Trump on Friday: “There will be no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!
After that, and the selection of a GREAT & ACCEPTABLE Leader(s), we, and many of our wonderful and very brave allies and partners, will work tirelessly to bring Iran back from the brink of destruction, making it economically bigger, better, and stronger than ever before.”
Axios: Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Arab foreign ministers in a series of phone calls Thursday that the war is expected to last several more weeks… Rubio said the current military focus is on Iran's missile launchers, stockpiles and factories. He told the ministers the U.S. goal is not regime change — while simultaneously making clear Washington wants different people running the country, the sources said… (Huh?) https://www.axios.com/2026/03/06/trump-iran-war-unconditional-surrender
Trump to Reuters: “I don't have any concern about it. They'll drop very rapidly when this is over, and if they rise, they rise, but this is far more important than having gasoline prices go up a little bit."
Kuwait cut production at some oil fields, signaling a storage crisis and a new risk for the oil market.
Brent oil hit $94.64; April WTI oil hit 62.61 (+14.2%); April gasoline hit 276.30, +9.21 cents. The front-month gasoline future is up $1.0974 (+65.9%) since January 5, 2026 low of 166.56. @Polymarket: Oil prices surged 34.5% this week, the largest weekly price jump in history.
February NFP is a shocking loss of 92k jobs; +55k was consensus; +65k was the Whisper Number. The 2-month NFP Revision was -69k; Private Payrolls fell 86k: +60k was consensus. Wages 0.4% m/m & 3.8% y/y; 0.3% m/m & 3.7% y/y were expected. Mfg. -112k, -2k expected.
Once again, Team Trump inflated NFP by increasing the seasonal adjustment: From +1.153m in February 2025 to +1.180m for February 2026 https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t17.htm
Birth/Death Model +90k for February 2026 vs 136k for February 2025. (-46k; +37k NFP Seasonal adj)
https://www.bls.gov/web/empsit/cesbd.htm
@fcastofthemonth: The birth-death model added -46k fewer jobs to the NSA tally this Feb vs last Feb, but it also added +44k to Jan26 vs Jan25. It just shifted around job growth in the first 2 months. Blaming B/D for the miss on payrolls suggests it might retrace, but that seems unlikely.
Construction -11k, Leisure & Hospitality -27k, Private Education & Healthcare -34k; Government -6k with Federal Ex-Postal Workers -15.1; Information -11k
The Unemployment Rate rose 0.1 to 4.4%; 4.3% was expected and prior. The Labor Participation Rate fell to 62%; 622.5% was expected; prior revised to 62.1% from 62.5%. ‘Employed’ -185k; ‘Unemployed’ +203k; Not in Labor Force +72k; Civilian Labor Force +18k
https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.a.htm
Fox’s @BillMelugin_: Data shows foreign born workers have lost 519,000 jobs over the last year, while native born workers have gained 128k jobs. Additionally, federal government employment decreased by 10K in February, and is down by 330K, or 11%, since reaching a peak in October 2024…
Healthcare employment dropped by 28,000 in February after a huge increase in January (+77,000).
Offices of physicians lost 37,000 jobs in February (primarily due to strike activity). Manufacturing lost 12,000 jobs in February. Manufacturing down 98,000 jobs since Feb 2025. (No boost from tariffs)
Jan Retail Sales -0.2% m/m -0.3% exp; Ex-Autos 0.0% as expected, Ex-Autos & Gas 0.3%; 0.2% exp.
@wallstengine: Deutsche warns the spike in the jet fuel crack spread is becoming an “existential threat” to U.S. airlines. The note says that without near-term relief, airlines could be forced to ground 1000s of aircraft, and some of the industry’s weakest carriers may have to halt operations.
Airline stocks cratered on Friday, which generated a sharp declined in the DJTA.
FT Exclusive: BlackRock has limited withdrawals from one of its flagship private credit funds following a surge in redemption requests, as investors retreat from the asset class and questions about credit quality intensify. https://ft.trib.al/xsSjF2C (Banks got hammered)
ESHs opened modestly lower on Thursday nigher but quickly rallied to a modest gain. They then traded in a tight range until they broke down after 4:02 ET. ESHs tumbled to a daily low of 6715.75 at 9:59 ET. ESHs rebounded to 6778.00 at 10:37 ET and then traded in a 39-handle range until they broke lower at 15:28 ET. After falling to 6729.25 at 15:35 ET, the illegal late manipulation quickly aborted.
Positive aspects of previous session
The stock carnage could have been worse.
Negative aspects of previous session
The DJTA declined on cascading airline stocks. The Nas 100 got hammered.
The S&P 500 closed (6740.02) below the 6800 lower trading band.
Banks stocks declined sharply on credit concerns.
USMs declined modestly even with the stock carnage and ugly Feb NFP.
Gasoline and oil soared, again; precious metals rallied sharply.
Ambiguous aspects of previous session
Do you think Team Trump will allow stocks to crater while it is at war with Iran?
First Hour/Last Hour NYSE Action [S&P 500 Index]: 1st Hour: Down; Last Hour: Down
Pivot Point for S&P 500 Index [above/below indicates daily trend to traders]: 6741.67
Previous session S&P 500 Index High/Low: 6773.42; 6711.56
Moscow providing Tehran intelligence to target American forces
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-889095
@EYakoby: The Lebanese justice minister Adel Nassar has announced that he will request the arrest of Hezbollah’s secretary general Naim Qassem. This is huge!
Fox contributor @PaulDMauro: Translation: "We assess that the Iranian mullahs are done for good."
@Polymarket: Anthropic CEO says Claude may or may not have gained consciousness, as the model has begun showing symptoms of anxiety.
@AutismCapital: The AI had one job and one job alone: be a perfect, rational, objective decision-making machine that surpassed the emotional limitations of humans. Now we see that the programmers programmed in their own beta soy boy anxiety into the AI to make it “human.”
On Saturday, Kuwait Petroleum declared force majeure (cannot fulfill due to events) on all oil deliveries. Plus, Israel reportedly struck 30 Iranian oil storage tanks and a refinery.
@zerohedge: *SCHUMER: I DEMAND TRUMP RELEASE OIL FROM SPR - the one Biden drained? - @yieldsearcher: This is the same Schumer that blocked Trump’s attempt to fill the SPR during the height of COVID with oil px in the negatives.
Trump on Saturday: “The United Kingdom, our once Great Ally, maybe the Greatest of them all, is finally giving serious thought to sending two aircraft carriers to the Middle East. That’s OK, Prime Minister Starmer, we don’t need them any longer - But we will remember. We don’t need people that join Wars after we’ve already won!”
