Happy Thursday! With no timeline as to when the U.S.-Iran war will end, markets are bracing for the potential for oil to soar past $100+. In an exclusive interview with Benzinga, this top energy forecaster says the coming crisis may play out very differently than investors expect. Read on to see why.

Trader attention shifted in February, with several stocks climbing the ranks while others fell out of favor. Click here to see the most-searched tickers on Benzinga Pro as well as the full rankings.

Also, after a brutal 35% slide in software stocks, the sector is suddenly rallying, and hedge fund veteran Dan Niles says a classic Wall Street adage may explain why. Read on to see if this is the start of a real turnaround or just another powerful bear-market bounce.

Plus, if you’re looking for for an investment tied to the growing AI infrastructure boom, check out today’s sponsor.

In Today's Edition

• MARKET RECAP

• MARKET HEATMAP

• FIVE ZINGERS

• MARKET HISTORY

EXCLUSIVE: Why U.S.-Iran War May Not Spark The Oil Crisis Everyone Fears

Is oil headed to $100+?

Headlines around the world have investors bracing for a repeat of the oil shock that followed the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

However, in an exclusive Benzinga interview with a top energy forecaster, here’s why this crisis may unfold very differently than markets expect.

Copper’s AI-Fueled Demand Surge

Copper seems positioned for sustained demand growth as global economies ramp up construction of AI data centers and the supporting electrical and technical infrastructure. Thanks to its unmatched electrical and thermal conductivity, copper is essential for everything from power grids to server cooling systems.

The AI market is estimated to expand from roughly $200–$400 billion today to as much as $1.8–$4.8 trillion by the early 2030s, according to UN Trade and Development estimates. That growth will require investment in new facilities, driving copper demand higher.

Investors can gain exposure through exchange-traded funds. Options include the Sprott Copper Miners ETF (COPP) and the Sprott Junior Copper Miners ETF (COPJ). With demand estimated to outpace supply later this decade, it’s likely copper remains worth looking into.

This is a paid ad. Please see 17b disclosure here for more information.

Yesterday: U.S. indexes closed higher Wednesday, supported by better-than-expected economic data. Private payrolls rose by 63,000 in February, topping forecasts, while the ISM Services PMI signaled continued strength in the services sector, reinforcing confidence in the economy. Meanwhile oil prices were little changed after surging more than 10% over the prior two sessions, as U.S. support for tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and the prospect of additional measures helped ease immediate supply concerns. Technology stocks, particularly semiconductors, led gains, while risk appetite extended to crypto, with Bitcoin jumping more than $4,000 to finally break above 70,000 for the first time in more than a month.

On Our Radar: Analysts will be paying attention to today's initial jobless claims, U.S. productivity figures, and the import price index, for clues on the health of the labor market, economic growth, and inflation pressures. On the earnings front, all eyes will be on Costco (COST), and Marvell (MRVL), which will report after the market close today.

The market rebounded sharply Wednesday with Coinbase (COIN), AppLovin (APP) and Moderna (MRNA) all finishing up double digits. Meanwhile, Royal Caribbean (RCL), Paramount (PSKY) and Darden Restaurants (DRI) were some of the top laggards of the day. But those weren’t the only companies making big moves. Here’s a look at some of the biggest winners and losers on Wednesday.

See how the market is moving with our interactive heatmap. Filter by market cap, or click on any box to explore specific sectors or assets in more detail.

Billionaire Buy: A market “whale” just snapped up a significant amount of Nvidia shares and he plans on buying more. Click to see why this billionaire’s bold move could signal a massive shift in tech investing.

ARK Moves: Cathie Wood and Ark Invest made significant trades involving Amazon, Alibaba, Joby Aviation and Taiwan Semiconductor. Read on to see which ones they’ve been buying and selling.

Berkshire Breakdown: Shares of Berkshire Hathaway stumbled 5% after the first earnings under CEO Greg Abel, sending shockwaves throughout Wall Street. Click to see why investors are suddenly second-guessing the Buffett premium and where shares could be headed next.

Safe Haven: Ray Dalio says gold remains the only true safe haven, leaving Bitcoin in the dust. Discover why central banks favor gold over crypto, and what it means for your investments.

Stock Of The Day: Palantir is flirting with a key price level that could trigger a major breakout—or a stubborn resistance wall. Click to see why traders are watching this key level and what it could mean for your next big move.

43 Trades. 43 Winners. Zero Losses In 2025

When the S&P fell 20% in spring 2025, most traders panicked. Tom Gentile had seven trades open during the worst of it. All seven were winners. His strategy is designed to do better when fear spikes. Try it free for 30 days.

On This Day In 1995…

Yahoo! officially went online, marking a major milestone in the early days of the internet. What began as a simple directory of websites created by Stanford graduate students Jerry Yang and David Filo quickly evolved into one of the most visited websites in history. Yahoo! became a gateway to the internet for millions of Americans, helping shape digital advertising, email, news, and search. Its rapid growth during the dot-com boom paved the way for one of the most notable tech IPOs of the 1990s.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“The best investments are made when things look the worst.“

— Sir John Templeton

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