BUSINESS

Homan said he was actively working on a plan to send ICE to help out beleaguered TSA agents that would be put in place by Monday.

Rising costs for fertilizer, feed, packaging and shipping are going to seep into the prices that people see on grocery shelves, experts say.

I plead guilty to understatement. These are unsettled times. For everyone fighting in and around the Persian Gulf. For families and friends of loved ones involved in the fighting. For politicians around the globe. For markets. Markets have been bellowing ever since Israel and the United States attacked Iran early on Feb. 28. What was supposed to be a year of investors celebrating tax cuts, lower interest rates and lower inflation has been put aside. For now.It’s not clear how it all will end. 2026 may finish as a boffo year for markets. A near-disaster caused by Donald Trump’s tariff proposal on April 2 was over and done with in a month, and the major averages all returned 16% or better for the year.The war now makes this year more complicated. The conflict in the Persian Gulf has sent oil and gasoline prices sky high this month. There are no signs that they’ve peaked, and one must decide what the ever-changing pronouncements from President Trump mean. (On Saturday, the president threatened to blow up Iran’s electricity infrastructure if the Strait of Hormuz wasn’t reopened by Monday.) Despite all, the paths one might take to decide how to cope with this situation are going to be similar. How we arrived at this momentWhen 2025 ended, anyone in the markets was happy. The recovery from the so-called Tariff Tantrum in April was more than just dramatic. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index roared up 40. 6% from that bottom. The Nasdaq Composite shot 52.5% higher. The Dow Jones industrials saw a 33.6% gain. Better, oil prices fell. So did interest rates. Inflation was benign. Mortgage rates were headed toward 6% in the United States. And gold and silver just took off. Many investors looked forward to a continued bull market in 2026.The good times were derailed by three events: Wild speculation erupted in bitcoin, which topped out in early October, and in gold and silver. Those fevers broke in January. Software stocks started to plunge. Didn’t matter if big or small. Much of it had to do with how much (or too much) Big Tech was spending on data centers for artificial intelligence. Microsoft, Salesforce, and others just tipped over. All of the Magnificent 7 stocks (Apple, Amazon.com, Google-parent Alphabet, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia and Tesla) are down this year and at least 10% from their 52-week peaks. Microsoft is down 31% from its top. Even Nvidia is off nearly 19% from its high.The Iran war erupted. This is the big one because it is more serious than the U.S.-Israel attacks last summer, and no one knows how it will end or how it’s supposed to end. The war has pushed Brent crude, the global benchmark, up 84% this year to $112 per 42-gallon barrel. Light sweet crude, the U.S. benchmark has jumped 72% to $98 a barrel. U.S. gasoline prices hit $3.93 a gallon on Saturday, according to AAA — a 38% increase.And stocks fell back. The major U.S. averages have fallen for four straight weeks. The S&P 500 is off 5.83% in that period. The Dow’s loss is 8.2%, and the Nasdaq Composite has dropped 5.4%. Interest rates went up, too. The 10-year Treasury yield is up 11% to 4.37%. The rate on a 30-year mortgage has risen from 5.99% to 6.53%, according to Mortgage News Daily.The combination of higher rates and war worries has gutted gold and silver prices. Gold has fallen nearly 19% in the last four weeks; silver has slumped 43%. However, this year’s stock decline is not the worst. Not even close. During the April 2025 tariff tantrum, the S&P 500’s loss, from start to bottom was 14.7%.But this year’s slide is worrisome in addition to not knowing the ending. The reasons: The best-performing S&P 500 sector, energy, is up nearly 32% in less than three months. Chevron is up more than 32%. Technology stocks are down 8.5% on the year. Consumer discretionary stocks, including autos and home builders, are down 10.6%. Financials are down 10.8%. Mighty JP Morgan Chase is off 11%