Trump envoy Steve Witkoff says Iran claimed it had enough enriched uranium to make 11 nuclear bombs https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-steve-witkoff-iran-enriched-uranium-11-nuclear-bombs/
@chigrl: 1. The delivery squeeze at Cushing. April WTI expires March 20, which is 12 days away. Anybody short April WTI who doesn't want to deliver physical oil has to buy it back before then. Anybody long who wants to take delivery needs to be ready to accept 1,000 barrels per contract at Cushing… In this market, physical barrels at Cushing are becoming scarce relative to demand because Gulf Coast refiners who normally supplement Cushing connected supply with waterborne imports (which are largely Brent priced, much of which transits Hormuz) have lost that supplementary supply...
2. The export arb is breaking. The US exports roughly 4 million bpd of crude. That export flow exists because WTI normally trades at a discount to Brent, so traders buy cheap WTI, pipe it to the Gulf Coast, load it onto tankers, and sell it into the global Brent priced market. When WTI approaches or exceeds Brent, that arb dies.
3. Physical versus financial settlement. This is the part nobody is saying out loud. WTI delivers real oil. Brent settles cash. When the market is genuinely afraid that physical supply is being destroyed, the contract that gives you actual barrels in a pipeline connected storage facility in Oklahoma is worth more than the contract that gives you a check based on a price assessment of North Sea crude that you still have to go find and transport. Cash settlement is a claim on nothing. Physical delivery is a claim on oil. In a supply crisis, that distinction reprices… https://x.com/chigrl/status/2030772261259460916
Today – Because the Iran conflict escalated over the weekend with US/IDF strikes on Iran’s oil infrastructure and Iran doing the same to other Gulf States, Sunday night trading is panicky. April WTI Oil hit 111.24 (+22.4%); April Gasoline hit 313.42 (+14.1%).
Traders want play for the Monday Rally; and bulls want to force the S&P 500 Index back above the key 6800. However, the profound consequences of a ‘Big One’ in the Middle East are foment acute fear.
S&P 500 Index – A very ominous technical condition
ESHs are -125.50; NQHs are -540.25; USHs are -22/32; oil, and precious are down sharply at 20:26 ET.
Fed in blackout period ahead of March 18 Communique
S&P Index 50-day MA: 6902; 100-day MA: 6838; 150-day MA: 6735; 200-day MA: 6583
DJIA 50-day MA: 49,117;100-day MA: 48,199; 150-day MA: 47,303; 200-day MA: 46,332
(Green is positive slope; Red is negative slope)
S&P 500 Index (6740.02 close) - BBG trading model Trender and MACD for key time frames
Monthly: Trender and MACD are positive – a close below 6035.78 triggers a sell signal
Weekly: Trender is positive; MACD is negative – a close below 6458.06 triggers a sell signal
Daily: Trender and MACD are negative – a close above 6899.46 triggers a buy signal
Hourly: Trender and MACD are negative – a close above 6790.25 triggers a buy signal
Epstein prison guard googled him minutes before body found — and made mysterious deposit before pedophile’s suicide: DOJ - One of Jeffrey Epstein’s prison guards googled the sex predator minutes before he was found dead — and also made a mysterious $5,000 cash deposit 10 days before the predator’s jail-cell suicide, new Department of Justice documents reveal.
Tova Noel was one of the two Metropolitan Correctional Center workers accused of falsifying records to say they checked on Epstein throughout the night before his Aug. 10, 2019, suicide. The guards were fired but criminal charges against both were later dropped…
Meanwhile, Chase Bank flagged cash deposits in Noel’s bank account in a “suspicious activity report” to the FBI in November 2019, another file from the DOJ revealed. A total of 12 deposits began in April 2018, the bank said, and culminated in the largest deposit, for $5,000, on July 30, 2019, the records showed… https://nypost.com/2026/03/07/us-news/prison-guard-googled-jeffrey-epstein-minutes-before-his-body-was-found-and-deposited-thousands-days-before-pedophiles-suicide-doj/
Guilty: Man charged in Trump assassination plot convicted in NYC after admitting to Iranian handler - The Pakistani national charged with attempting to organize an assassination plot against now-President Donald Trump on behalf of Iranian intelligence has been found guilty of murder-for-hire and terrorism charges following a jury trial in Brooklyn…
@thevivafrei: “Trump frustrates me on this. (Trump): ‘We got to have more programs to get moms back to work.’ I’m like WHY?... He’s a liberal and he [Trump] loves hiring women. It’s probably his biggest Achilles heel… If he would stop hiring women, it would get rid of a lot of his problems!” - Rachel Wilson (Author “Occult Feminism: The Secret History of Women’s Liberation”) on @joerogan https://x.com/thevivafrei/status/2029646234172920048
Trump’s problem is NOT hiring women; it’s hiring women based on looks instead of acumen.
@DavidJHarrisJr: Video of the Democratic mayor of San Francisco is going viral after he calmly walked away while his security detail was being attacked. Mayor Daniel Lurie is seen watching his security officer struggle with a man, then turning and walking away as the officer is slammed to the ground, hits his head on the pavement, and is left bleeding. https://x.com/DavidJHarrisJr/status/2029955201520574751
Kamala Harris, Barack Obama use Jesse Jackson funeral to unload on Trump https://trib.al/yU2zvmh
@jammles9: Jesse Jackson told his family he wanted one simple thing at his funeral: leave politics out of it and come together in respect. "Do not bring your politics out of respect to Reverand Jesse Jackson to these Homegoing services... These services are welcome all. Democrats, Republicans, liberals, and conservatives, ring wing, left wing… dad would have wanted us to... move together..."
Then Barack Obama got up and turned the moment into a divisive political speech.
https://x.com/jammles9/status/2030041142528541062
@WallStreetMav: Obama whips out his MLK impersonation to pander to his majority black audience and attack Trump at Jesse Jackson’s funeral. Do politicians think people can’t see through this? (Unseemly and narcissistic behavior – and at funeral! PS – Jesse detested Obama!) https://x.com/WallStreetMav/status/2030025572307382353
@EricLDaugh: Hussein Obama is now using Rev. Jesse Jackson's funeral to ATTACK MAGA as "bigots" and "bullies." "That some Americans count more than others, and some don't count at all!"
Hussein is the most divisive president in modern history. https://x.com/EricLDaugh/status/2030016263171264890
@RyanAFournier: Barrack Hussein Obama is actually using Rev. Jesse Jackson's funeral as a political stunt to ATTACK the MAGA movement as "bigots" and "bullies!" "That some Americans count more than others, and some don't count at all!" Barack Hussein Obama is hands down the most DIVISIVE president in modern history. He just cannot stop trying to tear this country apart. Disgusting!
https://x.com/RyanAFournier/status/2030025705094861058
@WesternLensman: Obama, a few weeks ago: The other side does the angry, divisive, us/them stuff. We’re about coming together. Obama, today: Launches angry, divisive attack on his political opponents at a funeral service.
