U.S. stock futures declined on Thursday following the Federal Open Market Committee&#8217;s (FOMC) decision on Wednesday. Futures of all four benchmark indices were lower in premarket trading.



On Wednesday, the stocks advanced after Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell announced that the inflation caused by President Donald Trump&#8217;s tariffs would be &#8220;transitory&#8221; in nature. Furthermore, the &#8220;dot plot&#8221; projected two rate cuts in 2025, maintaining the Fed&#8217;s initial forecast.



The 10-year Treasury yield stood at 4.22%, while the two-year yield was at 3.97%. According <a href="https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-fedwatch-tool.html">to</a> the CME Group's FedWatch tool, there is an 82.6% chance that the Federal Reserve will keep the interest rates unchanged during its May 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>-0.83%</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>-0.66%</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>-0.53%</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>-0.75%</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. The SPY was up 0.29% to $568.76, and the QQQ advanced 0.40% to $482.80, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.



Cues From The Last Session



Energy, technology, and consumer discretionary sectors led a broad rally on Wednesday, propelling the S&amp;P 500 index. This surge occurred alongside the Federal Reserve&#8217;s decision to maintain interest rates.



Despite projecting two 2025 rate cuts, the Fed&#8217;s dot plot now signals lower growth and higher inflation, sparking stagflation worries.



Notably, Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) rebounded 1.8% after its CEO&#8217;s address, and Boeing Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>) soared nearly 7% on delivery and cash flow improvement plans. Meanwhile, mortgage applications declined, but all S&amp;P 500 sectors closed positively.



As of Wednesday, the Nasdaq 100 remains in correction territory, having fallen 11.19% from its prior peak. Similarly, the Dow Jones and S&amp;P 500 have dropped 6.70% and 7.68%, respectively, from their 52-week highs.



<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>1.41%</td><td>17,750.79</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>1.08%</td><td>5,675.29</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>0.92%</td><td>41,964.63</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>1.57%</td><td>2,082.08</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Insights From Analysts



Market volatility, driven by tariff uncertainties and federal job cuts, has created a buying opportunity, according to Scott Wren, Senior Global Market Strategist. &#8220;The pullback in equities offers an opportunity,&#8221; he said.



Despite recent market pullbacks, Wren advises shifting from bonds to equities. He argues that while tariffs and job cuts introduce costs, their impact on the overall economy, particularly the likelihood of a recession, is minimal.



Tariffs, while causing localized price increases, won&#8217;t uniformly affect U.S. firms, and federal layoffs represent a small portion of the labor market, with historical data suggesting displaced workers find alternative employment. Wren also notes that tariff revenue and federal budget savings tend to be limited.



He added that strong labor market fundamentals and healthy household finances support continued consumer spending, mitigating recession risks. &#8220;We think the economy will grow a little more slowly than in 2024, but the consumer and the labor market look more like their averages of the past 15 years than a prelude to a recession,&#8221; he said.



Mohamed El-Erian, a prominent economist, criticized the Federal Reserve&#8217;s recent communication, citing their past error in labeling inflation as &#8220;transitory.&#8221; He believes the Fed should be more cautious, especially given their previous misjudgment and current economic uncertainties.



<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">The word — "transitory" — is back at the Federal Reserve as Chair Powell characterizes the price effects of tariffs as a one-off. I would have thought that, particularly after the big policy mistake of earlier this decade and given all the current uncertainties, some Fed…&mdash; Mohamed A. El-Erian (@elerianm) <a href="https://twitter.com/elerianm/status/1902435256927388049?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 19, 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/money/how-to-trade-futures">How to Trade Futures</a>



Upcoming Economic Data



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



<ul>
<li>The initial jobless claims data for the week ended March 15 and the Philadelphia Fed manufacturing survey data for March will be out by 8:30 a.m., ET.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>February&#8217;s existing home sales and U.S. leading economic indicators data will be released by 10:00 a.m., ET.</li>
</ul>



Stocks In Focus:



<ul>
<li>Accenture Plc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ACN#NYSE">ACN</a>) was down 0.30% in premarket on Thursday ahead of its earnings before the opening bell. Analysts expect earnings of $2.82 per share on revenue of $16.62 billion.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Jabil Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JBL#NYSE">JBL</a>) advanced 0.67% as Wall Street expects it to report earnings of $1.83 per share on the revenue of $6.41 billion before the opening bell.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Micron Technology Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MU#NASDAQ">MU</a>) rose 0.73% ahead of its earnings after the closing bell. Analysts expect earnings of $1.42 per share on the revenue of $7.89 billion.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>FedEx Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FDX#NYSE">FDX</a>) was above the flatline by 0.07% as Wall Street expects it to report earnings of $4.54 per share on the revenue of $21.89 billion after the closing bell.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Microchip Technology Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCHP#NASDAQ">MCHP</a>) dropped 2.29% after announcing an offering of $1.35 billion in depository shares.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>OptiNose Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OPTN#NASDAQ">OPTN</a>) was 60.83% higher after it canceled its earnings conference call following its acquisition agreement with Paratek Pharmaceuticals</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>AGM Group Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AGMH#NASDAQ">AGMH</a>) surged 37.22% after it was given 180 by Nasdaq to get its stock price back up to $1.00 for maintaining compliance.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Virpax Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VRPX#NASDAQ">VRPX</a>) plunged 12.84% after it announced that it will execute a 1-for-25 reverse stock split on March 20, 2025, with trading on a split-adjusted basis beginning March 21, 2025. This reduces outstanding shares and proportionally adjusts equity awards.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Zoomcar Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ZCAR#NASDAQ">ZCAR</a>) slumped 28.45% after it said that it would implement a 1-for-20 reverse stock split on March 21, 2025, with adjusted trading beginning March 24, 2025. This aims to maintain Nasdaq compliance.</li>
</ul>



Commodities, Gold And Global Equity Markets:



Crude oil futures were trading higher in the early New York session by 0.67% to hover around $67.36 per barrel.



