Higher EV prices and borrowing costs may be turning prospective buyers away.
SUCCESS
Trump pauses plans to attack Iranian energy infrastructure, as Nasdaq falls into correction territory
Trump said he would pause attacking Iran’s energy infrastructure for 10 days late on Thursday as stocks tumbled
Crypto edges off of worst levels after Trump extends Iran strike pause
It was an ugly day all around in markets as the Iran war has sent oil prices and bond yields surging higher.
Bill Cosby Handed ‘Staggering’ $59M Verdict — Here’s What It Means For Pending Lawsuits Against Him
A California jury found Bill Cosby liable for drugging and sexually assaulting a woman over 50 years ago — and ordered him to pay nearly $60 million in damages.
Netflix Raises Prices Again—Here Are The New Rates
The increase marks the latest price hike since the streamer upped subscription costs in January 2025.
Barclays just made a surprising call on the S&P 500
Barclays raised its 2026 year-end S&P 500 target to 7,650 on March 24. That is up from its previous target of 7,400. It implies roughly 16% upside from where the index closed the prior session at 6,581.The call came against a difficult backdrop. The S&P 500 has fallen about 4.3% since the Iran war began. Soaring oil prices and geopolitical uncertainty pushed investors toward safer assets. Barclays is betting that the earnings story wins out anyway.What is driving the upgradeThe core of Barclays’ argument is straightforward. Strong corporate earnings, led by the technology sector, will outweigh the macro risks now building in the market. The bank raised its 2026 S&P 500 EPS estimate to $321 from $305.Importantly, Barclays said the target increase reflects a stronger earnings base, not a valuation re-rating. The bank is not arguing stocks deserve higher multiples. It is arguing the profit foundation underneath them is more solid than previously estimated.”We believe the U.S. continues to offer stronger nominal growth than other major economies and a secular growth engine in technology that shows few signs of stopping,” Barclays strategists said in the note.More Wall StreetBillionaire Dalio sends 2-words on Fed pick WarshTop analyst bets these stocks will boost your portfolio in 2026Bank of America sends quiet warning to stock market investorsThe bank expects real GDP growth of 2.6% in 2026. It described inflation as “sticky but well-anchored.” US consumption has remained durable and labor market conditions have stayed steady despite the geopolitical turbulence. In Barclays’ view, these factors give the earnings outlook a foundation that the current selloff does not adequately reflect.The risks Barclays is not ignoringThe upgrade comes with a clear-eyed view of what could go wrong. Barclays outlined a bear case of 5,900 for the S&P 500. That would represent a roughly 15% decline from recent levels and is described as the scenario where the current risks metastasize.The bank flagged two specific concerns that could derail the bull case:Oil and inflation. Surging energy prices have revived inflation concerns and created a difficult position for the Federal Reserve. The Fed last week signaled only one rate cut for 2026. If oil stays elevated, it could feed through to broader prices and force the Fed into what Barclays called an “unenviable corner” between fighting inflation and supporting growth.Private credit stress. Barclays flagged rising redemption pressure in private credit funds as a risk that could trigger a sharper downturn if investor sentiment deteriorates. This is a less visible risk than the oil story but one the bank explicitly called out.The strategists also noted that the distribution of outcomes has shifted left. Even as they raise their target, they are reducing fair value multiples across the board to account for heightened uncertainty in both macro and AI outcomes.How Barclays is positioning across sectorsAlong with the index target upgrade, Barclays updated its US sector calls. It upgraded industrials to “positive” from “neutral.” It raised materials and energy to “neutral” from “negative.” The reasoning: improving industrial momentum, AI-linked capital expenditure support, and direct benefits from higher energy prices.