Pump jack at Los Angeles-area oil well. Patrick F. Fallon Getty Images

What to do now that stocks are fallingThe answer is complicated because everyone’s situation is different. And most investor money in this country is in mutual funds and exchange-traded funds. More Gold, Silver and Investing:AARP sounds alarm on major 401(k) problemHow to Time the Stock Market With Your Own PortfolioTop-5 ETFs That Can Minimize IRA Fees and Improve InvestmentsSilver and gold tumble triggers major reset for mining stocksBut you’re not alone if you’re worried. CNN’s Fear and Greed Index is a measure of investor sentiment.In July, with the market roaring back from the April bottom, it was showing extreme greed driving markets. Related: Fidelity delivers sobering interest-rate message amid Fed pauseNow, it’s showing extreme greed. (Full disclosure: a former boss helped develop the index.)Here are some ways to look at the situation. You’re very conservative:If all your money is in cash or stable income funds and you’re comfortable with that, wait the downturn out. Hopefully, the war will end sooner rather than later, and real peace breaks out. And you can go on with your lives. Your investments are in mutual funds or pension funds:What you probably should do is look carefully at what the funds are invested in. All fund companies will describe how each of their funds invests and where they are invested now. Look at both to be sure the investing philosophy and actual investments match.A fund that says it is conservatively invested but has all its money in, say, bitcoin is not conservatively invested. Bitcoin peaked at about $126,000 in October 2025 and has fallen 44% since. Some stocks, stock funds and bond funds:You have a riskier position, and it is worth looking at everything and becoming an analyst.If interest rates go up, and you own shares in a homebuilder, higher rates will hurt you. You have to judge if waiting for the recovery is worth it. You can watch CNBC and Bloomberg all day, read Barrons or theStreet.com, and decide for yourself if Microsoft is going to recover from its recent drubbing. Or if Apple will become a killer stock again.Companies that are steady growers and consistently pay dividends are great ballast for any portfolio. There is no shame in owning Walmart or Procter & Gamble.If a stock fits those parameters and you’re confident in the company, it may pay in the long run not to sell.You have stocks and big stakes in precious metals and crypto:This is not a time to fool around. If you already have a financial advisor, book a time with her soon and go through everything. (You should do that once a year anyway.)The risks and volatility are big, especially with metals and crypto. Silver peaked at $50 in 1980, then collapsed to $4 a few years afterward. It did not see $50 again until 2011. It fell again and didn’t hit $50 a second time until 2025. And need we remind you, Bitcoin can be extremely volatile.Should you be scared?Not if you plan to take more intense care of your finances. It will take some effort, especially if you’ve not paid much attention before to how the world-at-large can affect your financial position. But making sure you understand where you stand and what you face is critical in dealing with today’s volatility. And, as important, you will acquire the tools and thinking to map out your future with more confidence.Just hope this war doesn’t last too long.Related: JPMorgan resets S&P 500 price target for rest of 2026

Rising real rates and inflation risks weigh on gold, while bitcoin continues to consolidate.

In a series of videos posted on Instagram, Roan said she did not see Jorginho’s 11-year-old daughter or ask her security to reprimand her.

One simple shift — from building a booth to creating a real emotional moment — turned passing foot traffic into meaningful conversations and lasting brand connections.

The United Arab Emirates has, in a sense, been preparing for a war like this for 40 years and has accordingly steadily built up a formidable air defense system.

As economic uncertainty keeps on shaping consumer patterns, one category is proving remarkably resilient: pet spending. New data from CivicScience suggests that Americans are not only holding steady in their commitment to their pets — they’re increasingly willing to spend more on them.According to the survey, pet owners report a net spending intent of +28%, with 38% planning to increase spending on pet-related expenses such as food, toys and veterinary care over the next year. In contrast, only 10% say they expect to cut back. The majority (53%) anticipate keeping their spending roughly the same, underscoring the stability of the pet care market even as households reassess budgets elsewhere. This resilience reflects a wider trend: For many Americans, pets aren’t a discretionary expense; they are essential members of the household.Read:More personal finance contentCats vs. DogsBoth dog and cat owners are adding to the rise in pet spending, but the data displays a notable divide between the two groups. Cat owners are leading the charge, with a slightly higher likelihood of increasing their budgets compared to dog owners. Specifically, 14% of cat owners report plans for a significant increase in spending, compared to 12% of dog owners, according to CivicScience.The gap widens when we factor in those planning slight spending increases. Cat owners are four percentage points ahead, overall, in their intention to spend more.This difference may reflect developing perceptions of cat ownership, particularly as more Americans embrace cats as low maintenance yet emotionally rewarding companions. It may also signal growing investment in premium cat products, from customized diets to enrichment toys.Still, dog owners continue doing their part to keep the pet economy strong. With 56% expecting to maintain current spending levels and a sizable portion planning increases, the segment continues to be a powerful force in the market.

