Investor caution dominated Wall Street this week, as escalating tensions between Israel and Iran fueled fears of potential U.S. involvement. Plus, the Federal Reserve's decision to keep rates as is peeved President Donald Trump.



The Federal Reserve kept interest rates steady at 4.25%-4.5% for the fourth consecutive meeting, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/economic-data/25/06/46004338/no-rate-cuts-yet-fed-flags-slower-growth-sticky-inflation">reaffirming its cautious stance. </a>



Overall economic uncertainty has &#8220;diminished&#8221; since March, but the Fed warns that risks remain elevated. Policymakers maintain their median projection of two rate cuts in 2025, while trimming the 2026 outlook from three cuts to two — signaling a slightly more hawkish stance.



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/06/46035360/stock-market-today-news-sp500-nasdaq-trump-iran-bitcoin">S&amp;P 500 Extends Retreat From Highs, Bitcoin Falls Below $103,000: What&#8217;s Driving Markets Friday?</a>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Powell Defends The Decision</h3>



Federal <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/45999380/trump-powell-again-markets-breathe-iran-rejects-demands">Reserve Chair Jerome Powell</a> defended the pause. He argues that while inflation has moderated, it is still too high to justify rate reductions. He cited new inflationary pressures stemming from tariffs tied to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/tariffs">trade policy changes</a>.



The Fed now forecasts 2025 headline inflation at 3%, up from 2.7% in March. Meanwhile, GDP growth was revised downward to 1.4% in 2025, from a prior estimate of 1.7%.



However, in a Friday interview with CNBC, Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said the U.S. central bank could start cutting interest rates <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/sector-etfs/25/06/46035535/fed-guv-says-rate-cuts-july-rate-sensitive-etfs-fed-pivot-looms">as early as July</a>.



Waller is a Trump appointee.



Trump, meanwhile, took to calling Powell names in a social media post, labeling the Fed Chair "an American disgrace," arguing that the Fed&#8217;s inaction costs the U.S. billions in higher interest payments.



Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte echoed the sentiment, calling for Powell's immediate resignation and blaming him for damaging the housing market. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/06/45814493/its-a-buyers-market-redfin-reports-there-are-34-more-sellers-in-the-market-than-buyers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Homes are sitting on the market</a> for weeks or even months while <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/03/44218740/kevin-oleary-says-prices-arent-going-down-eggs-energy-and-housing-remain-sky-high-but-he-thinks-its-part-of-a-bigger-strategy" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">prices remain sky high</a> and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/mortgage-rates" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mortgage rates</a> remain near 6.8%.



Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/macro-economic-events/25/06/46006680/powell-holds-line-on-interest-rates-blames-tariff-uncertainty-for-delay-in-cuts">Why Powell Held Rates Steady, And What Trump&#8217;s Iran Comments Could Mean For Markets</a>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Energy Sector</h3>



Oil prices, which spiked in the prior week, steadied near $73 per barrel. Powell dismissed parallels with the 1970s oil shocks, stating that while further price spikes are possible, they are unlikely to generate persistent inflationary effects.



Meanwhile, two major Congressional developments shaped market action. The Senate's draft tax bill proposed phasing out clean energy and solar tax credits earlier than anticipated, sparking a steep sell-off in renewables. 



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>First Solar Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FSLR#NASDAQ">FSLR</a>) tumbled 13% on the week</li>



<li>Enphase Energy Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ENPH#NASDAQ">ENPH</a>) dropped 18%, and </li>



<li>Sunrun (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RUN#NASDAQ">RUN</a>) plunged 35%.</li>
</ul>



On The Crypto Front: Coinbase Global Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COIN#NASDAQ">COIN</a>) surged 27% on the week after the Senate passed a bill establishing a federal framework for dollar-pegged cryptocurrencies, known as stablecoins.



The bill offers what its supporters argue is <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/06/46025145/saks-stablecoin-bill-treasury-buying-trump-ties-cloud-push">long-awaited regulatory clarity</a> that could unleash capital from institutional investors. Critics, mostly Democrats, say it&#8217;s a conflict of interest <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/06/45995223/genius-stablecoin-bill-clears-senate-but-trumps-crypto-profits-loom-over-momentum">for the Trump family</a>.



Now Read:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/eurozone/25/06/46026714/this-rare-market-dynamic-preceded-the-dot-com-crash-its-back-in-2025">This Rare Market Dynamic Preceded The Dot-Com Crash — It&#8217;s Back In 2025 </a></li>
</ul>



Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

Equities

Government

Large Cap

Macro Economic Events

Regulations

Econ #s

Economics

Federal Reserve

COIN

ENPH

FSLR

Wall Street Wavers As Geopolitical Tensions Flare, Trump Renews Attacks On Fed Chair Powell: This Week In Markets

Momentum traders are enjoying their best stretch in over a decade, with the strategy's flagship fund outpacing the broader U.S. market by the widest margin since records began — and it's a selective basket of stocks, led by Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>), doing <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/screener/top-momentum-stocks">all the heavy lifting.</a>



<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Momentum Strategy Crushes S&amp;P 500</h1>



The iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MTUM#NYSE">MTUM</a>) is up 11.4% year-to-date through June, versus a modest 2% gain for the S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>). 



That nine percentage point lead marks the largest six-month outperformance since MTUM's launch in 2013.



While the absolute performance is below the first half of 2024 — when the AI-fueled rally sent momentum stocks soaring 25% — the relative gap is now wider, as the broader market cooled following U.S. trade tensions and rate uncertainty.



MTUM targets large- and mid-cap U.S. stocks showing strong recent price momentum, adjusting exposure semi-annually to overweight leaders and cut laggards. 



The momentum style has clearly paid off in 2025.



<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/2025/06/20102014/image-312-1024x528.png" alt="" class="wp-image-956198" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20102014/image-312-1024x528.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20102014/image-312-300x155.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20102014/image-312-768x396.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20102014/image-312-1536x792.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20102014/image-312-2048x1056.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Five Stocks Are Driving The Momentum Rally – And Weighting Is The Key</h1>



Five stocks are powering the momentum&#8217;s outperformance in 2025, thanks to both strong returns and significantly higher weightings than in the S&amp;P 500.



<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li>Palantir Technologies has surged 83.4% year-to-date and carries a 3.72% weight in MTUM ETF versus just 0.6% in the SPY.</li>



<li>Netflix Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFLX#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>) is up 38.7% with a 4.88% weight, more than quadruple its 1.03% allocation in the SPY. </li>



<li>Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PM#NYSE">PM</a>) has climbed 53.1%, with a 3.25% momentum weight compared to just 0.56% in the broader SPY.</li>



<li>Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), up 18%, holds a 5.2% position in MTUM versus 3% in the SPY. </li>



<li>GE Vernova Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GEV#NYSE">GEV</a>), up 47.5%, has a 2.13% weight in the momentum ETF, far above its 0.3% SPY weighting. </li>
</ol>



Together, these five names account for roughly 6.6 percentage points — or over half — of the MTUM's year-to-date return.



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><thead><tr><th>Stock Name</th><th>YTD Return</th><th>MTUM Weight</th><th>SPY Weight</th><th>MTUM Contribution</th><th>SPY Contribution</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Palantir Technologies Inc.</td><td>+83.4%</td><td>3.72%</td><td>0.6%</td><td>+197 bps</td><td>+26 bps</td></tr><tr><td>Netflix Inc.</td><td>+38.7%</td><td>4.88%</td><td>1.03%</td><td>+158 bps</td><td>+29 bps</td></tr><tr><td>Philip Morris International</td><td>+53.1%</td><td>3.25%</td><td>0.56%</td><td>+131 bps</td><td>+20 bps</td></tr><tr><td>Meta Platforms Inc.</td><td>+18.0%</td><td>5.20%</td><td>3.0%</td><td>+92 bps</td><td>+47 bps</td></tr><tr><td>GE Vernova Inc.</td><td>+47.5%</td><td>2.13%</td><td>0.3%</td><td>+80 bps</td><td>+9 bps</td></tr><tr><td>Cumulative Contribution</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>+658 bps</td><td>+131 bps</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Read Now:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/eurozone/25/06/46026714/this-rare-market-dynamic-preceded-the-dot-com-crash-its-back-in-2025">This Rare Market Dynamic Preceded The Dot-Com Crash — It&#8217;s Back In 2025</a> Photo: Shutterstock<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/eurozone/25/06/46026714/this-rare-market-dynamic-preceded-the-dot-com-crash-its-back-in-2025"> </a></li>
</ul>

Sector ETFs

Specialty ETFs

ETFs

MTUM

NFLX

PLTR

The Palantir Effect: Momentum Stocks Are Making A Killing Like Never Before

The soup of uncertainty that U.S. investors have been served had another ingredient recently added – <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/topics/25/06/46011774/israel-launches-overnight-strikes-on-iran-targeting-nuclear-site-military-infrastructure-with-40-fighter-jets">Israel&#8217;s attacks on Iran,</a> and the potential for President Donald Trump ordering troops to join the mix. 



With the Federal Reserve holding firm on interest rates, another quagmire in the Middle East, and the possibility that Iran may try to use its location to shut down oil trade in the Persian Gulf, the market rally we&#8217;ve seen since spring could come to an end.



As uncertainty reigns and companies pull earnings guidance left and right, investors can still turn to the technical playbook for ideas. Momentum is the name of the game – go with the crowd, and you won&#8217;t be left alone in the cold.