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The bank noted that positioning across the market does not yet reflect panic. Long-only funds have reduced exposure and hedge funds have degrossed moderately. But systematic risk appears more symmetric and there is still dry powder on the sidelines. Barclays described the current options activity as having “shifted back toward macro concerns” without yet showing signs of widespread fear.What this means for investorsBarclays is making a specific bet: that the US earnings engine, particularly in technology, remains strong enough to absorb the headwinds from oil, inflation, and geopolitical uncertainty. The 7,650 target implies the bank believes the selloff since the Iran war began has created opportunity rather than signaling deeper trouble ahead.The bear case at 5,900 is a reminder that the range of outcomes is wide. The same conditions driving the bull case, strong tech earnings and resilient consumption, could flip quickly if energy prices stay elevated long enough to force a Fed policy error.For investors watching the S&P 500, Barclays is one of the more constructive voices on Wall Street right now. But even in its upgraded scenario, the bank is reducing multiples and warning that uncertainty is elevated. That combination, higher targets alongside lower confidence in the range of outcomes, is itself a signal worth paying attention to. The bull case requires the earnings engine to keep running. The bear case does not require much to go wrong.Related: JPMorgan doubles down on S&P 500 target for one key reason
The crazy airport lines have expanded to Disney
Those who have either traveled through an airport or followed the news over the last week will know that many airports across the U.S. are currently experiencing hours-long delays to clear security checkpoints.With TSA agents now having missed their first full paycheck, many have been calling in sick or quitting their jobs as political battles over a funding bill tied to increased voting restrictions and expanded Department of Homeland Security funds continue. As of March 26, Republicans have blocked all 11 Democratic proposals to reinstate funding to critical agencies like TSA, FEMA, and CISA without additional resources for immigration enforcement. As a result, airports like Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson and George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston have been seeing TSA lines that on some days have taken over four hours for travelers to clear.Disney World guests report ride lines as long as in many airports”I’ve been really scared the whole week, looking on TikTok and Instagram and just seeing all the lines,” Lara Atasoya, who arrived at JFK five hours before her flight to get back home to Sweden, described to a local news station. “And I was thinking, how am I going to get home?”While Disney parks have no connection to airport security or governmental funding, guests who came to several of the parks in the Disney World resort this week reported Spring Break crowds equaling what is being reported at many airports.Related: Delta Air Lines scraps secret perk for lawmakers amid shutdown”Rise of the Resistance surged to a posted wait time of 150 minutes and if you’ve spent any time at Disney World, you already know what that really means,” Sarah Larson reported on the situation at Hollywood Studios for the Inside The Magic watchdog blog. “Guests weren’t just waiting two and a half hours — they were committing to a line that stretched close to three. At the same time, Smugglers Run climbed to an 80-minute wait, adding even more pressure to the land.”
Spring Break is peak visitor period at all the Disney parks.Image source: Daniel Kline/TheStreet
Why the Disney lines are so long this time of yearWith the exact timing of spring break differing between cities and exact schools, the entire period at the end of March and start of April is generally some of Disney’s busiest as many families plan their trip to the parks around this time; this also happens to be the time of the year when temperatures are milder and before the worst of the Florida heat sets in.More Travel News:Airline to launch unusual new flight to Cayman Islands from the U.S.Iranian strike hits major airport, injuries reportedUnexpected country is most luxurious travel destination for 2026U.S. government issues sudden warning on Switzerland travelThis year, the worst of the crowds are expected for the period of Easter weekend between April 3 and 6. The Walt Disney World Lightning Lane Premier Pass, which allows holders to pass to the front of the line for popular rides, has sold out on many days last week while prices that increase based on how busy the parks get reached $449 for Magic Kingdom and are expected to stay in that highest end of the range over the next few weeks.Travelers going through a U.S. airport to get to Disney are, in turn, likely to face a double whammy of many hours spent waiting in lines.Related: U.S. government issues strange warning on Ireland travel
GameStop turned its $368 million bitcoin stash into an options income play
The video retailer sparked speculations of selling bitcoin after it transferred nearly all its coins to Coinbase Prime in January.
At Age 24, He Ditched Becoming a Lawyer to Open a Coffee Shop. Last Year It Brought In $40 Million.
Gregory Zamfotis chose lattes over the law, deciding midway through law school that he wanted to start his own business.
The Basics of Owning Crypto: What First-Time Buyers Need to Know
Since bitcoin’s debut in 2009, cryptocurrency has gone from a niche internet experiment to a topic no one can seem to avoid. Just a decade ago, crypto was a curiosity for tech enthusiasts and decentralized finance, or DeFi, idealists. Now, bitcoin is brought up at dinner tables while Coinbase commercials play in the background during the Super Bowl.
Yet for all the mainstream attention crypto has received, first-time buyers often misunderstand what they’re getting into. Buying it is the easy part. The process takes minutes, and you can start with as little as $10. The harder part is understanding how to hold it, protect it and think about it responsibly — that’s where new investors tend to fall short.
Here’s what you need to know before you make your first crypto purchase.