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New Pet Ownership Pipeline Remains StrongSpending growth is also being fueled by continued interest in pet ownership. Approximately 17% of U.S. adults say they plan to get a dog in the next 12 months, while 11% are considering adding a cat to their household.Among current pet owners, the data shows strong “species loyalty.” Dog owners are far more likely to plan for another dog (21%) than to get a cat (11%), while cat owners show a similar preference for staying within their existing category.This loyalty suggests that once consumers enter a particular segment of the pet market, they are likely to remain there, creating sustained demand for species-specific products and services.Remote Work Keeps Shaping Pet TrendsOne of the most significant predictors of future pet ownership is work location. The shift toward remote and hybrid work arrangements — accelerated during the pandemic — still influences how and why Americans acquire pets.Individuals who work remotely, especially those who have recently transitioned to working from home, are significantly more likely than the average American to plan on getting a pet. Among those who transitioned to remote work, 36% say they are considering getting a dog, and an equal share are thinking about adopting a cat — well above national averages.By contrast, those returning to the office show different preferences. This group is less likely to take on the responsibilities of a dog or cat and, instead, shows more interest in lower-maintenance pets, such as fish, reptiles, or small mammals. These patterns highlight how life practices, particularly time spent at home, directly shape the pet economy. Owning a dog or cat is more feasible for those who spend more time at home.  And that time spent with these pets may further deepen the human-animal bond, additionally reinforcing spending behavior.Emotional Benefits Drive Financial CommitmentAt the heart of the pet spending boom is a powerful emotional connection. The data makes clear that pets play a significant role in their owners’ well-being, particularly when it comes to mental health. More than two-thirds (66%) of pet owners say their pets have had a positive impact on their mental health, citing reduced stress and increased companionship. Only a small minority (11%) report any negative impact.The emotional benefits of pet ownership appears to be a key driver of sustained — and even increased — spending. In an era distinguished by economic and social stressors, pets offer a sense of stability and comfort that many owners are unwilling to compromise. The value of these relationships often comes to the forefront when someone loses a treasured family pet.“Pets give us unconditional love,” said Marianne Matzo, PhD. “The death of a pet can hurt as much or more than the death of a family member.”Physical Health Benefits Vary by Pet TypeWhile mental health benefits are widely shared across pet owners, physical health outcomes vary more significantly depending on the type of pet. Overall, about 51% of pet owners report that their pets have had a positive impact on their physical health. However, dog owners are notably more likely to report such benefits than cat owners.Among dog owners, 57% say their pets have improved their physical health — likely due to regular walking and increased activity levels. By comparison, 49% of cat owners report similar benefits, an eight-percentage-point gap. This distinction reinforces the idea that different types of pets fulfill different roles in their owners’ lives — some emotional, others physical. These roles can influence spending patterns. Dog owners, for instance, may invest more in outdoor gear, training, and health-related services, while cat owners may focus on comfort and enrichment products.A Recession-Resistant CategoryTaken together, the findings point to a pet industry that is not only stable but growing — prompted by a combination of emotional attachment, lifestyle changes, and ongoing interest in pet ownership. Even as consumers tighten spending in other areas, pets continue to be a priority. Whether it’s premium food, veterinary care, or toys designed to improve quality of life, owners continue to invest in their animals at high rates.The result is a category that appears increasingly insulated from wider economic swings. As one trend becomes clear, it is this: in American households, pets are no longer optional, they are family. And for many, that means their care is one expense that won’t be cut.Related: What’s new this tax year for 50+ adults?

