The European Central Bank on Thursday cut interest rates as expected and acknowledged that monetary policy is becoming "meaningfully<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/forex/25/03/44161314/us-stocks-likely-to-open-lower-after-wednesdays-blip-be-patient-but-be-ready-to-act-says-analyst-as-market-uncertainties-can-create-opportunities"> less restrictive."</a>



The Details: The Governing Council lowered its three key interest rates by 25 basis points, bringing the deposit facility rate to 2.50%, the main refinancing rate to 2.65%, and the marginal lending rate to 2.90%.



"Monetary policy is becoming meaningfully less restrictive, as the interest rate cuts are making new borrowing less expensive for firms and households and loan growth is picking up," the ECB said in a statement.



Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/econ-s/25/03/44143666/us-services-sector-unexpectedly-expands-in-february-despite-slowing-job-growth">US Services Sector Unexpectedly Expands In February Despite Slowing Job Gro</a>



Inflation projections show a gradual convergence towards the 2% target, with expectations of 2.1% in 2025, 1.9% in 2026, and 2% in 2027. Core inflation is also expected to approach the 2% target.



The Governing Council said it will maintain a data-dependent approach and be ready to adjust its instruments to ensure inflation stabilizes at the 2% medium-term target without committing to a specific rate path.&nbsp;



Markets React: European markets declined with the STOXX 50 and the STOXX 600 falling by 0.8%, after the European Central Bank delivered the interest rate cut.&nbsp;



Investors can monitor the Xtrackers MSCI Europe Hedged Equity ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DBEU#NYSE">DBEU</a>) and the SPDR Portfolio Europe ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPEU#NYSE">SPEU</a>)&nbsp; to gauge the U.S. market reaction to the cuts.&nbsp;



The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>), tracking the S&amp;P 500, was down 1.11% at $576.60 and the Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), tracking the Nasdaq 100 index, was down 1.47% at $494.64 in Thursday's premarket session.&nbsp;



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/03/44110273/trump-tariffs-will-raise-prices-within-days-target-ceo-says">Trump Tariffs Will Raise Prices &#8216;Within Days,&#8217; Target CEO Says</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

News

Broad U.S. Equity ETFs

Eurozone

Emerging Market ETFs

Global

Econ #s

ETFs

DBEU

SPEU

European Central Bank Cuts Interest Rates Marking Sixth Cut In 9 Months

The Trump administration is exploring a strategy to halt and examine Iranian oil tankers at sea as part of an international agreement aimed at curbing the spread of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43480859/trump-confirms-maximum-economic-pressure-on-iran-calls-chinas-tariff-retaliation-fine">weapons of mass destruction</a>.



What Happened: According to Reuters, Trump officials are considering enabling allied nations to stop and inspect vessels passing through critical maritime routes such as Asia's Malacca Strait.



Such actions could delay crude deliveries to refiners and potentially damage the reputations of those involved in facilitating these trades.



The administration is evaluating whether these sea inspections could be conducted under the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), a U.S.-led program launched in 2003 with the participation of over 100 countries to prevent the movement of weapons of mass destruction. 



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/03/44157043/jim-cramer-doubles-down-on-crowdstrike-despite-drop-analysts-who-were-so-negativehad-it-wrong">Jim Cramer Doubles Down On CrowdStrike Despite Drop: &#8216;Analysts Who Were So Negative…Had It Wrong&#8217;</a>



Why It Matters: Opponents of Tehran's oil revenue say it supports nuclear proliferation as well as terrorism.



However, past attempts to seize Iranian oil have sparked retaliation from Tehran. In 2023, Iran seized foreign ships—one chartered by Chevron (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVX#NYSE">CVX</a>)—after the U.S. attempted to intercept Iranian oil cargoes.



&#8220;You don't have to sink ships or arrest people to have that chilling effect that this is just not worth the risk,&#8221; said one source, emphasizing that delivery delays could sow uncertainty in illicit trade networks. 



Analysts warn that the longer sanctions remain in place, the more Iran and its oil buyers will find ways to circumvent them.



With Iran's oil revenues largely tied to exports to China, any prolonged disruption could have significant economic impacts. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">ETFs To Watch</h2>



During pre-market hours on Thursday, <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com">Benzinga Pro</a> showed: 



<ul>
<li>ProShares Ultra Bloomberg Crude Oil (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UCO#NYSE">UCO</a>) fell by 0.17%,</li>



<li>United States Oil Fund LP (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USO#NYSE">USO</a>) dropped 2.58%,</li>



<li>SPDR S&amp;P Oil &amp; Gas Exploration &amp; Production ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XOP#NYSE">XOP</a>) decreased by 0.39%, and</li>



<li>MicroSectorsTM Oil &amp; Gas Exploration &amp; Production 3X Leveraged ETNs (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OILU#NYSE">OILU</a>) saw a 0.28% drop,</li>
</ul>



Now Read:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/forex/25/03/44161314/us-stocks-likely-to-open-lower-after-wednesdays-blip-be-patient-but-be-ready-to-act-says-analyst-as-market-uncertainties-can-create-opportunities">US Stocks Likely To Open Lower After Wednesday&#8217;s Blip: &#8216;Be Patient, But Be Ready To Act,&#8217; Says Analyst As Market Uncertainties Can Create &#8216;Opportunities&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

Government

Politics

OILU

Trump Administration Weighs Sea Inspections Of Iranian Oil Tankers

As the Trump administration escalates tariffs on China, the world&#8217;s largest economies are on the verge of a superpower standoff reminiscent of the Cold War era.



