Fork in the road

Powell ready to support job market, Cocoa rally and market tumult hoist systematic hedge funds, Biden signs $1.2 trillion spending package for government funding, Stability AI CEO resigns, and China told it faces ‘fork in the road'…

Good morning.

The Fast Five → Powell ready to support job market, Cocoa rally and market tumult hoist systematic hedge funds, Biden signs $1.2 trillion spending package for government funding, Stability AI CEO resigns, and China told it faces ‘fork in the road'…

Calendar:

  • TUE 3/26: Durable-goods orders, 8:30am ET

    • Consumer confidence, 10:00 am ET

  • THU 3/28: Initial jobless claims, 8:30am ET

    • Consumer sentiment, 10:00am ET

  • FRI 3/29: PCE Index, 8:30am ET

    • Fed Chair Jerome Powell speaks, 11:30am ET

Your 5-minute briefing for Monday, March 25:

BEFORE THE OPEN

As of market close 3/22/2024. Bitcoin as of 3/24/2024.

Pre-Market:

US Investor % Bullish Sentiment:
43.20% for Wk of Mar 21 2024 (Last week: 45.90%)

Market Recap:

  • Stock futures dip slightly as March's trading week closes.

  • Dow futures down 0.16%, S&P and Nasdaq futures nearly 0.1%.

  • Last week saw new all-time highs, with S&P up 2.3%.

  • Fed's rate-cutting plans and tech rally driving gains.

  • Investors cautious about rally extension and interest rates.

  • Eyes on Friday's inflation data for market direction.

EARNINGS

What we’re watching this week:

  • Tuesday: GameStop (GME), McCormick (MKC)

  • Wednesday: Jefferies (JEF)

  • Thursday: Oxford Industries (OXM), Semtech (SMTC)

Full earnings calendar here

HEADLINES

Fed chief says ‘unexpected’ weakening could prompt rate cuts. Fed shift is good news for Biden and financial markets.

Systematic hedge funds outperformed wider industry. Those taking the most risk made the most money. Long cocoa positions help lift returns - investors.

  • Biden signs $1.2 trillion spending package for government funding until October (more)

  • Oil rises as heightened geopolitical risks exacerbate supply concerns (more)

  • How the US economy is doing depends on your politics (more)

  • Walmart CEO says customers willing to pay more for convenience (more)

  • China told it faces 'fork in the road' as officials meet CEOs (more)

    • Chinese Premier downplays economic risks as IMF urges reform (more)

  • Intervention threat curbs dollar's charge to new high on the yen (more)

  • Asia private equity deals set for worst Q1 since 2015, data shows (more)

  • Bond markets resume rate-cutting trades worldwide (more)

  • Real estate policies changing after lawsuit settlement to compensate home sellers (more)

    • Homebuyers expecting $10,000 savings face tough reality (more)

  • Nvidia’s ambitions in medicine and healthcare becoming clear (more)

  • Boeing's largest union seeks seat on planemaker's board (more)

  • Amgen wants in on the booming weight loss drug market (more)

  • UnitedHealth unit to start processing $14B medical claims backlog after hack (more)

  • Stability AI CEO resigns because you’re ‘not going to beat centralized AI with more centralized AI’ (more)

  • Liquid Death is just one of many VC-backed beverage startups ready to disrupt Coke and Pepsi (more)

A MESSAGE FROM BEHIND THE MARKETS

This is the ONLY AI company you should be watching right now.

No. It's not Nvidia, Intel, or Microsoft...

It's a tiny biotech using proprietary AI to assist in new drug discovery at a rate 100,000 times faster than a human.

This new drug discovery technique will change the market.

And that's why they received a $50 million investment from an AI powerhouse.

Get the stock ticker here >>>

All the best,

Victoria Tino, Editor

Behind the Markets

DEALFLOW

M+A | Investments

  • Premier league ‘Minded’ to back Everton bid with conditions (more)

  • Online betting firm Rush Street Interactive weighs sale, approaches DraftKings (more)

  • Advent, CVC make joint bid for European pet food business owned by Cinven (more)

  • Waud Capital Partners purchases Senior Helpers (more)

  • H.I.G. buys Alight’s payroll and professional services business (more)

  • Gordon Brothers acquires Catch Co. (more)

  • ParkHub, JustPark merge alongside investment from FTV Capital, LLR Partners (more)

  • Platinum Equity invests in TAK Communications (more)

VC

  • Ediphi, an advanced cloud-based estimating solution, raised $12M in Series A funding (more)

  • Conduce Health, a multi-specialty value-care marketplace providing solutions for primary care orgs raised $3M in Seed funding (more)

  • Blockhouse Digital, an asset management firm specializing in the crypto markets, raised $2M in GP funding (more)

  • CountertopSmart, a countertop purchasing experience startup, raised $1.75M in Seed funding (more)

  • Lalo, a baby product brand, closed a new equity round with Forecast Labs, a consumer venture group division of Comcast (more)

  • Packback, a provider of an AI-enabled writing and discussion platform, received an investment from PSG Equity (more)

  • SER, an intelligent content automation software vendor, received an investment from TA Associates (more)

  • Aloft Technologies receives investment from Terra Drone (more)

  • Ascend Analytics, a provider of energy transition analytics solutions, received an investment from Rubicon Technology Partners (more)

  • Ainn Layer2, a decentralized Bitcoin Layer2 network project supporting AI applications, raised an undisclosed amount (more)

  • BlueFlag Security, an identity-based developer security company, raised $11.5M in Seed funding (more)

CRYPTO

  • Goldman’s hedge-fund clients get more active in crypto options (more)

  • Bitcoin slips to $64K as large Grayscale GBTC outflows continue (more)

  • BlackRock seeing only 'a little bit' demand for Ethereum from clients, says head of digital assets (more)

  • Bitcoin ‘halving’ spurs exodus of old US mining computers abroad (more)

BULLISH BITES

🌯 Shares for all: Chipotle’s planned 50-to-1 split unites bulls and burrito lovers.

🐰 Holiday squeeze: Easter egg price hikes are just the start as cocoa soars.

🎉 Pro-crypto: Inside Austin’s bitcoin underground.

🎓 Hot mess: It's a chaotic year for college admissions.

DAILY SHARES

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