Gold extended its rally on Friday, surging past the $3,000 mark in early trading, driven by escalating trade tensions, economic uncertainty, and expectations of a Federal Reserve rate cut.



Spot gold, as tracked by the SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GLD#NYSE">GLD</a>), traded at $3,004 per ounce at 7:30 a.m. ET, rising 1.78% and marking its third consecutive session of gains.



The VIX index, which is also known as the fear gauge, is up 63% in the last 12 months and up 39% year-to-date.



Related: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/03/44300810/us-producer-inflation-stalls-in-february-as-services-costs-drop-eggs-price-skyrockets" rel="noreferrer noopener">US Producer Inflation Stalls In February As Services Costs Drop, Egg Prices Skyrocket</a>



Rising recession risks, renewed trade war threats from former President Donald Trump, and unusual market dynamics fuel the rally. Analysts point to hidden buyers and increasing demand for safe-haven assets as key drivers.



Gold, which is also seen as a safe-haven asset, usually trades in an inverse relationship with the VIX. When the market experiences fear, the money moves in gold for safety.



February&#8217;s weaker-than-expected PPI and CPI reports <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/econ-s/25/03/44307019/latest-inflation-data-excludes-tariffs-trump-policy-changes-2025-will-be-much-more-volatile-year-economist-says" rel="noreferrer noopener">raised hopes for 2025 rate cuts</a>, but economists caution that rising tariffs and volatile food prices could challenge ongoing disinflation trends.



Experts warn that markets remain highly reactive to geopolitical developments, with inflation volatility, trade tensions, and shifting global alliances creating uncertainty about the economic path ahead.



Meanwhile, Bitcoin is <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/03/44314127/gold-hits-all-time-highs-while-bitcoin-disappoints-did-fed-chair-jerome-powell-jinx-the-digital-gold" rel="noreferrer noopener">underperforming</a> as gold surged to a record high, casting renewed doubts on its status as &#8220;digital gold.&#8221;



The SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GLD#NYSE">GLD</a>), which tracks the price of gold, rose 0.49% to $276.48 in the premarket. The VanEck Gold Miners ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GDX#NYSE">GDX</a>) rose 1.02% premarket, and The VanEck Junior Gold Miners ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GDXJ#NYSE">GDXJ</a>) gained 1.08%.



Mining Stocks Soar Premarket: Newmont Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NEM#NYSE">NEM</a>) rose 1.71%, B2Gold Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BTG#NYSE">BTG</a>) up 0.69%, Kinross Gold (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KGC#NYSE">KGC</a>) +1.84%, Franco-Nevada Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FNV#NYSE">FNV</a>) up 0.71% and Barrick Gold Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOLD#NYSE">GOLD</a>) rose 1.23%.



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/44280431" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Inflation Moves In The &#8216;Right Direction&#8217; But Forecast Is Hazy, Economist Says</a></li>
</ul>



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Commodities

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Trading Ideas

GDXJ

GOLD

Gold Breaches $3,000 Mark On Market Turbulence And Fed Signals

Li Auto Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LI#NASDAQ">LI</a>) reported fiscal fourth-quarter 2024 revenue growth of 6.1% year-on-year to 44.3 billion Chinese yuan ($6.07 billion), missing the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/03/g44323458/li-auto-inc-announces-unaudited-fourth-quarter-and-full-year-2024-financial-results" rel="noreferrer noopener">analyst consensus of 44.6 billion Chinese yuan</a>.&nbsp;



Its adjusted net earnings per ADS&nbsp;were&nbsp;3.79 Chinese yuan ($0.52), beating the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/earnings" rel="noreferrer noopener">analyst consensus of 2.87 Chinese yuan</a>. The stock price fell after the print.



Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44306214/gm-and-pge-team-up-to-let-evs-power-homes-offer-up-to-4500-in-energy-incentives" rel="noreferrer noopener">GM And PG&amp;E Team Up To Let EVs Power Homes, Offer Up To $4,500 In Energy Incentives</a>



Vehicle sales increased 5.6% to $5.8 billion&nbsp;due&nbsp;to increased vehicle deliveries partially offset by the lower average selling price, mainly due to different product mixes. Total vehicle deliveries were 158,696 units in the quarter,&nbsp;a 20.4% year-over-year&nbsp;increase.



The vehicle margin declined by 300 bps&nbsp;year over year&nbsp;to 19.7%, and the gross margin decreased by 320 bps&nbsp;year over year&nbsp;to 20.3%.&nbsp;



Adjusted income from operations&nbsp;was $577.6 million, up by 9.1% Y/Y. Adjusted net income decreased 12.0% Y/Y to $553.4 million.



Li Auto held cash and equivalents of $15.5 billion as of December 31, 2024, and generated $1.2 billion in operating cash flow for the quarter. Free cash flow was $830.1 million.



