Financial markets were firmly in the red as investors reacted to the Middle East conflict intensifying, with stocks down across Asia and Europe. Gold also fell, which suggests investors are once again liquidating assets that have previously served them well, or they are reacting to a further strengthening in the US dollar.
Oil WTI crude climbed from $71 a barrel on March 2 to $94.65 by March 9 in a single week, after the Strait of Hormuz was effectively closed and Iranian energy infrastructure was struck. Brent briefly touched elevated intraday highs before pulling back when Trump signaled the conflict was winding down.
The strikes on Iran by the US and Israel have sent global markets reeling, with asset classes such as stocks, bonds, and commodities ricocheting up and down after every White House update and tweet. Many funds and traders focused on macro and commodities opportunities, two of the industry's most in-demand areas coming into the year, have so far been unable to avoid losses.
EEM has had a strong trailing year. The fund is up 32.81% over the past 12 months, though momentum has stalled sharply in recent weeks with the fund dropping sharply in the week ending March 6, 2026. The pullback reflects a broader shift in investor sentiment rather than any fund-specific issue.
CrowdStrike recorded its first-ever positive GAAP net income of $38.69 million, flipping from a $86.29 million loss in the same quarter a year ago. Revenue grew 23% year-over-year to $1.305 billion, edging past estimates. Ending ARR hit $5.25 billion, up 24%, while net new ARR of $330.7 million surged 47% year-over-year, a record.
Companies that have raised dividends for shareholders for 50 years or more are the kinds of investments passive income investors need to own. Dependability is crucial for individuals seeking to increase their annual income through dividend stock investments. The Dividend Kings are the 57 companies that have raised their dividends for at least 50 years, a testament to their dependability and reliability.
The stock market hates inflation. There are not many stocks that are little affected today, if any. However, safe-haven stocks may even rise due to demand. At the top of this list is Altria (NYSE: MO), the cigarette and tobacco king. People who smoke do not stop smoking, even during periods of conflict.
Preferred shares represent a hybrid form of ownership. They're classified as equities for accounting and capital structure purposes. However, this asset's cash flows resemble debt. Holders receive fixed or floating dividends that must be paid before common shareholders see a cent, giving these securities a senior position in the payout hierarchy.