What Happened: A recent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wsj.com/world/china/china-trump-trade-war-worries-0c2fa146?mod=hp_lead_pos7">report</a>&nbsp;in the Wall Street Journal suggests that Chinese President&nbsp;Xi Jinping&nbsp;is concerned that the growing trade tensions with the U.S. might lead to China&#8217;s isolation, akin to the Soviet Union&#8217;s during the Cold War. Despite the perceived global isolation of President&nbsp;Donald Trump, China&#8217;s domestic economic woes put it on the defensive.



On Tuesday, Trump increased tariffs on China, amid its role in the U.S. fentanyl crisis. This move caught Chinese officials off guard, who are still trying to navigate their relationship with the unpredictable US leader.



China, in its attempt to redefine the global order, now faces a setback. Xi&#8217;s looming concern is that trade restrictions and sanctions could isolate China, mirroring the Soviet-era scenario. The consultants around senior Chinese officials have revealed that Xi fears &#8220;China could get isolated like Moscow&#8221;



Despite the escalating trade pressures, Beijing has&nbsp;set a GDP target of&nbsp;about 5% for 2025, signaling its expectation that the Chinese economy will withstand&nbsp;the intensifying trade pressures. A&nbsp;Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman stated, &#8220;If war is what the US&nbsp;wants, be it a tariff&nbsp;war, a trade war or&nbsp;any other type of war,&nbsp;we&#8217;re&nbsp;ready to fight till the&nbsp;end.&#8221;



SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/03/44067895/warren-buffett-detailed-a-disgusting-investing-mistake-he-was-making-for-years-soggy-one-puff-stocks-dont-make-you-rich">Warren Buffett Detailed A &#8216;Disgusting&#8217; Investing Mistake He Was Making For Years: &#8216;Soggy, One-Puff&#8217; Stocks Don&#8217;t Make You Rich</a>



Why It Matters: Trump&#8217;s &#8220;America First&#8221; policy has become a major cause of concern for Beijing because it aims to dismantle the trade norms established by the World Trade Organization (WTO) in the mid-90s. It is due to these norms that China dominated global markets with low-cost exports while restricting foreign access to its domestic market.



China&#8217;s concerns over being cornered manifests as a forceful response to Trump&#8217;s tariff increases, which included reciprocal tariffs on selected American goods, sanctions on U.S. companies, and plans to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/03/44102063/china-strikes-back-at-trumps-tariffs-with-retaliatory-duties-us-company-sanctions-and-wto-showdown">file a complaint </a>with the WTO. Sources told WSJ that the U.S. may pressure China to implement fundamental economic reforms, a proposal that Xi is unlikely to accept.



Meanwhile, a potential military conflict between the U.S. and China cannot be completely ruled out. Former Congressman and Head of Defense at Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>), Mike Gallagher has raised alarm over Beijing&#8217;s military intentions, stating that the U.S.<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/03/44157866/palantirs-head-of-defense-warns-of-chinas-war-preparations-were-not-taking-it-seriously"> is failing to adequately</a> prepare for potential conflict.



READ MORE:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/03/44159766/us-indicts-12-chinese-nationals-over-alleged-global-hacking-operation-targeting-critics-been-paying-hackers-for-hire-to-inflict-digital-harm-on-americans"> US Indicts 12 Chinese Nationals Over Alleged Global Hacking Operation Targeting Critics: &#8216;&#8230;Been Paying Hackers-For-Hire To Inflict Digital Harm On Americans&#8217;</a>

Markets

PLTR

Is Beijing Worried About Losing Trade War With US? Xi Jinping Reportedly Fears 'China Could Become Isolated Like Moscow,' Say Close Aides

U.S. stock futures fell on Thursday following Wednesday&#8217;s relief after a two-day fall. Futures of all four benchmark indices fell in premarket trading.



President Donald Trump&#8217;s administration postponed implementation of auto tariffs by one month on Wednesday after the tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China were implemented on Tuesday.



Meanwhile, the 10-year Treasury yield stood at 4.30%, while the two-year yield was at 3.99%. According to the CME Group's FedWatch <a href="https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-fedwatch-tool.html">tool</a>, there is a 93% chance that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates unchanged for the March meeting.



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Futures</td><td>Change (+/-)</td></tr><tr><td>Nasdaq 100</td><td>-1.32%</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>-1.12%</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>-0.92%</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>-1.14%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) and Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), which track the S&amp;P 500 index and Nasdaq 100 index, respectively, rose in premarket on Thursday. SPY dropped 1.15% to $576.35, and QQQ declined 1.33% to $495.34, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.



Cues From The Last Session



Utilities and energy were the only sectors that declined on Wednesday, while the market witnessed a rally led by materials, consumer discretionary, industrials, and communication services sectors.



On the economic front, February&#8217;s ADP report showed that the private sector employment was up 77,000 jobs, with annual pay rising 4.7%. The S&amp;P Global US Composite PMI Output Index fell to 51.6 in February, down from 52.7 in January. It was the second successive month in which the PMI has fallen, and the latest reading was the lowest since last April.



Marvell Technology Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRVL#NASDAQ">MRVL</a>) declined in after-hours following a disappointing guidance. Rigetti Computing Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RGTI#NASDAQ">RGTI</a>) also fell in after-hours as its revenue missed estimates.



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Index</td><td>Performance (+/-)</td><td>Value</td></tr><tr><td>Nasdaq Composite</td><td>1.46%</td><td>18,552.73</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>1.12%</td><td>5,842.63</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>1.14%</td><td>43,006.59</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>1.02%</td><td>2,100.75</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Insights From Analysts



A notable drop in the 10-year Treasury yield reflects market concerns about economic deceleration, said Scott Wren, senior global market strategist at Wells Fargo. Despite robust fourth-quarter earnings and previously strong growth, recent data paints a more cautious picture.



