Trump to cut off all trade with Spain
“We don't want anything to do with Spain.“
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Palantir rockets back up the “Buy” list after it’s brutal plunge
OpenAI rushes Pentagon deal then scrambles to ban domestic surveillance
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Breaking News: Trump to cut off all trade with Spain
Speaking from the Oval Office Trump told reporters “We're gonna cut off all trade with Spain, “we don't want anything to do with Spain.“ The action was taken after Spain refused American access to airbases on Spanish soil in the continuing action against Iran.
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Dollar soars as Gold dips after Middle East war rally
Gold plunged more than 4.5% Tuesday after a four-day safe-haven surge, as escalating US-Israel-Iran conflict in the Middle East spiked energy prices and inflation fears, bolstering the dollar and delaying Federal Reserve rate cuts that pressure non-yielding bullion.
Dollar surges sharply : A stronger US dollar gained about 1.5% this week, amplifying pressure on gold as higher interest rates loom from conflict-driven inflation risks.
Inflation threats mount : Middle East war has driven energy price spikes reminiscent of 2022 Ukraine conflict, raising US manufacturing input costs and Fed caution on easing.
Analyst warns parallels : Commerzbank expert highlights 2022 precedent where oil-fueled inflation strengthened the dollar and weakened gold throughout the year amid rate hikes.
Volatility hits metals : Precious metals face high volatility and liquidity strains from rising prices triggering margin calls and position liquidations in risk-off trading.
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Most retirement accounts feel “safe,” But not everyone agrees
Stocks are near record highs. AI is driving headlines. Most retirement accounts feel “safe.” But not everyone agrees.
Citi analysts recently modeled a potential 38% S&P decline if rising debt, tightening liquidity, and global capital shifts collide.
Add in $38 trillion in U.S. debt, foreign buyers stepping back, and central banks stockpiling gold. When confidence cracks, markets don’t drift lower. They reprice.
Most 401(k)s and IRAs remain heavily concentrated in stock-heavy portfolios that depend on stability.
See what a fast repricing could do to a typical retirement account here.
A newly released 2026 report explains:
• Why AI-driven momentum can mask deeper risk
• How debt amplifies downturns
• What a 30–40% reset could mean for retirement savers
• How some Americans are diversifying beyond stocks
If you haven’t stress-tested your exposure, learn what steps retirees are taking to reduce vulnerability here.
Palantir rockets back up the “Buy” list after it’s brutal plunge
Palantir Technologies reclaimed Wall Street’s favor Tuesday after a 38% selloff from its November peak, with analysts turning bullish on surging defense demand amid escalating U.S.-Iran tensions and major government contracts fueling growth prospects.
Defense Boom Accelerates : Palantir’s roughly half government revenue gains validation from U.S. military strikes on Iran and threats under Trump, positioning the company for expanded adoption.
Major Contracts Secured : Recent wins include a $10 billion U.S. Army deal for AI tools and a $100 million Maven Smart System contract enhancing battle management.
Analyst Upgrades Surge : At least eight firms upgraded ratings last month during the slump, reflecting renewed enthusiasm despite prior valuation skepticism.
Geopolitical Catalyst Emerges : Ongoing conflict highlights Palantir’s deep military embedding and moat, driving emotional stock rallies without altering core fundamentals.
Iran drone strikes Qatar LNG halts production shock
Iranian drone attacks on Qatar’s key LNG facilities forced a production halt Monday, sending European natural gas prices surging 35% amid fears of prolonged Strait of Hormuz disruptions and a potential repeat of the 2022 energy crisis hitting Europe and Asia hardest.
Qatar Production Pause: QatarEnergy suspended LNG output at Ras Laffan and Mesaieed after Iranian drones struck, slashing near-term global supply by roughly 19%.
Strait Hormuz Closure: Iranian forces blocked the vital chokepoint handling one-fifth of global LNG trade, stranding tankers and heightening supply squeeze risks.
Europe Price Surge: Benchmark TTF futures jumped 35% to over 60 euros per megawatt-hour, up 76% weekly, exposing the continent’s 25% LNG reliance.
Asia Vulnerability Highlighted: Major importers like India, China, Japan face severe exposure, with Goldman Sachs warning of prices nearing 74 euros amid growth and stagflation threats.
OpenAI rushes Pentagon deal then scrambles to ban domestic surveillance
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman admitted the company’s hastily announced defense contract with the Pentagon appeared “opportunistic and sloppy” amid backlash, prompting quick amendments to explicitly prohibit using its AI for intentional domestic surveillance of U.S. persons and bar intelligence agencies like the NSA from accessing the tools without further changes.
Altman Regrets Rushed Timing: OpenAI’s leader acknowledged the original Friday deal announcement looked opportunistic amid the Pentagon’s fallout with rival Anthropic, saying he shouldn’t have rushed it and aimed to de-escalate tensions.
Key Amendment Language Added: New contract wording states AI systems “shall not be intentionally used for domestic surveillance of U.S. persons and nationals,” explicitly covering deliberate tracking via commercially acquired personal data.
Intelligence Agency Restrictions: The Pentagon affirmed OpenAI’s services won’t be used by agencies like the NSA, with any future access requiring a separate contract modification.
Broader Safety Commitments: Amendments reinforce OpenAI’s principles against certain military uses, noting the tech isn’t ready for some applications and aligning with shared red lines on surveillance and safety tradeoffs.
Anthropic blacklisted as US bombs Iran with its AI
Tech workers at Google and OpenAI rallied against military AI use Tuesday after the Pentagon blacklisted Anthropic for refusing mass surveillance and autonomous weapons roles, just as U.S. strikes hit Iran amid escalating fallout.
Tech Backlash Ignites: Nearly 900 employees from Google, OpenAI, and peers signed “We Will Not Be Divided” letter demanding ethical limits on military AI contracts amid DoD pressure tactics.
Anthropic’s Defiance Stands: Company designated supply chain risk by Defense Secretary after rejecting unrestricted use of Claude models for surveillance or fully autonomous weapons, sparking solidarity petitions.
Google Faces Scrutiny: Alphabet in talks to deploy Gemini AI on classified Pentagon systems, reviving internal concerns echoing past revolts over Project Maven and Nimbus contracts.
Geopolitical AI Irony: U.S. military reportedly used Anthropic’s Claude for intelligence, targeting, and simulations in Iran strikes hours after Trump’s ban, highlighting challenges in phasing out embedded tech.
Elliott drops a billion on Pinterest
Activist investor Elliott Management poured $1 billion into Pinterest via convertible notes Tuesday, fueling a massive $3.5 billion share buyback program as the image-sharing platform’s stock surges amid year-long declines.
Elliott’s Major Stake Boost: Elliott, already a top shareholder, buys $1 billion in 1.75% convertible senior notes due 2031 at a $22.72 conversion price, a 30% premium to recent levels.
Massive Buyback Launch: Pinterest authorizes new $3.5 billion repurchase program, targeting $2 billion in first-half 2026 actions including $1 billion accelerated repurchase starting March 5.
Strong Confidence Signal: Elliott partner Marc Steinberg, on Pinterest’s board, expresses “strong conviction” in the company’s future trajectory and substantial growth opportunities ahead.
Stock Reaction Immediate: Pinterest shares jumped around 6-10% in trading following the announcement, countering a nearly one-third value drop year-to-date.
Might as well take Spain out of NATO since they will
Not fund their defense
"There goes another country that's going to hate us. You try to go to another country and show your passport, and now he's messing with Spain. What does fame have to do with how you handle things? They didn't do anything to you. You and this administration are a bunch of freaking nuts, trying to stop everything with every country. Why don't you just take a chill pill?"