The gold spot index was down by 0.14% to $3,043.20 per ounce. Its last record high was at $3,057.36 per ounce. The Dollar Index was up by 0.32% at the 103.756 level.



Asian markets closed mixed on Thursday with China&#8217;s CSI 300, Hong Kong's Hang Seng, and Japan's Nikkei 225 index falling in trade. Whereas, India's S&amp;P BSE Sensex, South Korea's Kospi, and Australia's ASX 200 index advanced. European markets traded lower.



Read Next:



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44354638/mark-cuban-advises-genz-to-spend-every-waking-minute-learning-about-ai-amid-disruption-heres-a-list-of-ai-investm">Mark Cuban Advises GenZ To &#8216;Spend Every Waking Minute Learning About AI:&#8217; Here&#8217;s A List Of AI Investment Opportunities For Long Term</a></li>
</ul>



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

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US Stocks Likely To Open Lower After Fed Decision: Any Pullback In Equities 'Offers An Opportunity,' Says Expert

In the wake of escalating vandalism incidents, Tesla (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) owners are calling on CEO Elon Musk to implement enhanced security features.



What Happened: Reports of Tesla vehicles being set ablaze and showrooms being defaced have surged across the United States and in countries such as France and Germany. Even minor damages like keying can cause up to $1,000 in damages, often not covered by insurance or subject to high co-pay fees. Hence, vehicle owners are demanding additional security features for protection, <a href="https://fortune.com/2025/03/19/scared-tesla-owners-petition-elon-musk-to-help-prevent-car-attacks/">reported</a> Fortune.



Tesla owner and investor Sawyer Merritt expressed his concerns in an online forum, &#8220;I&nbsp;really hope Tesla is working&nbsp;on some sort of defensive&nbsp;measures…just something extra to make&nbsp;Tesla owners feel a little&nbsp;bit better about parking in&nbsp;public parking lots.&#8221;



Although all&nbsp;Tesla cars feature&nbsp;a Sentry Mode that records suspicious activity, it has not been effective in deterring vandalism as many individuals are oblivious to the fact that they are being recorded. Recent arson incidents in Las Vegas and an attack at a Kansas City showroom have heightened these concerns.



Despite Tesla vehicles&#8217; operating system&#8217;s ability to add new features through over-the-air updates, no such security enhancements have been introduced yet. This is amid speculations that Tesla owners are being targeted due to Musk&#8217;s controversial federal cost-cutting role in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)



John Stringer, President of the Tesla Owners Silicon Valley club, stated, &#8220;Within the community, there definitely is fear right now.&#8221;



SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/03/44363871/peter-schiff-slams-bitcoin-etfs-calls-selling-gold-for-btc-worst-timed-trade-in-history">Peter Schiff Slams Bitcoin ETFs, Calls Selling Gold For BTC &#8216;Worst-Timed Trade In History&#8217;</a>



Why It Matters: This plea for enhanced security comes on the heels of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/03/44390358/elon-musk-calls-it-extreme-domestic-terrorism-after-website-publishes-data-on-us-tesla-owners">reports</a>&nbsp;that a website named &#8220;Dogequest&#8221; had published personal information of Tesla owners across the U.S. The website featured an interactive map with a Molotov cocktail cursor, and the data leak included names, addresses, and phone numbers of Tesla owners.&nbsp;



Elon Musk condemned the act, labeling it as &#8220;extreme domestic terrorism.&#8221; &nbsp;In Tuesday's interview on Fox News's&nbsp;Sean Hannity,&nbsp;Musk&nbsp;responded to the protests, expressing surprise at the "level of hatred&nbsp;and violence from the [political]&nbsp;left."



Also, U.S. Attorney General&nbsp;Pam Bondi called the&nbsp;ongoing vandalism against Tesla vehicle owners &nbsp;"nothing short of domestic terrorism" and vowed to impose severe penalties on offenders if apprehended. Meanwhile, CNN reported that the FBI is investigating incidents of Tesla vehicles being shot at and set on fire at a facility in Las Vegas.



On Wednesday, Tesla climbed 4.68% to close at $235.86. Over the past 30 days, the stock lost more than 33%, as per <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a>.



<ul>
<li>READ MORE: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/03/44410479/federal-reserve-brings-back-transitory-inflation-amid-tariff-war-economist-mohamed-el-erian-calls-it-a-big-policy-mistake">Federal Reserve Brings Back &#8216;Transitory&#8217; Inflation Amid Tariff War: Economist Mohamed El-Erian Calls It A &#8216;Big Policy Mistake&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>



Image via Shutterstock



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

Tech

TSLA

Tesla Owners Call On Elon Musk For Advanced Security Features Amid Rising Vandalism: 'There Definitely Is Fear Right Now'

Copper prices have surged above $10,000 per metric ton on the London Metal Exchange (LME) for the first time since October. On LME, copper has gained 14% year-to-date, while <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/copper" rel="noreferrer noopener">U.S. copper futures</a> surged 26%.



The price differential widened to $1,200 per metric ton, creating arbitrage opportunities. Since copper futures result in physical delivery on maturity, buyers have scrambled to move supplies into the U.S.



Between 100,000 and 150,000 metric tons of copper will arrive in the U.S. in the coming weeks, potentially surpassing the monthly import record of 136,951 tons set in January 2022.