Wren attributes this shift to factors like lowered consumer sentiment, driven by tariff uncertainties and potential labor market weakness. He also points to a &#8220;pull-forward&#8221; effect, where companies and consumers accelerated purchases to avoid anticipated tariff-related price hikes, evidenced by record-high January trade deficits. Weather impacts further complicate the data.



However, Wren notes positive signs, including strong consumer spending on services and increased home purchase applications amid falling mortgage rates. While acknowledging a near-term economic slowdown, he anticipates solid growth in 2025.



&#8220;From our perspective, we see a slowing economy as something like a temporary air pocket in the nearer term, and we continue to expect solid economic growth in 2025. We see market uncertainties creating opportunities in both equities and fixed income as the year progresses. Be patient, but be ready to act.&#8221;



Analysts at BlackRock highlighted the &#8220;unusually uncertain policy environment,&#8221; which according to them requires different views across horizons.



&#8220;While U.S. corporate strength is our base case for now, we have seen the outlook evolve suddenly in recent years. We stand ready to pivot given uncertainty because of the economic transformation and U.S. policy now. We created our scenarios last year to help us navigate this volatile environment. While some of the incoming information on U.S. policy has been noisy, we expect that to become a concrete signal to adapt to,&#8221; stated the BlackRock note.



Reiterating confidence in AI-linked stocks, the analysts added, &#8220;AI-related shares have come under pressure from lingering investor worries about whether AI investment will pay off. Yet we think this is still the early phase of AI adoption and see room for the buildout winners to do well.&#8221;



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-trade-futures">How to Trade Futures </a>



Upcoming Economic Data



Here&#8217;s what investors will keep on Thursday:



<ul>
<li>Initial jobless claims data for the week ended March 1 will be out by 8:30 a.m., ET.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>U.S. productivity data for the fourth quarter and U.S. trade deficit data for January will be released at 8:30 a.m., ET as well.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>January&#8217;s wholesale inventory data will be out by 10:00 a.m., ET.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Fed Governor Christopher Waller will speak at 3:30 p.m. and Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic will speak at 7:00 p.m.</li>
</ul>



Stocks In Focus:



<ul>
<li>BJ&#8217;s Wholesale Club Holdings Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BJ#NYSE">BJ</a>) was up 0.01% in the premarket on Thursday ahead of its earnings, which will be released before the opening bell. Analysts expect it to report earnings of 88 cents per share on revenue of $5.32 billion.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Kroger Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KR#NYSE">KR</a>) slipped 0.27% as Wall Street expects it to report quarterly earnings of $1.11 per share on revenue of $34.51 billion before the opening bell.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Macy&#8217;s Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/M#NYSE">M</a>) was 0.45% higher ahead of its earnings, which will be released before the opening bell. Analysts expect it to report earnings of $1.53 per share on revenue of $7.87 billion.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HPE#NYSE">HPE</a>) declined 1.54% ahead of its earnings, which will be released after the closing bell. Analysts expect it to report earnings of 49 cents per share on revenue of $7.82 billion.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Veeva Systems Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VEEV#NYSE">VEEV</a>) climbed 6.12% after its revenue of $720.9 million, up 14% year-over-year, beat the consensus estimate of $699.11 million.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Propetro Holding Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PUMP#NYSE">PUMP</a>) plunged 45.88% after its CFO, David Schorlemer, departed the company on March 3, 2025, after 4.5 years of leading financial growth and development.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>AGM Group Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AGMH#NASDAQ">AGMH</a>) surged 105.28% as it completed $5.4 million public offering to expand Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) mining operations.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Cutera Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CUTR#NASDAQ">CUTR</a>) shares jumped 37.23% as it announced a plan to reduce debt by $400 million and raise $65 million on Wednesday.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Visionary Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GV#NASDAQ">GV</a>) gained 25.3% after the company received a financing consent letter worth $1 billion from Alfardan Group of Qatar to fund product R&amp;D and the development of PEGASUS new energy vehicles.</li>
</ul>



Commodities, Gold And Global Equity Markets:



Crude oil futures were trading higher in the early New York session by 0.36% to hover around $66.55 per barrel.



The gold spot index was down by 0.83% to $2,894.73 per ounce. Its last record high was at $2,956.37 per ounce. The Dollar Index was down 0.07% at the 104.204 level.



Asian markets closed higher on Thursday except Australia's ASX 200 index. India's S&amp;P BSE Sensex, China's CSI 300, South Korea's Kospi, Japan's Nikkei 225, and Hong Kong's Hang Seng index advanced. European markets were mostly lower in trade.



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/market-summary/25/03/44160509/starlinks-european-rival-up-over-600-since-trump-halted-ukraine-aid-now-plans-to-replace-e">Starlink&#8217;s European Rival, Up Over 600% Since Trump Halted Ukraine Aid, Now Plans To Replace Elon Musk&#8217;s Satellite Internet Service In War-Torn Nation</a></li>
</ul>



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Equities

Futures

Forex

Economics

Pre-Market Outlook

Analyst Ratings

$BTC

AGMH

CUTR

MRVL

PUMP

RGTI

VEEV

US Stocks Likely To Open Lower After Wednesday's Blip: 'Be Patient, But Be Ready To Act,' Says Analyst As Market Uncertainties Can Create 'Opportunities'

Macy&#8217;s&nbsp;Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/M#NYSE">M</a>) shares are <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/premarket" rel="noreferrer noopener">trading lower in premarket</a> on Thursday after the fourth-quarter earnings.