As of December 31, 2024, the company had 502 retail stores covering 150 cities, 478 servicing centers,&nbsp;Li Auto-authorized body and paint shops operating in 225 cities, and 1,727&nbsp;supercharging&nbsp;stations with 9,100 charging stalls.



Chair and CEO Xiang Li noted the fourth quarter propelled its full-year deliveries to surpass the 500,000 milestone, making it a leading premium automotive brand in China. Looking ahead to 2025, it plans to launch its next-generation autonomous driving architecture and new BEV models.



Q1 Outlook: Li Auto expects quarterly revenue of 23.4 billion Chinese yuan ($3.2 billion)-24.7 billion Chinese yuan ($3.4 billion), representing a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/guidance">decrease of 8.7%–3.5% year over year.</a>



LI expects quarterly vehicle deliveries of 88,000-93,000, representing an increase of 9.5%–15.7%&nbsp;year over year.



Price Action: LI stock is down by 3.93% at $27.59 in premarket at the last check on Friday.



Also Read:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/03/44305045/archer-taps-palantirs-ai-to-supercharge-electric-aircraft-production-and-flight-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Archer Taps Palantir&#8217;s AI to Supercharge Electric Aircraft Production and Flight Tech</a></li>
</ul>



Photo by Postmodern Studio on Shutterstock.

Earnings

Equities

Guidance

Li Auto Tops 500K Deliveries In 2024, Sees Q1 Slowdown

A top White House representative informed crypto leaders this week that the Trump administration is eager to increase <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/03/44258476/bitcoin-reserve-upgrades-crypto-but-paypal-ripple-stablecoins-lag-behind">its Bitcoin reserves</a> as part of a broader financial strategy.



Bo Hines, the Presidential Working Group on Digital Assets lead, shared with attendees of a confidential meeting hosted by the Bitcoin Policy Institute on Tuesday the government's intent to gather substantial Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) stocks, <a href="https://decrypt.co/309948/trump-admin-acquire-much-bitcoin-possible-white-house">according </a>to those present.



The session, following a public "Bitcoin for America" gathering, included key industry figures such as Michael Saylor of Strategy (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>), Fred Thiel of Marathon Digital (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MARA#NASDAQ">MARA</a>), Nathan McCauley of Anchorage Digital, and David Bailey of Bitcoin Magazine, alongside senators Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tn.) and Bernie Moreno (R-Oh.).



When pressed on the specific amount the government might target, Hines responded with a lighthearted comparison to asking someone how many dollars they'd like, one participant relayed to Decrypt. 



A White House source later verified Hines' statement, noting that any Bitcoin purchases would be conducted without burdening taxpayers, aligning with a cost-neutral policy. 



This approach supports recent statements from senior officials advocating for additional Bitcoin acquisitions—currently around 200,000 BTC from legal confiscations—to enhance a strategic reserve established by Trump's recent directive.



Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/03/44309155/trump-administration-focused-on-real-economy-not-market-swings-says-treasury-secretary-bessent">Trump Administration Focused On Real Economy, Not Market Swings, Says Treasury Secretary Bessent</a>



During the discussion, a question arose about the administration's stance on the Bitcoin Act, a Senate proposal reintroduced by Lummis on Tuesday, which calls for acquiring up to one million BTC, valued at about $80 billion, and legally embedding the reserve. 



Hines reportedly turned to Lummis, seated nearby, and indicated the administration favors legislation to solidify the reserve and will work to ensure its approval in Congress. 



However, a White House representative clarified to Decrypt that Hines did not back any specific bill during the event. 



The proposal's cost-neutral claim is under debate, as it suggests using Federal Reserve funds from revaluing gold certificates—last updated in 1971 and now worth over 6,800% more due to gold's rise—to finance the purchases.



Read Next: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/03/44304170/trump-family-in-talks-to-acquire-stake-in-binance-as-former-ceo-changpeng-zhao-pushes-for-pardon">Trump Family In Talks To Acquire Stake In Binance As Former CEO Changpeng Zhao Pushes For Pardon</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

Cryptocurrency

$BTC

MARA

MSTR

Trump Administration Signals Aggressive Cost-Neutral Bitcoin Accumulation Strategy

Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>) shares traded higher premarket on Friday after it disclosed that six new <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/03/b44315576/palantir-warp-speed-accelerates-announces-six-new-customers-that-are-re-industrializing-american-m" rel="noreferrer noopener">customers are adopting Warp Speed</a>.



The company said in a statement Thursday that Epirus, Red Cat, Saildrone, Saronic, Ursa Major, and SNC are the latest companies to leverage Warp Speed.



Since launch, Palantir Warp Speed has introduced key advancements, including MRP Speed for continuous network planning that optimizes material resource planning to prevent shortages and quickly address disruptions.



The platform enables rapid ERP data access, unlocking information from 10+ systems in under 24 hours, eliminating costly and time-consuming integrations.