Leading commodity traders, including Trafigura, Glencore, and Gunvor, have aggressively rerouted shipments, with additional warehouse space being secured in New Orleans and Baltimore to handle the influx.



Still, the 12% differential between the domestic and foreign copper prices is around half of anticipated copper tariffs.



On February 25, President Donald Trump signed an executive action directing the U.S. Commerce Department to investigate copper imports on national security grounds. Leading institutions, including Goldman Sachs and Citigroup, responded, predicting a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/guidance/25/03/44271394/goldman-sachs-sees-copper-imports-increasing-tariffs-as-fcx-positions-to-benefit" rel="noreferrer noopener">25% tariff</a> on imported copper by year-end.



"Copper's rise is being driven solely by supply concerns surrounding the potential for universal tariffs to be placed on all imports of copper into the US," Natalie Scott-Gray, a senior metals demand analyst at StoneX, <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/neilksethi/status/1902053890079535258" rel="noreferrer noopener">said</a>, warning about the high reliance on foreign copper.



According to ING, in 2024, the U.S. imported <a target="_blank" href="https://think.ing.com/articles/industrial-metals-monthly-us-copper-tariff-risks-pull-more-metal-to-the-us/" rel="noreferrer noopener">850,000 tons</a> of refined copper, excluding scrap. Chile was the largest supplier, accounting for 41% of imports, while 27% came from Canada.



Despite efforts to increase local production, output has steadily declined, falling 3% in 2024 after an 11% drop in 2023. Freeport-McMoRan (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FCX#NYSE">FCX</a>), the largest U.S. producer, has faced declining ore grades, environmental regulations, and permitting challenges, limiting the ability to ramp up domestic supply.



The firm's CEO, Kathleen Quirk, has called for Trump's administration to classify copper as a critical mineral, anticipating a $500 million windfall from tax credits tied to the Inflation Reduction Act. Quirk sees Freeport's domestic production growing by 8%, targeting an output of 225,000 metric tons, none of which will be exported.



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44375055/trump-turns-to-beautiful-clean-coal-to-address-domestic-energy-demand" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trump Turns To ‘Beautiful, Clean Coal' To Address Domestic Energy Demand</a></li>
</ul>



Photo via Shutterstock

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COPX

CPER

FQVLF

JJCTF

LUNMF

MTAL

SCCO

Copper Surges As Arbitrage Opportunity Drives US Imports

&nbsp;Jamie Dimon, CEO of&nbsp;JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co.&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>), expressed his views on the current economic landscape, highlighting concerns over geopolitical tensions and potential tariff impacts.



What Happened: In a recent conversation with Abode (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ADBE#NASDAQ">ADBE</a>) CEO Shantanu Narayen at Adobe&#8217;s annual summit, Dimon characterized the economy as being in a &#8220;soft landing&#8221; phase, "but there's a lot of turbulence out there." He underscored the uncertainty surrounding President Donald Trump&#8216;s proposed tax plan and the potential ramifications of tariffs on the global economy, <a href="https://fortune.com/2025/03/19/jamie-dimon-on-tariffs-geopolitics-and-the-misery-facing-the-bottom-20-of-u-s-earners/">reported</a> Fortune.



Geopolitical issues, especially the situations in Ukraine, Russia, and the Middle East, were also a point of concern for Dimon. He emphasized their impact on the future of free democratic societies.



On the topic of consumer spending in the U.S., Dimon noted a reduction in spending among lower-income individuals, while wealthier individuals remain significantly wealthier due to the rise in home&nbsp;and stock prices over the&nbsp;past two decades.



"The bottom 20% [of earners in the U.S.] didn't get a pay raise for 25 years; they're dying younger. Their schools aren't good and they live in crime-ridden neighborhoods,&#8221; stated Dimon as he expressed concern.



Addressing inflation, Dimon expressed optimism for its decrease. He acknowledged that the transition to a green economy and trade restructuring could lead to inflation, advising the audience to focus on long-term trends rather than the latest inflation reports.



SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44410584/amid-bitcoins-decline-gold-backed-cryptos-have-returned-solid-gains-this-year">Bitcoin&#8217;s Recent Struggles Aside, Gold Hit A New All-Time High Shining A Bright Spotlight On These Precious Metal Cryptos That Rocked In 2025</a>



Why It Matters: Trump&#8217;s recent tariff announcements have received mixed reactions from leading economists. While, Lawrence H. Summers, former U.S. Treasury Secretary,<a href="https://editorial.benzinga.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=833010&amp;action=edit"> strongly criticized</a> recent tariff policies, cautioning against potential recession risks and adverse long-term effects.



However,&nbsp;Justin Wolfers, Senior Fellow at&nbsp;Brookings Institute,&nbsp;stated that a recession is ‘not inevitable,' while reasoning that Trump inherited a robust U.S. economy and has not been in office long enough to significantly alter it.



Dimon&#8217;s recent remarks at the Adobe summit provide further insight into his perspective on the broader economic landscape, highlighting potential challenges and uncertainties that could impact the global economy and consumer spending.



<ul>
<li>READ MORE: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44409322/masayoshi-sons-softbank-buys-oracle-backed-ampere-for-65-billion-to-power-us-ai-push">Masayoshi Son&#8217;s SoftBank Buys Oracle-Backed Ampere For $6.5 Billion To Boost US AI Push</a></li>
</ul>



Image via Shutterstock



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

ADBE

Jamie Dimon Says 'There's A Lot Of Turbulence Out There' Amid Trump Tariffs, Inflation Woes And Geopolitical Risks

Leading cryptocurrencies ushered in a strong rally Wednesday after Ripple Labs' announced victory in the SEC lawsuit and dovish signals from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.