The company reported a fourth-quarter sales decline of 4.3% year-on-year to $7.768 billion, missing the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/03/b44161902/macys-inc-reports-fourth-quarter-and-fiscal-year-2024-results" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">analyst consensus of $7.867 billion.</a>



Comparable sales decreased 1.1% on an owned basis and up&nbsp;0.2%&nbsp;on an owned-plus-licensed-plus-marketplace basis.



The company&#8217;s go-forward business&nbsp;comparable sales were down&nbsp;0.7%&nbsp;on an owned basis and up&nbsp;0.6%&nbsp;on an owned-plus-licensed-plus-marketplace basis.&nbsp;



By nameplate, Macy&#8217;s net sales were down&nbsp;5.3%, with comparable sales down&nbsp;1.9%&nbsp;on an owned basis and down&nbsp;0.9%&nbsp;on an owned-plus-licensed-plus-marketplace basis.



Bloomingdale&#8217;s net sales were up 2.0%, with comparable sales up 4.8% on an owned basis and up 6.5% on an owned-plus-licensed-plus-marketplace basis. Bluemercury net sales rose 2.4%, and comparable sales grew 6.2% on an owned basis.



The operating margin was 6.2%. Operating income for the quarter was $500 million compared to a loss of $149 million last year.



The gross margin was 35.7%, down 80 basis points from the prior year. Adjusted EBITDA was $903 million versus $1.09 billion last year. Adjusted EPS of $1.80 <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/earnings" rel="noreferrer noopener">beat the consensus estimate of $1.53.</a>



Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/03/44147956/ross-stores-faces-slower-growth-with-shifts-in-lower-income-customers-preference-says-analyst" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ross Stores Faces Slower Growth With Shifts In Lower-Income Customers Preference, Says Analyst</a>



Macy&#8217;s&nbsp;held $1.3 billion in cash and equivalents&nbsp;as of February 1.&nbsp;Operating cash flow for twelve months totaled $1.3 billion with a free cash flow of $679 million.



Merchandise inventories were up 2.5%&nbsp;year-over-year. As of the end of FY24, total debt was $2.8 billion.



&#8220;As we close out the first year of the Bold New Chapter strategy, investments in the customer experience enabled us to achieve our highest comparable sales of the year, our best performance in 11 quarters,&#8221; said&nbsp;chairman&nbsp;and CEO Tony Spring.



Outlook: Macy&#8217;s expects FY25 revenue of $21.0 billion – $21.4 billion, against the consensus of $21.811 billion. The company sees FY25 adjusted EPS of $2.05 &#8211; $2.25 against the estimate of $2.31.



Macy&#8217;s&nbsp;currently sees FY25 comparable owned-plus-licensed-plus-marketplace sales <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/guidance" rel="noreferrer noopener">of -2% to -0.5%.</a>



Price Action: M shares traded lower by 4.13% at $12.76 at last check Thursday.



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/03/44143576/apples-latest-macbook-air-with-m4-chip-is-twice-as-fast-as-its-predecessor-with-lower-price" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Apple&#8217;s Latest MacBook Air With M4 Chip Is Twice As Fast As Its Predecessor With Lower Price</a></li>
</ul>



Photo via Shutterstock.

Movers

General

Macy's Q4 Revenue Lag And Annual Outlook Disappoints Investors, Stock Slides

Jim Cramer voiced support for CrowdStrike Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRWD#NASDAQ">CRWD</a>) on Wednesday, challenging bearish analysts by purchasing shares for his Charitable Trust despite the cybersecurity firm&#8217;s recent stock decline.



What Happened: &#8220;We bought some Crowdstrike today for the Charitable Trust thinking the analysts who were so negative today had it wrong,&#8221; CNBC&#8217;s Cramer wrote on X, inviting viewers to watch his interview with CEO George Kurtz.



During the <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/03/05/cramer-suggests-trump-is-upending-the-way-investors-evaluate-stocks.html">interview</a>, Kurtz painted a concerning picture of today&#8217;s cybersecurity landscape, noting that geopolitical tensions are driving increased threat activity. &#8220;Adversaries get more active, nation state adversaries get more active, and certainly in the confusion of that, you have the e-criminals that come out,&#8221; he told Cramer.



Kurtz revealed that hackers can now breach and navigate systems in just 51 seconds, a speed unprecedented in the company&#8217;s experience. He also described sophisticated schemes by North Korean hackers who apply for remote jobs at well-known companies, receive company laptops, and redirect them to &#8220;laptop farms&#8221; controlled by North Korean operatives.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">We bought some Crowdstrike today for the Charitable Trust thinking the analysts who were so negative today had it wrong. Watch George Kurtz tonight on <a href="https://twitter.com/MadMoneyOnCNBC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MadMoneyOnCNBC</a> to see if we are right!&mdash; Jim Cramer (@jimcramer) <a href="https://twitter.com/jimcramer/status/1897407203767918880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 5, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/03/44068159/nba-legend-shaq-says-his-net-worth-quadrupled-once-he-took-note-from-jeff-bezos-and-started-investing-in-things-that-change-peoples-lives" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA Legend Shaq Says His Net Worth ‘Quadrupled' Once He Took Note From Jeff Bezos And Started Investing In Things That ‘Change People's Lives'</a>



Why It Matters: The CrowdStrike CEO highlighted how agentic AI is creating demand for new cybersecurity solutions, comparing it to previous technology cycles that necessitated enhanced security measures. 



Despite beating analyst expectations with fourth-quarter revenue of $1.058 billion and adjusted earnings of $1.03 per share, CrowdStrike shares fell over 6% Wednesday following soft earnings guidance. The company expects first-quarter adjusted earnings of 64-66 cents per share, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/03/44127302/crowdstrike-q4-earnings-revenue-beat-eps-beat-strong-momentum-shares-slide-on-soft-guidance">below analysts&#8217; 95-cent estimate</a>.