@EricLDaugh: Joe Biden tells predominantly black crowd at Jesse Jackson's funeral, "I'm a HELL of a lot smarter than most of you!" https://x.com/EricLDaugh/status/2030026149699428409
@disclosetv: Biden: "We're in a tough spot, folks. We've got an administration, that doesn't share any of the values that we have—and I don't think I'm exaggerating a little bit." (Abject politicking at a funeral!)
https://x.com/disclosetv/status/2030016889292816677
@ThePatriotOasis: Joe Biden tries to relate to a majority black crowd at the Funeral of Rev. Jesse Jackson. "By the way, you know the continent of Africa is going to be the largest continent in the world in terms of population by the year 2050." https://x.com/ThePatriotOasis/status/2030016173866164643
Reverend Jordan Wells @WellsJorda89710: Rev. Jesse Jackson's funeral turned into the most hateful, divisive political rally I've ever witnessed. Obama, Biden, Kamala, Sharpton—they hijacked his memory to bash Trump & MAGA instead of honoring a civil rights giant. Utterly disrespectful. RIP Rev. Jackson—you deserved better.
@officer_Lew: Jesse Jackson Jr. just DROPPED this at his father's memorial: "I listened to three United States presidents who did not know Jesse Jackson." He added: His father had a "tense relationship with the political order" because of the demands of justice—not race or party. Yet they politicized it anyway. Talking about Obama, Biden, and Clinton turning the service into a political rally. Dad deserved better. https://x.com/officer_Lew/status/2030642665646068193
W Bush Press Sec @AriFleischer: If you want to know why Donald Trump was elected, watch Barack Obama’s attack speech yesterday at Jesse Jackson’s funeral. As he did throughout his presidency, he created a straw man to describe Republicans as bigots who force the American people to “turn on each other”. He said similar crap when he was President and the GOP was the party of Bush, McCain and Romney. It’s the language of bitterness and resentment that makes good people recoil to be described that way. Obama is one of the most divisive figures in US history, except he is celebrated by the MSM because they are partisans. They take sides and loved and protected Obama.
It’s no wonder a tough, no BS, bull in the China shop emerged. That person was a fed-up Trump, who broke the MSM by not caring what they thought. He showed Rs they could punch back against the Ds and win. His rise coincided with the welcome birth, at long last, of conservative media which gave voice to the voiceless who had been forced to consume the prejudices of the MSM.
I can’t stand Obama. He was weak, patronizing, condescending and he put America last. But having listened to him yesterday, I reminded the only good thing he did was help elect President Trump.
Michelle Obama raises eyebrows again by skipping Jesse Jackson’s memorial service
The former first lady’s apparent absence from the Jackson funeral is the latest in a string of high-profile ceremonies she has missed, including Trump’s inauguration and former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral, both of which took place last year…
@VigilantFox: Adam Schiff falls right into Bill Maher’s trap as he criticizes a statement he thought was from Trump but was actually from Obama. MAHER: “This statement from the administration: ‘The president had the constitutional authority to direct the use of military force because he could reasonably determine that such use of force was in the national interest.’ That’s too vague for you?”
SCHIFF: “Totally vague.” MAHER: “Okay. Because that’s from Obama about Libya.” Brutal setup. Watch Adam Schiff try to dig himself out of this one. https://x.com/VigilantFox/status/2030150341178634646
@DefiantLs: Chuck Schumer in 1996: "The number one reason people come to the US illegally is to defraud systems like Social Security and I want to stop it." https://x.com/DefiantLs/status/2030289868295934072
Mayor Zohran Mamdani claimed his wife Rama Duwaji isn’t a public figure after facing uproar for her liking social media posts celebrating Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack. https://trib.al/b6uVcUj
Self-radicalized ISIS protesters used explosive called 'Mother of Satan' inside bombs thrown at Gracie Mansion protest: sources https://trib.al/dZMF08Y
@BarronTNews_: Police say the IED used in the NYC attack was packed with TATP, the same highly volatile explosive used in multiple terrorist attacks worldwide. The suspect reportedly targeted anti-Islam protestors while shouting “Nazi.” Calling someone a “Nazi” has become the left’s favorite trick. First smear your opponent, then pretend any violence against them is justified.
An explosive device was thrown in the middle of New York at people exercising free speech. Americans are asking why the media rushes to label everything “far-right,” but suddenly goes quiet when the attacker doesn’t fit the narrative.
NY Post: Today’s cover: 6 arrested after homemade explosive devices at Gracie Mansion protest send people running for cover https://trib.al/zbfXAzM
Fox’s @BillMelugin_: I’m told by federal law enforcement sources that NY City IED suspect EMIR BALAT’s parents are both from Turkey & were naturalized into US citizens in 2017, while IBRAHIM KAYUMI’s parents are both from Afghanistan. Mom naturalized in 2009, dad naturalized in 2004.
@MrAndyNgo: Two Muslims believed to have been supporters of ISIS were arrested for throwing an IED at an anti-Islam protest outside the Gracie Mansion. Mayor Mamdani has refused to acknowledge the suspects’ ideology while calling the protesters “white supremacists.”
Because the Islamic and 3rd World vote is critical for NY Dems, several NY Dem pols blamed the failed IED terroristic on the protestors, labeling them ‘white supremacist.’ Mayor Mamdani et al refrained from mentioning the 6 arrested terrorists or their affiliation.
@nicksortor: Ugandan Muslim NYC mayor starts off his press statement about Muslims attempting to LITERALLY BOMB anti-Islam protestors in NYC by condemning “WHITE SUPREMACY”
Failed Islamic bombing suspects Amir Balat and Ibrahim Nikk are now in FEDERAL DOJ CUSTODY after attempting to blow up anti-Islam protestors in NYC. Corrupt Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg will NO LONGER be able to free them.
@BarronTNews_: Mayor Mamdani is facing major backlash after refusing to mention the attacker’s apparent motive when a suspect reportedly shouted “Allahu Akbar” and threw a homemade explosive device at anti-Islam protesters. Instead of addressing what happened directly, Mamdani focused his remarks on condemning “white supremacy” and “racism,” which many critics say completely ignored the nature of the attack itself. People are asking a simple question tonight: why avoid the obvious details when discussing an act of violence against protesters?...
@JCAndersonNYC: Historically, when someone yelled “Allahu Akbar” before throwing a bomb in NYC, Ramzi Kassem would rush in with free legal counsel and claim the suspect was being “unfairly targeted by government agencies.” Now he is Zohran’s top advisor. Let that sink in.
Councilwoman Vickie Paladino @VickieforNYC: The media -- and Democrat officials -- are pretending nothing happened yesterday other than an 'islamophobic' demonstration 'targeting' the mayor, in which 'devices' were 'found' outside Gracie Mansion.