<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 8:45 p.m. ET)</td></tr><tr><td>Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>)</td><td>+3.53%</td><td>$86,130.95</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>+4.49%</td><td>$2,032.82</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>+4.38%</td><td>$0.1763</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



What Happened: Bitcoin surged to a 10-day high of $87,443.27 late evening, before profit-taking pulled it back to the $86,000 region.



Ethereum reclaimed $2,000 after ten days, with the second-largest cryptocurrency soaring 4.5% over the previous day.



The bullish cryptocurrency-specific catalyst was Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse's <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/03/44398151/ripple-ceo-announces-victory-as-sec-drops-appeal-in-xrp-lawsuit">announcement </a>that the SEC won't seek further appeals in the four-year-long legal case. The news also sent XRP, the coin at the center of the dispute, rallying nearly 10%.



The northward movement liquidated $355 million from the cryptocurrency market over the last 24 hours, with short positions accounting for $258 million.



The rally in spot prices also energized the derivatives market, with Open Interest for both Bitcoin and Ethereum contracts surging over 6%.



Interestingly, the majority of Bitcoin speculative traders were positioned short as of this writing, according to the Long/Short ratio.



The market turned "Neutral" after a prolonged stay in the "Fear" zone, according to the Crypto Fear and Greed Index.



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 8:45 p.m. ET)</td></tr><tr><td>XRP (XRP)</td><td>+9.53%</td><td>$2.52</td></tr><tr><td>Bonk (BONK)</td><td>+9.33%</td><td>$0.00001201</td></tr><tr><td>Sonic (S)</td><td>+8.33%</td><td>$0.5423</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



The global cryptocurrency market capitalization stood at $2.84 trillion, expanding&nbsp; 4.17% in the last 24 hours.



Stocks rebounded Wednesday after dovish signals from the Fed. The Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 383.32 points, or 0.92%, to close at 41,964.63. The S&amp;P 500 rose 1.08%, ending at 5,675.29, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite spiked 1.41% to close at 17,750.79.



On expected lines, the central bank <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/03/44405112/tariff-inflation-may-be-transitory-powell-says-stocks-rally-bitcoin-clears-85000-as-bulls-return">kept the benchmark interest rates unchanged</a> at the current 4.25%-4.50% range, although it projected two rate cuts for the rest of the year.



Fed Chair Powell indicated that inflation driven by new trade tariffs might be "transitory," and that the recession risk remains "moderate" and "not high."



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



Analyst Notes: In a note to Benzinga, Chris Kline, COO and Co-Founder of BitcoinIRA, stated that the end of the XRP saga would "excite" the XRP community and boost adoption.



"I certainly know quite a few of our clients will be excited as it feels a lead weight has been lifted," Kline added.



Influential cryptocurrency analyst Ali Martinez said that while Ethereum may have breached the $2,000 resistance, $2,400 must be "conquered" for a bullish flip.



<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"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ethereum?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ethereum</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24ETH&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$ETH</a> smashed $2,000 today! But conquering the $2,400 zone is a must for a bullish flip. <a href="https://t.co/yzPHu0OoBf">pic.twitter.com/yzPHu0OoBf</a>&mdash; Ali (@ali_charts) <a href="https://twitter.com/ali_charts/status/1902399416260284502?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 19, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Photo by Avi Rozen on Shutterstock



Read Next:    



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/03/44395095/recession-would-be-a-big-catalyst-for-bitcoin-blackrocks-head-of-digital-assets-says">Recession Would Be &#8216;A Big Catalyst For Bitcoin,&#8217; BlackRock&#8217;s Head Of Digital Assets Says</a></li>
</ul>

Cryptocurrency

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Trading Ideas

$BTC

$DOGE

$ETH

Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin Rally On Jerome Powell's Dovish Signals: Analyst Says 'Lead Weight Has Been Lifted' As Ripple-SEC Case Concludes

On Wednesday, SoftBank Group (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBF#OTC">SFTBF</a>) (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBY#OTC">SFTBY</a>) announced that it has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/42890464/softbank-owned-arm-eyes-acquisition-of-oracle-backed-chip-designer-ampere-computing-amid-nvidias-dominance-report">acquired</a> Ampere Computing in a $6.5 billion deal, with the transaction expected to close in the second half of 2025.



What Happened: Ampere, backed by Oracle Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>) and Carlyle Group Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CG#NASDAQ">CG</a>), designs high-performance server chips based on Arm Holdings PLC – ADR (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARM#NASDAQ">ARM</a>) architecture.



Both Oracle and Carlyle will sell their stakes as part of the transaction.



Founded in 2017 by Renee James, a former Intel Corp president, Ampere will operate as an independent subsidiary of SoftBank and retain its headquarters in Santa Clara, California.



The company currently employs around 1,000 semiconductor engineers.



See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/01/42888800/goldman-sachs-flags-market-correction-risk-as-inflation-trump-policies-stir-uncertainty" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Goldman Sachs Flags Market Correction Risk As Inflation, Trump Policies Stir Uncertainty</a>



Why It's Important: The acquisition signals SoftBank's aggressive pivot toward AI infrastructure, <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/media/25/01/43374528/softbank-may-lead-openais-40-billion-funding-round-at-a-300-billion-valuation-despite-deepseek-disruption-report">following its partnership</a> with OpenAI and involvement in the Donald Trump-backed $500 billion Stargate initiative.



The move also bolsters SoftBank's Arm ecosystem, following its $32 billion acquisition of Arm in 2016 and Arm's 2023 IPO.



SoftBank also plans to build a <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/media/25/03/44327422/softbank-to-build-676-million-ai-data-center-in-japan-linked-to-openai-partnership">$676 million AI data center</a> in Japan. This facility is expected to support large-scale AI projects, further enhancing SoftBank&#8217;s AI ecosystem.