On the earnings call, Kurtz described the company as a &#8220;comeback story&#8221; following last year&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/03/44127302/crowdstrike-q4-earnings-revenue-beat-eps-beat-strong-momentum-shares-slide-on-soft-guidance">major global outage</a>, pointing to strong momentum in cloud security and identity protection businesses that now exceed $1.3 billion in combined annual recurring revenue



Price Action: CrowdStrike closed at $365.44 on Wednesday, down 6.34%. After hours, it rose 0.13% to $365.90. The stock is up 5.21% year to date and 22.81% over the past year, according to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">data from Benzinga Pro</a>.



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/03/44065932/mark-cuban-was-asked-how-hed-invest-100k-his-answer-buy-bulk-toothpaste-and-soup-for-the-best-guaranteed-return-on-investment" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mark Cuban Was Asked How He'd Invest $100K — His Answer? Buy Bulk Toothpaste And Soup For The ‘Best Guaranteed Return On Investment'</a></li>
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Image Via Shutterstock



Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

CRWD

Jim Cramer Doubles Down On CrowdStrike Despite Drop: 'Analysts Who Were So Negative…Had It Wrong'

Leading cryptocurrencies rallied on Wednesday on news that Bitcoin would be granted special status in the national strategic cryptocurrency reserve.



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Cryptocurrency</td><td>Gains +/-</td><td>Price (Recorded at 7:45 p.m. ET)</td></tr><tr><td>Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>)</td><td>+4.01%</td><td>$90,164.31</td></tr><tr><td>Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>+3.79%</td><td>$2,245.90</td></tr><tr><td>Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>+2.42%</td><td>$0.2029</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



What Happened: The apex cryptocurrency surpassed $90,000, recouping gains lost due to the ongoing tariff announcements by President Donald Trump.



The momentum trickled to the rest of the market as Ethereum sailed past $2,500, hitting an intraday high of $2,272.80.



The improvement in sentiment came after Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick indicated <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/03/44143660/howard-lutnick-says-president-definitely-thinks-theres-a-bitcoin-strategic-reserve">major policy announcements</a> during Friday&#8217;s White House crypto summit. He confirmed that Bitcoin may receive special status in the national cryptocurrency reserve, but other tokens will be treated differently but positively.



The rally liquidated short positions worth $145 million from the cryptocurrency market in the last 24 hours.



Bitcoin's Open Interest popped 5.34%. A surge in spot price, coinciding with a jump in OI, indicated an influx of fresh money into the market.



More than 55% of traders on Binance were positioned long as of this writing, according to the Long/Short Ratio, implying a bullish sentiment.



In contrast, the Crypto Fear and Greed Index remained in the "Extreme Fear" zone.



Top Gainers (24-Hours)



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Cryptocurrency</td><td>Gains +/-</td><td>Price (Recorded at 7:45 p.m. ET)</td></tr><tr><td>Ondo (ONDO)</td><td>+19.90%</td><td>$1.15</td></tr><tr><td>Bitcoin Cash (BCH)</td><td>+18.82%</td><td>$387.05</td></tr><tr><td>Aptos (APT)</td><td>+13.63%</td><td>$6.20</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



The global cryptocurrency market capitalization stood at $2.96 trillion, following an increase of 3.30% in the last 24 hours.



Stocks recovered on Wednesday following two consecutive days of losses. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 485.60 points, or 1.14%, to close at 43,006.59. The S&amp;P 500 gained 1.12%, ending at 5,842.63, while the tech-focused Nasdaq Composite added 1.46% to close the session at 18,552.73.



The recovery came after the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44149833/trump-delays-ford-gm-stellantis-from-from-tariffs-on-mexico-canada-for-one-month">Trump administration paused tariffs on automobile manufacturers' imports</a> by one month, sending stocks of big automakers higher.



See More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-crypto-scanners">Best Cryptocurrency Scanners</a>



Analyst Notes: Widely followed cryptocurrency analyst, Ali Martinez, stated that if Bitcoin reclaims $97,000, there is a strong chance of it moving toward $150,000, according to the Pi Cycle Top indicator.



The Pi Cycle Top Indicator is a technical indicator used to identify potential tops in Bitcoin&#8217;s price cycles.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">If <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bitcoin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bitcoin</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24BTC&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$BTC</a> reclaims $97,000, it could gain momentum for a move toward $150,000, according to the Pi Cycle Top indicator! <a href="https://t.co/yok308t4Jy">pic.twitter.com/yok308t4Jy</a>&mdash; Ali (@ali_charts) <a href="https://twitter.com/ali_charts/status/1897440993752100984?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Popular on-chain analytics firm Santiment noted a sharp drop in Ethereum sentiment owing to its underperformance relative to other large-cap cryptocurrencies.&nbsp;



"For those patiently holding their ETH, the bearishness being projected across social media is a good sign of a potential turnaround once crypto markets stabilize," the analytics firm predicted.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">&#x1f43b; Ethereum sentiment has declined to year-low levels as the asset has underperformed relative to other top caps. For those patiently holding their <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24ETH&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$ETH</a>, the bearishness being projected across social media is a good sign of a potential turnaround once crypto markets stabilize. <a href="https://t.co/iRaKTvb0Tu">pic.twitter.com/iRaKTvb0Tu</a>&mdash; Santiment (@santimentfeed) <a href="https://twitter.com/santimentfeed/status/1897453613162594338?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Photo by CMP_NZ on Shutterstock



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/specialty-etfs/25/03/44151496/trumps-crypto-push-ibit-vs-etha-which-etf-stands-to-gain-more">Trump&#8217;s Crypto Push: IBIT Vs. ETHA – Which ETF Stands To Gain More?</a></li>
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Trading Ideas

$DOGE

$ETH

Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin Spike Amid High Hopes From White House Crypto Summit: This Analyst Has Some Good News For Those 'Patiently Holding' Their ETH

In a decision made public on Tuesday, a U.S. federal judge has dismissed a shareholder lawsuit accusing Intel Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INTC#NASDAQ">INTC</a>) of misleading investors about its foundry business, which contributed to a $32 billion market value wipeout after the company reported heavy losses.