So today we&#8217;re looking at four trending stocks with high Benzinga Momentum Scores and strong technical signals. Many of these stocks have similar characteristics in their charts and signals, which provides a good blueprint on what to look for when seeking momentum-riding securities.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">How Matt Maley Is Trading the Final Week of June—Live Sunday at 1 PM ET</h2>



With the Fed out of the way, traders are shifting focus to key macro data, tariff headlines, and rising geopolitical risk. Join Matt Maley as he shares the real trades he's targeting this week—including how he plans to repeat his recent wins on SQQQ and GDX by staying nimble, tactical, and tuned into market signals. Register <a href="https://events2.benzinga.com/matt-maley-webinar-sun-june22-2025-registration/?utm_campaign=webinar062225&amp;utm_adType=sponsorad&amp;utm_ad=RD062125">HERE</a> for free to attend.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">DeFi Development</h2>



Benzinga Edge Momentum Score: 99.92



Our first stock is DeFi Development Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DFDV#NASDAQ">DFDV</a>), which is riding a wave of technical and fundamental tailwinds, including the highest Benzinga Edge Momentum Score of any stock we're currently charting. The company has recently adopted a Solana treasury strategy, as it identifies the SOL ecosystem as a potential challenger to Ethereum's dominance in decentralized finance development. DFDV has amassed more than 621,000 SOL tokens in its treasury, which would be valued at close to $100 million based on current market prices. 



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXfkQkHHlGuLeZ4StoaYrqz7atFJwVyjtFq52-YxgApdXoJOmpQn343PsNlM0_7Fx2R5gF0rn8cFkC3cGXlzaeyBTmuU4231grRduL2lY-e7O6VDv_G4XCpZ3AOJYic826JVx3j5wg?key=8zszCMTt9UUHUC3niAD5Yw" alt=""/></figure>



An improving financial picture and strong technical signals are also boosting the stock. DFDV reported a smaller-than-anticipated Q1 loss and reduced operating expenses by 18%. It also nearly quadrupled its year-over-year recurring SaaS revenue, which put the company on the radar of analysts at Cantor Fitzgerald, who initiated coverage with an Overweight rating and a $45 price target (implying upside of over 40%). The stock also has strong upward momentum, with a bullish MACD cross potentially triggering more gains while the RSI remains below the overbought threshold of 70. Keep an eye on the support level laid out on the daily chart above for ideal entry points for a new position.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">D-Wave Quantum Inc.</h2>



Benzinga Edge Momentum Score: 99.53



Quantum computing could be the successor to AI in the tech investment world. While AI capex certainly isn't slowing down anytime soon, companies are starting to look ahead for ways to enhance their processing power. IBM has been one of the biggest drivers of the quantum computing trend, thanks to its meticulous roadmap to the Starling supercomputer. However, while that potential remains years away, D-Wave Quantum (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QBTS#NYSE">QBTS</a>) is generating revenue and bookings in the present day.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXeyFjBQoetVkpBiTtPmPhy-k_d0eEvPXIAAqYsnjGpLHf1eVHTo5ja5AsaYY55Xzi-1EJJtKrHiK_KJrOTTSq0RHqI2dHV7jfoh0uG-_s5bQPDeLX2Vd0T7f8WCmOD3VO_7GddK0A?key=8zszCMTt9UUHUC3niAD5Yw" alt=""/></figure>



The company's Q1 2025 earnings release on May 8 triggered a wave of upward momentum. D-Wave Quantum beat EPS estimates (loss of $ 0.02 per share vs. 0.05 expected) and generated $15 million in revenue, smashing the expectation by more than 40%. Notable clients now include Ford Motors and Davidson Technologies, and the company's growth has been exemplified by the stock's 87% year-to-date (YTD) return. Investors seeking a favorable entry point may have found it, as the stock has retraced toward support at the 50-day moving average, with the RSI trending back below the Overbought level.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Dave Inc.&nbsp;</h2>



Benzinga Edge Momentum Score: 98.92



Dave Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DAVE#NASDAQ">DAVE</a>) is another fintech firm with strong Q1 earnings, boosting its stock to new highs in 2025. Dave is a digital banking and finance service that offers budgeting tools, a checking account, and networking tools to help users find side hustles. The stock spent most of 2022 and 2023 trading under $10 per share, but has risen above $200 today, buoyed by a gain of more than 400% in the last 12 months.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXf-EMxHzyfdV-nIsCjwUekQ8QvqOXHTdoG2kNKtLvQWjVTN3hBjko4E7blThwA2wOGi9D5m1xNEWPYACoSr4Rr2DmyfgwhSIeUKa13Q5yzLup-x5KDS_qb-lcxmxYgJh3sPn8QCfw?key=8zszCMTt9UUHUC3niAD5Yw" alt=""/></figure>



DAVE shares are also experiencing a cooldown following an earnings surge, but the uptrend remains strong, and new entry points are being revealed. The stock price crossed over the 50-day MA briefly before the earnings release. The EPS and revenue figures handily beat the analysts' projections. The RSI soared above 70 and stayed there for more than a month while the rally thinned out. But last week, the RSI finally dipped back under the Overbought level, providing traders with their first new entry point in several weeks. This pullback is likely to be brief, considering the company's growing revenue figures and optimistic guidance projections (seven consecutive quarters of guidance increases!).



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Rocket Lab USA Inc.&nbsp;</h2>



Benzinga Edge Momentum Score: 98.64



Rocket Lab USA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RKLB#NASDAQ">RKLB</a>) is a $12 billion manufacturer of the Proton, Electron, and Neutron space vehicles, which have a variety of uses, ranging from payload launches to reusable rockets. The company saw its stock reach a new all-time high in January, but it shed most of those gains in the following months as tariff uncertainty gripped markets. But after a 50% haircut, the stock is once again approaching all-time highs, and there's still time to ride the momentum based on the technical signals.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXd4sCaFbp33l7GJom9OuZPiMmdrkjuqAWHcXW_LuQwYnKa1Ommy_bpgt4zu5I9OwWxbSM5aLCDNPpfIlfWn6KCi2H3nlfuIofeOrZcW9MMzZPbzdj524mNOgAJGH8cLh-9klsAH?key=8zszCMTt9UUHUC3niAD5Yw" alt=""/></figure>



After dipping from $30 to $15 in just two short months, the stock has been slowly rallying back. The share price finally breached the 50-day MA toward the end of April and has been using that level as support ever since. The company reported a slight EPS miss in its Q1 2025 report released May 8, but revenue grew 32% YOY. The company announced a new contract with the Department of Defense for the Neutron system with a $5 million assurance task order. Following the report, analysts at Roth Capital, Cantor Fitzgerald, and Stifel boosted price targets to $35, $35, and $34, respectively, meaning they expect the stock to hit new all-time highs within the next 12 months. The share price appears to have bounced off the 50-day MA once again, and with the RSI under 70, this could be a good spot for a new entry.



Editorial content from our expert contributors is intended to be information for the general public and not individualized investment advice. Editors/contributors are presenting their individual opinions and strategies, which are neither expressly nor impliedly approved or endorsed by Benzinga.



Photo: Shutterstock

Opinion

Trading Ideas

DAVE

DFDV

QBTS

RKLB

4 Uptrending Stocks With Strong Momentum

Broad U.S. Equity ETFs

Markets

$BTC

S&P 500 Extends Retreat From Highs, Bitcoin Falls Below $103,000: What's Driving Markets Friday?

German stocks are crushing Wall Street this year, recording their strongest outperformance against U.S. equities since 1999 — a market dynamic that last emerged just before the infamous burst of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/stocks-to-buy-now">the dot-com bubble.</a>



Through June 20, Germany's DAX Index has climbed 17.5% year-to-date, while the Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VOO#NYSE">VOO</a>) has gained only 1.9%. 



The six-month performance spread between the two benchmarks now stands at nearly 16 percentage points — the highest gap since the second half of 1999.



Currency effects further amplified the gains. The iShares MSCI Germany Index Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EWG#NYSE">EWG</a>) – a U.S.-listed ETF tracking German equities and adjusting for exchange rate moves — has soared 28% year-to-date, as the U.S. dollar weakened 10% against the euro.



<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/2025/06/20090757/DAX_SPX_2025-06-20_13-47-14_65bbe-1024x528.png" alt="" class="wp-image-956067" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20090757/DAX_SPX_2025-06-20_13-47-14_65bbe-1024x528.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20090757/DAX_SPX_2025-06-20_13-47-14_65bbe-300x155.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20090757/DAX_SPX_2025-06-20_13-47-14_65bbe-768x396.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20090757/DAX_SPX_2025-06-20_13-47-14_65bbe-1536x792.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20090757/DAX_SPX_2025-06-20_13-47-14_65bbe-2048x1056.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Why Are German Stocks Outperforming?</h3>



A mix of aggressive fiscal expansion, monetary easing, and global investor rotation has put Germany at the center of a rare equity resurgence.



In March 2025, Germany's Parliament approved a constitutional amendment that exempts military and infrastructure spending from the country's strict "debt brake" law. 



This legal shift enabled the government to create a massive €500 billion ($565 billion) infrastructure fund, aimed at financing green energy, digitalization, and regional development through 2035 — all off-budget to bypass constitutional debt limits.



Additionally, Germany committed to raising defense spending well beyond 3% of GDP — aligning with NATO&#8217;s Readiness 2030 and the broader €800 billion ($900 billion) ReArm Europe plan. This military push has sparked investor enthusiasm in defense stocks and industrial suppliers.



At the same time, the European Central Bank has aggressively cut rates by a cumulative 75 basis points during the first half of 2025, bringing the deposit rate down to 2% in June, amid cooling inflation.



Meanwhile, the U.S. market has faced headwinds. President Donald Trump's aggressive tariff push fueled trade uncertainty and triggered a first-quarter GDP contraction, as businesses rushed to import goods ahead of higher duties set for April.



The Federal Reserve has kept interest rates unchanged in a 4.25%-4.50% range, despite declining inflation.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Rheinmetall Leads The Charge</h3>



A handful of key outperformers have driven Germany's stock rally.



Defense heavyweight Rheinmetall AG (OTCPK: RNMBF) is up a staggering 181% year-to-date, contributing 356 basis points to the DAX's total year-to-date return. 



Other top gainers include Siemens Energy AG (OTCPK: SMEGF), up 71.7%, Commerzbank AG (OTCPK: CRZBY), up 83%, and Deutsche Bank AG (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DB#NYSE">DB</a>), which has gained 47%, each providing significant contributions to index performance.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">History Echoes 1999?</h3>



The last time German stocks outpaced their U.S. counterparts this sharply was in late 1999. Then, too, global investors rotated into European equities amid optimism about reforms and tech-driven growth. 