Earlier this week, the company also unveiled a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/03/44398359/softbank-unveils-ai-model-to-streamline-telecom-operations">new AI model</a> designed to optimize telecom operations.



Photo by NP27 on Shutterstock.



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

ORCL

SFTBF

SFTBY

Masayoshi Son's SoftBank Buys Oracle-Backed Ampere For $6.5 Billion To Boost US AI Push

The CNN Money Fear and Greed index showed some improvement in the overall market sentiment, while the index remained in the &#8220;Extreme Fear&#8221; zone on Wednesday.



U.S. stocks settled higher on Wednesday, with the S&amp;P 500 surging more than 1% during the session. The Federal Reserve maintained the federal funds rate unchanged at a range of 4.25% to 4.5%, with Chairman Jerome Powell reviving the term "transitory" to describe the potential inflationary effects of new tariffs.



While the Fed still projects two rate cuts in 2025 in its latest dot plot, projections now reflect lower growth and higher inflation, fueling renewed concerns about stagflation.



Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) rose 1.8%, snapping a two-day losing streak, following CEO Jensen Huang&#8217;s keynote speech the previous day. The Boeing Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>) surged around 7% after CFO Brian West outlined plans to boost aircraft deliveries and reduce first-quarter cash outflows, supported by improved factory efficiency and inventory reductions.



On the economic data front, U.S. mortgage applications declined by&nbsp;6.2%&nbsp;in the second week of March, following a cumulative&nbsp;37%&nbsp;increase from the two prior weeks.



All sectors on the S&amp;P 500 closed on a positive note, with energy, information technology, and consumer discretionary stocks recording the biggest gains on Wednesday.



The Dow Jones closed higher by around 383 points to 41,964.63 on Wednesday. The S&amp;P 500 rose 1.08% to 5,675.29, while the Nasdaq Composite climbed 1.41% at 17,750.79 during Wednesday's session.



Investors are awaiting earnings results from Accenture plc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ACN#NYSE">ACN</a>), Micron Technology Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MU#NASDAQ">MU</a>), and FedEx Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FDX#NYSE">FDX</a>) today.



What is CNN Business Fear &amp; Greed Index?



At a current reading of 22.4, the index remained in the &#8220;Extreme Fear&#8221; zone on Wednesday, versus a prior reading of 20.2.



The Fear &amp; Greed Index is a measure of the current market sentiment. It is based on the premise that higher fear exerts pressure on stock prices, while higher greed has the opposite effect. The index is calculated based on seven equal-weighted indicators. The index ranges from 0 to 100, where 0 represents maximum fear and 100 signals maximum greediness.



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</ul>



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Earnings

S&P 500 Surges Over 1% Following Fed Decision: Investor Fear Eases, Greed Index Remains In 'Extreme Fear' Zone

On Wednesday, Cathie Wood-led Ark Invest made notable trades, including the sale of shares in Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>). This move comes as Meta&#8217;s AI model, Llama, reached a significant milestone of 1 billion downloads, while the company faces ongoing privacy scrutiny.



The Meta Trade: Ark Invest&#8217;s ARK Innovation ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKK#NYSE">ARKK</a>) sold 7,361 shares of the Mark Zuckerberg-led company. The sale was valued at approximately $4.3 million, based on Meta&#8217;s closing price of $584.06. This decision follows a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44368691/cathie-wood-dumps-over-7-million-worth-of-meta-shares-as-mark-zuckerbergs-social-empire-faces-privacy-heat-ark-sells-block-shares-again">previous sale</a> of over $7 million worth of Meta shares on Monday as the company deals with privacy challenges and global expansion efforts. Notably, Ark also <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/25/03/44389960/cathie-woods-big-tuesday-bet-ark-pours-7-8-million-into-tempus-ai-despite-stock-stumble">offloaded $1.26 million</a> worth of Meta shares on Wednesday.



Despite these issues, Meta has relatively fared well in 2025, benefiting from lower leverage compared to other tech giants. Recently, Meta&#8217;s AI model, Llama, achieved a milestone of 1 billion downloads, as announced by Zuckerberg.



Other Key Trades:



<ul>
<li>Sold 850,762 shares of UiPath Inc. from ARKK and 14,822 shares from ARKF.</li>



<li>Sold 65,855 shares of Illumina Inc. from ARKK and 20,529 shares from ARKG.</li>



<li>Bought 140,089 shares of Iridium Communications Inc for ARKK, 14,875 shares for ARKQ, and 9,517 shares for ARKX.</li>



<li>Bought 20,201 shares of CRISPR Therapeutics AG for ARKK and 13,726 shares for ARKG.</li>



<li>Bought 68,441 shares of Intellia Therapeutics Inc. for ARKK and 27,938 shares for ARKG.</li>
</ul>



Image via Shutterstock



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/03/44398390/trump-media-launches-truth-on-roku-calling-it-the-singular-option-for-non-woke-tv">Trump Media Launches Truth+ On Roku, Calling It &#8216;The Singular Option For Non-Woke TV&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>



This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/shivdeep-dhaliwal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shivdeep Dhaliwal</a>

ETFs

ARKK

Cathie Wood Offloads Meta Stock While Mark Zuckerberg Celebrates Llama AI Success

The Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged at 4.25%-4.50% on Wednesday, with Chairman Jerome Powell reviving the term &#8220;transitory&#8221; to describe the potential inflationary <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/tariffs">effects of new tariffs.</a>



While the Fed still projects two rate cuts in 2025 in its latest dot plot, projections now reflect lower growth and higher inflation, fueling renewed concerns about stagflation.



