 1%.



Gold prices climbed sharply as the dollar weakened and expectations grew for easier Fed policy. The yellow metal rose 1% to $3,390 per ounce, while silver erased early losses to gain 0.2%, reaching $36.30.



Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>), meanwhile, slipped 1.3% to $107,400. 



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>Major Indices</td><td>Price</td><td>Chg %</td></tr><tr><td>Nasdaq 100</td><td>21,905.42</td><td>+0.3%</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>6,036.89</td><td>+0.2%</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>42,864.84</td><td>0.0%</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>2,137.55</td><td>-0.5%</td></tr></tbody></table><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated at 12:00 p.m. ET</figcaption></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Thursday&#8217;s Stock Movers</h3>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Oracle Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>) rallied by 14.4% in reaction to stronger-than-expected earnings and upbeat guidance. Shares eye the strongest 1-day surge since December 2021. </li>



<li>Boeing Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>) fell 5% after a fatal crash involving a 787-8 Dreamliner in India resulted in 240 deaths. </li>



<li>Shares of United Airlines Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UAL#NASDAQ">UAL</a>), American Airlines Group Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAL#NASDAQ">AAL</a>) and Delta Air Lines Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DAL#NYSE">DAL</a>) fell 3.5%, 2.4% and 1.9% in reaction to the tragic event.</li>



<li>Fortrea Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FTRE#NASDAQ">FTRE</a>) surged 14% Thursday after the company announced the adoption of a shareholder rights plan designed to prevent hostile takeovers and protect investor interests.</li>



<li>GameStop Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GME#NYSE">GME</a>) sunk 20% after announcing late Wednesday that it intends to raise $1.75 billion through the sale of convertible senior notes maturing in 2032. </li>
</ul>



Now Read:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/economic-data/25/06/45906982/dollar-hits-27-month-lows-the-fed-should-cut-next-week-economist-says">Economists Send Urgent Warning After Dollar Hits 2 Year Low </a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

Large Cap

FTRE

Stocks Flat, Dollar Sinks To Over 2-Year Lows After Inflation Data: What's Driving Markets Thursday?

Editor&#8217;s Note: The story has been updated to include Boeing's comments.



An Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner by&nbsp;Boeing Co.&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>) crashed on Thursday near the Ahmedabad airport, with 242 passengers on board. The flight was en route to London Gatwick from Ahmedabad.



What Happened:&nbsp;The Air India flight, AI171, met with a tragic fate during takeoff from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad on Thursday.



The passenger aircraft, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner with a capacity of 300, crashed in the Meghani area of the city. Thick smoke was seen rising from Dharpur near Meghaninagar, suggesting a major fire likely caused by the substantial fuel load carried for the long-haul flight to London. Emergency response units and fire brigade teams have been deployed to the scene.



Boeing tells Benzinga, &#8220;We are aware of initial reports and are working to gather more information.&#8221;



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Flight AI171, operating Ahmedabad-London Gatwick, was involved in an incident today, 12 June 2025. At this moment, we are ascertaining the details and will share further updates at the earliest on <a href="https://t.co/Fnw0ywg2Zt">https://t.co/Fnw0ywg2Zt</a> and on our X handle (<a href="https://t.co/Id1XFe9SfL">https://t.co/Id1XFe9SfL</a>). -Air India…&mdash; Air India (@airindia) <a href="https://twitter.com/airindia/status/1933086483142902226?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 12, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/06/45898426/michael-saylor-shrugs-off-quantum-computing-threat-to-bitcoin-warns-companies-like-microsoft-google-more-vulnerable-youll-see-it-coming-a-mile-away" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Michael Saylor Shrugs Off Quantum Computing Threat To Bitcoin, Warns Companies Like Microsoft, Google More Vulnerable: &#8216;You&#8217;ll See It Coming A Mile Away&#8217; </a>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">We are following reports of a crash of Air India flight <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AI171?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AI171</a> from Ahmedabad to London. We received the last signal from the aircraft at 08:08:51 UTC, just seconds after take off. The aircraft involved is a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner with registration VT-ANB… <a href="https://t.co/EmKKISJldF">pic.twitter.com/EmKKISJldF</a>&mdash; Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) <a href="https://twitter.com/flightradar24/status/1933086087682904336?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 12, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Why It Matters: This incident adds to the recent challenges faced by Boeing. In 2024, a Boeing 737-800 operated by South Korea's <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/12/42716905/boeing-in-spotlight-after-fatal-737-800-crash-in-south-korea-stock-declined-28-amid-deepening-2024-challenges">JejuAir crashed</a>, killing 179 of 181 passengers. This raised serious questions about Boeing&#8217;s safety record and led to a 30% stock decline in the same year.



In May, the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) moved to dismiss a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/05/45689735/us-justice-department-seeks-to-dismiss-boeings-fraud-charges-on-737-max-crashes-that-killed-over-300">criminal fraud</a> charge against Boeing, linked to two fatal 737 MAX plane crashes that claimed 346 lives. This decision followed an agreement between Boeing and the Justice Department.



In January 2013, the entire global fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliners was grounded following a series of safety incidents linked to the aircraft&#8217;s lithium-ion batteries. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) responded by issuing an emergency airworthiness directive, requiring airlines to prove the safety of the batteries before resuming operations. Aviation authorities in Europe, Japan, and other regions quickly followed suit, grounding all Dreamliners operated by eight airlines worldwide. Boeing, while standing by the integrity of the 787, worked with regulators and airlines to develop technical solutions, including redesigning the battery system and adding fireproof containment, before the aircraft was cleared to return to service about three months later



During Thursday&#8217;s pre-market trading session, shares of Boeing declined 7.2%. On a year-to-date basis, it surged 24.51%.



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/initiation/25/06/45881612/this-coinbase-global-analyst-begins-coverage-on-a-bullish-note-here-are-top-5-initiations-for-wednesday" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">This Coinbase Global Analyst Begins Coverage On A Bullish Note; Here Are Top 5 Initiations For Wednesday</a></li>
</ul>



Image via Shutterstock



Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Boeing Dreamliner Carrying Over 200 Passengers Crashes Shortly After Takeoff Near India's Ahmedabad: BA Stock Falls Over 7% In Thursday Pre-Market (UPDATED)

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