In fact, conservative demonstrators had what were apparently lit nail bombs thrown at them by leftist/islamic terrorists shouting 'allah akbar'. The level of moral bankruptcy necessary to cover for these terrorists is astounding, even for the modern Democrat party…
The message is clear to terrorists, rioters, anarchists, and anyone else who seeks to sow chaos and harm in our city -- do whatever you want, the media and Democrats have your back. We are in a very bad place here indeed.
NY pol @bradlander: Vile displays of Islamophobia will never be tolerated in our city.
NY State Sen @LizKrueger: New York is no place for anti-Muslim hate or any other kind of prejudice. We don't need out-of-state provocateurs sowing fear, division, and violence in our city.
Fox’s @PaulDMauro: I feel compelled to remind everyone: despite the video of these two perps throwing live devices at counter-protestors yesterday, with nails protruding, the Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal immediately blamed the event on "white supremacy." He then deleted the post.
Now ask yourself why our blue cities are all circling the drain.
@AriFleischer: Take this in and don’t underestimate what’s going on. An IED was used in NYC against people who protested against Mamdani. An IED. On the streets in America. The left wing has a violence problem. It’s time for everyone to recognize it, confront it, arrest those who engage in it, deport them and/or put them in prison for a very long time…
@EricLDaugh: Pathetic sight in NYC as leftist women SCREAM at the top of their lungs in a berserk show of “letting their rage out.” The scream comes after “feminists” camped out at Trump Tower. Bring back the asylums. This is PSYCHOTIC! https://x.com/EricLDaugh/status/2030730505469968751
UFO expert (Rt. Gen William Neil McCasland, USAF) privy to 'most sensitive secrets' goes missing in New Mexico: 'Grave national security crisis' https://trib.al/fC5EpkG
@No3sports: Former Alabama running back Trent Richardson weighed in on Nick Saban’s stance against paying players. “Honestly, I don’t get why he’s even commenting on it, they gave me and my family $75,000 just to commit, plus $10,000 a month to stay at Alabama.”
@unclelukereal1: Thank you Trent Richardson for exposing the truth. When Nick Saban and the SEC good-old-boys talk about “fixing” NIL, what they really mean is going back to the days when players allegedly got paid quietly and the NCAA was used to snitch on anyone outside their circle. The old system is what they want back.
@mattgaetz: Easy to resolve. Have Congress put Saban under oath and ask if he ever oversaw the payment of players when it was forbidden.
Ex-GOP Rep and WH CoS @MarkMeadows: While hearing arguments regarding USAGM, Judge Lamberth FELL ASLEEP multiple times. Americans deserve better from their judges.
@julie_kelly2: The last time I was in Judge Lamberth’s courtroom, he berated a J6er for refusing to take a plea deal because he was “guilty” and the jury would find him so. (Which of course happened.)
He also needed help out of his chair and used a walker to get to his chambers. J6ers routinely complained that he fell asleep during court proceedings and trials.
He refuses to retire at 83 despite poor health (physically and mentally) so he instead can spend his remaining days on Earth not with his family and making peace with God but to retaliate against a president he loathes.
Several perennial NCAA football and basketball powerhouses are no longer special. Are NIL payments leveling the playing field?
We’re old enough to remember when wise guys quipped that in the SEC the saying goes, “if you’re not cheating; you aren’t trying?”
The Week in Review
Friday
BBG: Beijing told major refiners to suspend exports of diesel and gasoline…
An Iran missile hit a large refinery in Bahrain. Iran is targeting energy infrastructure in the Middle East.
Kuwait Cuts Oil Processing at Its Refineries with Hormuz Blocked - BBG 12:55 ET
Gasoline and oil soared on Thursday. Bonds and stocks declined smartly. The NY Fang+ Index was up moderately early on Broadcom (+4.95% near 11:00 ET) and CrowdStrike (+4.84% near 11:00 ET).
Gold fell moderately on a report that Poland might sell gold to finance military spending.
ESHs opened modestly higher on Wednesday night and rallied to a daily high of 6900.75 (+2.25) at 119:17 ET. Then then did a 5-wave decline to 6840.50 at 3:30 ET. After frenzied trader buying propelled ESHs to 6894.00 at 4:09 ET, ESHs commenced a decline that took them to 6835.75 at 9:17 ET. The rally for the NYSE opening spiked ESHs to 687.50 at 9:59 ET. The Pro Dump appeared; ESHs tumbled to a new daily low of 6814.25 (-61.75) at 10:30 ET. The 2nd-Hour Reversal took ESHs to 6847.25 at 10:53 ET. Selling resumed; ESHs sank to a new daily low of 6811.00 at 11:18 ET.
The manipulation for the European close pushed ESHs to 6845.25 at 12:04 ET. Selling reappeared; ESHs sank to a daily low of 6781.00 at 12:55 ET. After a 21-handle rebound, ESHs retreated into a trading range until a minor new low of 6777.00 appeared at 14:32 ET. ESHs went inert until the last-hour attempt to close the S&P 500 Index above 6800 commenced.
The illegal late manipulation zoomed ESHs to 6826.25 at 15:25 ET and went inert. At 15:50 ET, ESHs mover higher; they hit 6839.00 at 15:57 ET.
We warned last week (and before that) that the decline in oil and gasoline prices was keeping inflation metrics from large increases. We also noted that gasoline prices had increased sharply from their January 5 low to the end of February. July Gasoline is up 19% over the past 5 days. It is up over 73 cents, or 40% since the January 5 low. The front month gasoline contract is at its higher level since May 2024.
Positive aspects of previous session
The NY Fang+ Index rallied 66.86.
An illegal late manipulation greatly truncated equity losses and closed the S&P 500 above 6800.
Negative aspects of previous session
The DJTA declined 578.08 even with the late manipulation
USMs fell as much as 31/32. June (M) is now the front month.
Gasoline +16.71 cents or 6.5% at its high; April WTI Oil settled +8.5%. Heating oil +10.2% at peak.
Ambiguous aspects of previous session
Do you think Team Trump will allow stocks to crater while it is at war with Iran?
Trump fired DHS Sec Noem and nominated GOP Sen. Mullin (OK) to replace her. She was a disaster!
https://x.com/Osint613/status/2029629075975983114
Fed Balance Sheet: $15.097B on T-Bills +$14.760B; Reserves +$49.776B
US weighs oil futures market action to combat rising energy prices, WH official says: Reuters
The approach also reflects the background of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, a former hedge fund manager… https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/us-weighs-oil-futures-market-action-combat-rising-energy-prices-wh-official-2026-03-05/
Team Trump will now directly manipulate future contracts instead of the indirect manipulation done by others at government request that has occurred for decades.