Economists are increasingly skeptical of the Fed's confidence in inflation easing, with some warning of policy missteps and rising recession risks.



Here's a summary of key reactions from leading economists.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">‘Transitory' Is Back: A Risky Assumption</h3>



Allianz chief economic adviser Mohamed El-Erian criticized Powell's use of &#8220;transitory&#8221; to describe tariff-driven inflation, recalling the Fed's 2022 mistake when it downplayed persistent price pressures.



&#8220;It's simply too early to say with any degree of confidence that the inflationary effects will be transitory,&#8221; El-Erian said, adding that businesses and households &#8220;still have fresh in their minds the recent history of high unanticipated inflation.&#8221;



Given the uncertainties, he expected Fed officials to show &#8220;greater humility.&#8221;



<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">The word — "transitory" — is back at the Federal Reserve as Chair Powell characterizes the price effects of tariffs as a one-off. I would have thought that, particularly after the big policy mistake of earlier this decade and given all the current uncertainties, some Fed…&mdash; Mohamed A. El-Erian (@elerianm) <a href="https://twitter.com/elerianm/status/1902435256927388049?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 19, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



The Kobeissi Letter ridiculed Powell's response to stagflation concerns, recalling a past press conference where he dismissed the risk, saying he wasn't seeing the &#8220;stag&#8221; or the &#8220;flation.&#8221; Yet, that stance now appears contradictory, as the Fed's latest projections show slower GDP growth alongside rising inflation and unemployment.



&#8220;We are now seeing the &#8216;stag&#8217; and the &#8216;flation&#8217;.&#8221;



<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">This clip is from almost exactly 11 months ago: Fed Chair Powell was asked about stagflation and he said he&#39;s not seeing the &quot;stag&quot; or the &quot;flation.&quot; Today, the Fed raised both unemployment and inflation forecasts for 2025, while cutting GDP growth estimates. We are now seeing… <a href="https://t.co/w5c35jnIWa">pic.twitter.com/w5c35jnIWa</a>&mdash; The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) <a href="https://twitter.com/KobeissiLetter/status/1902423342709412138?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 19, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Mixed Signals On Inflation And Growth</h3>



Jeffrey Roach, chief economist at LPL Financial, said the Fed&#8217;s decision was unsurprising, as policymakers are &#8220;in the midst of policy fog&#8221; while awaiting the impact of upcoming tariffs. 



He highlighted that despite upside risks in recent inflation data, core inflation should decelerate by summer, allowing the Fed to begin cutting rates in June.



Steve Wyett, chief investment strategist at BOK Financial, stressed the uncertainty arising from the Fed&#8217;s forecasts.



&#8220;The Fed remains as confused as the rest of us as to what the impact of policy changes will be,&#8221; he said. 



Charlie Ripley, senior investment strategist at Allianz Investment Management, highlighted the Fed's struggle to balance growth and inflation expectations.



&#8220;Growth appeared to be downgraded more than the uptick of inflation expectations, yet the pace of expected rate cuts remained the same,&#8221; he said, pointing to continued uncertainty around inflation. Yet, the Fed's decision to slow the run-off of its balance sheet in April provided &#8220;some consolation&#8221; for investors.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Recession Warnings Grow Louder</h3>



David Rosenberg, president of Rosenberg Research &amp; Associates Inc., indicates the Fed's updated unemployment forecast is a strong recession indicator. He noted that the Fed now sees unemployment rising to 4.4% by year-end, which historically signals an economic downturn.



&#8220;Back to 1948, that has never happened without an NBER-defined recession,&#8221; Rosenberg said, referring to the National Bureau of Economic Research, which officially declares U.S. recessions. 



He warned that if past trends hold, a recession could materialize as early as July, well before the Fed takes any significant action.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Is Powell Too Dovish?</h3>



Spencer Hakimian, founder of Tolou Capital Management, described Powell as &#8220;very dovish,&#8221; suggesting the Fed is either underestimating inflation risks or &#8220;hoping for a miracle.&#8221;



&#8220;They see higher inflation. But they&#8217;re projecting two more rate cuts,&#8221; he said, calling the approach a &#8220;heads I win, tails you lose&#8221; scenario. Despite his concerns, Hakimian remains bullish on risk assets, advising investors to stay &#8220;long a good amount of risk,&#8221; with 40-50% exposure.



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



Despite concerns from economists, Powell's remarks fueled a risk-on rally. 



The S&amp;P 500 index – as tracked by the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) – closed 1.1% higher on Wednesday, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 jumped 1.4%. Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) surged past $85,000, and gold extended record highs, rising 0.5% to $3,050 per ounce.



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</ul>



Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

Macro Economic Events

Broad U.S. Equity ETFs

Econ #s

Economists React To Powell: 'We Are Now Seeing The Stag And The Flation'

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell indicated that inflation driven by new trade tariffs might be &#8220;transitory,&#8221; evoking comparisons to the Fed's 2022 misstep when it wrongly classified inflation as a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/03/44403637/fed-holds-rates-while-growth-forecasts-slip-inflation-projections-rise">short-lived phenomenon.</a>



Speaking Wednesday following the Federal Open Market Committee's decision to hold rates at 4.25%-4.50%, Powell said the Fed is not in hurry to adjust interest rates and policymakers can &#8220;wait for clarity&#8221; before making moves.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">How Much Of Inflation Is Due to Tariffs?</h3>



The Fed's updated macroeconomic projections show a slowing economy and stubbornly high inflation, raising concerns about stagflation. Growth forecasts for 2025 were revised downward, with real GDP now expected to expand 1.7%, down from December's 2.1% estimate. 



