
Welcome back!
Here’s your must-read news this morning:
I’ve got all the details for you, so let’s dive in.
— Josh
MARKETS
Market Roundup
🏦 Economy
⭐ Editor’s Pick: Panama’s Supreme Court ousted Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison from the Panama Canal ports, marking a win for Trump’s push to limit Chinese influence. (WSJ)
Trump sued the IRS and the Treasury Department for $10 billion, accusing them of failing to prevent the leak of his confidential tax records. (CNBC)
U.S. productivity is surging — rising about 4.9% annualized — driven by broad investment that could keep inflation low even as wages grow. (BN)
China’s fiscal revenue fell 1.7% in 2025, the first drop since 2020, hit by a deep property market slump and weak domestic consumption. (RTS)
The U.S. and El Salvador signed a trade agreement to boost critical minerals investment. (INV)
📈 Hot Stock Picks
⭐ Editor’s Pick: Morningstar highlights several top exchange‑traded funds to ride the current small‑cap stock rally. (MS)
InsiderMonkey lists the 10 most promising cloud stocks according to analysts. (IM)
MarketBeat highlights three healthcare growth stocks beyond biotech that may appeal to investors seeking long‑term expansion in areas like specialized care. (MB)
Barchart highlighted Vale S.A. and Rio Tinto as ways to further ride the gold rally. (BA)
🏢 Industry
⭐ Editor’s Pick: Apple posted its biggest sales jump in four years, powered by staggering iPhone demand, with fiscal Q1 revenue up roughly 16%. (YF)
GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen has unveiled an ambitious plan to transform the $11 billion retailer to push its value toward $100 billion and potentially earn a $35 billion payday. (WSJ)
A San Francisco bakery drew online backlash for selling shortbread cookies iced with “F‑‑‑ ICE.” (FBN)
The Cape Cod Potato Chips factory in Massachusetts will close in April due to the state’s business challenges. (WWLP)
🛢️ Energy & Commodities
⭐ Editor’s Pick: Venezuela approved a landmark law to open its oil sector to foreign and private investment. (AP)
150 million Americans face significant risk of power shortfalls or blackouts over the next five years amid grid vulnerabilities. (BBG)
OPEC+ is likely to keep its pause on oil output increases for March when it meets on Sunday. (INV)
Gold fell below $5,000/oz, but is set for its best month since 1999. (RTS)
🌕 Crypto
⭐ Editor’s Pick: The Senate Agriculture Committee advanced a key crypto market‑structure bill on a narrow 12‑11 party‑line vote. (TH)
CFTC and the SEC will work together on “Project Crypto” to modernize digital-asset rules. (CD)
Bitcoin fell as much as 3.9% to around $81,100, putting it on track for its longest monthly losing streak since 2018. (BBG)
The UAE launched USDU, its first central bank‑registered USD‑backed stablecoin. (CS)
TECH
Tech Roundup
🧠 AI
⭐ Editor’s Pick: SpaceX is weighing a potential merger with xAI or an alternative combination with Tesla. (BBG)
OpenAI is preparing for an IPO targeted for the fourth quarter of 2026. (WSJ)
Apple acquired Israeli AI startup Q.ai, whose technology can analyze facial expressions to enable silent, non‑verbal interactions with AI assistants. (CNBC)
Filmmaker Darren Aronofsky is releasing an AI‑generated animated Revolutionary War series called On This Day… 1776. (VRTY)
Google’s Project Genie lets users generate and explore AI‑created interactive 3D worlds from text or image prompts. (VER)
The Pentagon and Anthropic are at odds over company-imposed safeguards restricting AI use for autonomous weapons. (RTS)
🤖 Robots
⭐ Editor’s Pick: A video circulating online appears to show Russian soldiers surrendering with hands raised to a Ukrainian battlefield robot. (FUT)
A Waymo robotaxi struck a child near a Santa Monica elementary school, causing minor injuries and triggering a safety investigation. (TC)
OpenMind launched an app store that lets humanoid robots download new software “skills.” (IE)
A humanoid robot named Ai‑Da became the first robot to design a building, creating a “Space Pod” for future Moon and Mars bases. (FOX)
💰Venture Capital
⭐ Editor’s Pick: Amazon is in talks to invest up to $50 billion in OpenAI. (CNBC)
Robotics startup RobCo raised $100 million in a Series C funding round led by Lightspeed Venture Partners. (BW)
AI security startup Outtake has raised $40 million in Series B funding from Iconiq. (TC)
Pet wellness startup Snout raised a $10 million Series A round from Footwork and $100 million in debt from Clear Haven Capital Management. (FOR)
FREEDOM
Freedom Roundup
🏛️ Policy & Culture
⭐ Editor’s Pick: Legal experts blasted the latest Federal Judicial Center reference manual’s climate section as “shocking and inappropriate,” arguing it injects ideological bias into judges’ guidance. (FOX)
The future of Iran’s internet connectivity is still bleak, even as weeks-long blackout begins to lift. (CNN)
An Arizona State University administrator was secretly recorded explaining that DEI work continues at the university despite official bans. (AIM)
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DISCLAIMER: The CAPITAL newsletter is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or professional advice. Readers should conduct their own research and consult a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The CAPITAL newsletter and its owner and operator, Josh Caplan, are not liable for any loss or damage resulting from reliance on this information. The CAPITAL newsletter is solely owned and independently operated by Josh Caplan, separate from any employer affiliations.