It also enhances AI command and control at the edge, allowing AI-enabled fleets to operate seamlessly across various connectivity, hardware, and compliance environments.



Red Cat is leveraging Warp Speed to accelerate the production and delivery of assets, supporting critical missions for the Department of Defense.



Saildrone leverages Warp Speed for real-time production planning, optimizing fleet management, procurement, and demand forecasting.



Saronic utilizes Warp Speed to scale operations, with an initial focus on material resource planning and engineering change management.



Ursa Major leverages Warp Speed to enhance digital production agility, rapidly scaling solid and liquid rocket motor production while maintaining safety and innovation speed.



Emily Nguyen, Palantir&#8217;s Head of Industrials, said, &#8220;We designed Warp Speed to enable faster, safer, and more efficient production of formidable machinery that is critical to America&#8217;s leadership — from sea vessels, to drones, to propulsion systems.&#8221;



Yesterday, the company disclosed a strategic deal with Databricks to merge AI operating system with Databricks' platform for AI,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/contracts/25/03/44304895/palantirs-new-strategic-deal-with-databricks-accelerates-adoption-of-autonomous-genai-workflows" rel="noreferrer noopener">data warehousing, and data engineering</a>.



Investors can gain exposure to the stock via&nbsp;Roundhill ETF Trust Roundhill PLTR WeeklyPay ETF&nbsp;(BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTW#BATS">PLTW</a>) and&nbsp;Direxion Daily PLTR Bull 2X Shares (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTU#NASDAQ">PLTU</a>).



Price Action: PLTR shares are up 2.55% at $81.65 premarket at the last check Friday.



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/03/44305045/archer-taps-palantirs-ai-to-supercharge-electric-aircraft-production-and-flight-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Archer Taps Palantir&#8217;s AI to Supercharge Electric Aircraft Production and Flight Tech</a></li>
</ul>



Image via Shutterstock.

Large Cap

Contracts

PLTR

PLTU

PLTW

Palantir's Warp Speed Gains Momentum: Six New Customers Onboard

U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated that Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) could invest up to $60 billion in the United States by the end of the year.



What Happened: While taking press questions at the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump stated that the Mark Zuckerberg-led company is likely to invest $60 billion by the end of 2025. This follows the likes of Apple (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) and TSMC (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSM#NASDAQ">TSM</a>). In February, the iPhone maker invested $500 billion, while TSMC invested $10 billion in the United States, in a move to avoid tariffs and give a boost to Trump&#8217;s &#8216;America First&#8217; agenda. When asked about the impact of tariffs, Trump continued to defend them and stated his belief that they would boost the U.S. economy and create more jobs in the country.



An anonymous source disclosed to Reuters on Wednesday that the meeting is part of Zuckerberg&#8217;s continuous discussions with the administration concerning the leadership of American technology. However, Andy Stone, a spokesperson for Meta, did not confirm the White House visit to the publication.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Trump Defends Tariffs On EU: &#039;The European Union Is Very, Very Nasty&#039;" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/whmtshHayp8?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



Notably, Meta has not officially announced the investment yet. The company did not immediately respond to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga&#8217;s request</a> for comments.



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44321998/why-ross-gerber-finds-tesla-stock-expensive-despite-its-50-plunge-fundamental-story-has-to-be-revalued">Ross Gerber Finds Tesla Stock Expensive Despite Its 50% Plunge: Why The Investor Says EV Giant&#8217;s &#8216;Fundamental Story Has To Be Revalued&#8217;</a>



Why It Matters: The possible meeting between Zuckerberg and the Trump administration officials comes at a time when Meta&#8217;s shares are experiencing a downward trend. Meta&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/03/44317112/meta-shares-drop-during-market-sell-off-and-tariff-concerns-whats-going-on">shares traded lower</a> on Thursday amid an overall market weakness that has been impacting social media and tech stocks.



The decline in Meta&#8217;s shares is attributed to the erasure of Wednesday&#8217;s gains by Wall Street, with market sentiment being negatively affected by tariff threats and economic data. The possible meeting with the Trump administration could be seen as a strategic move by Zuckerberg to discuss these issues and potentially influence future policies that could impact Meta and the tech industry at large.