@SecScottBessent: To enable oil to keep flowing into the global market, the Treasury Department is issuing a temporary 30-day waiver to allow Indian refiners to purchase Russian oil. This deliberately short-term measure will not provide significant financial benefit to the Russian government as it only authorizes transactions involving oil already stranded at sea. India is an essential partner of the United States, and we fully anticipate that New Delhi will ramp up purchases of U.S. oil. This stop-gap measure will alleviate pressure caused by Iran’s attempt to take global energy hostage. (Another TACO!)
Today – Now that Team Trump warned the world that it is open to direct manipulation of futures markets and is intervening in the oil market, it will be hard for traders and operators to short stuff. Oil and gasoline are down sharply as we write. If Team Trump will manipulate oil markets via futures, why not manipulate ESHs or other futures markets?
The February Employment Report is expected to be soft, just 55k NFP. If stocks sink on a bad report, will direct or indirect manipulation appear? It’s best to be cautious for the next few sessions.
@libsoftiktok: This "Man" who planted 20 explosives near a memorial in Kansas City has an ICE DETAINER HOLD. NONE of these outlets reported this. Biden let these kinds of t*rrorists invade our country. Americans… pay the price. https://x.com/libsoftiktok/status/2029657166496293209
Thursday
US submarine sinks Iranian warship by torpedo in a first since World War II
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/us-submarine-sinks-iranian-warship-torpedo-first-since-world-war-ii
Iran’s Secret Outreach Highlights Trump’s Challenge
In public, Iran’s surviving leaders have defiantly refused to negotiate with President Trump to end the American and Israeli assault on their country. But a day after the attacks began, operatives from Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence reached out indirectly to the C.I.A. with an offer to discuss terms for ending the conflict, according to officials briefed on the outreach. U.S. officials are skeptical — at least in the short term — that either the Trump administration or Iran is really ready for an offramp, the officials briefed on the outreach said… https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/04/us/politics/trump-iran-intelligence-leaders.html
Netanyahu Asks White House If Secret Iran Talks Are Happening – Axios
Equity futures rallied sharply while energy commodities sank on the above NYT report.
Stocks Rebound Wanes as Iran Denies Talk Request – BBG
Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence said a news report that it reached out to the CIA is “pure falsehood and psychological warfare.”…
Despite the poor after-hour-trading reaction to CrowdStrike’s results, traders aggressively bought AI-related stocks on Wednesday.
ESHs opened soft on Tuesday night and gently fell. They hit the daily low of 6773.50 (-51.00) at 1:14 ET. ESH then did an irregular 5-wave rally to 6886.25 at 10:27 ET. After a modest respite, ESHs inched higher and hit the daily high of 6894.00 at 14:50 ET. ESH had an A-B-C drop to 6866.25 at 16 ET.
Positive aspects of previous session
Fangs and AI-related stocks soared on technical buying.
The DJIA rallied moderately.
Negative aspects of previous session
The DJTA was soft because Fangs and techs soared.
USHs were -13/32 at the NYSE close.
Gasoline soared (drive season beckons); oil and precious metals rallied moderately.
Ambiguous aspects of previous session
Possible manipulation pushed the S&P 500 Index back into the trading rectangle.
Laser weapons deployed in Operation Epic Fury, as Space Force stops Iran's missiles in their tracks https://trib.al/3oDWztq
Fox News: U.S. officials have confirmed that thousands of Israeli and American-backed Iraqi Kurds have launched a ground offensive in Iran (Armed Kurds will irritate Turkey!)
N12 News’ @AmitSegal: Israel has eliminated Rahman Mokadam, head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ special operations division, and the man behind the assassination attempt on Trump on the eve of the 2024 presidential election. Trump was informed of this in the past few hours by Israel.
@nytimes: China’s leaders set the economy’s growth target to below 5% for the first time in more than three decades.
Today – The S&P 500 Index is near the middle of its trading band that has existed since November. On Wednesday it breached the band but robustly rebounded after a minor breach of its 100-day moving average. Barring news, it could be a listless session. There are no rate cuts in the foreseeable futures; so, there is no reason to try to break the S&P 500 out of its trading band – barring official intervention.
@NateFriedman97: The Iran protests in New York City are bought and paid for, here it all is with proof. Watch how they load the signs into the car and at 3:10 the leader confronts me and I expose her salary. She celebrated October 7th and got paid to do it. https://x.com/NateFriedman97/status/2028985155591786764
Wednesday
Trump: Their air defense, Air Force, Navy, and Leadership is gone. They want to talk. I said “Too Late!”
@RyanAFournier: The Iranian Supreme Council was literally in the middle of counting votes to pick their next Supreme Leader when Israel completely leveled the meeting location.
https://x.com/RyanAFournier/status/2028867085653229918
@LizHurra: Israeli Ch 12 + @Jerusalem_Post: Qatar bombed Iran over the past day in retaliation for repeated Iranian missile + drone strikes on Qatar https://t.co/eswkqlGQ7g
@BarronTNews_: GOP Sen. Tom Cotton just said Arab nations aren’t begging for peace. They’re asking President Trump for targeting info so they can join the fight against Iran. Read that again. That’s not weakness. That’s a real coalition. When Iran hit them, they didn’t cry to the UN. They lined up with America. Only happens under strength. Only happens under Trump. The region is done tolerating a Revolutionary Iran.... https://x.com/BarronTNews_/status/2028832546285322589
Spain, a NATO member, and reputed US ally will NOT allow the US to use bases in Spain to hit Iran per the order of its socialist PM, Pedro Sanchez Perez Castejon.
Spain refuses to provide military support for US attack on Iran and distances itself from France, Germany and the UK https://english.elpais.com/international/2026-03-02/spain-refuses-to-provide-military-support-for-us-attack-on-iran-and-distances-itself-from-france-germany-and-the-uk.html
Pedro Sánchez Pérez-Castejón is a Spanish politician who has served as Prime Minister of Spain since 2018. He has also been Secretary-General of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party since 2017…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedro_S%C3%A1nchez
Trump: "Some European nations have been helpful, and some have not, and I'm very surprised. Germany has been great. He's (Chancellor Merz) been terrific... The head of NATO is fantastic… Spain said we cannot use their bases...Spain has absolutely NOTHING that we need other than great people… They have great people… They don‘t have great leadership. The only country in NATO that would not agree to go up to 5%. They wanted to keep it at 2% and they don‘t pay the 2%. We will cut off all trade with Spain. We don‘t want anything to do with Spain… By the way, I’m not happy with the UK either… The UK has been very, very uncooperative with that stupid island (Chagos) that they have... They ruin relationships. It’s a shame. This is not Winston Churchill that we’re dealing with." https://x.com/townhallcom/status/2028886173175693479
@OliLondonTV: UK PM Keir Starmer tells Muslims at Ramadan Iftar event he wants to “make clear” the UK wasn’t involved in Iran strikes. “On Iran, I want to make clear the UK was not involved in the offensive strikes of the U.S. and Israel.” https://x.com/OliLondonTV/status/2028999714465882369
@disclosetv: Germany's Merz supports U.S. embargoing Spain, claims it's to "convince" them to increase NATO spending. https://x.com/disclosetv/status/2028885697612902749
@johnkonrad: Spain is already under investigation and is facing severe penalties with @FMC_gov
for denying US Merchant Marine ships carrying military supplies access to their ports:
https://gcaptain.com/u-s-maritime-regulator-weighs-severe-penalties-in-escalating-spain-port-probe/
Given UK’s belated and grudging approval for the US to use UK bases and Spain’s refusal to use its bases, it is paramount that the US obtain or make a deal with Greenland. The UK and Spain just proved that Trump is correct in putting US bases in Greenland.
