Finance

Alphabet shares surged approximately 10% after reporting quarterly profits that nearly doubled expectations, bolstered by its cloud and search divisions. In contrast, Meta and Microsoft saw their stock prices pressured as they projected substantial increases in capital spending for 2026, intended to support the expanding infrastructure requirements for artificial intelligence.

Oil prices have experienced wild swings, recently surging toward multi-year highs due to a naval blockade of Iranian ports before pulling back. Meanwhile, the global energy landscape is shifting as the United Arab Emirates formally departs from OPEC, effective May 1, 2026, granting the nation greater flexibility to ramp up production outside traditional quotas.

Recent economic reports indicate that the annual inflation rate reached 3.3% in March 2026, the highest level in two years, largely due to a sharp rise in energy and gasoline costs. This inflationary pressure persists as the U.S. economy grew at a 2% annualized pace in the first quarter, which was slightly below initial expectations.