Micron Technology (MU) just completed one of the best quarters in its history, with most investors repeating “buy first, ask questions later” like a mantra. But a blunt warning from CEO Sanjay Mehrotra may be the detail that matters most for Wall Street.The memory-chip giant reported blockbuster fiscal second-quarter earnings, as revenue surged to $23.86 billion and adjusted earnings per share reached $12.20, handily racing ahead of expectations.Micron also issued strong guidance for the current quarter, which means that demand tied to the artificial intelligence(AI) boom remains extremely strong.But investors were hit with some extraordinary remarks post the record-setting earnings season. Micron can only provide a portion of what its most important customers need in the near future, Mehrotra told CNBC on March 19.For a company at the center of the AI infrastructure trade, these are stunning remarks. It suggests the AI memory shortage is still severe, even after Micron’s excellent results.That helps explain why Micron stock is slipping even after delivering an amazing report. The quarter was great, but the market is now asking a harder question: How long can Micron keep making money from this huge supply shortage, and what will happen when new capacity finally comes online?Micron earnings show AI demand is still outpacing supplyThe biggest takeaway from Micron earnings is not solely that the company helped beat earnings estimates. It is that demand for AI memory is still majorly outrunning supply.That matters because Micron plays a critical role in the AI chip ecosystem. While investors tend to focus on Nvidia, advanced memory chips are the lifeblood of the systems powering the next wave of AI infrastructure. If Micron still can’t meet customer demand, it means the AI trade is still going strong.The company’s latest results underscored that strength. Micron said it posted record quarterly revenue, record gross margin, record earnings per share and record free cash flow. That is exactly the kind of outsized performance that supports Micron’s position as one of the biggest winners in the semiconductor rally tied to AI.Still, strong fundamentals don’t always mean that the stock price will go up.More AI Stocks:Morgan Stanley sets jaw-dropping Micron price target after eventBank of America updates Palantir stock forecast after private meetingMorgan Stanley drops eye-popping Broadcom price targetInvestors are looking beyond the quarter and focusing on what is going to happen next. Micron is racing to add capacity, per Reuters, which will lead to a massive spending increase. In fiscal 2026, the company plans to spend more than $25 billion on capital projects. This shows that management is trying to close the gap between supply and demand before competitors do the same.That is where the complication starts for Micron investors. Today’s shortage is helping drive pricing power and profitability. However, tomorrow’s capacity expansion will cool the same market conditions fueling the rally.

Micron investors get a rude surprise after blockbuster earnings.Green/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Micron stock faces a new Wall Street problemFor now, Micron’s business is on solid ground. But the stock market is already starting to look past the headline numbers.That is the real tension we are witnessing in the markets.Related: Nvidia CEO makes bombshell call on AI’s next big thingWhen a company posts results this strong, investors will react to the stock price right now and then start to price in the future. In Micron’s case, that means asking whether today’s AI-driven memory shortage is the start of a longer supercycle or the high point of a very profitable moment.That helps explain why Micron stock did not rise higher on the basis of the earnings beat alone. Some investors seem to be selling off their stocks after a big run, while others are wondering how long the current high demand for high-bandwidth memory and low supply of DRAM will last.Make no mistake: Micron is still telling a bullish story. Demand is growing at a decent clip. Key customers still want far more product than it can provide. The AI buildout is still creating bottlenecks across critical parts of the semiconductor market.But Wall Street no longer asks if Micron had a good quarter; instead, it asks whether Micron is operating at something close to peak conditions.Key Micron takeawaysMicron revenuehit $23.86 billion in fiscal Q2.Adjusted earnings per share came in at $12.20.Micron guided to about $33.5 billion in Q3 revenue.CEO Sanjay Mehrotra said key customers are getting only 50% to two-thirds of needed supply.Micron is expected to spend more than $25 billion on capital expenditures in fiscal 2026.The company remains one of the clearest AI memory winners in the market.For investors, the message is simple enough. Micron is still riding a powerful AI boom, but that boom is creating critical chokepoints.The company just showed that demand for memory chips is moving along at a breakneck pace. At the same time, it reminded Wall Street that even great numbers come at a price. In this case, the catch is that Micron still cannot fully meet customer demand, and fixing the issue will require a massive capital inflow.That makes Micron stock one of the more fascinating names in the AI trade right now.And that might be the biggest surprise of all: Micron just had a huge win, but investors are already worried about what’s next.Related: Nvidia bull drops shocking take on upside

No matter the economic fallacy that informs Fed actions, real markets will have their say.