Meta holds a momentum rating of 87.21% and a growth rating of 72.53%, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/report/META" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga&#8217;s Proprietary Edge Rankings</a>. The Benzinga Growth metric evaluates a stock's historical earnings and revenue expansion across multiple timeframes, prioritizing both long-term trends and recent performance. For an in-depth report on more stocks and insights into growth opportunities,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/screener/top-momentum-stocks" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sign</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/screener/top-momentum-stocks" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">up for Benzinga Edge.</a>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="457" height="275" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/14033204/image-118.png" alt="" class="wp-image-824354" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/14033204/image-118.png 457w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/14033204/image-118-300x181.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 457px) 100vw, 457px" /></figure>



Read More:



<ul>
<li> <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44281974/alibaba-grab-tencent-meituan-gear-up-for-growth-as-china-bets-on-services-to-revive-economy?utm_source=taboola&amp;utm_medium=exchange&amp;tblci=GiD1tFFNH-r-bulyXzVS-mm-BVNR3nb6Ojb3DSX9l1ZrFSCN1Vco-ob4p_qdgc_WATDviEo#tblciGiD1tFFNH-r-bulyXzVS-mm-BVNR3nb6Ojb3DSX9l1ZrFSCN1Vco-ob4p_qdgc_WATDviEo">Alibaba, Grab, Tencent, Meituan Gear Up For Growth As China Bets On Services To Revive Economy</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.

Markets

Tech

AAPL

Trump Suggests Meta May Invest Up To $60 Billion In The US By The End Of 2025

On Thursday, March 13, U.S. markets ended notably lower, with the S&amp;P 500 entering <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/03/44317410/sp-500-enters-technical-correction-as-trade-war-fears-rattle-markets" rel="noreferrer noopener">correction</a> territory as escalating U.S. tariffs overshadowed encouraging inflation data.



Despite cooler-than-expected PPI and CPI readings and steady jobless claims suggesting inflation is easing, and the labor market remains strong, investor sentiment deteriorated. A broad selloff, led by losses in tech megacaps like the &#8220;Magnificent 7,&#8221; dragged major indexes down. Trade tensions flared as the EU retaliated against U.S. metal tariffs.



In economic data, U.S. producer prices were flat in February, missing expectations of a 0.3% rise after a revised 0.6% gain in January. Jobless claims fell by 2,000 to 220,000, below the forecast of 225,000.



Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/03/44301836/trump-warns-of-200-tariff-on-french-champagne-and-eu-spirits-in-retaliation-to-europes-tariff-on-us-whiskey" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trump Warns Of 200% Tariff On French Champagne And EU Spirits In Retaliation To Europe&#8217;s Tariff On US Whiskey</a>



Most S&amp;P 500 sectors fell Thursday, led by losses in consumer discretionary, real estate, and communication services, while utilities ended higher.



The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1.30% to close at 40,813.57, the S&amp;P 500 slid 1.39% to 5,521.52, and the Nasdaq Composite declined 1.96% to 17,303.01.



Asia Markets Today



<ul>
<li>On Friday, Japan&#8217;s Nikkei 225 rose 0.73% to 37,078.50, led by gains in the Power, Rubber and Chemical, Petroleum &amp; Plastic sectors.</li>



<li>Australia&#8217;s S&amp;P/ASX 200 was up 0.52% and closed at 7,789.70.</li>



<li>India markets closed for the Holi festival holiday.</li>



<li>China&#8217;s Shanghai Composite gained 1.81% to 3,419.56, and the Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 rose   2.43% to 4,006.56.</li>



<li>Hong Kong&#8217;s Hang Seng increased 2.12%, ending the session at 23,959.98.</li>



<li>Chinese stocks rallied on hopes of new economic stimulus, including possible PBOC liquidity measures and policies to boost consumption ahead of Monday&#8217;s press conference with top officials.</li>
</ul>



Eurozone at 05:45 AM ET



<ul>
<li>The European STOXX 50 was up 0.60%.</li>



<li>Germany&#8217;s DAX gained 0.55%.</li>



<li>France&#8217;s CAC rose 0.65%.</li>



<li>U.K.&#8217;s FTSE 100 index traded higher by 0.41%</li>
</ul>



Commodities at 05:45 AM ET



Crude Oil WTI was trading higher by 1.01% at $67.21/bbl, and Brent was up 0.90% at $70.51/bbl.



Oil prices rebounded Friday after prior losses, supported by fading hopes of a quick Ukraine ceasefire and potential cuts in Russian supply.



Natural Gas declined 0.63% to $4.085.



Gold was trading higher by 0.66% at $3,010.96, Silver was up 1.36% to $34.773, and Copper rose 0.04% to $4.9270.



Gold surged to a record high near $3,000 amid trade war fears and rate cut expectations. Strong haven demand, ETF inflows, and Fed policy outlook continue to boost sentiment.



U.S. Futures at 05:45 AM ET



Dow futures were up 0.54%, S&amp;P 500 futures rose 0.76% and Nasdaq 100 futures gained 1.00%.



Forex at 05:45 AM ET



The U.S. dollar index gained 0.08% to 103.92, the USD/JPY rose by 0.076% to 148.93, and the USD/AUD declined by 0.34% to 1.5860.



Photo via Shutterstock

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Emerging Markets

Eurozone

Futures

Forex

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AGOV

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BBEU

BOIL

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EEMA

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SPEM

USDU

Asia And Europe Markets Advance, Gold Hits $3,000 - Global Markets Today While US Slept

Sen. Chuck Schumer (N.Y.), the Senate Democratic Leader, expressed concerns about a potential government shutdown on Thursday. He warned that such an event could empower Donald Trump significantly. 



