Good morning investors! Things seem to be getting better as the US says it is ready to leave Iran.
Today we cover:
Gold records worst month in years
Stocks rise again
Handling the rise in gas prices
📊 Economy and News
Gold Posts Worst Month Since 2013 as Iran War Drags On
Gold rose more than 2% on Tuesday to settle at $4,678.60, but still recorded its worst monthly performance in over a decade. The precious metal fell more than 10% in March — its biggest monthly decline since June 2013 — snapping an eight-month winning streak.
Silver also surged over 6% to $74.92 on the day, yet plunged more than 19% for the month, marking its worst performance since 2011.
The declines came amid the ongoing U.S.-Iran war, now in its fifth week, which has driven up oil and gas prices and raised fears of higher inflation and interest rates. A stronger U.S. dollar and rising bond yields further pressured gold, causing it to revert to its traditional inverse relationship with those assets.
Analysts noted increased volatility from financial investors and profit-taking after gold’s strong run into 2026. However, Goldman Sachs remains bullish long-term, forecasting gold could reach $5,400/oz by the end of 2026, driven by continued central bank buying and expected Federal Reserve rate cuts.
Despite the sharp March sell-off, both gold and silver still gained over 6-7% for the first quarter.
Global hits:
Brazil’s central bank boosts gold holdings to second-largest reserve asset in 2025.
Colombia interest rate increased to 11.25% as government withdraws from central bank board.
Euro zone inflation surges past ECB target on oil shock.
Snapchat jumps: Snap shares climbed 14% after activist Irenic Capital suggested changes to boost the company’s value. Irenic’s letter outlines six steps to raise the stock price from its current $3.93 to $26.37. Major steps include reducing the workforce by 21% in favor of AI and shutting down Specs, the company’s augmented reality glasses.
Reminder: Fed’s Schmid sees inflation close to 3% amid energy price surge.
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📈 Stocks
S&P 500 6,528.52 (+2.91%)
DJIA 46,341.51 (+2.94%)
NASDAQ 21,590.63 (+3.83%)
BRENT CRUDE 103.14 (-1.57%)
* Prices as of Apr 1st, 12:20 AM UTC
Global Stocks Rebound on Hopes of Middle East De-escalation
Global equity and bond markets jumped amid speculation of a potential de-escalation in the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict that has caused the largest one-month spike in global oil prices in history.
The relief rally was fueled by unconfirmed reports that Iran may be ready to end the month-long war, along with a report suggesting President Trump is willing to wind down the U.S. military campaign even if the Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed.
Despite the upbeat session, March ended as a brutal month for investors. Europe’s STOXX 600 fell 8% — its steepest monthly drop in nearly four years — while U.S. indexes posted their worst quarterly performance since 2022, as surging oil prices stoked inflation and growth fears.
President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he expected that United States military forces will leave Iran in “two or three weeks.”
Analysts noted markets are pricing in hopes of a quick end to hostilities, though risks remain high if the Strait of Hormuz stays blocked, potentially pushing oil prices even higher and raising recession odds.
Interesting: OpenAI raises $122 billion to build AI superapp to build AI superapp.
Amazon settles Teamsters case alleging it retaliated against striking workers.
Huawei’s cloud computing revenue dropped in 2025 as Chinese AI lagged U.S. rivals.
Surprising: Microsoft lost almost a quarter of its value in the first three months of the year, its steepest quarterly drop since the 2008 financial crisis. In other news, Oracle is conducting a round of layoffs. Elsewhere, Mercedes is investing $4 billion in its Alabama plant through 2030 in a push to increase production as the automaker targets a 28% rise in U.S. car sales. Lastly, Anthropic leaks part of Claude Code’s internal source code.
Nike comes down: Nike beat Wall Street’s earnings and revenue estimates for its third fiscal quarter.
Revenue in its struggling Greater China market fell but still beat Wall Street estimates, while its North America business posted another quarter of growth.
Nike’s largest market of North America continued to show steady growth, as revenue climbed 3% to $5.03 billion, but that was just shy of Wall Street’s expectations of $5.04 billion.
💵 Personal Finance
How to Save Money on Gas When Prices Top $4 a Gallon
Gas prices have surged more than 30% since late February 2026. The national average now exceeds $4 per gallon, adding pressure amid the ongoing affordability crisis and rising consumer pessimism.
Here’s how you can turn this added expense into an opportunity:
Maximize rewards on every fill-up
If you must drive (78% of Americans commute by car), use a rewards credit card that offers strong cash back or travel points on gas purchases. Advisors call this “turning a frustrating line item into meaningful rewards.”
Some good retailer loyalty programs include Kroger Fuel Points, Walmart+, and Shell.
Used strategically, these can meaningfully lower your effective price per gallon.
Make small, smart cuts
Trim “nice-to-haves” like frequent takeout, convenience store stops, and impulse shopping until prices stabilize. For tighter budgets, focus on tactical savings: shop around for cheaper insurance or phone plans, and temporarily pause short-term savings goals (but keep at least one month of expenses in emergency savings).
Scaling back retirement contributions should be a last resort.
Boost fuel efficiency with easy habits
Avoid aggressive driving and speeding
Keep tires properly inflated
Schedule routine maintenance and tune-ups
These small steps improve mileage and add up quickly.
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