Market Trends 12 February 2026 - 9 March 2026

Shell Plc shares climb as Brent heads for record month and Europe braces for fuel crunch
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Shell Plc shares climb as Brent heads for record month and Europe braces for fuel crunch

Shell shares rose 1.3% in London as Brent crude jumped 59% in March, driving up profit estimates ahead of Shell’s April 8 quarterly update. Three analysts raised first-quarter net profit forecasts by an average 15%. Shell warned of possible European fuel shortages by April, with EU ministers set to meet Tuesday. Repairs at Shell’s Pearl plant in Qatar will take about a year after recent attacks.
March 30, 2026
BlackRock Caps Private Credit Fund Withdrawals as Market Stress Spreads
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BlackRock Caps Private Credit Fund Withdrawals as Market Stress Spreads

BlackRock capped withdrawals from its $26 billion HPS Corporate Lending Fund after clients sought $1.2 billion in redemptions, exceeding the fund’s 5% quarterly limit. The firm will fulfill about $620 million of requests, marking the first breach of the cap. BlackRock shares dropped 6.7% Friday. Fitch reported U.S. private-credit borrower defaults reached a record 9.2% in 2025.
March 9, 2026
Opendoor Technologies’ 4.99% Mortgage Bet Puts Turnaround Under Fresh Pressure
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Opendoor Technologies’ 4.99% Mortgage Bet Puts Turnaround Under Fresh Pressure

Opendoor Technologies is piloting 4.99% 30-year fixed mortgages for buyers of its own homes, nearly a full point below the U.S. average, as it resumes direct lending. The offer, announced by CEO Kaz Nejatian, comes with no points and limited availability. Shares dropped 7% after the news but later rebounded. Analysts warn the discount could pressure Opendoor’s margins and balance sheet.
March 6, 2026
MARA Bitcoin sell-off rumor flares as exec pushes back and filing widens sales options
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MARA Bitcoin sell-off rumor flares as exec pushes back and filing widens sales options

MARA Holdings denied online rumors it plans to sell most of its bitcoin after its 2026 annual filing expanded its ability to sell coins on its balance sheet. The company reported holding 53,822 bitcoin as of Dec. 31, 2025, with 5,938 pledged as collateral. Shares dipped 0.3% in premarket trading to $9.29. MARA posted 2025 revenue of $907.1 million and a net loss of $1.31 billion.
March 5, 2026
Heating oil price jumps above $3.25 as Hormuz disruption keeps fuel traders on edge
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Heating oil price jumps above $3.25 as Hormuz disruption keeps fuel traders on edge

NYMEX April ULSD futures rose 2.2% to $3.2584 a gallon Wednesday as Middle East tensions stalled shipping through the Strait of Hormuz for a fifth day. U.S. distillate inventories increased by 0.4 million barrels last week but remain 3% below the five-year average, according to the EIA. Traders are watching Gulf shipping, Friday’s U.S. jobs report, and next week’s EIA update.
March 4, 2026
Gasoline prices are edging up again — what U.S. traders are watching next
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Gasoline prices are edging up again — what U.S. traders are watching next

U.S. gasoline futures rose and pump prices increased, with the national average up over 5 cents to $2.98 a gallon, AAA reported. Government data showed gasoline inventories fell by 1 million barrels last week, while crude stocks jumped by 16 million. Traders are watching U.S.-Iran nuclear talks and the upcoming OPEC+ meeting for supply signals. Refinery utilization slipped to 88.6% as plants switch to summer-grade fuel.
February 26, 2026
Anglo American shares jump as copper mood returns — what investors watch next
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Anglo American shares jump as copper mood returns — what investors watch next

Anglo American shares climbed about 3% in early London trading Wednesday, following gains in copper prices and the broader mining sector. London copper futures closed at $12,868.50 a ton on Monday, 11% below January’s record but still high. Traders are watching copper’s moves and Anglo’s March 12 ex-dividend date. Market sentiment remains cautious amid tariff uncertainty and shifting demand for metals.
February 25, 2026
Lithium Prices Face a China Reopen Test as Albemarle Stock Jumps Nearly 4%
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Lithium Prices Face a China Reopen Test as Albemarle Stock Jumps Nearly 4%

Albemarle shares rose 3.9% to $174.93 Monday, outpacing peers as lithium prices rebounded after China’s Spring Festival lull. Shanghai Metals Market reported battery-grade lithium carbonate futures in China briefly topped 150,000 yuan per ton, with February output expected to fall 15% from January due to plant maintenance. Albemarle recently idled its last Kemerton plant unit in Australia, citing weak economics.
February 23, 2026
Gasoline prices tick up as Iran talks near; here’s what traders watch next
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Gasoline prices tick up as Iran talks near; here’s what traders watch next