What Happened: Investors alleged that Intel concealed a $7 billion operating loss tied to its chip manufacturing unit, Intel Foundry Services, in the fiscal year 2023. The company only disclosed the figure in April 2024 after restructuring its financial reporting, reported Reuters.



However, U.S. District Judge Trina Thompson ruled that shareholders had incorrectly linked the loss to the foundry business and that Intel had not misled investors.



She also found that statements made by then-CEO Patrick Gelsinger in March 2024—claiming Intel had &#8220;significant traction&#8221; and &#8220;growing demand for our foundry offering&#8221;—were not fraudulent because they referred to specific customers rather than overall revenue.



Investors may still file an amended complaint, leaving the door open for further legal action.&nbsp;



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44070969/former-intel-ceo-craig-barrett-warns-that-splitting-the-company-would-be-a-costly-mistake-a-far-better-move-might-be-to-fire-the-intel-board-and-rehire-pat-gelsinger">&#8216;Fire The Intel Board,&#8217; Says Former CEO Craig Barrett As He Pushes Back On Breakup Plans, Urges Focus On Chipmaking Wins</a>



Why It Matters: Intel has struggled to <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/tech/25/02/43680696/bill-gates-has-a-soft-spot-for-intel-but-says-the-chip-giant-has-lost-its-way-questions-whether-the-company-can-recover-after-ceo-exit-and-falling-behind-in-ai">compete with major chipmakers</a> like Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSM#NYSE">TSM</a>), especially amid the artificial intelligence boom.&nbsp;



Last month, it was reported that Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVGO#NASDAQ">AVGO</a>) and TSMC are exploring deals that could <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/markets/25/02/43761300/intel-could-be-split-in-two-as-broadcom-and-tsmc-explore-deals-trump-white-house-resists-foreign-ownership-report">result in the breakup</a> of Intel.



In January, the company announced its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/insights/earnings/25/01/43353848/intel-earnings-analysis-q4-recap">fourth-quarter earnings</a>, showing a $1.15 billion drop in revenue compared to the previous year. Its market capitalization is currently $90.10 billion.



Intel is <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43965130/intels-panther-lake-yield-under-30-says-top-analyst-mass-production-in-second-half-of-2025-challenging">currently relies</a> on its advanced 18A process node to regain profitability by 2026. This cutting-edge technology will be used in upcoming products like Panther Lake and Clearwater Forest.



Last week it was reported that Intel may not launch its chip fabrication plant in Ohio until 2030 or 2031. Financial struggles have forced the company to delay its $28 billion semiconductor project in central <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/media/25/02/44052935/intel-delays-28-billion-ohio-chip-plant-again-pushing-opening-to-2030-amid-financial-struggles">Ohio for a second time</a> in 2025.



Price Action: Intel's stock ended Wednesday at $20.81, down 2.44%. It slipped another 0.62% in after-hours trading. So far this year, the stock has risen 2.92%, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro data</a>.



Photo Courtesy: Shutterstock.com



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Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Legal

Tech

Media

AVGO

INTC

NVDA

Intel Beats Investor Lawsuit After $32 Billion Stock Plunge—Judge Rules Foundry Losses Weren't Misleading

President Donald Trump is partly stepping back from <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/03/44143647/trump-considering-tariff-relief-for-mexico-canada-commerce-secretary-lutnick-says">his tariffs on Mexico and Canada</a> by pausing levies on automobile manufacturers&#8217; imports, including Ford Motor Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/F#NYSE">F</a>), General Motors Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GM#NYSE">GM</a>) and Stellantis NV (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STLA#NYSE">STLA</a>).



What Happened: Bloomberg <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-03-05/us-weighs-one-month-delay-of-auto-tariffs-on-canada-mexico">reported</a> on Wednesday that Trump had indeed made an exemption for the automotive industry after talking to industry leaders on Tuesday.



The tariffs on automakers were delayed by one month, similar to Trump&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/02/43440692/us-mexico-agrees-on-one-month-tariffs-pause-stocks-rebound-peso-rallies">delay in February</a>.



&#8220;Reciprocal tariffs will still go into effect on April, 2, but at the request of the companies associated with USMCA [United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement], the president is giving them an exemption for one month so they are not at an economic disadvantage," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.



Why it Matters: Experts say that tariffs impacting automakers could leave consumers <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44119668/trump-tariffs-could-make-your-next-car-12000-more-expensive-expert-says-25-fees-will-have-a-sharp-negative-effect">paying substantially more</a> for vehicles and sink automotive sales. Tariffs are taxes paid by domestic importers that are often passed along to consumers in the form of price hikes.



Trump has long championed tariffs as a means to bring back manufacturing jobs to the United States. Many economists are <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/02/43649264/mohamed-el-erian-says-trumps-uncooperative-tariff-play-can-benefit-america-but-could-lead-to-welfare-losses-in-long-term">skeptical of Trump&#8217;s plans</a> and believe tariff policies could lead to stagflation. While the U.S. economy specialized in manufacturing throughout the 20th century, the U.S. has recently dominated services industries.



Automotive manufacturers, including Ford, GM and Stellantis, offshored much of their production to other countries to reduce labor costs. All three OEMs have struggled in recent years, particularly Stellantis whose stock has fallen over 50% in the past year.



