Brent oil jumps as mideast energy assets come under attack
March 19, 2026
Breaking News
Image source: Adobe Stock
Oil extended gains to more than 10% following attacks on some of the Middle East’s most important energy facilities, raising concerns of an escalating impact from the almost three-week-old conflict that has no end in sight.
Brent spiked past $118 a barrel, while the region’s diesel benchmark was trading north of $180 a barrel at the highest level in almost four years.
European natural gas rose as much as 35%.
Iran attacked a major LNG site in Qatar, one of several energy assets it pledged to target following strikes on the Islamic Republic’s giant South Pars gas field.
Saudi Arabia is assessing damage at its Samref refinery and the kingdom also intercepted a ballistic missile heading toward Yanbu, the kingdom’s primary workaround to export oil with the Strait of Hormuz all but closed. Yahoo Finance reports.
EdgeUp
🧠 Micron shares slip as heavy spending plans weigh on AI-driven earnings
Micron shares dropped more than 4% before the bell on Thursday, as the chipmaker's plans for higher capex spending unnerved investors, taking the shine off another round of AI-fueled blockbuster quarterly earnings.
Micron, whose shares have climbed more than 61% this year after surging over 240% in 2025, said it is boosting its 2026 capital spending plan by $5 billion to meet growing demand, bringing its total investment for the current fiscal year to more than $25 billion.
It added spending will rise again in 2027, with manufacturing expansion expected to drive construction-related costs more than $10 billion higher compared with 2026. Yahoo Finance reports.
🚀 Swarmer stock surges again after IPO as Ukraine-tested drone software draws Wall Street
Swarmer shares soared 77% to finish at $55 on Wednesday, piling onto Tuesday’s explosive Nasdaq debut.
The drone-autonomy software outfit, backed by Erik Prince, had already rocketed 520% above its $5 IPO price on day one.
With its two-session rally, the Austin company now ranks among the year’s hottest new U.S. listings, rivaling Newsmax’s splashy debut last year. TechStock² reports.
🛒 Alibaba stock drops after earnings. AI growth isn’t enough as JD.Com price war hits.
Alibaba Group Holding stock was falling early Thursday.
The Chinese internet company’s earnings failed to reassure the market that its artificial-intelligence progress would outweigh headwinds in other parts of its business. Barrons reports.
🛍️ Why Five Below shares are trading higher by around 7%
Shares of Five Below Inc rose sharply in pre-market trading after the company reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter financial results and issued FY26 EPS guidance above estimates.
Five Below reported fourth-quarter revenue of $1.73 billion, beating estimates of $1.70 billion, according to Benzinga Pro.
The company posted adjusted earnings of $4.31 per share for the quarter, beating estimates of $3.98 per share.
Five Below shares jumped 7.2% to $227.80 in the pre-market trading session. Benzinga reports.
⛽ Epic Fury has already cancelled out Big Beautiful Bill's tax refunds - even if the Iran war ended today
Economists say increased gasoline costs will offset the impact of bigger tax refunds
Rising prices at the pump will offset the boost from bigger tax refunds, even under the most generous assumptions.
It's been quite a 24 hours, with Israel striking an Iranian gas field, Iran replying with an attack on the world's biggest liquefied natural gas facility in Qatar, and in between Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell ducking and weaving on what the war will mean to the economy.
But it sets up the backdrop for an analysis done by four economists at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research on the impact of the war on the wallets of Americans.
They compare the tax refunds stemming from the One Big Beautiful Bill - that giant piece of tax legislation passed last year - with the surge in gasoline prices. Morningstar reports.
Top 5 Movers in Early Pre-Market
(All pricing and percent gains are based on Early Pre-Market from 4:00 AM to 7:00 AM Eastern Time)
Stock Analysis reports.
1) CHNR: China Natural Resources, Inc.
Total gain: +57.88%
2) SER: Serina Therapeutics, Inc.
Total gain: +21.09%
3) SUNE: SUNation Energy Inc.
Total gain: +20.83%
4) YSG: Yatsen Holding Limited
Total gain: +12.67%
5) ELA: Envela Corporation
Total gain: +12.49%
Yesterday’s Biggest Movers
The closing price of the top three market percent gainers trading near or above $3 on March 18.
Stock Analysis reports.
*All pricing and percent gains are based on regular market trading hours from 9:30am to 4:00pm Eastern Time
1) SWMR: Swarmer, Inc
Total gain: +77.42%
The company announced the closing of its previously announced underwritten initial public offering (the “Offering”) of 3,450,000 newly-issued shares of common stock, including the full exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase 450,000 additional shares of common stock, at a price to the public of $5.00 per share. The shares are listed for trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the ticker symbol “SWMR.” Businesswire reports.
2) ARTL: Artelo Biosciences, Inc.
Total gain: +50.72%
The company announced its entry into the ophthalmology space with a fully funded clinical study evaluating ART27.13 in glaucoma patients. The investigator-sponsored trial (IST) is backed by Glaucoma UK and the HSC R&D Division, with first patient enrollment anticipated in Q2 2026. Globe Newswire reports.
3) TLYS: Tilly's, Inc.
Total gain: +23.53%
The stock appeared to be moving on no notable news.
Today’s Notable Earnings
*Estimate and Actual numbers represent Earnings Per Share in US Dollars
TIGR: UP Fintech Holding
Q4 2025
Before Market Open
Estimate: 0.200
Actual: 0.264
STG: Sunlands Technology
Q4 2025
Before Market Open
Estimate: N/A
Actual: 0.410
LUNR: Intuitive Machines
Q4 2025
Before Market Open
Estimate: -0.040
Actual: N/A
Today’s Economic Dates
Time (ET) / Report / Period
8:30 AM - Initial jobless claims - March 14
8:30 AM - Philadelphia Fed manufacturing survey - March
8:30 AM - Wholesale inventories - Jan.
Parting Thoughts
“Be fearful when others are greedy and greedy when others are fearful.”
– Warren Buffett
Sourced in: Berkshire Hathaway Shareholder Letter (1986).
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