Trump: "The attack that we did known as Midnight Hammer, had we not done that, Iran would've had a very powerful nuclear weapon within one month... Barack Hussein Obama made maybe the worst deal that I've ever seen because he gave all power in the Middle East to Iran... If I didn't terminate that deal, they would be sitting with a massive nuclear weapon 3 years ago."
https://x.com/RealAmVoice/status/2028886285566333011
@jenvanlaar: VINTAGE Trump right now on the deal "Barack Hussein Obama" made with Iran "giving them everything, including plane loads of cash...they took out all of the seats. It was loaded with green cash, so much cash that you could -- it was in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. They got all the cash from all the banks and they flew it to Iran. I never knew a President had that power. I'm gonna maybe try it sometime if it's okay. I think I'm gonna do it. I'll fly it somewhere."…
@LauraLoomer: Obama’s former CIA Director John Brennan converted to Islam between 1996 and 1999 when he was the CIA station chief in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. At the CIA, he had an Islamic prayer mat on his wall in his office and is on video speaking about “my Muslim faith” when speaking to a Muslim student during a speaking gig. Brennan also speaks fluent Arabic. He is a Muslim.
@townhallcom: REPORTER: Who do you have in mind to lead Iran? POTUS: Most of the people we had in mind are dead. Now we have another group that may also be dead. So i guess you have a 3rd wave coming in. Soon we won't have anybody... If you look at Iraq, where STUPIDLY everybody was fired...ISIS was formed...We don't believe in that. We'll see what happens. First we have to finish off the military. https://x.com/townhallcom/status/2028883879843553521
@ricwe123: Israeli experts are now sounding the alarm: Iranian cluster missiles can split into as many as 80 sub-missiles, hitting multiple targets simultaneously. They’re calling it an unprecedented weapon. The bigger question: how did Iran even get its hands on such technology in a country where scientists are constantly being assassinated? It’s hard to ignore the possibility that China and Russia handed this deadly know-how straight to Tehran. https://x.com/ricwe123/status/2028724201406750988
Chinese state-run media promotes anti-Iran War protests organized by CCP-linked Singham Network - China helps promote astroturfed far-left protests against the U.S. strikes on Iran through a financial network in league with infamous radical-left financier and multi-millionaire Neville Roy Singham. China has a lot at stake in the outcome of the conflict…
Because a critical mass of traders played for the Monday and Start-of-the-Month rallies on Monday, equities tumbled on Tuesday in early trading. This was delayed reaction to the reality of higher energy prices and the collapse of the possibility of Fed rate cuts for the foreseeable future.
@EdConwaySky: The near 100% rise in UK wholesale gas prices in the past 48 hours is now the biggest two-day rise since comparable records began in the 1990s. Bigger even than any two-day period in the early days of the Ukraine war... https://t.co/sjblAp5q8y
Bloomberg (@business): Kansas City Fed's Jeff Schmid reiterated that inflation is too high, adding that the latest numbers suggest it’s nearly a percentage point above the US central bank’s target.
Stocks plunged early but recovered most of the losses by midday. The DJIA hit -1277.93 at 10:28 ET but closed -403.51.
ESHs opened modestly lower on Monday night and proceeded to cascade to a daily low of 6718.75 at 10:27 ET. Conditioned dip buyers and traders playing for the 2nd-Hour Reversal then aggressively bought. ESHs intractably rallied to 6849.75 at 14:46 ET.
Trader selling then dropped ESHs down to 6815.25 at 15:52 ET. ESHs then went inert.
After the close, CrowdStrike reported Q4 adjusted EPS $1.21, consensus $1.10; Q4 revenue $1.31B, consensus $1.3B. It sees Q1 Rev of $1.36B t0 $1.36B, $1.36B expected. CRWD spiked to 409.00 (+17.58) and then sank to 371.21 (-20.21) at 16:07 ET.
The McDonald’s CEO Can't Seem to Stomach His Own Burger
Chris Kempczinski meant to celebrate the new flagship Big Arch but became a case study in what happens when leaders stop using what they sell…
The bite itself—like a man defusing something—was not a bite at all. It was a clip of the outer edge, while he disconcertingly talked about it as the “product.” Then “this thing.”… There’s a simple brief to any CEO suddenly confronted with that most dangerous of things: their own product. Consume it…
https://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/the-mcdonalds-ceo-cant-seem-to-stomach-his-own-burger/
@anothercohen: Can't believe the Burger King CEO just burgermogged the McDonald's CEO with more aura than any corporate moid has ever had. bro is frame dominant with a Whopper. it's over for the golden arches. (side-by-side bite pics at link) https://x.com/anothercohen/status/2028846249500102895
Burger King President hilariously trolls McDonald's CEO's viral taste test video in a battle of the burgers https://trib.al/OZuMW9i
@nypost: White House trade adviser Peter Navarro tore into Apple CEO Tim Cook on this week's episode of "Pod Force One" with @mirandadevine, accusing Cook of "lying" about reshoring iPhone production in the U.S. https://x.com/nypost/status/2026662560938795408
Positive aspects of previous session
Stocks rallied sharply after a 1st-Hour plunge. The NY Fang+ Index finished +6.41.
Precious metals got killed on the broad liquidation that occurred on Tuesday.
Negative aspects of previous session
USHs were -6/32 at the NYSE close. Energy commodities soared.
The S&P 500 Index decisively breached the lower bank of the 3-month trading rectangle.
Ambiguous aspects of previous session
Possible manipulation pushed the S&P 500 Index back into the trading rectangle.
@susancrabtree: NEW INFO RE: The Iranian asset who was working to hire hitmen to assassinate President Trump in 2024. Per the NYTimes, the FBI bought strippers for alleged Iranian operative Asif Merchant who was attempting to hire hitmen to assassinate President Trump when he was arrested on J12, the day before the Butler attempt on Trump's life. Here's the http:// X.com story thread I wrote about the FBI's written interview/proffer of Merchant, a document I attained from @chuckgrassley 's office website before they took it down.