What Happened: Schumer&#8217;s remarks come amid heightened tensions in Congress over federal funding, with Democrats and Republicans blaming each other for the impasse. Schumer specifically mentioned Elon Musk, suggesting that the entrepreneur supports a shutdown and is planning to leverage it to dismantle essential government programs.



Schumer&#8217;s post on X highlighted the stakes involved, stating, &#8220;A shutdown would give Donald Trump the keys to the city, state, and country.&#8221; He accused Musk of wanting a shutdown to &#8220;expedite the destruction of key government programs and services.&#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">A shutdown would give Donald Trump the keys to the city, state, and country. Musk has said he wants a shutdown, and reporting has shown he is already making plans to use the shutdown to expedite his destruction of key government programs and services.&mdash; Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenSchumer/status/1900339650562011205?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



The tweet was part of the ongoing debate in Congress, where Schumer and other leaders are pushing for a &#8220;clean 30-day CR&#8221; to avoid a shutdown. This situation has escalated as the deadline looms, with both parties intensifying their rhetoric.



Schumer announced he will support advancing a House-passed six-month government funding bill, despite opposition from many Democrats who call it a "slush fund" for Trump and Musk. He argued that while the bill is flawed, failing to pass it could lead to a government shutdown with severe consequences for veterans, seniors, and disabled individuals, <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5194156-schumer-gop-funding-bill-shutdown/">reported</a> The Hill.



Schumer is the second Senate Democrat to back advancing the GOP bill, likely giving cover to others still reviewing it. Senate Republicans, holding 53 seats, need eight Democratic votes to advance the GOP-drafted resolution, which boosts defense spending by $6 billion while cutting non-defense programs by $13 billion. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) opposes it, citing insufficient deficit reduction.



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44239145/elizabeth-warren-raises-questions-on-robert-f-kennedys-mar-a-lago-dinners-with-big-pharma-american-people-deserve-to-know-about-the-deals-made">Elizabeth Warren Raises Questions On Robert F Kennedy&#8217;s Mar-A-Lago Dinners With Big Pharma: American People Deserve To Know About The Deals Made</a>



Why It Matters: The potential government shutdown has significant implications for the nation. Schumer&#8217;s warning about Trump&#8217;s influence highlights the broader political stakes. As reported, Schumer has blamed the GOP for taking a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/03/44294067/chuck-schumer-blames-gop-for-partisan-path-as-shutdown-nears-republicans-say-democrats-fault-if-government-closes">&#8220;partisan path&#8221;</a> in the funding debate, while Republicans argue that Democrats would be at fault if a shutdown occurs. The standoff reflects deep divisions in Congress, with both parties holding firm on their positions.



Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has also criticized Republicans, emphasizing the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44293219/aoc-claps-back-at-mike-johnson-as-senate-moves-closer-to-government-shutdown-if-you-need-democrats-then-you-need-to-negotiate">need for negotiation</a> if they lack the votes to pass their funding bill. She said, &#8220;If you need Democrats, then you need to negotiate with Democrats.&#8221;



Photo via Shutterstock



Check This Out:



<ul>
<li>Lawmakers Made Huge Investments This Year. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/gov-trades">Get Tips On What They Bought And Sold Ahead Of The 2024 Election With Our Easy-to-Use Tool</a></li>
</ul>



This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/shivdeep-dhaliwal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shivdeep Dhaliwal</a>

Government

Politics

General

Chuck Schumer Says A Government Shutdown Will Give Trump The 'Keys To The City, State and Country' And Elon Musk The Chance To Destroy Government Services

Donald Tang, the Executive Chair of Chinese fast-fashion retailer Shein, assured that the company is preparing for a London listing while dismissing concerns about the company&#8217;s valuation.



What Happened: Shein initially planned a New York listing for late 2023 but redirected its focus to the U.K. after the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rejected its proposal. The fast-fashion retailer has decided to go ahead with the listing despite U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to eliminate the &#8220;de minimis&#8221; duty-free exemption for Chinese imports valued under $800. Tang stated that the company "has always had a globalized model, so we've already started to do global diversification", as reported by the <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/b0f841c8-2944-4ea6-88dc-651e46cda336">Financial Times</a>.



Shein&#8217;s valuation stood at $66 billion during its latest funding round in 2023. However, some stakeholders have been pushing for a reduction in the valuation to around $30 billion, a move that could expedite its&nbsp;IPO in the first half&nbsp;of this year.



Tang revealed that none of the existing investors, including Sequoia China (now HongShan), General Atlantic,&nbsp;and Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth&nbsp;fund Mubadala, have expressed concerns about Shein&#8217;s valuation in the lead-up to its planned IPO.



