Market Talks covering the impact of U.S. Politics and White House policies on companies and markets. Published exclusively on Dow Jones Newswires throughout the day.
1204 ET - The indictment against former Super Micro Computer employees doesn't name the company, but it's a bad look, Raymond James analysts say. The allegations that the employees sold Super Micro servers with Nvidia chips to China casts a new legal and compliance shadow over the company, whose shares slid 28% Friday. The overhang comes on top of pre-existing concerns about accounting delays, internal control weaknesses and related-party risks, the analysts say. The analysts think Super Micro's stock will suffer from a "reputational discount" over its reporting credibility and board oversight, especially since one of the indicted employees was a board member. (katherine.hamilton@wsj.com)
0439 ET - European energy stocks slide in opening trade as oil pares some of its gains. Prices come under downward pressure as Israel says it will no longer target Iranian energy infrastructure and there are suggestions that President Trump may relax sanctions on Iranian oil to ease supply concerns, ING's Warren Patterson and Ewa Manthey write. Brent crude falls 1.6% to $106.91 a barrel while WTI drops nearly 2% to $91.16. In London, BP drops 2.25% while Shell falls 1.3%. Norway's Equinor is down 2.7%. Spain's Repsol trades 1.7% lower and Italy's Eni is 0.6% down.(adam.whittaker@wsj.com)
2329 ET - The 2022 energy crisis seems to be haunting central bankers' decisions, Maybank analysts say. The Iran war fallout is echoing conditions seen when Russia invaded Ukraine, sending energy prices spiraling. A slew of central bank decisions this week shows policymakers are keeping an eye on the current situation. Gold and silver prices fell precipitously in light of the hawkish shifts observed in most major banks--including the RBA and the Fed--Maybank says. "We could be witnessing another leg of position unwinding as central banks act to stay ahead of the curve this time," the analysts say, recalling the criticism many faced in 2022 for leaving policy settings too loose for too long on expectations that the energy shock would be transitory then. This time, central banks are taking a more pre-emptive approach. (fabiana.negrinochoa@wsj.com)
1259 ET - Farmers in the U.S. are being economically harmed on many fronts, says the American Farm Bureau Federation. In a letter to President Trump from a group of 54 agricultural groups, farmers are calling for farmer bridge payments to be effectively and quickly distributed, in order to help farmers make it through what's a tough time for U.S. agricultural economics. The letter also calls for E15 regulations nationwide, and for final rules governing the renewable fuels obligations to be set. Most of these issues have been present for farmers for some time, but the war in Iran is ramping up the pressure on farmer finances as costs for fuel and other key inputs rise. (kirk.maltais@wsj.com)
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
March 20, 2026 12:04 ET (16:04 GMT)
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