Yet that outperformance came at the height of global market euphoria: the S&amp;P 500 peaked at 1,550 in March 2000, then plunged 45% over the following three years. 



Whether 2025's surge ends in sustained growth or a speculative overshoot remains to be seen. 



But for now, Germany is among the leaders in global equity markets — and echoing the late 1990s in ways that seasoned investors may not want to forget.



Read Next:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/health-care/25/06/45997946/stock-market-strategy-investing-analysis-healthcare-stocks-united-health">Nobody Wants To Touch Healthcare Stocks Now – That Might Be A Big Mistake</a><span class="author" style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-pan-x: ; --tw-pan-y: ; --tw-pinch-zoom: ; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-gradient-from-position: ; --tw-gradient-via-position: ; --tw-gradient-to-position: ; --tw-ordinal: ; --tw-slashed-zero: ; --tw-numeric-figure: ; --tw-numeric-spacing: ; --tw-numeric-fraction: ; --tw-ring-inset: ; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246/0.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-blur: ; --tw-brightness: ; --tw-contrast: ; --tw-grayscale: ; --tw-hue-rotate: ; --tw-invert: ; --tw-saturate: ; --tw-sepia: ; --tw-drop-shadow: ; --tw-backdrop-blur: ; --tw-backdrop-brightness: ; --tw-backdrop-contrast: ; --tw-backdrop-grayscale: ; --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: ; --tw-backdrop-invert: ; --tw-backdrop-opacity: ; --tw-backdrop-saturate: ; --tw-backdrop-sepia: ; --tw-contain-size: ; --tw-contain-layout: ; --tw-contain-paint: ; --tw-contain-style: ;"></li>
</ul>



Photo: FOTOGRIN/Shutterstock

Eurozone

Global

CRZBY

RNMBF

SMEGF

This Rare Market Dynamic Preceded The Dot-Com Crash — It's Back In 2025

Shares of Walmart Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>) fell for 10 straight trading sessions, from June 3 to June 17, before finally snapping its streak, and posting a 0.89% gain on Wednesday, June 18.



What Happened: The two-week-long pullback knocked 5.73% off the company&#8217;s market capitalization, while marking the stock&#8217;s longest losing streak since 2004.



Despite this, the stock is up 5.66% year-to-date, and 83% over the past two years, significantly outperforming the S&amp;P 500, tracked by the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>), as well as the SPDR S&amp;P Retail ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XRT#NYSE">XRT</a>), which are up 1.91% and down 3.86% year-to-date, respectively.



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/financing/25/06/46019534/elon-musks-x-plans-to-launch-in-app-stock-trading-to-challenge-robinhood-sofi-ceo-says-youll-whole-financial-life-could-be-on-the-platform">Elon Musk&#8217;s X Plans To Launch In-App Stock Trading To Challenge Robinhood, SoFi — CEO Says You&#8217;ll &#8216;Whole Financial Life&#8217; Could Be On The Platform</a>



Leading analysts continue to maintain a bullish outlook on the stock, with a consensus price target of $105.74, representing an upside of 11.1% from current levels.



<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">BREAKING &#x1f6a8;: Walmart<a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24WMT&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$WMT</a> has now declined for 10 consecutive days, its longest losing streak since June 2004 &#x1f4c9;&#x1f4c9;&#x1f4c9; <a href="https://t.co/vMUxNKoX2u">pic.twitter.com/vMUxNKoX2u</a>&mdash; Barchart (@Barchart) <a href="https://twitter.com/Barchart/status/1935070450175893507?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 17, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Why It Matters: Recently, the company has 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">been in the news</a> owing to Walmart heiress Christy Walton taking out a full-page ad in the New York Times in support of the &#8220;No Kings&#8221; movement last week, against President Donald Trump.



Several allies of Trump have since called for boycotting Walmart in response to this ad, with White House Special Advisor, Kari Lake indirectly asking her followers on X, &#8220;Do you shop at Walmart?&#8221;



The company is now going all out on <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/large-cap/25/06/45748544/walmart-leverages-automation-and-ai-to-cut-costs-and-grow-paving-the-way-for-other-retailers-report">automation and AI</a> to cut costs and boost growth, with several labor-saving technologies being piloted across certain outlets and warehouses.



<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">Walmart made $4.6B appear &#8211; then 1,500 people disappear. Profits are up. E-comm? +22%. Ad revenue? +50%. Still&#8230; pink slips&#8230; because "efficiency." Now zoom out and check out the hiring trends: &#8211; Hires are tanking across every level &#8211; Staff exits &gt; hires for 6 months… <a href="https://t.co/GGpJRX1siO">pic.twitter.com/GGpJRX1siO</a>&mdash; Amanda Goodall (@thejobchick) <a href="https://twitter.com/thejobchick/status/1925314975767376377?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Staffing analyst Amanda Goodall has shared this on X, noting that despite rising profits across ecommerce, advertising revenues, and more, pink slips fly, as the company pursues efficiencies driven by AI and automation. 



Price Action: Walmart shares were up 0.89% on Wednesday, trading at $95.09 per share, and are up 0.01% after hours. 



<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="146" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20030529/Screenshot-2025-06-20-at-12.35.18-PM-1024x146.png" alt="" class="wp-image-955558" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20030529/Screenshot-2025-06-20-at-12.35.18-PM-1024x146.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20030529/Screenshot-2025-06-20-at-12.35.18-PM-300x43.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20030529/Screenshot-2025-06-20-at-12.35.18-PM-768x109.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20030529/Screenshot-2025-06-20-at-12.35.18-PM.png 1534w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>



According to Benzinga&#8217;s Edge Stock Rankings, Walmart shares score high across the board, but have an unfavorable price trend in the short and medium terms. Click <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">here</a> for deeper insights into the stock. 



Read More: 



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46020016/pavel-durovs-100-plus-children-wont-see-a-cent-of-his-fortune-until-2055-heres-what-the-telegram-ceo-plans-to-do-with-his-estate">Pavel Durov&#8217;s 100-Plus Children Won&#8217;t See A Cent Of His Fortune Until 2055, Here&#8217;s What The Telegram CEO Plans To Do With His Estate</a></li>
</ul>



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Walmart Snaps 10-Day Losing Streak: It's Longest Since 2004, As Profit-Takers Step Aside

United Airlines Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UAL#NASDAQ">UAL</a>) and American Airlines Group Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAL#NASDAQ">AAL</a>) have suspended flights to the Middle East as the conflict between Iran and Israel continues after Israel launched missiles at Iran on June 13, 2025.



What Happened: United Airlines has announced it will suspend flights from New Jersey's Newark airport to Dubai indefinitely due to the conflict, while American Airlines will suspend flights from Philadelphia International Airport to Doha, Qatar, CBS reported <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-airlines-suspend-middle-east-flights-iran-israel/">on</a> Thursday.&nbsp;



A spokesperson for American Airlines said that the suspension of flights will last until at least June 22, the report suggests.



Why It Matters: The move comes in as the conflict between the two countries has escalated. U.S. President Donald Trump has called on Iran <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/06/46017426/trump-gives-iran-2-weeks-to-strike-a-deal-or-face-us-military-action">to strike a deal</a> with the U.S. or it will face military action. Trump had left the G7 Summit in Canada earlier than scheduled due to the conflict.



Elsewhere, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that a regime change in Iran isn't his goal, but <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/46018790/benjamin-netanyahu-says-he-didnt-present-regime-change-as-a-goal-in-iran-but-it-could-be-the-result">it could happen</a> as a result of the conflict between the two nations.



Amidst this, Russian President Vladimir Putin has<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/46010064/ayatollah-assassination-discussion-rejected-by-putin-i-do-not-even-want-to-discuss-this-possibility"> rejected discussions</a> relating to the assassination of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Putin reiterated that Iranians are rallying in support of their leader.



Check out more of Benzinga's Future Of Mobility coverage by<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mobility"> following this link.</a>



Read Next:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/sector-etfs/25/06/46017496/israel-iran-conflict-lifts-crude-above-77-what-it-means-for-oil-etfs">Israel-Iran Conflict Lifts Crude Above $77: What It Means For Oil ETFs</a></li>
</ul>



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Travel

Amid Iran-Israel Conflict, United, American Airlines Suspend Flights To The Middle East

Financial commentator Peter Schiff expressed his intent to launch a gold-backed stablecoin Thursday, questioning the value of those backed by the U.S. dollar.



What Happened:&nbsp;Schiff responded to a comment on X that he should launch a gold-backed stablecoin.



&#8220;They already exist. But I&nbsp;do intend to launch my&nbsp;own,&#8221; Schiff replied. Many users soon converged on this post, with some even suggesting names for the initiative, such as SchiffCoin, while others called it a genuinely &#8220;good idea.&#8221;



It wasn&#8217;t immediately clear whether Schiff was making a joke or genuinely interested in tying cryptocurrency to the asset he passionately supports. Benzinga reached out to entities connected to Schiff, such as SchiffGold, to gather additional information. The article will be updated when they respond.



<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">They already exist. But I do intent to launch my own.&mdash; Peter Schiff (@PeterSchiff) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeterSchiff/status/1935817013584109971?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 19, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



The conversation started on his original post, where he called the dollar a &#8220;flawed&#8221; fiat currency and instead supported having a token purely backed by gold.



&#8220;I get Bitcoin, but not U.S. dollar stablecoins. If you&#8217;re going to introduce a third party custodian, why settle for a token backed by a flawed fiat currency like the dollar, when you can own one backed by gold?,&#8221; he stated.



<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">I get Bitcoin, but not U.S. dollar stablecoins. If you&#39;re going to introduce a third party custodian, why settle for a token backed by a flawed fiat currency like the dollar, when you can own one backed by gold? You get the same liquidity, but you also get a real store of value.&mdash; Peter Schiff (@PeterSchiff) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeterSchiff/status/1935805977577619531?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 19, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Gold-backed stablecoins do exist, with Tether Gold (CRYPTO: XAUT) and PAX Gold (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/paxg/usd">PAXG</a>) among the most well-known. Year-to-date, the two coins have gained over 28%, matching the gains in the yellow metal.



