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Good morning! Here’s the latest in trending:
Financial results: The SEC is said to be preparing a proposal to end the quarterly earnings requirement.
Nvidia GTC: $1T in product demand + AI in space-based data centers + autonomous driving systems + OpenClaw transformation.
Double whammy: U.S. licenses are canceled for immigrant truckers as average diesel prices cross $5 a gallon.
A U.S.-imposed blockade has prevented Cuba from receiving oil shipments for months, leading the nation to implement severe energy rationing. Buckling under the pressure, the entire Cuban electric grid collapsed on Monday, cutting electricity to 10M people. While the country has been used to power outages, some of which last several days due to aging infrastructure, things are looking different this time around.
Quote: “You know, all my life I’ve been hearing about United States and Cuba. When will the United States have the honor of taking Cuba? That’s a big honor. Taking Cuba in some form,” President Trump told reporters. “I mean, whether I free it, take it. Think I can do anything I want with it. You want to know the truth. They are a very weakened nation right now. They were for a long time.”
Given the escalating economic crisis and U.S. pressure, Cuba’s Deputy Prime Minister announced yesterday that the government would allow Cuban exiles to invest in and own businesses on the island. There are also reports of riots at government offices, like in the city of Morón, as well as nightly cacerolazos (banging pots and pans) to protest the current situation. Meanwhile, food distribution and garbage collection have been disrupted, while hospitals and transport networks have slashed their services. International carriers, like American Airlines (AAL), Delta (DAL) and Southwest (LUV), also recently cut flights to the Caribbean island.
What’s next? The prime focus is removing President Miguel Díaz-Canel from power before any sanctions are lifted – in a playbook reminiscent of the ousting of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. That could enable a transition council appointed on U.S. terms, which might involve military or Castro family figures willing to help pivot the country to a market economy or legalize opposition parties. Any transition won’t be a simple task, but it’s part of the emerging “Donroe Doctrine,” which Trump has invoked to ensure “American dominance in the Western Hemisphere will never be questioned again.” (1 comment)
Here’s the latest Seeking Alpha analysis
The Fast Incoming ‘Silver Tsunami’
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Micron: Dirt Cheap Before Earnings
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Novo Nordisk – Enough Is Enough: 5 Reasons It’s Time To Sell (Rating Downgrade)
What else is happening…
WSB survey results: High gas prices aren’t stopping most commuters.
After a challenging March, will St. Patrick’s Day deliver a lift for stocks?
Judge blocks RFK Jr.’s changes to children’s vaccine schedule.
Taking stock: Beyond Meat (BYND) to delay filing annual report.
U.S. soybean futures drop as Trump signals delay in China summit.
March Madness: Another sportsbooks vs. prediction markets matchup.
Big Tech ramps up carbon credit purchases as AI race heats up.
OpenAI (OPENAI) to cut back on ‘side quests’ to prioritize productivity.
Scott Bessent says government not intervening in oil futures market.
Gulf states push the U.S. to completely neutralize the Iranian threat.
Today’s Markets
In Asia, Japan -0.1%. Hong Kong +0.1%. China -0.9%. India +0.8%.
In Europe, at midday, London +0.6%. Paris +0.5%. Frankfurt flat.
Futures at 6:30, Dow -0.2%. S&P -0.3%. Nasdaq -0.4%. Crude +3.4% to $96.71. Gold +0.2% to $5,012.30. Bitcoin -0.1% to $73,742.
Ten-year Treasury Yield unchanged at 4.23%.
On The Calendar
Companies reporting today include lululemon athletica (LULU) and Oklo (OKLO).
See the full earnings calendar on Seeking Alpha, as well as today’s economic calendar.