The Fed's preferred measure, the Personal Consumption Expenditures price index, is now expected to hit 2.7% in 2025, up from 2.5%. Core PCE, which strips out food and energy costs, was revised from 2.5% to 2.8% for 2025.



Powell admitted it is &#8220;very challenging&#8221; to isolate tariff-driven inflation from broader price pressures. 



&#8220;Some of it—a good part of it—is coming from tariffs,&#8221; he said. The difficulty lies in tracking which price increases are directly tied to tariffs and which are due to other economic factors.



Tariff-related inflation could be &#8220;transitory&#8221;, Powell said, depending on how quickly it moves through the economy. If inflation expectations remain anchored and the effects fade, the Fed may opt to look past these price increases.



Yet, some of its effects are already visible.



&#8220;We have had two very strong goods inflation readings in the last two months, which is very unexpected,&#8221; Powell said, suggesting that businesses may be preemptively raising prices in anticipation of tariffs. 



A similar dynamic occurred when washing machines were tariffed in 2018—prices on both washers and dryers jumped, even though only one was subject to tariffs.



The Fed is also factoring in potential retaliatory tariffs from other countries. Staff forecasts assume &#8220;full retaliation,&#8221; though the exact economic impact remains uncertain. 



Powell indicated that &#8220;when we actually know the specifics, we will be able to have a better-informed forecast.&#8221;



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Powell Dismisses UMich Consumer Inflation Worries, Downplays Recession Fears</h3>



Recent surveys, including the University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index, indicate rising uncertainty among households and businesses, with inflation expectations soaring sharply as economic players anticipate tariffs. 



Powell downplayed the University of Michigan report, calling it an &#8220;outlier&#8221; compared to other measures of long-term inflation expectations.



Despite rising inflation expectations, the Fed is still projecting two rate cuts in 2025. Powell said weaker growth and higher inflation are &#8220;balancing each other out,&#8221; leading policymakers to maintain their current stance.



&#8220;We think our policy is in a good place,&#8221; Powell said. 



Powell said that while some forecasters have slightly raised the probability of a recession, the risk remains &#8220;moderate&#8221; and &#8220;not high.&#8221; He noted that while survey data from businesses and households show increased uncertainty, the hard economic data—such as GDP growth and employment—remains solid.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Market Reactions: Stocks Rally, Bitcoin Tops $85,000</h3>



Risk sentiment rippled through risky assets after Powell&#8217;s remarks on Wednesday.



The S&amp;P 500 – as tracked by the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) – rallied 1.4% going into the closing bell, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100, tracked by the Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), soared 1.8%. 



Small caps outperformed large-cap counterparts, with the iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) up 2%. 



Short-dated Treasury yields fell by 5 basis points to below 4% and the U.S. dollar index (DXY) trimmed session gains to 0.3%. Gold rose 0.5% to nearly $3,050 per ounce, further extending record highs. 



Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) soared 3.3% to above $85,000, hitting a 10-session high.



Read now: 



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</ul>



Photo courtesy of the Federal Reserve.

Tariff Inflation May Be 'Transitory,' Powell Says: Stocks Rally, Bitcoin Clears $85,000 As Bulls Return

<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/stephanie-link">Stephanie Link</a>, Chief Investment Strategist at Hightower Advisors, on Wednesday shared her insights on key stocks, emphasizing Amazon's growing dominance, Palo Alto Networks Inc&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PANW#NASDAQ">PANW</a>) cybersecurity potential, Target Corp&#8217;s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TGT#NYSE">TGT</a>) recovery efforts and NextEra Energy Inc&#8217;s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NEE#NYSE">NEE</a>) valuation opportunity.



What To Know: Link highlighted Amazon's <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/02/43847764/amazon-tightens-grip-e-commerce-accelerates-jpmorgans-best-idea-2025">expanding market share</a>, which grew by 410 basis points last quarter, with improving profitability. She expects further acceleration in the latter half of the year despite capacity constraints.



Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AMZN/analyst-ratings">Amazon Analyst Ratings</a>



On Palo Alto Networks, she sees a $15 billion annualized revenue opportunity in platformization and views it as a stronger long-term play compared to CrowdStrike Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRWD#NASDAQ">CRWD</a>), which she recently sold.



Target, down 24% since February, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/03/44360075/retail-giant-target-which-relies-on-china-for-30-of-its-merchandise-warns-of-profit-hit-as-trumps-trade-war-bites">has struggled with product mix</a> but is showing signs of recovery, particularly in discretionary spending. Link says sustained improvement could restore investor confidence.



Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/03/44403637/fed-holds-rates-while-growth-forecasts-slip-inflation-projections-rise">Fed Holds Rates While Growth Forecasts Slip, Inflation Projections Rise</a>



Meanwhile, she initiated a position in Nextera Energy, noting its historically high valuation but seeing an opportunity now that it trades at 18 times price-to-sales. She praised its joint venture with GE Vernova Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GEV#NYSE">GEV</a>) in natural gas and data centers.



Additionally, Link named Boeing her top 2025 stock due to leadership changes and improving execution. She remains bullish on Palo Alto, Gap Inc&#8217;s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GAP#NYSE">GAP</a>) turnaround under Richard Dixon, Target's resilience and Snowflake Inc&#8217;s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SNOW#NYSE">SNOW</a>) AI-driven growth under new management.