See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/06/45989307/senate-passes-genius-act-coinbases-brian-armstrong-calls-it-big-milestone-scott-bessent-says-passage-could-drive-stablecoins-into-a-3-7-trillion-market" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Senate Passes GENIUS Act—Coinbase&#8217;s Brian Armstrong Calls It &#8216;Big Milestone,&#8217; Scott Bessent Says Passage Could Drive Stablecoins Into A $3.7 Trillion Market</a>



Why It Matters:&nbsp;Schiff&#8217;s views on stablecoins have been clear for some time. He has&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/06/46010451/peter-schiff-doesnt-think-stablecoins-will-help-preserve-dollar-dominance-heres-what-the-economist-says-theyll-do-instead">expressed doubts</a>&nbsp;about the potential of stablecoins to maintain the U.S. dollar's dominance, suggesting their primary use would be in cryptocurrency trading. 



The discussion around stablecoins has picked up momentum, especially after the passage of the stablecoin bill by the Senate. President&nbsp;Donald Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/06/46009971/trump-cheers-incredible-stablecoin-bill-passed-by-senate-get-it-to-my-desk-asap-no-delays" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">praised the move</a>&nbsp;and urged Congress to get it on his desk without delay.



Interestingly, Schiff&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/03/44212604/peter-schiff-establishes-personal-strategic-bitcoin-reserve-vows-not-to-sell-going-down-with-the-ship-so-others-never-get-on-board">established</a>&nbsp;a personal &#8216;Strategic Bitcoin Reserve,&#8217; promising not to sell any of it, in a move seen as a mockery of a similar declaration by President Donald Trump.



Read Next:&nbsp;



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/06/45939432/bitcoins-current-cycle-sees-a-656-surge-matching-market-maturation-pace" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bitcoin&#8217;s Current Cycle Sees A 656% Surge, Matching Market Maturation Pace</a></li>
</ul>



Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/apis?utm_source=benzinga.com&amp;utm_campaign=article-bottom" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank"></a>



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Cryptocurrency

$PAXG

Peter Schiff Says He Intends To Launch Gold-Backed Stablecoins, Deems Dollar As A 'Flawed' Fiat Currency

U.S. futures were trading lower on Friday after a day&#8217;s break on Thursday. Futures of major benchmark indices were trading lower.



Investors stayed on edge due to the continuing Iran-Israel conflict and the possibility of U.S. intervention, especially after the White House announced President Donald Trump would decide within <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/25/06/46018884/bitcoin-ethereum-dogecoin-rangebound-as-white-house-says-decision-on-iran-israel-conflict-in-two-weeks-analyst-says-this-is-the-right-combination-for-bullish-btc-momentum-to-retur">two weeks</a>.



Both the NYSE and Nasdaq were closed Thursday for <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/events/25/06/46010720/are-markets-open-on-juneteenth-this-year-heres-whats-open-and-whats-closed-on-june-19">Juneteenth</a> but will reopen Friday for regular trading. 



The 10-year Treasury bond yielded 4.40% and the two-year bond was at 3.94%. The CME Group's FedWatch <a href="https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-fedwatch-tool.html">tool</a>&#8216;s projections show markets pricing a 91.7% likelihood of the Federal Reserve keeping the current interest rates unchanged in its July meeting. 



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>Futures</td><td>Change (+/-)</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>-0.23%</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>-0.24%</td></tr><tr><td>Nasdaq 100</td><td>-0.23%</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>-0.20%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) and Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), which track the S&amp;P 500 index and Nasdaq 100 index, respectively, were slightly lower in premarket on Friday. The SPY was down 0.49% at $594.51, while the QQQ declined 0.22% to $527.84, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.



Cues From Last Session:



On Wednesday, most S&amp;P 500 sectors ended in the red, with energy, materials, and communication services stocks seeing the largest declines.



Conversely, information technology and utilities shares defied the broader market downturn, closing the session with gains.



U.S. stocks overall finished mixed, after the U.S. Federal Reserve l<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/economic-data/25/06/46011863/jerome-powell-blames-trump-tariffs-for-inflation-analyst-claps-back-says-fed-is-overplaying-the-card">eft interest rates unchanged</a> at its recent meeting. 



Guild Holdings Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GHLD#NYSE">GHLD</a>) shares surged over 25% after announcing a definitive agreement for acquisition by a fund managed by Bayview Asset Management.



Economically, U.S. initial jobless claims decreased by 5,000 to 245,000 in the week ending June 14, aligning with estimates. However, U.S. housing starts dropped 9.8% month-over-month to an adjusted annual rate of 1.256 million units in May.



The Dow Jones index ended 44 points or 0.10% lower at 42,171.66, whereas the S&amp;P 500 index fell 0.031% to 5,980.87. Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.13% to 19,546.27, and the small-cap gauge, Russell 2000, gained 0.52% to end at 2,112.96.



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>Index</td><td>Performance (+/-)</td><td>Value</td></tr><tr><td>Nasdaq Composite</td><td>0.13%</td><td>19,546.27</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>-0.031%</td><td>5,980.87</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>-0.10%</td><td>42,171.66</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>-0.52%</td><td>2,112.96</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Insights From Analysts:



According to the Senior Global Market Strategist at Wells Fargo, Scott Wren, &#8220;volatility creates opportunities,&#8221; especially when the outlook doesn't call for a recession and an accompanying contraction in earnings.



&#8220;When stocks are down because the economy is slowing, buying opportunities often result, particularly for longer-term investors whose goal is building wealth over time. Our view is that the U.S. economy and earnings growth are both going to slow down in coming quarters, but neither the economy nor earnings are going to actually contract.&#8221;



The U.S. usually leads the rest of the world into an economic slowdown or recession and then leads the world back out into a period of growth, he explained, adding that &#8220;We don't think this time will be different. Hard to time, yes, but different, likely not.&#8221;



Wren also suggests investors keep a couple of key points in mind for a summer that could see larger-than-usual market swings.



First, with the S&amp;P 500 Index nearing its year-end target, Wren believes now is the time to trim stock portfolios, not liquidate them. He favors reducing international equity holdings, U.S. small-cap equities, and cyclical equity sectors like Industrials and Materials.



Second, Wren anticipates that once &#8220;summer policy fireworks begin&#8221; and both equity and bond prices retreat, opportunities will emerge to deploy cash into markets and sectors with strong long-term growth prospects. His favorites for these additions include U.S. large- and mid-cap equities, along with large-cap sectors such as Information Technology, Communication Services, Energy, Financials, and Utilities.



Meanwhile, on the Fed&#8217;s Wednesday decision, Jamie Cox, the managing partner at Harris Financial Group, said, "The Fed continues to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/economic-data/25/06/46011863/jerome-powell-blames-trump-tariffs-for-inflation-analyst-claps-back-says-fed-is-overplaying-the-card">overplay the inflation story</a> and isn't paying attention to burgeoning demand weakness." &#8211;



Northlight Asset Management CIO, Chris Zaccarelli, on the other hand, explained that the Fed was waiting to see if tariffs increase inflation or the jobs market starts to falter, and whichever part of their dual mandate is impacted first will likely guide whichever direction they take, "although the bias is still toward cutting rates (or at least keeping rates unchanged; not raising rates)."



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-trade-futures">How to Trade Futures</a> 



Upcoming Economic Data



Here&#8217;s what investors will keep an eye on Friday:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>June&#8217;s Philadelphia Fed manufacturing survey will be out by 8:30 a.m., and May&#8217;s U.S. leading economic indicators will be released by 10:00 a.m. ET.</li>
</ul>



Stocks In Focus:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Accenture PLC (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ACN#NYSE">ACN</a>) was up 2.16% in premarket on Friday as analysts expect it to report quarterly earnings of $3.32 per share on revenue of $17.30 billion, before the opening bell.</li>



<li>Carmax Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KMX#NYSE">KMX</a>) advanced 2.44% as analysts expect it to report quarterly earnings of $1.16 per share on revenue of $7.47 billion, before the opening bell.</li>



<li>Darden Restaurants Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DRI#NYSE">DRI</a>) was down 1.68% as analysts expect it to report quarterly earnings of $2.97 per share on revenue of $3.26 billion, before the opening bell.</li>



<li>Kroger Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KR#NYSE">KR</a>) gained 1.40% as analysts expect it to report quarterly earnings of $1.46 per share on revenue of $45.19 billion, before the opening bell.</li>



<li>APi Group Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/APG#NYSE">APG</a>) jumped 6.15% and United States Steel Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/X#NYSE">X</a>) was 0.24% higher as the former will replace the latter in the S&amp;P MidCap 400 before the opening of trading on Tuesday, June 24.</li>



<li>Galaxy Digital Inc. (TSE: GLXY) surged 8.14% after the digital asset and AI infrastructure company announced a 29 million share offering last month to fund the continued expansion of high-performance computing infrastructure at its Helios data center campus in West Texas.</li>



<li>FuelCell Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FCEL#NASDAQ">FCEL</a>) rose 3.29% on news of technical collaboration with NuScale Power to develop an integrated simulator for hydrogen production.</li>



<li>Smith &amp; Wesson Brands Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SWBI#NASDAQ">SWBI</a>) dropped 1342% after reporting the fourth-quarter revenue of $140.8 million, missing analyst estimates of $152.41 million. The company reported adjusted earnings of 20 cents per share in the fourth quarter, missing estimates of 23 cents per share.</li>



<li>Gorilla Technology Group Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GRRR#NASDAQ">GRRR</a>) jumped 14.41% after reporting first-quarter adjusted earnings of 23 cents, improved from a loss of $1.47 per share in the prior year's quarter.</li>
</ul>



Commodities, Gold, And Global Equity Markets:



Crude oil futures were trading higher in the early New York session by 0.54% to hover around $73.90 per barrel.



