🧠 Stocks rise and so does anxiety

and Meta's in trouble

Good morning investors! The market won yesterday but fear persists.

Today we cover:

  • What people think

  • Earnings are here

  • Facebook in trouble?

We're the retirement planning software you didn't know you needed, until now.

📊 Economy and News 

Consumer Anxiety Rises as Trade Tensions Fuel Fears Over Jobs and Markets

Consumer concerns over inflation, unemployment, and the stock market grew in March amid escalating global trade tensions, according to a New York Fed survey.

The chance that unemployment will rise within a year jumped to 44%—the highest since April 2020. Meanwhile, expectations for a higher stock market a year from now fell to 33.8%, the lowest since June 2022.

The survey, conducted before President Trump's early April tariff announcements, aligns with broader sentiment indicators like the University of Michigan’s survey, reflecting heightened consumer unease.

Despite these concerns, long-term inflation expectations remained stable. Five-year inflation expectations dipped slightly to 2.9%, while the three-year outlook held at 3%. However, consumers expect sharper increases in living costs: food prices are projected to rise 5.2%, rent 7.2%, and medical care 7.9%—the highest since August 2024. Gasoline, by contrast, is expected to increase just 3.2%, down from February's forecast.

Global hits:

Tariffs: Shares of automakers jumped during following President Donald Trump saying he is looking to “help some of the car companies.” Also, CNBC says Trump tariffs won’t lead supply chains back to U.S. but companies will go low-tariff globe-hopping. Lastly, Trump warns exemptions on smartphones, electronics will be short-lived, promises future tariffs. The US president has said no one is ‘getting off the hook’, as he promises to launch a national security investigation into the semiconductor sector

Good to know: Goldman says ESG investors should bring oil and gas stocks in from the cold. One the other hand, more than 60% of CEOs expect a recession in the next 6 months as tariff turmoil grows. Lastly, JD launched a $27.35 billion fund to help domestic exporters affected by escalating U.S. tariffs sell their goods locally. Other like Alibaba are also taking similar steps.

Sponsored by Consensus

Crypto’s Most Influential Event

Consensus is the world’s longest-running gathering of the global crypto, blockchain, and AI communities.

Celebrated as ‘The Super Bowl of Blockchain’, Consensus will welcome 20,000 attendees shaping the decentralized digital economy to Toronto this May 14-16.

Ready to invest in your future?

Attending is your best bet.

📈 Stocks

S&P 500 5,405.97 (+0.79%)
DJIA 40,524.79 (+0.78%)
NASDAQ 16,831.48 (+0.64%)
BRENT CRUDE 13 (+0.39%)
* Prices as of Mar 3rd, 12:20 AM UTC

Goldman Sachs Beats Q1 Expectations on Strong Equities Trading

Goldman Sachs posted stronger-than-expected first-quarter results, driven by a surge in equities trading revenue.

Key Results:

  • Earnings: $14.12 per share vs. $12.35 expected

  • Revenue: $15.06 billion vs. $14.81 billion expected

Profit rose 15% year-over-year to $4.74 billion, while revenue climbed 6%. The bank’s global banking and markets division generated $10.71 billion in revenue, up 10%, as equity trading jumped 27% to $4.19 billion—well above estimates.

This strength helped offset weaker areas. Fixed income revenue rose just 2% to $4.4 billion, missing forecasts. Investment banking fees dropped 8% to $1.91 billion, also slightly below estimates.

CEO David Solomon acknowledged a shift in the operating environment amid recent geopolitical tensions but maintained confidence in the firm’s client support capabilities.

Other segments showed slight declines. Asset and wealth management revenue fell 3% to $3.68 billion, while platform solutions dipped 3% to $676 million, both narrowly missing expectations.

Meta’s Antitrust Showdown Kicks Off Amid Market Jitters and Political Intrigue

Yesterday, Meta faced a pivotal moment as its antitrust trial began in the US District Court, with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) accusing the tech giant of illegally building a “social networking monopoly” through its acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp. The trial’s outcome could force Meta to sell off these platforms, reshaping the social media landscape and sending ripples through Wall Street.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg took the stand, defending his company’s evolution from a friend-focused platform to a content-driven giant. “The ‘friend’ part has gone down, but it’s still something we care about,” he said, as the FTC argued consumers lack alternatives to Meta’s dominance. Meta’s lawyers countered that TikTok, YouTube, and X provide fierce competition, a point echoed by their claim that regulators are unfairly targeting “a great American company.”

Do you think Facebook will break as a result of the lawsuit?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

Controversial: Pfizer scraps daily weight loss pill after liver injury in one patient. Elsewhere, Sony hiked the price of its flagship PlayStation 5 console in Europe, Australia and New Zealand, citing a “challenging economic environment” as the reason behind the move. Lastly, U.S. businesses sue to block Trump tariffs, say trade deficits are not an emergency.

Exciting: Online trading platform Webull soars 375% in second day on market after SPAC merger. Also, Apple regains $3 trillion market cap after Trump exempts tariffs on iPhones. Lastly, Cara Therapeutics jumped 13% after announcing a 1-for-3 reverse stock split, set to take effect Wednesday under the new ticker "TVRD" following its merger with Tvardi Therapeutics. Current Cara shareholders will own about 17% of the combined entity after the merger..

💵 Personal Finance

AI Tools for Web Design

Want to use AI to make money? Check these:

DIVI AI DIVI AI simplifies web design by analyzing content and creating brand-specific pages. Freelancers can use DIVI AI to offer website redesign services to businesses looking to revamp their online presence. By efficiently managing multiple projects, you can maximize your income through a higher volume of completed web design tasks.

Framer Framer offers an all-in-one platform for building websites with integrated SEO and CMS features. Freelancers and web developers can use Framer to build responsive websites for clients. With its user-friendly interface, you can quickly create custom sites and charge a premium for your design services.

💰 Be a Better Investor

“If you make meaning, you’ll make money.”

Guy Kawasaki

Resources:

What did you think of today's newsletter?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

👩🏽‍⚖️ Legal Stuff
Nothing in this newsletter is financial advice. Always do your own research and think for yourself.