Although the company&#8217;s valuation is considerably lower, its flotation would still be among the largest on the London market this decade, as per the FT. 



Tang&nbsp;confirmed that there have been &#8220;zero conversations&#8221; about reducing its valuation among Shein&#8217;s management. &#8220;When&nbsp;we are actually going public,&nbsp;there will be that question&nbsp;[about valuation], but we&#8217;re&nbsp;not going public right now,&#8221; he stated.



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44320221/chuck-schumer-says-a-government-shutdown-will-give-trump-the-keys-to-the-city-state-and-country-and-elon-musk-the-chance-to-destroy-government-services">Chuck Schumer Says A Government Shutdown Will Give Trump The &#8216;Keys To The City, State and Country&#8217; And Elon Musk The Chance To Destroy Government Services</a>



Why It Matters: Tang&#8217;s comments come in as Shein faces stiff&nbsp;competition from rival group Temu&nbsp;and uncertainty over the future&nbsp;of a key exemption to&nbsp;U.S. import duties. Additionally, sources informed the FT that the company&#8217;s net profit declined by 40% to $1 billion in 2024. However, Tang asserts that investors are &#8220;very happy&#8221; as the company continues to expand successfully and profitably on a large scale while enhancing efficiency and minimizing waste.



Furthermore, Shein, along with Amazon and Temu, is under <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43431559/amazon-temu-and-shein-under-eu-scrutiny-regulators-target-illegal-products-and-tougher-e-commerce-rules">regulatory scrutiny</a> from the EU for allegedly selling dangerous or illegal products online. This could potentially impact the company&#8217;s performance and reputation, making its upcoming listing a significant event to watch.



Photo Courtesy: Yau Ming Low On Shutterstock.com



Read More: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/03/44317410/sp-500-enters-technical-correction-as-trade-war-fears-rattle-markets">S&amp;P 500 Enters Technical Correction As Trade War Fears Rattle Markets</a></li>
</ul>



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

Shein CEO Says 'Zero Conversations' About Slashing $66B Valuation Ahead Of IPO, Backers Unfazed Amid Trump Tariff Woes

Spirit Aviation Holdings, Inc. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SAVEQ#OTC">SAVEQ</a>), the parent company of Spirit Airlines, LLC (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SAVEQ#OTC">SAVEQ</a>) announced that it has successfully completed its financial restructuring.



What Happened: The&nbsp;United States Bankruptcy Court for&nbsp;the Southern District of New&nbsp;York has confirmed Spirit&#8217;s Plan of Reorganization, with a supermajority of the company&#8217;s loyalty and convertible noteholders offering immense support, stated the company via press release. The restructuring process allowed the company to reduce its funded debt by nearly $795 million, leaving Spirit in a robust financial position. The company also secured&nbsp;a $350 million equity investment&nbsp;from current investors, aimed at supporting future initiatives and enhancing guest experiences. 



Upon emergence, the common stock previously issued by Spirit Airlines, Inc. was canceled. The company said that it &#8220;expects to re-list its shares on a stock exchange as soon as reasonably practicable&#8221; after the Effective Date of its Plan of Reorganization.



President and CEO Ted Christie stated, &#8220;Today, we&#8217;re moving forward with our strategy to redefine low-fare travel with our new, high-value travel options.&#8221;



See Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/03/44308149/market-is-trying-to-rebound-keep-trump-off-x-says-jim-cramer-also-calls-out-canadas-carney-for-making-trump-look-bad-really-bad-call"> &#8216;Market Is Trying To Rebound—Keep Trump Off X,&#8217; Says Jim Cramer—Also Calls Out Canada&#8217;s Carney For Making Trump Look Bad—&#8217;Really Bad Call&#8217;</a>



Why It Matters: This development comes after Spirit Airlines <a href="https://benzinga.com/25/02/43654635/spirit-airlines-rejects-frontiers-new-merger-offer-aims-to-finalize-restructuring-by-q1-2025">rejected a merger</a> offer from&nbsp;Frontier Group Holdings (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ULCC#NASDAQ">ULCC</a>)&nbsp;earlier in February 2025. Frontier had proposed a revised restructuring plan, offering Spirit&#8217;s stakeholders $400 million in second-lien debt and 19% of Frontier&#8217;s common equity. This would have eliminated the need for Spirit&#8217;s $350 million equity rights offering but required a waiver of a $35 million termination fee. 



The rejection of this offer indicated Spirit&#8217;s confidence in its own restructuring plan, which it has now successfully implemented. The company&#8217;s decision to deleverage debt and secure equity investment underscores its commitment to financial stability and enhanced passenger services. The successful restructuring also paves the way for Spirit&#8217;s potential re-listing on a stock exchange, marking a significant turnaround for the airline. 



Price Action: Spirit Airlines OTC stock ended Thursday 2.6% higher at $0.47, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?gspk=YWRhbWVja2VydDUzMzY&amp;gsxid=zBMR4PKmcgBw">data from Benzinga Pro</a>.