Price Action: The Big Three automakers saw upward price action on Wednesday following the news:



<ul>
<li>Shares of Ford traded up 4.6%</li>



<li>Shares of General Motors traded up 6%</li>



<li>Shares of Stellantis traded up 8.3%</li>
</ul>



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</ul>



Photo: Shutterstock

Movers & Shakers

STLA

Trump Delays Ford, GM, Stellantis Tariffs On Mexico, Canada For One Month

Marvell Technology Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRVL#NASDAQ">MRVL</a>) released its fourth-quarter results after Wednesday's closing bell. Here's a look at the details from the report.&nbsp;



The Details:&nbsp;Marvell reported adjusted earnings of 60 cents per share, beating the 59 cent consensus estimate. Quarterly revenue came in at $1.81 billion, which beat the&nbsp;$1.79 billion analyst consensus estimate.



The company also reported cash flow from operations for the fourth quarter of $514 million and 60.1% non-GAAP gross margin. 



Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/econ-s/25/03/44143666/us-services-sector-unexpectedly-expands-in-february-despite-slowing-job-growth">US Services Sector Unexpectedly Expands In February Despite Slowing Job Growth</a>&nbsp;



&#8220;We closed fiscal year 2025 on a high note, delivering record fourth-quarter revenue of $1.817 billion — an increase of 20% sequentially and 27% year-over-year. This performance was driven by strong growth in our data center end market, where revenue increased 78% year-over-year in the fourth quarter, along with a continued recovery in our multi-market businesses,&#8221; said&nbsp;Matt Murphy, Marvell&#8217;s CEO.



Outlook:&nbsp;Marvell expects first-quarter revenue in a range of $1.78 billion to $1.96 billion, versus the $1.87 billion estimate. 



MRVL Price Action: According to data from <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?gspk=YWRhbWVja2VydDUzMzY&amp;gsxid=zBMR4PKmcgBw">Benzinga Pro</a>, Marvell Technology shares were down 16.80% after hours at $75 on Wednesday.  



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Photo: Shutterstock

Earnings

After-Hours Center

Marvell Technology Stock Drops After Q4 Results, Q1 Guidance Roughly In-Line: Details

Benzinga is pleased to announce the conclusion of our highly anticipated debate on the topic:&nbsp;



Gold vs. Bitcoin: Which is the better reserve asset and why?



Our contributors truly rose to the occasion, offering thought-provoking perspectives and compelling arguments throughout the discussion. This engaging exchange has provided valuable insights into the strengths and challenges of both assets, sparking meaningful dialogue about their roles in the future of financial strategy.&nbsp;



Participants:



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/dr-john-sinclair">Dr. John Alexander Sinclair</a>: The founder of Positive Trends Research and the director of Options &amp; Derivatives Education.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/julia-mindmoney-eu">Julia Khandoshko</a>: The CEO of Mind Money, a leading European investment technology and financial engineering hub.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/kadan-stadelmann">Kadan Stadelmann</a>: The Chief Technology Officer, Komodo Platform, a blockchain developer, and operations security expert.&nbsp;



Read on for a comprehensive summary of the debate and the key takeaways that emerged.



Gold Vs. Bitcoin: Which Is The Better Reserve Asset And Why? Experts Weigh In



The recent announcement of government-backed crypto reserves by President Trump has sparked significant debate about the future of digital currencies as reserve assets and Bitcoin's viability as a reserve asset is an evolving theme in the discussion.



Bitcoin is long seen as a hedge against inflation but its price volatility has hindered its adoption as a stable reserve asset.



With the introduction of crypto reserves by the U.S. Government &#8211; Bitcoin&#8217;s legitimacy could be enhanced in the global economy. But will this make Bitcoin a safer reserve asset, or will its volatility continue to undermine its reliability? A new administration in four years could possibly dissolve the crypto reserve, so what are the guarantees?



On the other hand, Gold has maintained its status as the cornerstone of global reserves due to its stability, limited supply, and intrinsic value. But the shiny, yellow metal does have significant drawbacks when used as a reserve asset, including limited growth potential, lack of income generation, and vulnerability to theft among other concerns.



Senator Cynthia Lummis has proposed legislation aimed at leveraging gold certificates stored in the Federal Reserve&#8217;s 12 banks to finance future bitcoin purchases. So, is selling gold to buy Bitcoin a good idea?



We turned to our contributors for opinions and analysis. They rose to the challenge with their nuanced perspectives…



John Alexander Sinclair sees Bitcoin as a stronger reserve asset. While acknowledging Gold&#8217;s historical role as a store of value, Dr. Sinclair cites its physical limitations—transport, storage, and divisibility—that contrast sharply with Bitcoin's advantages in a digital world.



"Bitcoin is decentralized, portable, and censorship-resistant, making it an ideal hedge against financial instability and government intervention. Unlike gold, Bitcoin can be moved globally in seconds, providing a level of liquidity unmatched by any other asset," argues&nbsp;Sinclair.&nbsp;



Julia Khandoshko perceives Bitcoin as a high-potential but dependent asset. "It is a relatively new asset class that has shown remarkable growth and volatility. Bitcoin's decentralization and fixed supply make it an attractive option for those looking to escape traditional monetary policies. But Bitcoin's value is deeply intertwined with technological trends, regulatory decisions, and macroeconomic factors such as interest rate policies. Its price swings are often dictated by investor sentiment, regulatory developments, and broader economic factors."&nbsp;



Sinclair affirms that volatility concerns with bitcoin are valid, but he also points out that Bitcoin has survived multiple bear markets and consistently rebounded stronger. "Institutional adoption continues to grow, with major financial firms integrating Bitcoin into their portfolios. The emergence of spot Bitcoin ETFs has further legitimized its status as a mainstream asset."



