Good morning investors! The market continues to go lower as the situation in the Middle East remains uncertain.
Today we cover:
Nasdaq in correction
Meta had a fall
Netflix rises prices
📊 Economy and News
Nasdaq Enters Correction as Middle East War Continues
Stock markets fell sharply on Thursday, with the Nasdaq dropping 2.38% to confirm a technical correction (down nearly 11% from its October record high).
Brent crude surged to $108.01 per barrel amid fears of prolonged supply disruptions from the ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, which has effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz.
President Trump announced a 10-day pause on strikes against Iran’s energy plants until April 6, but hopes for a quick resolution faded after Iran called a U.S. proposal “one-sided and unfair.”
Global bond yields rose and the U.S. dollar strengthened as a safe-haven asset, while gold fell 3.9%.
Global hits:
Brazil central bank opposes credit-card rate caps as Lula frets over household debt.
Mexico’s central bank cuts key rate to 6.75%, signals possible further reduction.
Argentina’s economic activity grows 1.9% in January, beating forecasts.
Check this: US fixed 30-year mortgage rate jumps to six-month high as Iran war drags on. Also, Fannie Mae will accept crypto-backed mortgages via a new product by Better Home and Finance and Coinbase.
Reminder: The U.K. is predicted to be worse hit by the Iran war than its developed market counterparts.
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📈 Stocks
S&P 500 6,477.16 (-1.74%)
DJIA 45,960.11 (-1.01%)
NASDAQ 21,408.08 (-2.37%)
BRENT CRUDE 106.14 (-1.77%)
* Prices as of Mar 27th, 12:20 AM UTC
Meta Stock Plunges 8% in Worst Day in Nearly a Year
Meta Platforms (META) shares dropped nearly 8% on Thursday — its worst single-day decline in months — hit by multiple pressures.
Back-to-back jury verdicts held Meta liable for harming young users through addictive platform features, awarding damages and raising fears of broader legal precedents that could weaken Section 230 protections. Analysts compared the rulings to landmark cases against the tobacco industry.
The sell-off was amplified by Meta’s announcement of ~700 job cuts amid a pivot from metaverse to AI investments, plus heavy capital spending plans ($115–135 billion in 2026) with no direct cloud revenue to offset costs.
Meta now plans to spend $10 billion on its AI data center in El Paso, Texas, up from a prior commitment of $1.5 billion.
The stock now trades at its lowest forward valuation among the Magnificent 7.
Interesting: American Airlines in talks with Starlink and Amazon for Wi-Fi upgrade, weighs return of seatback screens.
United Airlines, flight attendants reach labor deal for first raises since pandemic.
British Airways to reward pilots for cutting fuel as airlines tackle higher costs.
A major labor union, the AFT, is calling for its 1.8 million members to shop at local stores rather than Target, saying the retailer did not respond adequately to the surge of federal immigration enforcement in Minneapolis.
Surprising: Apple will spend $400 million through 2030 on new programs with Bosch, Cirrus Logic, TDK, and Qnity Electronics to manufacture essential materials and components in the U.S. In other news, retail firms warn of price hikes if Iran war extends for months. Furthermore, OpenAI ads pilot tops $100 million in annualized revenue in under 2 months. Lastly, Anthropic wins preliminary injunction in DOD fight as judge cites ‘First Amendment retaliation’.
New Netflix prices: Netflix subscription plans have increased in price for the first time since January 2025, with all subscription tiers rising at least $1.
The company’s ad-supported plan is now $8.99 a month, up from $7.99; the standard plan is now $19.99 a month, up from $17.99; and its premium plan is now $26.99, up from $24.99.
Extra member pricing also increased, with ad-supported plans now costing $6.99 per additional non-household user, up from $5.99, and ad-free add-ons now costing $9.99, up from $8.99 each.
💵 Personal Finance
Why Creators Lose 40% to the IRS Without Strategy
Influencers, YouTubers, and podcasters generate six figures but often overpay taxes by missing niche deductions. The IRS views content creation as a business—treat it that way, and you could slash your bill legally.
Home Studio and Equipment Write-Offs
The Section 179 deduction lets you expense up to $1.22 million in 2025 for cameras, lights, microphones, and editing computers in the first year. A $5,000 ring light? Fully deductible if used 100% for business. Home office? The simplified $5 per square foot method (up to 300 sq ft) or actual expenses (mortgage interest, utilities prorated).
Streaming setups qualify as “qualified property.” Depreciation over five years is another option for high-end gear like a $3,000 Mac Studio.
Filming in Bali? Deduct flights, hotels, and 50% of meals if the trip is primarily business (document content created). Influencer trips often qualify 100% under “ordinary and necessary” rules. Car expenses: 67 cents per mile or actual costs. Phone and internet: 100% if dedicated business lines.
Subscriptions (Adobe, Canva Pro, Epidemic Sound) and props for videos are fully deductible. Even wardrobe if it’s not “suitable for everyday wear”—think branded merch or costumes.
Retirement and Health Perks for Solopreneurs
Solo 401(k) allows up to $69,000 contributions in 2025 (employee + employer portions). SEP IRA: 25% of net earnings. Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) for self-employed creators offer triple tax advantages.
Self-employment tax (15.3%) hurts, but QBI deduction (20% of qualified business income) can erase $20,000+ off a $100,000 profit.
Tracking and Software That Pays for Itself
Use QuickBooks Self-Employed or FreshBooks to categorize automatically. Apps like Strides or Expensify scan receipts via phone. Quarterly estimated taxes prevent underpayment penalties (use IRS Form 1040-ES).
Hire a CPA specializing in digital creators—fees ($1,500-$3,000/year) are deductible and often pay for themselves via missed deductions.
Audit-Proof Habits and Future-Proofing
Keep digital records seven years. Separate business/personal bank accounts. For international creators, Form 2555 foreign earned income exclusion can wipe $120,000+ in taxes if living abroad 330 days.
Scale smart: incorporate as an S-Corp at $80,000+ revenue to cut self-employment taxes 10-15%. The niche secret? Treat content like a Fortune 500 division—every receipt is potential profit.
💰 Be a Better Investor
“Money is good for nothing unless you know the value of it by experience.”
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👩🏽⚖️ Legal Stuff
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