Read More: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/politics/25/03/44319499/elon-musk-disapproval-rating-53-in-new-poll-62-say-tesla-ceo-doesnt-have-right-experience-to-make-changes-to-government">Elon Musk Disapproval Rating 53% In New Poll: 62% Say Tesla CEO Doesn&#8217;t Have &#8216;Right Experience&#8217; To Make Changes To Government</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.

SAVEQ

ULCC

Spirit Airlines Soars Out of Bankruptcy, Says Will Cancel Old Stock And Expects To Re-List 'As Soon As Reasonably Practicable'

A fresh wave of selling sent the S&amp;P 500 spiraling into technical correction territory on Thursday, falling 10% from its all-time high, as trade tensions escalated following President Donald Trump's <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/donald-trump">latest tariff threats.</a>



In a volatile session Thursday, the S&amp;P 500 – as tracked by the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) – closed at 5,521 points, marking a 10% drop from its Feb. 19 peak of 6,147.



The index now sits 3.8% below its 200-day moving average of 5,738, a level many traders consider a key threshold. 



Only 37% of S&amp;P 500 stocks are trading above this moving average, the lowest proportion since November 2023—a sign of broad-based market weakness.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Trade War Jitters Shake Markets</h3>



The sell-off accelerated after Trump took to his Truth Social platform, threatening to impose 200% tariffs on all European alcoholic products in response to the EU's decision to slap a 50% tariff on American whiskey.



Earlier this week, Canada announced 25% retaliatory duties on over $20 billion worth of U.S. goods, while the EU planned to impose counter-tariffs starting in April.



Despite the tariff turmoil, recent inflation data painted a more optimistic picture for the U.S. economy. Both consumer and producer prices have come in below expectations this year, reinforcing hopes that the Federal Reserve&#8217;s disinflation efforts are gaining traction. Markets are pricing in three Fed interest rate cuts this year. 



Yet, markets remain laser-focused on trade policy risks. Investors worry that escalating tariffs could undermine corporate earnings, disrupt supply chains, and reignite inflationary pressures—potentially forcing the Fed to rethink its rate-cut trajectory.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Thursday&#8217;s Top 5 Gainers</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><thead><tr><th>Name</th><th>Change (%)</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Intel Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INTC#NASDAQ">INTC</a>)</td><td>+14.61%</td></tr><tr><td>Dollar General Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DG#NYSE">DG</a>)</td><td>+6.80%</td></tr><tr><td>Dollar Tree Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DLTR#NASDAQ">DLTR</a>)</td><td>+6.65%</td></tr><tr><td>Newmont Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NEM#NYSE">NEM</a>)</td><td>+4.62%</td></tr><tr><td>The AES Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AES#NYSE">AES</a>)</td><td>+3.85%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Top 5 Losers</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><thead><tr><th>Name</th><th>Change (%)</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Adobe Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ADBE#NASDAQ">ADBE</a>)</td><td>-13.84%</td></tr><tr><td>Super Micro Computer Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMCI#NASDAQ">SMCI</a>)</td><td>-7.97%</td></tr><tr><td>Texas Pacific Land Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TPL#NYSE">TPL</a>)</td><td>-7.01%</td></tr><tr><td>Live Nation Entertainment Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LYV#NYSE">LYV</a>)</td><td>-5.89%</td></tr><tr><td>Airbnb Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABNB#NASDAQ">ABNB</a>)</td><td>-5.64%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44316175/wall-street-bull-turns-cautious-ed-yardeni-cuts-sp-500-target-as-trumps-tariffs-threat-stagflation">Wall Street Bull Turns Cautious: Ed Yardeni Cuts S&amp;P 500 Target As Trump&#8217;s Tariffs Threat Stagflation</a></li>
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Photo: Shutterstock

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SMCI

S&P 500 Enters Technical Correction As Trade War Fears Rattle Markets

Volatility has become the topic of the week, after several big down days in the markets. This creates a sweet spot for capturing gains in a double butterfly trade toward the end of the month.



Amazon is the perfect stock for this trade, with earnings coming up.



Here&#8217;s how to use that to profit from the market volatility at minimum risk.



Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) stocks&#8217;s relative resistance zone sits right around $240 at the time of this writing, but traders are pricing in a wider range particularly after looking at several of the latest earnings moves. The relative support is near $170.