Gold Spot US Dollar fell 0.50% to hover around $3,353.57 per ounce. Its last record high stood at $3,500.33 per ounce. The U.S. Dollar Index spot was lower by 0.33% at the 98.5780 level.



Asian markets ended on a mixed note on Friday as Australia's ASX 200 and Japan's Nikkei 225 indices fell. While China&#8217;s CSI 300, South Korea's Kospi, Hong Kong's Hang Seng, and India's S&amp;P BSE Sensex indices advanced. European markets were mostly higher in early trade.



Read Next:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/06/46016347/this-stock-just-popped-30-in-5-days-now-expert-says-it-looks-potentially-explosive">This Stock Just Popped 30% In 5 Days — Now Expert Says It &#8216;Looks Potentially Explosive&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>



Photo courtesy: godongphoto / Shutterstock.com

FCEL

GHLD

GLXY

GRRR

SWBI

US Stocks Likely To Open Lower Amid Iran-Israel Conflict: Accenture, Kroger Stocks In Focus Ahead Of Earnings

A heated debate over the U.S. healthcare system erupted on X, pitting billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban against Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass) over the root causes of soaring drug prices.



What Happened: The clash, unfolding as of Friday, has reignited discussions on Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) and Big Pharma's tax practices, with the Senate poised to address reform amid rising public scrutiny.



Enter Cuban, the Dallas Mavericks owner and founder of Cost Plus Drugs, who fired back with a pointed correction.



In a post quoting Warren, Cuban argued that PBMs—not Big Pharma—are the true culprits behind inflated drug prices.



&#8220;PBMs corrupt healthcare,&#8221; he wrote, explaining that these intermediaries control formularies and manipulate prices to maximize rebate revenue, with <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45487788/trumps-drug-price-order-hits-pbms-hardest-cvs-cigna-unh-in-focus-as-experts-highlight-racket-and-pricing-distortion">three major PBMs</a> negotiating over 90% of rebates for commercial insurance plans. 



Warren, in her post, had blamed pharmaceutical giants like Johnson &amp; Johnson (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JNJ#NYSE">JNJ</a>) and Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PFE#NYSE">PFE</a>) for charging Americans the &#8220;highest drug prices in the world&#8221; while paying &#8220;zero dollars in federal taxes.&#8221;



Citing data from her Senate Finance Committee role, Warren highlighted how these companies, alongside AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABBV#NYSE">ABBV</a>), Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMGN#NASDAQ">AMGN</a>), and Merck &amp; Co Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRK#NYSE">MRK</a>), have exploited tax loopholes from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act to shield billions in profits.



&#8220;Republicans want to make it worse. I&#8217;m fighting back,&#8221; she declared, sharing <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/17/pfizer-merck-jj-others-face-scrutiny-over-tax-loophole-extension.html">a</a> CNBC headline and urging action against what she calls a &#8220;rigged tax system.&#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">No. It&#39;s because PBMs corrupt healthcare. Big Pharma wishes they could set their own pricing. They don&#39;t. PBMs control formularies and manipulate prices, in exchange for providing pharma access to patients. It&#39;s how they maximize rebate revenue. In fact, 3 PBMs NEGOTIATE… <a href="https://t.co/GpN4mnzvOM">https://t.co/GpN4mnzvOM</a>&mdash; Mark Cuban (@mcuban) <a href="https://twitter.com/mcuban/status/1935705831930298562?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 19, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/sector-etfs/25/06/46013679/dan-ives-says-market-is-massively-underestimating-this-ai-play-urges-investors-to-look-beyong-mag-7">Dan Ives Says Market Is ‘Massively Underestimating' This AI Play, Urges Investors To Look Beyond Mag 7</a>



Why It Matters: Cuban has been a c<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/04/44674382/mark-cuban-says-big-insurance-companies-and-pbms-control-healthcare-costs-everyone-has-to-kiss-their-a-and-accept-the-complications">ritic of the healthcare system</a>, saying that it should be simple. According to him, it&#8217;s become overly complicated by big insurance companies and PBMs.



These groups, he says, act as middlemen, controlling not just the costs but also the accessibility of care.



He blames PBMs for lack of transparency, inflated specialty drug prices, rebate distortion, formulary restrictions, and &#8220;Sh–ing on&#8221; on independent pharmacies.



Some significant firms engaged in the PBM business listed in the U.S. include;



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>Stocks</td><td>YTD Performance</td><td>One Year Performance</td></tr><tr><td>CVS Health Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVS#NYSE">CVS</a>)</td><td>51.15%</td><td>9.57%</td></tr><tr><td>Cigna Group. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CI#NYSE">CI</a>)</td><td>14.54%</td><td>-6.95%</td></tr><tr><td>UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>)</td><td>-39.11%</td><td>-36.60%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Meanwhile, here is how some pharmaceutical sector ETFs have performed;



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>Pharma ETFs</td><td>YTD Performance</td><td>One Year Performance</td></tr><tr><td>VanEck Pharmaceutical ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PPH#NASDAQ">PPH</a>)</td><td>1.69%</td><td>-4.48%</td></tr><tr><td>iShares US Pharmaceuticals ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IHE#NYSE">IHE</a>)</td><td>-0.49%</td><td>-1.85%</td></tr><tr><td>Invesco Pharmaceuticals ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PJP#NYSE">PJP</a>)</td><td>-3.23%</td><td>-1.64%</td></tr><tr><td>SPDR S&amp;P Pharmaceuticals ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XPH#NYSE">XPH</a>)</td><td>-4.06%</td><td>2.61%</td></tr><tr><td>KraneShares MSCI All China Health Care Index ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KURE#NYSE">KURE</a>)</td><td>20.55%</td><td>22.94%</td></tr><tr><td>First Trust Nasdaq Pharmaceuticals ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FTXH#NASDAQ">FTXH</a>)</td><td>-5.44%</td><td>-6.27%</td></tr><tr><td>Direxion Daily Pharmaceutical &amp; Medical (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PILL#NYSE">PILL</a>)</td><td>-23.49%</td><td>-14.63%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) and Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), which track the S&amp;P 500 index and Nasdaq 100 index, respectively, were mixed in premarket on Friday. The SPY was down 0.30% at $595.67, while the QQQ was 0.015% higher at $529.07, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.



Read Next:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/06/46016347/this-stock-just-popped-30-in-5-days-now-expert-says-it-looks-potentially-explosive">This Stock Just Popped 30% In 5 Days — Now Expert Says It ‘Looks Potentially Explosive'</a></li>
</ul>



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



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Insurance

ABBV

AMGN

FTXH

KURE

PILL

Mark Cuban Corrects Elizabeth Warren As She Slams JNJ, PFE For Higher Prices And Zero Taxes On Big Pharma: 'PBMs Corrupt Healthcare'

The CNN Money Fear and Greed index was in the &#8220;Neutral&#8221; zone on Wednesday.



U.S. stocks settled mixed on Wednesday, with the Dow Jones index falling around 0.1% during the session as traders weighed geopolitical uncertainty and awaited the Federal Reserve&#8217;s June policy decision. President Donald Trump declined to offer a clear response on whether the U.S. would directly intervene in the escalating Israel-Iran conflict.



The US Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged at its recent meeting.



Guild Holdings Company (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GHLD#NASDAQ">GHLD</a>) shares jumped over 25% on Wednesday after the company announced that it signed a definitive agreement under which a fund managed by Bayview Asset Management will acquire all of the outstanding shares.



On the economic front, U.S. initial jobless claims fell by 5,000 from the previous week to 245,000 in the week ending June 14, in line with market estimates. U.S. housing starts fell by 9.8% month-over-month to an adjusted annual rate of 1.256 million units in May.



Most sectors on the S&amp;P 500 closed on a negative note, with energy, materials and communication services stocks recording the biggest losses on Wednesday. However, information technology and utilities stocks bucked the overall market trend, closing the session higher.



The Dow Jones closed lower by over 44 points to 42,171.66 on Wednesday. The S&amp;P 500 fell 0.03% to 5,980.87, while the Nasdaq Composite gained 0.13% at 19,546.27 during Wednesday's session.



Investors are awaiting earnings results from Accenture plc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ACN#NYSE">ACN</a>), CarMax, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KMX#NYSE">KMX</a>) and The Kroger Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KR#NYSE">KR</a>) today.



What is CNN Business Fear &amp; Greed Index?



At a current reading of 53.5, the index was in the &#8220;Neutral&#8221; zone on Wednesday, versus a prior reading of 61.5.



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/25/06/45993572/top-2-industrials-stocks-that-may-fall-off-a-cliff-in-q2">Top 2 Industrials Stocks That May Fall Off A Cliff In Q2</a></li>
</ul>



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Pre-Market Outlook

Dow Edges Lower As Fed Keeps Rates Unchanged: Fear & Greed Index Remains In 'Neutral' Zone

Leading cryptocurrencies moved sideways on Thursday as investors considered America&#8217;s involvement in the Israel-Iran war.



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><thead><tr><th>Cryptocurrency</th><th>Gains +/-</th><th>Price (Recorded at 9:20 p.m. ET)</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>)</td><td>-0.26%</td><td>$104,535.66</td></tr><tr><td>Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>-0.04%</td><td>$2,520.74</td></tr><tr><td>Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>-0.43%</td><td>$0.1702</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



What Happened: Bitcoin continued to oscillate in the $104,000-$105,000 range, with trading volumes remaining thin in the last 24 hours.



Ethereum bulls were also left disappointed, as the second-largest cryptocurrency faced resistance at $2,540.



Bitcoin's market dominance hit 64%, while Ethereum's share rose to 9.4%.



About $81 million was liquidated from the cryptocurrency market in the last 24 hours, with long liquidations accounting for $46.58 million.



Bitcoin&#8217;s Open Interest dipped 0.24% in the last 24 hours to $69.19 billion. Since the beginning of June, the Open Interest has fallen by 3.6%.



More than 50% of Binance traders with open BTC positions were positioned long as of this writing, according to the Long/Short ratio.