Understand what you’re actually buying
Crypto is not a stock. It doesn’t represent ownership in a company and it doesn’t pay dividends. Instead, most cryptocurrencies are speculative assets: Their value is primarily driven by supply, demand and investor sentiment.
That distinction matters because crypto (usually) has no safety net. While bank deposits are insured by the FDIC up to $250,000 and brokerage accounts have SIPC protections, crypto enjoys neither of those safety nets. Your crypto investments are only covered up to what an individual exchange or wallet may offer. And if an exchange collapses — as FTX did in 2022 — you are going to find yourself at the back of a very long line of creditors.
Volatility, a defining feature of most cryptocurrency, is the other major element that investors need to understand. Bitcoin has lost more than 50% of its value multiple times in its history and altcoins can lose that much in a week. Crypto is widely considered the most volatile asset class; if you’re not prepared to watch your investment cut in half without panic-selling, it may not be the right fit for you.
While stablecoins like USDC or tether are pegged 1-to-1 to the dollar and designed to avoid price swings, they serve the specific purpose of moving value around within the crypto ecosystem (or as a bridge between crypto and fiat currency). But even stablecoins carry risks, as the crash of terraUSD in 2022 demonstrated. Ultimately, no corner of the crypto market is entirely without risk.
Choose a reputable crypto exchange
For most first-time buyers, the entry point to crypto is a centralized exchange like Coinbase, Kraken, Gemini or SoFi. These platforms function somewhat like brokerages: You create an account, verify your identity, link a payment method and start buying. They’re regulated and typically user-friendly, making them a reasonable place to start for crypto newcomers.
Centralized exchanges will also ask you to complete an identity verification process, which involves uploading a government ID and sometimes a picture of yourself. This is standard Know Your Customer (KYC) compliance required by U.S. law.
When evaluating an exchange, it’s essential to look at whether it’s registered with FinCEN and compliant with U.S. regulations. You should also consider its security track record. An exchange that has been hacked and handled the event well is more trustworthy than one that has never been tried and tested.
Additionally, avoid platforms you’ve only heard about through social media promotions. If an exchange is aggressively marketing guaranteed returns, that’s a red flag, not a feature.
Know who actually holds your crypto
When you buy crypto on a centralized exchange and leave it there, you don’t own it in the traditional sense. The exchange holds the private keys, which provide cryptographic proof of ownership. In the crypto world, this is summarized by the popular phrase: “Not your keys, not your coins.”
If you want direct ownership, you’ll need a crypto wallet, of which there are two types: hot wallets and cold wallets.
The former are software-based, like apps on your phone or browser extensions. They’re connected to the internet, which makes them convenient but also more vulnerable. The latter are typically hardware devices that store your keys offline. They’re less convenient and have an upfront cost, but for storing any meaningful amount of crypto, they’re worth it.
Whether you use a hot or cold wallet, you’ll be given a seed phrase when you set it up. This phrase is usually 12 or 24 words and functions as the master key to your funds, so make sure you write it down on paper and store it somewhere secure. Never photograph it, type it into any website or share it with anyone who contacts you for any reason.
A legitimate crypto platform will never ask for your seed phrase.
Taxes, risk and the long game
Two things often catch new crypto investors off guard: taxes and their own emotions.
The IRS treats cryptocurrency as property, which means every time you sell, trade or in some cases spend it, you’ve triggered a taxable event. If you bought bitcoin at $30,000 and sold at $45,000, you would owe capital gains tax on that $15,000 whether you converted it to cash or traded it for ethereum.
To be safe, keep records of every purchase, including the date, amount and price you paid. Tax software like Koinly or CoinTracker can help sync your transaction history and calculate your gains, but the underlying recordkeeping responsibility is yours.
As for risk, keep in mind that crypto markets don’t follow earnings cycles or Federal Reserve policies in predictable ways. A single social media post can move prices 10% or more in an hour. Buying into a price spike because of fear of missing out — or FOMO — is one of the easiest ways to overpay for crypto. Investors who have fared the best tend to resist panic-selling and treat crypto as one component of a well-diversified portfolio rather than a windfall strategy.
The investors who get hurt most are those who skipped the basics, the ones who bought on hype, left funds on an unvetted exchange or handed over a seed phrase to a scammer. The fundamentals aren’t complicated, but they require attention before you make your first purchase, not after.
More from Money:
Best Crypto Exchanges
Best Crypto Wallets
Why 2026 Will Be a Big Year for Bitcoin, Stablecoins and Crypto Regulation