Now, the introduction of crypto reserves further solidifies Bitcoin's position and credibility.&nbsp;



Kadan Stadelmann likes the idea of a bitcoin reserve, just not in isolation though. "The United States stockpiles strategic assets like gold, which bolster financial stability. The petroleum reserves safeguard against economic shocks. A Strategic Bitcoin Reserve is the same idea, but in the digital realm. It could act as a financial hedge. Like the gold reserve, it could help support the U.S. Dollar."



And, Stadelmann is against selling gold to accumulate Bitcoin. "It's not a sound strategy. Substituting Bitcoin for gold at the nation-state level is a very risky prospect. Bitcoin is digital gold. Gold is physical gold. Each serves its own purpose. The Bitcoin Reserve should not replace the U.S.' gold stockpile. Instead, it should diversify the U.S.' balance sheet alongside gold."



Julia Khandoshko agrees with Stadelmann's viewpoint. "Investors need to understand that buying Bitcoin is not just acquiring a digital commodity; it's an investment in a system that is influenced by multiple external forces, including institutional adoption, regulatory stances, and market speculation. On the other hand, gold is a timeless and independent asset. Its independence from financial systems makes it an unparalleled hedge against inflation and economic crises. In contrast to gold's stability, Bitcoin's performance is more akin to that of a high-growth technology stock."



Khandoshko leans towards gold. "Unlike fiat currencies or other financial instruments, gold does not rely on external policies, government regulations, or market sentiment. It is simply gold—an asset that does not require investors to track political developments, interest rate decisions, or macroeconomic policies."



But Sinclair is quick to cite Bitcoin's added advantage of transparency. "Every transaction is verifiable on the blockchain, reducing risks associated with gold reserves, which can be manipulated or rehypothecated. Moreover, Bitcoin's scarcity—capped at 21 million coins—mirrors gold's limited supply."



How does Khandoshko view Bitcoin as a reserve asset?



She thinks that Bitcoin's potential as a reserve asset depends on how investors perceive its role in the financial ecosystem. "While some argue that it represents the future of digital wealth storage, others see it as a speculative asset influenced by unpredictable external factors. Gold, on the other hand, continues to be a universal standard of value that requires no external validation."



So, does she consider gold a better reserve asset compared to Bitcoin?



Khandoshko responds in the affirmative, "While Bitcoin may offer impressive growth opportunities, gold remains a steadfast store of value that does not rely on economic policies or market trends. For those seeking a truly independent asset, gold still holds the upper hand in 2025."



To Sinclair, Bitcoin remains the most compelling choice, as nations and corporations look for a digital alternative to traditional reserves.



And Stadelmann believes that "From a geopolitical perspective, the US should look to dominate the sound money space in both the physical and digital realms by maintaining its gold reserves while adding a Bitcoin Reserve."

Commodities

Opinion

Federal Reserve

Exclusives

A Benzinga Debate On Federal Reserve Assets: Our Contributors Speak On Gold, Bitcoin

The Federal Reserve's Beige Book released Wednesday showed a slight increase in overall economic activity since mid-January, with six Districts reporting no change, four reporting modest or moderate growth and two noting slight contractions. However, consumer spending decreased while price sensitivity for discretionary items increased, particularly among <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/market-summary/25/02/44015237/pending-home-sales-crash-to-record-low-jobless-claims-soar-wall-street-reacts">lower income consumers.&nbsp;</a>



Key Points from the national summary of all twelve Federal Reserve Districts:&nbsp;



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Prices</h3>



Prices increased moderately in most Districts, with some reporting an uptick in the pace of increase. Input price pressures were generally greater than sales price pressures, particularly in manufacturing and construction.



<ul>
<li>Higher prices for eggs and other food ingredients impacted food processors and restaurants.</li>



<li>Substantial increases in insurance and freight transportation costs were widely reported.&nbsp;</li>



<li>Severe weather conditions weakened demand for leisure and hospitality services and vehicle sales were modestly lower on balance.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Sector-Specific Trends</h3>



<ul>
<li>Manufacturing activity showed slight to modest increases across most Districts.</li>



<li>Banking activity was slightly higher on balance.</li>



<li>Residential real estate markets were mixed, with ongoing inventory constraints.&nbsp;</li>



<li>Construction activity declined modestly for both residential and nonresidential units.</li>



<li>Agricultural conditions deteriorated in the Fed's 12 Districts. </li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Labor Markets&nbsp;</h3>



<ul>
<li>Employment increased slightly overall, with four Districts reporting a slight increase, seven reporting no change and one reporting a slight decline.</li>



<li>Labor availability improved for many sectors, though some targeted areas remained tight.</li>



<li>Wage growth slowed slightly, occurring at a modest-to-moderate pace.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Market Reactions</h3>



Markets showed little reaction to the Beige Book release, instead recovering some of the week's losses after President Donald Trump said he will delay auto tariffs for one month.&nbsp;



The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>), tracking the S&amp;P 500, was up 1.17% at $583.62 and the Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), tracking the Nasdaq 100 index, was up 1.43% at $502.62 at the time of publication.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Read Next:



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/25/03/44098232/markets-tank-after-trump-confirms-more-tariffs-heres-what-wall-street-is-saying">Markets Tank After Trump Confirms More Tariffs: Here&#8217;s What Wall Street Is Saying</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

Fed's Beige Book Shows Slight Growth: Consumer Spending Slips As Prices Rise

The Symbol ORAN was not found. Here are some similar symbols and popular symbols to consider.

ORAN Page Not Found - Benzinga

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