The market sentiment flipped from "Greed" to "Neutral," according to the Crypto Fear &amp; Greed Index.



Top Gainers (24 Hours)



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><thead><tr><th>Cryptocurrency</th><th>Gains +/-</th><th>Price (Recorded at 9:20 p.m. ET)</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Story (IP)</td><td>+9.58%</td><td>$3.03</td></tr><tr><td>OKB (OKB) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>+8.92%</td><td>$52.69</td></tr><tr><td>Sei (SEI)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>+8.81%</td><td>$0.1962 </td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



The global cryptocurrency market capitalization stood at $3.25 trillion, following a modest decrease of 0.42% in the last 24 hours.



Stock market futures slid overnight on Thursday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average Futures fell 138 points, or 0.32%, as of 8:45 p.m. EDT.&nbsp; Futures tied to the S&amp;P 500 dipped 0.25%, while Nasdaq 100 Futures lost 0.21%.



Investors remained anxious about the ongoing Iran-Israel war and potential U.S. involvement, as the White House <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRgNQ24xHhc">told </a>reporters that President Donald Trump would "make a decision within two weeks."



The New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq were closed on Thursday in observance of Juneteenth National Independence Day. Trading will resume as normal on Friday.



See More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-crypto-scanners">Best Cryptocurrency Scanners</a>



Analyst Notes: On-chain analytics firm Santiment highlighted that the number of Bitcoin wallets holding more than 10 BTC rose 0.15% in the last 10 days, while those with 0.001 to 10 BTC declined 0.15% in as many days.



"When large wallets accumulate as retail loses confidence, this is historically the right combination for bullish momentum to inevitably return to crypto markets," Santiment added.



<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">&#x1f4ca; Bitcoin&#39;s elite vs. mortal wallets are moving in two different directions as its market value sits just north of $104.3K. &#x1f433; Wallets with 10+ <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24BTC&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$BTC</a>: +231 Wallets in 10 Days (+0.15%) &#x1f990; Wallets with 0.001 to 10 <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24BTC&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$BTC</a>: -37,465 Wallets in 10 Days (+0.15%) When large wallets… <a href="https://t.co/uhZf6rPYvq">pic.twitter.com/uhZf6rPYvq</a>&mdash; Santiment (@santimentfeed) <a href="https://twitter.com/santimentfeed/status/1935810125656191139?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 19, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Widely followed cryptocurrency analyst and trader Michaël van de Poppe said Bitcoin was back to its "normal trading game" after the FOMC meeting<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/management/25/06/46011739/jerome-powell-led-fed-has-left-interest-rate-unchanged-what-does-it-mean-for-savings-mortgages-credit-cards-and-your-bank-account"> offered nothing substantial</a>.



"I suppose we&#8217;ll see a test of $106,000 and breakout north in the coming days," Van De Poppe predicted.



<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">FOMC show is over, which was a nothing burger, means that we&#39;re back into the normal trading game for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bitcoin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bitcoin</a>. I suppose we&#39;ll see a test of $106K and breakout north in the coming days. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Altcoins?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Altcoins</a> are, again, outperforming. <a href="https://t.co/xdY16BxA9Z">pic.twitter.com/xdY16BxA9Z</a>&mdash; Michaël van de Poppe (@CryptoMichNL) <a href="https://twitter.com/CryptoMichNL/status/1935636347416461644?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 19, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Photo Courtesy: Yalcin Sonat On Shutterstock.com



Read Next:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/new-etfs/25/06/46015858/lion-group-shares-surge-20-after-600m-deal-for-hyperliquid-treasury-launch">Lion Group Shares Surge 20% After $600M Deal For Hyperliquid Treasury Launch</a></li>
</ul>

News

Movers

$DOGE

$ETH

Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin Rangebound As White House Says Decision On Iran-Israel Conflict In Two Weeks: Analyst Says This Is The 'Right Combination' For Bullish BTC Momentum To Return

European regulators are examining structural changes at Elon Musk's social media platform X <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/03/44549314/elon-musk-acquires-his-own-social-media-platform-x-through-xai-in-33-billion-deal-says-combined-entity-now-worth-80-billion">following its acquisition</a> by xAI.



What Happened: On Thursday, the EU announced that it was closely monitoring changes in the corporate structure of X, formerly Twitter, following a $33 billion acquisition by Grok-parent xAI, reported Reuters.



"We are following closely changes in the corporate structure of X, as we would changes in any other designated platform," said a spokesperson for the European Commission.



Although the EU did not confirm whether a fine is imminent, earlier it was reported that regulators are <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44661399/eu-reportedly-set-to-fine-elon-musks-x-over-1-billion-for-violating-new-digital-act-x-labels-it-an-unprecedented-act-of-political-censorship">weighing enforcement actions</a> under the Digital Services Act (DSA).



Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.



Why It's Important: Earlier this month, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45827116/elon-musks-social-media-platform-x-scrambles-to-highlight-blue-check-disclaimer-amid-eu-fine-threat-report">X added a disclaimer to its blue checkmark</a> system, a move widely seen as an attempt to preempt further penalties after the EU's preliminary finding in July 2024 accused the platform of deceptive design.



Previously, a commission spokesperson said that their investigation related to the blue checkmark was ongoing.



If found in violation, X could face fines of up to 6% of global revenue or, in extreme cases, a ban from operating in the EU.



Since buying Twitter for $44 billion in 2022, Musk has introduced major changes, particularly around monetization. These include launching the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/04/31948236/heres-how-many-months-elon-musk-could-pay-for-every-twitter-peasant-to-have-a-blue-checkmark">Twitter Blue subscription</a>, which offers features like blue checkmarks.



Musk also removed legacy blue checkmarks, requiring users to pay for verification. &#8220;Twitter's current lords &amp; peasants system for who has or doesn't have a blue checkmark is bu&#x2A;&#x2A;sh&#x2A;t. Power to the people! Blue for $8/month,&#8221; he said in 2022.



Photo Courtesy: JRdes on Shuttertsock.com



Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.



Read Next:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/large-cap/25/06/45770679/alibaba-jd-see-sales-soar-in-618-festival-apple-and-xiaomi-emerge-as-top-selling-brands" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alibaba, JD See Sales Soar In 618 Festival, Apple And Xiaomi Emerge As Top Selling Brands</a></li>
</ul>



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

Tech

Media

Elon Musk's X Faces Scrutiny By European Watchdogs After $33 Billion Acquisition By xAI — Platform Could Face Fine, Ban In The EU

On Thursday, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced sweeping new plans aimed at protecting Canadian metal producers. 



What Happened: These plans include counter-tariffs on American steel and aluminum if no trade agreement is reached between the two nations before July 21.



&#8220;We will take the time we need to negotiate the best deal for Canada, but no longer,&#8221; Carney said, according to a news release by the Canadian Department of Finance. &#8220;In parallel, we are ensuring that workers and industries are protected from the unjust U.S. tariffs.&#8221;



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/46019079/trump-once-said-he-made-juneteenth-very-famous-but-now-hes-unhappy-about-too-many-non-working-holidays-says-its-costing-america-billions">Trump Once Said He Made Juneteenth &#8216;Very Famous&#8217; But Now He&#8217;s Unhappy About &#8216;Too Many&#8217; Non-Working Holidays, Says Its Costing America Billions</a>



The measures unveiled by Canada&#8217;s Finance Minister, François-Philippe Champagne, include a tariff rate quota system capping 2025 steel imports from non-FTA countries at 2024 levels. This is essentially a cap on how much steel Canada will allow from countries with whom it does not have a free-trade agreement. 



The government is also imposing reciprocal procurement policies beginning June 30, which effectively shut out U.S.-based suppliers from federal contracts unless reciprocal access is granted for Canadian companies in U.S. federal contracts.



&#8220;Canadian workers and industries can count on us,&#8221; Champagne said. &#8220;We are taking strong, targeted action to respond to the unjust American tariffs.&#8221;



Other moves include restrictions on U.S. access to Canadian government contracts starting June 30, as well as stricter rules around where foreign steel and aluminum were originally produced. The government will also expand oversight through new industry task forces and maintain a $10 billion loan facility to support companies affected by the tariffs.



The government further plans measures to address the risks of overcapacity and unfair trade practices in the steel and aluminum industries, which it says have been exacerbated by U.S. actions.



These measures come weeks after President Donald Trump&#8217;s decision earlier this month to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/topics/25/05/45708977/trump-doubles-steel-tariffs-to-50-saying-it-will-secure-american-jobs-backs-us-steels-takeover-by-japans-nippon">double the tariffs</a> on U.S. steel imports to 50%. 



Why It Matters: This comes amid growing warnings from experts that the tariffs on steel and aluminum <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/commodities/25/06/45766967/us-aluminum-tariffs-risk-supply-chain-and-food-security-industry-insiders-warn">will suppress demand</a> across the continent. 



According to Jean Simard, President of the Aluminum Association of Canada (AAC), &#8220;It [the tariffs] will impact workers on both sides of the border and disrupt key sectors including defense, construction, and automotive.&#8221;



Analysts have been quick to point out the impact the tariffs are set to have <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/06/45841311/trumps-steel-tariffs-hits-straight-on-fords-core-analyst-sees-higher-input-costs-and-eroding-pricing-power-for-tesla-rival">on American automakers</a>, especially Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/F#NYSE">F</a>), which Alex Tsepaev, the chief strategy officer at B2PRIME Group, blames on the company&#8217;s U.S.-centric manufacturing.



&#8220;A 50% tariff could inflate COGS significantly just as pricing power erodes in both EV and ICE segments,&#8221; Tsepaev told Benzinga. 