Read now:



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/03/44399554/analysts-see-upside-for-95-of-sp-500-stocks-how-nvidia-tesla-stack-up" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Analysts See Upside For 95% Of S&amp;P 500 Stocks: How Nvidia, Tesla Stack Up</a></li>
</ul>



Photo courtesy of Hightower Advisors

CRWD

PANW

SNOW

Stephanie Link: 'Amazon's Market Share is Soaring' – Insights On Amazon, Palo Alto Networks, Target & Nextera Energy

NVIDIA Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) analysts highlight the positives from CEO Jensen Huang's <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/03/44383445/nvidia-ceo-jensen-huang-announces-gm-partnership-the-time-for-autonomous-vehicles-has-arrived">Tuesday GTC keynote</a>, including a focus on the company's roadmap and new products.



The NVDA Analysts: 



<ul>
<li>Bank of America analyst maintained a Buy rating on Nvidia with a $200 price target.</li>



<li>Stifel analyst Ruben Roy maintained a Buy rating with a $180 price target.</li>



<li>Morgan Stanley analyst Joseph Moore maintained an Overweight rating with a $162 price target.</li>



<li>KeyBanc analyst John Vinh maintained an Overweight rating with a $190 price target.</li>



<li>Needham analyst Quinn Bolton maintained a Buy rating with a $160 price target.</li>



<li>Benchmark analyst Cody Acree maintained a Buy rating with a $190 price target.</li>



<li>Rosenblatt analyst Kevin Cassidy maintained a Buy rating with a $220 price target.</li>
</ul>



Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/03/44390580/nvidia-just-unveiled-a-humanoid-ai-brain-which-allows-robots-to-think-slow-jensen-huang-says-this-could-very-well-likely-be-the-largest-industry-of-all">Nvidia Just Unveiled A Humanoid AI Brain Which Allows Robots To Think Slow — Jensen Huang Says, &#8216;This Could Very Well Likely Be The Largest Industry Of All&#8217;</a>



Bank of America on NVDA: Arya highlights Nvidia's "unmatched pipeline" and "unmatched roadmap" in a new investor note following Huang's GTC keynote.



The analyst said Nvidia's roadmap across compute, networking and software shows the company's opportunities in future years.



"Steady roadmap cadence in Blackwell Ultra, Rubin, Rubin Ultra advances platform-level AI performance," Arya said.



The analyst also highlighted the company's partnerships with companies like Google DeepMind, Disney Research and General Motors.



Stifel on NVDA: Updates on the next-gen Blackwell Ultra, Rubin and Rubin Ultra were key highlights for Roy in a new investor note.



"We continue to view NVDA's innovation on AI infrastructure positively within the backdrop of a broader accelerated computing market which is forecast to drive data center capex to ~$1T annually by the end of the decade," Roy said.



The analyst highlighted that Blackwell demand continues to be high with around 3.6 million GPUs sold to the top four CSPs in 2025, compared to 1.3 million Hopper GPUs in the peak year of 2024.



"Driving this strong demand is an inflection point in AI compute."



Roy sees Nvidia's opportunities coming from high-performance computing, hyperscale, cloud data center, enterprise and edge computing.



"We believe that NVDA is well positioned in markets that combine to yield an overall TAM of more than $100 billion exiting 2025 and a longer-term opportunity funnel that could approach $1 trillion."



Morgan Stanley on NVDA: Moore said Huang's GTC keynote highlighted a "very strong roadmap and strong growth potential."



"While there were no big surprises in the keynote aimed at developers, the company made a strong case that there will continue to be multiple waves of AI scaling requirements, that they are delivering product leadership through 2027, and that near term cloud demand is strong," Moore said.



The analyst said Nvidia's roadmap updates show the AI system scaling and opportunities for the company.



"We believe that the data strongly points to NVIDIA gaining share vs. ASIC and merchant competitors in 2025 and the early view into Rubin suggests that competing with them will not get easier in the next two years."



KeyBanc on NVDA: Huang's announcements were largely in line with expectations for GTC, Vinh said in a new investor note.



"NVDA continues to push the envelope on performance with its annual cadence roadmap, such that it remains the clear leader in AI," Vinh said.



The analyst highlights Blackwell Ultra being an incremental upgrade from Blackwell with key advancements.



Vinh also highlighted Nvidia's commentary on robotics being one of the most exciting sectors going forward, with a potential $50 trillion addressable industrial market.



Needham on NVDA: The updated data center roadmap was the key highlight for Bolton.



The analyst said Huang confirmed Blackwell Ultra is on track for the second half of calendar year 2025 and confirmed Blackwell is in full production.



"NVIDIA remains excited about the robotic industry as it expects this to eventually become a trillion dollar market," Bolton said.



Benchmark on NVDA: Acree said Huang's keynote was a solid way to start GTC with several positive announcements made.



"Jensen Huang's Keynote to kick off NVIDIA's annual GTC conference covered a lot of ground and seemed to check all the boxes," Acree said.



The analyst said Huang's keynote wasn't the savior for Nvidia's declining stock price, but there was likely little more the CEO could have done.



"We thought the Keynote was about as expected, with Jensen once again providing a masterclass overview of AI, with the sheer volume of announcements conveying the depth and breadth of industry engagement and enablement as NVIDIA continues to lay the foundation for the accelerating adoption of AI."



Rosenblatt on NVDA: Annual GPU introductions by Nvidia could push AI acceleration to new levels, Cassidy said in a new investor note.



"We see this annual cadence as a formidable moat to competition including ASICs and expanding NVIDIA's AI dominance," Cassidy said.



The analyst highlighted the $1 trillion opportunity for AI data center spending.



Partnerships with General Motors, Cisco and T-Mobile are also highlighted in Cassidy's investor note.



NVDA Price Action: Nvidia stock is up 1.5% to $117.19 on Wednesday versus a 52-week trading range of $75.61 to $153.13. Nvidia stock is down 16% year-to-date in 2025 and up 31% over the last year.



Read Next: 



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Photo: jamesonwu1972/Shutterstock.com

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