A double butterfly is ideal for larger anticipated moves into a catalyst like Amazon&#8217;s earnings. This setup is a combination of a long call butterfly and a long put butterfly.&nbsp;



A long call butterfly is the combination of a long call spread and a short call spread that share the same short strike. A long put butterfly is the combination of a long put spread and a short put spread that share the same short strike. They are positioned as two separate trades.&nbsp;



The long call butterfly (positioned for upside in the details below) works like this: if price action is outsized, we capture $1000 less the cost of the call butterfly, currently $117, if AMZN&#8217;s share price moves into $220.&nbsp;



<ul>
<li>Buy to open 1 AMZN 28 Mar weekly 210 calls </li>



<li>Sell to open 2 AMZN 28 Mar weekly 220 calls </li>



<li>Buy to open 1 AMZN 28 Mar weekly 230 calls </li>
</ul>



The long put butterfly (positioned for downside in the details below) works like this: if price action is outsized, we capture $1500 less the cost of the put butterfly, currently $107, if AMZN&#8217;s share price moves into $170.&nbsp;



<ul>
<li>Buy to open 1 AMZN 28 Mar weekly 185 puts </li>



<li>Sell to open 1 AMZN 28 Mar weekly 170 puts </li>



<li>Buy to open 1 AMZN 28 Mar weekly 155 puts </li>
</ul>



The long call butterfly holds a current debit of $117 as I&#8217;m writing this and the long put butterfly holds a current debit of $107. Together, the total risk is the debit you have paid for both butterflies, or if you have a definitive bias, you can engage in only one of them.&nbsp;



The total highest potential profit is $1500 for the put side and $1000 on the call side (the distance between strikes x 100) less the cost of the debit incurred by buying both butterflies ($107+ $117= $224).



It is extremely rare to collect all this premium on both sides, but we might be stepping into just this kind of backdrop. Set price alerts for both the top and middle strikes on both butterflies. I like to consider 200%-300% profit of the investment though big moves can deliver higher returns. 



The strategy provides several choices to exit the trade. I will discuss only two of them:



<ol>
<li>To sell both butterflies when the performing butterflies move into your target parameters, particularly once the middle strike is tested. </li>



<li>To sell both butterflies right after earnings if the chart does nothing, or once your threshold for loss is hit. Mine is typically 65% with these positions. </li>
</ol>



Note that the option chain I chose only delivers time for 15 days or so – this means that any rapid moves will shift the prices of these positions sharply. 



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Get 3 New Stocks To Trade Every Sunday And Never Run Out Of Profitable Ideas</h3>



You can now access Benzinga's Insider Report to get a head start on the markets. Every Sunday, you'll receive deep research into the upcoming week and potential events that might drive the markets. You'll also get 3 new trade ideas — straight from our seasoned Wall Street veterans. 



Click <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge/?el=ResearchDaily&amp;he={{email}}&amp;adt_ei={{email}}&amp;utm_adType=SponsorAd&amp;utm_ad=RD0315&amp;utm_campaign=wallstreetadvantage">HERE</a> to get access now and transform your trading from this Sunday onwards.



Photo: Shutterstock

Opinion

AMZN

Turn This Market Crash Into Safe Income

Warren Buffett's <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/real-estate">real-estate brokerage business</a>, HomeServices of America, is considering a deal with Compass.



What Happened: According <a href="https://www.wsj.com/real-estate/compass-in-talks-to-buy-warren-buffetts-real-estate-brokerage-unit-5eab82e5">to </a>The Wall Street Journal, Compass — the biggest U.S. brokerage by volume in 2023 — offered to buy HomeServices of America for an unknown price.



HomeServices of America is owned by Buffett&#8217;s Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>). It had about 820 brokerage offices and 270 franchisees in 2024.



It also owns Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and Real Living.



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/03/44238467/warren-buffett-shares-biggest-investing-mistakes-433m-deal-that-cost-berkshire-billions-and-trillion-dollar-tech-stocks-he-missed">Buffett Shares Biggest Investing Mistakes — $433M Deal That Cost Berkshire Billions And Trillion-Dollar Tech Stocks He Missed</a>



Why It Matters: The home-buying sector is consolidating. 



Earlier this week, Rocket Companies Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RKT#NYSE">RKT</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/03/44237879/rocket-redfin-deal-aims-to-create-end-to-end-real-estate-solution-where-does-that-leave-zillow">announced it will acquire</a> Redfin Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RDFN#NASDAQ">RDFN</a>) in a $1.75 billion deal.



Analysts anticipate the deal will increase competition between Zillow Group Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ZG#NASDAQ">ZG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/Z#NASDAQ">Z</a>) and Rocket Companies, now bolstered by Redfin&#8217;s assets and capabilities. 



Now Read:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/market-summary/25/03/44227856/nasdaq-sp-500-hit-6-month-lows-as-recession-fears-grow-whats-driving-markets-monday"> </a>



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/market-summary/25/03/44227856/nasdaq-sp-500-hit-6-month-lows-as-recession-fears-grow-whats-driving-markets-monday">Nasdaq, S&amp;P 500 Hit 6-Month Lows As Recession Fears Grow: What&#8217;s Driving Markets Monday?</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

Real Estate

RDFN

Warren Buffett's Real Estate Brokerage, Compass Discuss Deal: Report

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