Photo Courtesy: Lightspring on Shutterstock.com



Read More: 



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/06/46017534/as-trump-says-get-it-to-my-desk-for-genius-stablecoin-bill-analysts-warn-of-disruption-to-payment-giants-visa-and-mastercard">As Trump Says &#8216;Get It to My Desk&#8217; For &#8216;GENIUS&#8217; Stablecoin Bill, Analysts Warn Of Disruption To Payment Giants Visa And Mastercard</a></li>
</ul>

Canada Threatens Higher Tariffs On US Steel, Aluminum If No Deal Is Reached By July 21, Mark Carney Says He's Ensuring Protection Against 'Unjust' US Levies

With Wall Street shut for Juneteenth, global investors turned their eyes to the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, triggering a sharp oil price rally and pulling European stocks <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/european-markets">to multi-week lows.</a>



West Texas Intermediate crude futures climbed past $76.50 per barrel on Thursday, marking their highest level since January. Investors responded to rising geopolitical risk after Tel Aviv said it targeted Iranian nuclear sites in retaliatory strikes, prompting fears of a broader regional conflict.



The tension grew after <a href="https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/trump-privately-approved-attack-plans-for-iran-but-has-withheld-final-order-4563c526">The Wall Street Journal</a> reported President Donald Trump had approved U.S. military plans for Iran but held back from issuing a final order. Trump responded on Truth Social, saying, "The Wall Street Journal has No Idea what my thoughts are concerning Iran!"



The potential for a U.S. military entry into the conflict has revived fears of shipping disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint through which roughly 20% of global oil supply flows.



Read also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst-color/25/06/45940903/a-thin-strip-of-water-keeps-the-world-economy-on-edge-will-it-trigger-a-100-oil-shock">A Thin Strip Of Water Keeps The World Economy On Edge: Will It Trigger A $100 Oil Shock?</a>



Adding to bullish oil momentum, the U.S. Energy Information Administration reported on Wednesday a staggering 11.5-million-barrel draw in crude inventories for the week ending June 13. This marks the largest weekly decline in a year, reflecting surging demand and high refinery throughput amid the peak summer fuel season.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">European Equities Tumble As Risk-Off Mode Deepens</h3>



European equities ended Thursday's session with sharp losses as investors reduced risk exposure amid geopolitical instability and energy concerns.



Italy's FTSE MIB index fell 1.59% to 38,793, touching a six-week low. 



The Euro Stoxx 50 dropped 1.38% to 5,197, while France's CAC 40 and Spain's IBEX 35 slid 1.38% and 1.36%, respectively. 



Germany's DAX closed 1.17% lower at 23,047.



Investors are bracing for Friday's diplomatic meeting between European Union leaders and Iran in Switzerland.



Monetary policy responses were mixed across Europe on Thursday.



The Swiss National Bank reduced its policy rate by 25 basis points to 0%, marking the first time borrowing costs returned to zero since negative rates ended in late 2022. The rate cut, widely expected by markets, aims to support domestic growth amid a cooling economy.



Norway's central bank also trimmed rates, aligning with a broader shift among smaller European economies facing sluggish momentum.



Meanwhile, the Bank of England kept its main interest rate unchanged at 4.25%. Six of nine Monetary Policy Committee members voted to maintain rates, while three pushed for a 25 basis point cut, reflecting growing pressure to ease financial conditions.



Despite, the broader risk-off mood, futures on gold – as tracked by the SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GLD#NYSE">GLD</a>) – remained steady at $3,365 per ounce. 



In currency markets, the dollar gained slightly, with the U.S. dollar index rising 0.3% to 99.10 levels, extending its weekly rally. 



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">European Indices&#8217; Performance On Thursday</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>Italy&#8217;s Ftse Mib</td><td>38793</td><td>-1.59%</td></tr><tr><td>Euro STOXX 50</td><td>5197</td><td>-1.38%</td></tr><tr><td>France&#8217;s CAC 40</td><td>7550</td><td>-1.38%</td></tr><tr><td>Spain&#8217;s IBEX 35</td><td>13734</td><td>-1.36%</td></tr><tr><td>Germany&#8217;s DAX</td><td>23047</td><td>-1.17%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Read now: 



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/real-estate/25/06/46014659/anti-powell-crusade-rages-on-as-housing-sector-demands-fed-chair-resignation">Anti-Powell Crusade Rages On As Housing Sector Demands Fed Chair Resignation</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

Oil Prices Jump, European Markets Plummet As US-Iran Tensions Rise: What's Driving Markets Thursday?

The Federal Reserve's decision on Wednesday to hold interest rates steady at 4.25%-4.50% for the fourth consecutive meeting has triggered an escalating backlash, with both political and industry voices now demanding that Chairman Jerome <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/jerome-powell">Powell</a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/jerome-powell"> step down immediately</a>.



What began as a political feud has now widened into a full-blown crusade against Powell, with criticism erupting from sectors hardest hit by high borrowing costs—most vocally, the housing industry.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Housing Industry: ‘Too Late Needs To Resign'</h2>



The sharpest rebuke came from Bill Pulte, U.S. Director of Federal Housing Finance Agency and a figure tied to both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac oversight. 



On social media platform X, Pulte launched a barrage of posts accusing Powell of damaging the housing sector by delaying rate cuts.



"Jay Powell is hurting the housing market by being too late to lower rates. He needs to resign, effective immediately," Pulte said.



He added, "Funny thing is Jay Powell is talking right now about the housing market—he has no clue what he can do for it. And he's not listening to the people who help lead it."



Pulte, known for his pro-housing advocacy and ties to homebuilding networks, has emerged as a prominent industry voice urging quicker action from the Fed. 



His criticism echoes growing concerns among mortgage lenders, homebuilders and buyers dealing with a 30-year fixed mortgage rate that hovers near 7%.



Markets currently anticipate just two rate cuts by year-end, which would lower the federal funds rate to a range of 3.75% to 4%.



Stocks in the broader housing sector — tracked by the Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLRE#NYSE">XLRE</a>) — are trading 20% below their 2022 levels.



<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">Funny thing is Jay Powell is talking right now about the housing market &#8211; he has no clue what he can do for the housing market. And he's not listening to the people who help lead the housing market. Too Late needs to RESIGN.&mdash; Pulte (@pulte) <a href="https://twitter.com/pulte/status/1935408919909671380?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Trump Reinforces Attacks On Powell</h2>



Just hours before the Fed's June policy decision, President Donald Trump once again tore into Powell, calling for an aggressive rate cut of 2 to 2.5 percentage points. 



Trump said such a move would significantly reduce the cost of refinancing U.S. government debt, claiming, "We'd be saving $700 billion, $800 billion—trillions over time."



"He just refuses to lower rates," Trump said. "I don't even think he's political, I think he hates me. He probably should, I call him every name in the book to try and get him to cut."



Trump's criticism comes amid mounting pressure on the central bank to lower rates as inflation cools and economic risks mount. Powell's current term ends in May 2026, but critics now want him out sooner.



The likelihood of Fed Chair Jerome Powell resigning or being removed before his term ends stands at 9%, according to CFTC-regulated betting platform Kalshi.



<iframe loading="lazy" src="https://kalshi.com/external-widgets/events/LEAVEPOWELL-25/markets/LEAVEPOWELL-25-DEC31?color_scheme=light&#038;widget_size=medium&#038;variant=a&#038;utm_campaign=benzinga_widget" width="488px" height="242px" style="border:0"></iframe>



Read now: 



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/market-summary/25/06/46010350/as-trump-weighs-options-on-iran-dow-futures-slip-defense-stocks-tick-up-in-after-hours-session">As Trump Weighs Options On Iran — Dow Futures Slip, Defense Stocks Tick Up In After-Hours Session </a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

Real Estate

XLRE

Anti-Powell Crusade Rages On As Housing Sector Demands Fed Chair Resignation

The U.S. markets will be closed on Thursday, June 19, in observance of Juneteenth National Independence Day, a federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States.



What Happened: According to the guidance from the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association, the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq will both suspend trading for the day, along with the U.S. bond market, which will also remain closed. Trading will resume as normal on Friday, June 20.



Juneteenth is the newest federal holiday in the calendar, having been designated only in 2021 by former President Joe Biden, 156 years after Major General Gordon Granger ordered the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas on June 19, 1865.



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/46010064/ayatollah-assassination-discussion-rejected-by-putin-i-do-not-even-want-to-discuss-this-possibility">Ayatollah Assassination Discussion Rejected By Putin: &#8216;I Do Not Even Want To Discuss This Possibility&#8217;</a>



The decision to make this a national holiday was undertaken following <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/06/39397814/is-the-market-open-on-juneteenth">months of widespread protests</a> against racial injustice and inequality in 2020. 



While financial markets will be off on Thursday, not all sectors will stop functioning. Most federal government offices, bank branches, schools, and even the U.S. Postal Service will be shutting down, with many state and local government offices also observing the holiday.



Private companies, however, aren&#8217;t required by law to close for federal holidays, and retailers such as Walmart Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>), Target Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TGT#NYSE">TGT</a>), and Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WBA#NASDAQ">WBA</a>) will continue <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2025/06/18/business/open-closed-juneteenth">to</a> remain open during their normal working hours. 



Major banks such as JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>) and Bank of America Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>), among others, will be closed, while online banking and ATMs will continue to function. 



Why It Matters: For years, Juneteenth celebrations were <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/22/06/27699154/juneteenth-2022-whats-open-whats-closed-and-what-is-the-holiday-all-about-1">restricted only to Texas</a>, but following the unrest that stemmed from the death of George Floyd in 2020, there were growing calls for making it a nationwide holiday.



Besides Juneteenth, the markets remain closed for <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/stock-market-holidays">eight other federal holidays</a>, with the following occasions in the coming months,



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Friday, July 4th—Independence Day</li>



<li>Friday, September 5th—Labor Day</li>



<li>Monday, November 24th—Thanksgiving</li>



<li>Friday, December 26th—Christmas Day</li>
</ul>



Photo Courtesy: iHumnoi on Shutterstock.com Read More: 



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/06/46010451/peter-schiff-doesnt-think-stablecoins-will-help-preserve-dollar-dominance-heres-what-the-economist-says-theyll-do-instead">Peter Schiff Doesn&#8217;t Think Stablecoins Will Help Preserve Dollar Dominance — Here&#8217;s What The Economist Says They&#8217;ll Do Instead</a></li>
</ul>

Are Markets Open On Juneteenth This Year? Here's What's Open And What's Closed On June 19

The Swiss National Bank cut its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to 0% on Thursday, marking the lowest level since 2022 and amplifying the gap between U.S. and Swiss <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/interest-rates">rates to record highs</a>.