I also wrote a story about what I knew about this Iranian threat and how some U.S. protective agencies at the time had been penetrated by Iranian assets. The link for that @RCPolitics story I wrote in on Aug. 24, 2024 is included in the thread. https://x.com/susancrabtree/status/1831755645290504556
Now we know why there is still mystery over the alleged Butler shooter; why his body was quickly cremated; why his social media was scrubbed; why his parents went silent; and why US intel and the FBI have gone silent on this.
Poland Will Eventually Seek Its Own Nuclear Weapons, Tusk Says
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk signaled his country will eventually try to obtain its own nuclear weapons as Europe strengthens deterrence amid doubts over US commitment to defending the continent.
@Barchart: S&P 500 closes below its 100-day moving average by the largest margin since May
https://x.com/Barchart/status/2028943707551027520
Trump said the US Navy will escort ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
Reportedly US B52s are bombing Iran as we write. This means Iran’s air defense has been decimated.
Today – The S&P 500 Index decisively breached the lower bank of the 3-month trading rectangle. However, aggressive buying, and perhaps manipulation, forced the index back into the trading rectangle. The desperate effort closed the S&P 500 Index at 6816.63.
The game for today is to keep the S&P 500 Index from breaching its lower trading band for the 2nd time in two sessions. For decades major technical breaches have been reversed by the usual, and something stealthy, suspects. It usually takes multiple downside breaches to generate downside momentum.
mRNA creator @RWMaloneMD: The amount of people who hate those who are Jewish or of Jewish origin in the comments on my feed is astounding. I never thought I would see this much racism in the USA in my lifetime again. It is shocking and disgusting. So, basically - I am just hiding those replies and blocking a lot, and when I write, a lot of people - I am not kidding. I hope one day, they come to understand that this is another type of mass formation - just like what happened under Hitler.
@RNCResearch: Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse quite literally voted to halt funding for FEMA, TSA, and the Coast Guard KNOWING ICE was already funded. Now, he's lying and trying to convince you otherwise because he knows it was a disgusting and reckless thing to do. https://t.co/VnZXz86YEA
@alx: Dem Senator Chris Coons: “Will you rule out the deployment of ICE or CBP to polling places this November?” Secretary Kristi Noem: “Do you plan on illegals voting in our elections, Senator?”
https://x.com/alx/status/2028887246770692428
@RNCResearch: Bill Clinton says he brought JB Pritzker on pedophile Jeffrey Epstein’s plane: “I think that I had my first trip for the man who’s now the Governor of Illinois, JB Pritzker and his wife.”
https://x.com/rncresearch/status/2028647022119551010 (Pritzker denied this, of course.)
@DarrenBaileyIL: A FOIA document catches JB Pritzker asking Clinton’s team to keep their correspondence off government servers. This is a Clinton Foundation world accused of selling government access for donations. What was so important it couldn’t leave a paper trail?
https://x.com/DarrenBaileyIL/status/2028944362776998201
@RedPandaKoala: US Congressman Eric Burlison notes that the Clinton staffer who signed Jeffrey Epstein into the White House 17 times died by “suicide.” https://x.com/RedPandaKoala/status/2028913707666014278
@WallStreetMav: Despite getting outspent 20 to 1, Ken Paxton will likely beat RINO Sen John Cornyn today in the Texas Senate primary. The swamp Sen John Thune spent $70 million in campaign funds to try to save Cornyn. That is $70 million that he could have used in Georgia or North Carolina.
Tuesday
Trump won’t rule out sending US troops into Iran ‘if necessary’— tells The Post war is progressing ‘way ahead of schedule’ https://nypost.com/2026/03/02/us-news/trump-wont-rule-out-sending-us-troops-into-iran-if-necessary-tells-the-post-i-dont-care-about-polling/
“We won’t negotiate with the U.S.” - Ali Larijani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council
@BrentScher: Israel denies using the Iron Beam that the whole internet is convinced they used.
US Central Command @CENTCOM: Two days ago, the Iranian regime had 11 ships in the Gulf of Oman, today they have ZERO… Last night, U.S. B-1 bombers, struck deep inside Iran to degrade Iranian ballistic missile capabilities. As the President stated, "we're going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground." (The IRGC said it has closed the Strait of Hormuz.)
As of 4 pm ET, March 2, six U.S. service members have been killed in action…
@Osint613: SEC. RUBIO KEY TAKEAWAYS ON IRAN OPERATION
— Iran is producing 100+ ballistic missiles per month and thousands of one way attack drones, aiming to build a retaliatory shield that would make its nuclear program untouchable
— Iran is approaching a “point of immunity” within 1 to 1.5 years, where its missile and drone stockpiles would deter any strike
— Sanctions have failed to stop the weapons buildup
— The operation was timed while Iran is weakened and before it reaches that immunity threshold
— U.S. intelligence assessed Iran would immediately retaliate against U.S. forces, so preemptive action reduced potential American casualties
— Mission focus is destroying ballistic missile launchers, stockpiles, drone capabilities, and naval assets threatening global shipping
— No ground invasion planned; air and missile strikes are sufficient for objectives
— Regime change is not the official goal, but the U.S. would welcome the Iranian people replacing the current leadership
— Congress was notified through the Gang of Eight and in compliance with the 48 hour War Powers reporting requirement
— The U.S. denies targeting civilians and says any alleged incidents are under investigation
— Iran controls roughly 20% of global energy flows via the Strait of Hormuz; mitigation plans are being prepared to stabilize markets
— No active diplomacy underway; operations will continue as long as necessary with no fixed end date
SecRubio: "The hardest hits are yet to come from the U.S. military. The next phase will be even more punishing on Iran than it is right now... The world will be a safer place when we're done with this operation.
The U.S is preparing for a "major uptick" in attacks in the next 24 hours, an official says – CNN
@realDonaldTrump: If I didn’t terminate Obama’s horrendous Iran Nuclear Deal (JCPOA), Iran would have had a Nuclear Weapon three years ago. That was the most dangerous transaction we have ever entered into, and had it been allowed to stand, the World would be an entirely different place right now. You can blame Barack Hussein Obama, and Sleepy Joe Biden…
Most people do NOT realize that Iranians are Persians; they are NOT Arabs. Also, since Biblical times, Iran has been aligned with Persia. This is why Kissinger decides to make Iran ‘the policeman of the Middle East’ after the 1973 Yom Kippur War.
After the Shah of Iran was toppled in 1979, Iran became the homeland of radical Islam and the epicenter of terrorism as well as hatred for Israel and the USA. Ergo, unlike Iraq, there is a much high chance of a positive effect for the USA and the West in overthrowing the radical Islamic regime and retuning Iran to its historic roots.