U.S. RBOB gasoline futures rose 0.3% to $2.2495 a gallon Monday, while AAA reported the national average retail price at $2.938. Gasoline inventories fell by 3.2 million barrels last week but remain 3% above the five-year average, according to the EIA. Brent crude slipped to $71.39 a barrel. Traders await Wednesday’s EIA inventory report and Thursday’s U.S.-Iran talks in Geneva.
February 23, 2026
Gasoline futures jump on big U.S. stock draw as traders brace for spring pump-price season
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Gasoline futures jump on big U.S. stock draw as traders brace for spring pump-price season

U.S. gasoline futures rose 1.7% to about $2.00 a gallon Thursday after government data showed a 3.2 million barrel drop in stockpiles, far exceeding forecasts. Crude prices also climbed as traders tracked U.S.-Iran tensions. Refinery utilization hit 91%, the highest in a month. AAA reported the average U.S. pump price at $2.92 a gallon, steady from last week.
February 19, 2026
Lumentum stock jumps nearly 5% as Mizuho lifts target to $645 in AI optics trade
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Lumentum stock jumps nearly 5% as Mizuho lifts target to $645 in AI optics trade

Lumentum Holdings shares jumped 4.8% to $590 Tuesday after Mizuho raised its price target, following strong quarterly results and guidance. The company reported $665.5 million in revenue and expects $780–$830 million next quarter, with a backlog over $400 million. Peers traded mixed. Lumentum will update investors at the Optical Fiber Communication Conference on March 17.
February 17, 2026
XRP price today: Ripple token holds $1.48 as Standard Chartered slashes 2026 target
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XRP price today: Ripple token holds $1.48 as Standard Chartered slashes 2026 target

XRP held near $1.48 after Standard Chartered cut its end-2026 price target to $2.80 from $8, citing broader digital asset weakness. U.S. markets were closed for Presidents Day, with trading set to resume Tuesday. XRP traded between $1.45 and $1.51 in the past 24 hours, with $3.4 billion in volume. Investors await Federal Reserve minutes and key U.S. economic data later this week.
February 16, 2026
Natural gas price heads into Presidents’ Day week down 5% as traders track LNG flows and storage
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Natural gas price heads into Presidents’ Day week down 5% as traders track LNG flows and storage

U.S. natural gas futures settled at $3.243 per mmBtu on Friday, down 5% for the week despite a late rebound. Storage dropped by 249 bcf to 2,214 bcf, now 5.5% below the five-year average, according to EIA data. Spot prices at the Waha Hub in Texas stayed negative for a sixth day due to pipeline constraints. Traders are watching weekend weather forecasts and LNG export demand ahead of the next storage report Feb. 19.
February 14, 2026
Lithium price outlook nudges battered stocks higher as Albemarle jumps on Kemerton move
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Lithium price outlook nudges battered stocks higher as Albemarle jumps on Kemerton move

Albemarle shares climbed 4.4% to $165.93 Friday after the company reported a $455.9 million quarterly net loss and announced it will idle a processing line at its Kemerton plant in Australia. Lithium prices on the London Metal Exchange rose 0.3% to $16,590 per ton. Chile’s Cochilco expects short-term lithium prices to stay high as inventories remain low. Investors are watching Asian trading ahead of China’s Spring Festival break.
February 13, 2026
Natural gas price snaps back above $3.20 after a 3% dip as storage, warm forecasts collide
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Natural gas price snaps back above $3.20 after a 3% dip as storage, warm forecasts collide

March U.S. natural gas futures rose 1% to $3.249/mmBtu by early afternoon, rebounding from a 3% drop. The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported a storage draw of 249 Bcf, leaving inventories 130 Bcf below the five-year average. Warmer forecasts may curb demand, while output remains high. Traders await next week’s storage data and weather updates.
February 13, 2026
Zebra Technologies stock pulls back after buyback-fueled jump — what’s next for ZBRA
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Zebra Technologies stock pulls back after buyback-fueled jump — what’s next for ZBRA

Zebra Technologies shares fell 2.6% to $267.11 in early Friday trading, following a 17% surge after the company forecast 2026 sales growth of 9% to 13% and announced a $1 billion buyback. Morgan Stanley raised its price target to $323, maintaining an Equal Weight rating. Zebra posted Q4 net sales of $1.48 billion and non-GAAP EPS of $4.33, with $76 million in restructuring charges.
February 13, 2026
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