The move pushes the gap between the U.S. federal funds rate upper bound and Switzerland's rate to 4.5 percentage points—the largest differential on record.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">What It Means For The Economy</h3>



The SNB said its decision was influenced by declining inflationary pressure and a deteriorating global economic outlook.



"In its baseline scenario, the SNB anticipates that growth in the global economy will weaken over the coming quarters," the central bank said. While it sees inflation in the U.S. rising, further declines are expected in Europe.



The SNB also warned that risks remain tilted to the downside, citing potential trade tensions and uncertainty around fiscal policy.



The Swiss rate cut means businesses and households in Switzerland now face the lowest borrowing costs among developed nations. 



Lower interest rates could also translate into increased demand by homebuyers and a weaker currency that benefits exporters. 



The yield on the 10-year Swiss government bond is just 0.3%, effectively allowing the Swiss government to borrow at almost no cost. 



In comparison, the U.S. 10-year Treasury yield stands at 4.40%, creating a spread of 4.1%, just shy of the record 4.3% gap seen in December 2024.



According to Goldman Sachs economist Sven Jari Stehn, the SNB will deliver another 25-basis-point cut to a terminal rate of negative 0.25% in September on the basis of the weaker growth and inflation.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Fed Holds Rates, Inflation Forecasts Climb</h3>



A day before the SNB&#8217;s decision, the Federal Reserve held interest rates steady at 4.25%-4.50%, with Chair Jerome Powell saying the central bank remains cautious about cutting too soon. 



The Fed's updated projections now see core PCE inflation at 3.1% in 2025, up from March's 2.8% forecast, and 2.5% by December.



Despite progress on inflation, Powell said the Fed is not yet confident enough to begin easing. Its dot plot still forecasts two rate cuts in 2025, consistent with March, and two in 2026—down from three previously projected.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Trump Pressures Fed: &#8216;We&#8217;d Be Saving Trillions&#8217;</h3>



President Donald Trump reignited his feud with Powell on Wednesday, calling for a more aggressive rate-cutting cycle. 



"We have almost no inflation. We have only success. I'd like to see interest rates get down now," Trump said, adding that just a one-point cut could deliver major relief for U.S. debt servicing costs.



According to Trump, the Fed should cut interest rates between 2 and 2.5 percentage points. 



Slashing rates would lead to massive savings on the debt refinancing front: "We'd be saving $700 billion, $800 billion—trillions over time," he said. 



Read now: 



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/market-summary/25/06/46010350/as-trump-weighs-options-on-iran-dow-futures-slip-defense-stocks-tick-up-in-after-hours-session">As Trump Weighs Options On Iran — Dow Futures Slip, Defense Stocks Tick Up In After-Hours Session </a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock/lunopark

Switzerland Interest Rate Reaches 0%, Gap With Fed Funds Soars To Historic Levels

The global market is witnessing a significant shift in investor sentiment, with a notable move away from U.S. assets. This trend, a phenomenon that cannot be solely attributed to a weakening dollar, as per a report by&nbsp;Société Générale.



What Happened:&nbsp;The shift in market leadership, with international stocks outperforming their U.S. counterparts, has sparked a debate on Wall Street. Some are wondering if this is a temporary phase or a sign of a longer-term trend, <a href="https://www.marketwatch.com/story/signs-of-a-great-rotation-are-gripping-global-markets-and-u-s-stocks-and-bonds-are-the-big-losers-5dde43b6">reported </a>MarketWatch



Arthur van Slooten, a strategist at Société Générale who monitors fund flows, believes that the current shift could be the start of a significant rotation, which is in its early stages.



&#8220;..clear confirmation that the great rotation has started,&#8221; he shared with the publication. 



van Slooten&#8217;s analysis of recent fund flows from ETFs and mutual funds revealed five key observations. Europe has emerged as the preferred destination for investors, with equity inflows nearly double that of the U.S. Global developed-market funds have also seen&nbsp;nearly twice the level of&nbsp;inflows compared to U.S. direct funds.



Emerging markets are making a strong recovery, with China-focused funds attracting $11 billion in inflows. Although the weakening U.S. dollar has played a role in this resurgence, van Slooten emphasizes that it&#8217;s not the only factor driving the shift. Meanwhile, despite the U.S. having a larger credit market, investors have recently shown a preference for European credit funds.



van Slooten further noted that rising geopolitical tensions could mean that this&nbsp;shift away from U.S. assets&nbsp;is just starting.



SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46009956/jack-ma-says-you-need-a-good-boss-before-30-but-once-you-turn-50-you-need-to-take-a-different-approa" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jack Ma Says You Need A Good Boss Before 30, But Once You Turn 50 You Need To Take A Different Approach To Life: Here&#8217;s What The Alibaba-Founder Meant</a>



Why It Matters: The shift away from U.S. assets has been observed for some time now. In March 2025, data showed that the European stock market outperformed, hence there was a flow of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/03/44225688/money-flowing-out-of-us-stock-market-into-europe-a-period-of-transition-says-trump">money out of </a>the U.S. stock market and into Europe. This was seen as a period of &#8216;transition,&#8217; as per President Donald Trump, with investors seeking opportunities in European markets.



In April 2025,&nbsp;foreign investors <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/04/44883642/peter-schiff-rings-alarm-after-foreign-investors-dump-6-5-billion-in-us-equities-in-a-week-quips-trump-thought-tariffs-would-bring-capital-into-america">dumped $6.5 billion </a>worth of U.S. equities in a week, marking the second-largest amount on record. This was attributed to the turmoil in U.S. equity markets and tariff-related uncertainties.



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/markets/macro-economic-events/25/06/46011899/over-200-central-banks-reportedly-dump-48-billion-in-us-treasuries-amid-concerns-ov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Over 200 Central Banks Reportedly Dump $48 Billion In US Treasuries Amid Concerns Over Dollar&#8217;s Stability: &#8216;The Drop Is Unusual&#8217;</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.

Wall Street Watches As Money Flows Out Of US Markets — Is The 'Great Rotation' Here?

As the Middle East conflict intensifies, Shell Plc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SHELL#NYSE">SHELL</a>) CEO Wael Sawan warns of potential repercussions on global trade, particularly if the U.S. gets involved.



What Happened:  Sawan, during Japan Energy Summit and Exhibition 2025, expressed concern over the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, stating it could have a &#8220;huge impact on global trade.&#8221; Shell, a leading global trader of oil and natural gas, has already devised contingency plans to counter any potential disruption in the region&#8217;s oil flow due to the conflict, <a href="https://www.energyconnects.com/opinion/features/2025/june/shell-ceo-wael-sawan-lays-out-long-term-vision-amid-global-energy-shifts/">reported </a>by Energy Connects.



Sawan highlighted the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, a major artery for the world&#8217;s oil trade, at an energy conference in Tokyo. He warned that a blockade in the Strait could send shockwaves in the energy market. The CEO noted that 20% of the world oil supply comes through Hormuz and finding an &#8220;alternative&#8221; would be challenging.



&#8220;If that artery is blocked, for whatever reason, it has a huge impact on global trade… We have plans in the eventuality that things deteriorate,&#8221; said Sawan as per Guardian. 



He also expressed concern about potential &#8220;jamming&#8221; or disruption of navigation signals in and around the Persian Gulf.



Sawan expressed his opinion on the changing world order and its impact on the energy markets. &#8220;We need to set actions for a new reality."



Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump has suggested that the U.S. could intervene in the air war between Israel and Iran. This development further intensifies the potential impact of the conflict on global trade.



SEE ALSO: <a href="https://benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/46011719/trump-greenlights-iran-attack-plans-awaits-tehrans-next-move-for-final-order-report" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trump Greenlights Iran Attack Plans, Awaits Tehran&#8217;s Next Move For Final Order: Report</a>



Why It Matters: The Israel-Iran conflict has been escalating, with both countries engaging in military actions. This conflict has the potential to disrupt the global oil market, impacting not only oil prices but also global trade and economies.



Earlier this month,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst-color/25/06/45958514/these-penny-stocks-stand-to-gain-from-israel-iran-conflict-induced-volatility-in-crude-oil-analyst">analysts suggested</a>&nbsp;that the Israel-Iran conflict could lead to increased volatility in crude oil prices, benefiting companies like Shell. This prediction aligns with Sawan&#8217;s warning about the potential impact of the conflict on global trade, further emphasizing the significance of the situation.



Shell has been actively involved in the oil and gas industry, recently expanding its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/25/05/45664619/shell-boosts-nigerian-deepwater-assets-with-totalenergies-stake-purchase">Nigerian deepwater</a> assets through a strategic acquisition. The company&#8217;s stock performance is closely linked to global oil market dynamics, making the Israel-Iran conflict a critical factor for investors to monitor.



Brent crude oil prices have climbed 8.72% over the past five days amid escalating conflict. 



On a year-to-date basis, shares of Shell surged 14.10%, as per data from <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a>.



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>READ MORE: <a href="https://benzinga.com/news/topics/25/06/46011774/israel-launches-overnight-strikes-on-iran-targeting-nuclear-site-military-infrastructure-with-40-figh" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Israel Launches Overnight Strikes On Iran, Targeting Nuclear Site, Military Infrastructure With 40 Fighter Jets</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.

SHELL

Shell CEO Warns Of 'Huge Impact On Global Trade' If The Strait Of Hormuz Is Blocked Amid Israel-Iran Conflict: 'We Need To Set Actions For A New Reality'

The Symbol NCMGY was not found. Here are some similar symbols and popular symbols to consider.

Symbol Similar to: NCMGY

Top Gaining Stocks

Notizie

PARTNER/COLLABORATORE

BENZINGA NEL MONDO