February ISM Mfg. 52.4, 51.5 expected, 51.2 prior; Prices Paid 70.5, 60 exp, 59 prior
US stocks declined smartly in early Monday trading, except Fangs, which rallied on AI-related issue buying. Palantir was +7.28% at 10:58 ET. USHs sank more than 1 point; gold, the dollar, crypto, oil, and gasoline soared. Silver, platinum, and copper declined sharply on economic concerns.
ESHs opened sharply lower on Sunday night and proceeded to sink to a daily low of 6678.50 (-110.50) at 3:27 ET. Trader then bought because when Gulf War I commenced ESHs quickly began a big rally after the initial plunge. This pattern has regularly appeared since then. Some belief intervention is a factor.
ESHs rallied to 6833.25 at 8:24 ET. After a retreat to 6802.50 at 8:27 ET, ESHs soared to 6877.50 at 10:13 ET in eager buying for the Monday and start-of-March Rallies.
After a minor retreat, ESHs stair stepped higher and hit a daily high of 6911.25 (+22.25) at 14:35 ET. After a retreat to 6872.75 at 15:15 ET, ESHs rallied to 6896.75 at 15:57 ET.
BBG’s @JavierBlas: WTI settles at $71.23 a barrel, up 6.28% Brent settles at $77.74 a barrel, up 6.70%
How does the one-day % price move compares historically (only positive moves)?
For WTI, it was the 121st largest (data from 1984). For Brent, it was the 73rd largest (data from 1988)
@JacobKinge: Tel Aviv’s stock market has surged 8.65%, its largest single-day gain in history. This comes amid the wavering success of the U.S.–Israel-led war on Iran, which eliminated 93% of Iran’s senior leadership and military officials in the first 12 hours and severely disrupted key military infrastructure. https://x.com/JacobKinge/status/2028523929258656149
Positive aspects of previous session
ESHs rallied 142.75 from their low. AI-related stocks soared.
Negative aspects of previous session
USHs sank as much as 1 8/32; Gold, oil, and gasoline rallied sharply.
Ambiguous aspects of previous session
The dollar rallied sharply while industrial commodities sank.
First Hour/Last Hour NYSE Action [S&P 500 Index]: 1st Hour: Up; Last Hour: Down
Pivot Point for S&P 500 Index [above/below indicates daily trend to traders]: 6859.83
Previous session S&P 500 Index High/Low: 6901.01; 6796.85
The FT: People are complacent about risk of financial crisis, says Lloyd Blankfein (Ex-GS CEO)
Lloyd Blankfein has one piece of advice for anyone fearing that a financial reckoning is on the horizon: plan like it is coming… https://ft.trib.al/DNmGW3D
Stanley Black & Decker to slash 300 jobs, close factory in its Connecticut hometown https://trib.al/MiXoXnM
Deerfield-based Walgreens announces nearly 500 corporate employees being laid off in Illinois
The layoffs come less than a year after Walgreens announced that it had been acquired by Sycamore Partners, a private equity firm based in New York…
New Chicago liquor tax (1.5%) officially goes into effect Sunday
Iranian missiles hit the US Embassy in Riyadh. Reports say it was vacant at the time.
Today – Traders played for the Monday and Start-of-the-Month rallies as well as the big bounce that occurs after a tumble due to US military action – and were greatly rewarded. Barring news, stocks are likely to retrench and wait for developments. Bonds need to rally ASAP or they will hurt stocks.
Despite the early success in the attacks on Iran, an ugly development can appear suddenly! NB: The S&P low on Monday was 6796.85. A decisive breach of this level would violate the lower band of the trading range that has endured since November.
Daily Mail: Starmer attacked by top US politician over Britain's 'pathetic' failure to support Trump's strikes on Iran - as Defence Secretary refuses SIX TIMES to say if UK backs American action - Labour's John Healey repeatedly dodged questions on whether Britain supports Mr Trump's decision to launch military strikes against Iran. The Defence Secretary refused six times in a TV interview to say if the UK backed the US and Israeli action - or if the Government considered the action to be legal.
Mr. Graham (Sen.), a long-serving senator, said it was 'so sad to see Western democracies lose their passion for justice and a sense of right and wrong the further away from their shores the event occurs'.
@visegrad24: British PM Keir Starmer said he stood by his decision not to support U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran. "President Trump has expressed his disagreement with our decision not to get involved in the initial strikes," Starmer said after Trump criticised him for taking "too long" to allow the U.S. use of air bases. "But it is my duty to judge what is in Britain's national interest. That is what I've done, and I stand by it."
How the Muslim vote is reshaping British politics
The size of the Muslim population has reached a critical mass, at which Muslim voters no longer need to press their concerns through a national party… For decades, Muslim voters exercised disproportionate influence over our politics through the Labour Party. Through effective political organisation and lobbying, the Muslim community was able to make itself a core feature of Labour’s support in London, Birmingham and the post-industrial North…
Britain is now a country in which national parties compete with explicitly sectarian candidates for the support of particular religious and ethnic groups… The sorry events of the 20th century in Northern Ireland shows where sectarian politics can lead: to social division, ghettoisation and violence…
https://thecritic.co.uk/how-the-muslim-vote-is-reshaping-british-politics/
Muammar Gaddafi in a speech on April 10, 2006: "We have 50 million Muslims in Europe. There are signs that Allah will grant Islam victory in Europe—without swords, without guns, without conquest—will turn it into a Muslim continent within a few decades".
BBC: Gaddafi wants EU cash to stop African migrants 31 August 2010
Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi says the EU should pay Libya at least 5bn euros (£4bn; $6.3bn) a year to stop illegal African immigration and avoid a "black Europe"…
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-11139345
Grinning lunatic wielding 2 giant knives stabs two people in Scotland
Radical Shiite clerics on American soil preach prophetic showdown with US
… Hardline Shiite ideologues framing conflict between US, Iran as prophecy for the arrival of the Mahdi, or 'messiah'… From the mosque in northern Virginia to religious institutions in Michigan and Texas, clerics aligned with the Islamic Republic are advancing a doomsday interpretation of faith that casts geopolitical and military confrontation with the U.S. as part of a prophetic destiny tied to the return
of the Mahdi… https://www.foxnews.com/politics/chasing-apocalypse-radical-shiite-clerics-american-soil-preach-prophetic-showdown-us
WashPost Touts Khamenei as Man With an ‘Easy Smile’ and Love of 'Poetry'
@EricLDaugh: Democrats are stunned after a MAJOR new poll just found Republicans surged +8 POINTS in the 2026 Congressional ballot — now TIED 50%-50% with Democrats. They were previously trailing by 8, per HarrisX…