#market-trends

#market-trends

In March 2026, US startups raised $19.06 billion across 630 deals, a significant decline of 64.4% year-over-year from March 2025's $53.5 billion, which was heavily influenced by OpenAI's $40 billion mega-round.

Berkshire Hathaway disclosed ownership of 5,065,744 shares of the New York Times, valued at approximately $351.7 million, marking its return to media investing after exiting its newspaper portfolio in 2020.

Steve Murray, co-founder of RealTrends Consulting, stated that anyone claiming privately owned independent brokerages cannot compete is misinformed. The data indicates otherwise, showing their resilience and success.

"The surge in petrol prices, which has risen by more than 17 percent since the conflict began, is largely driven by disruptions to global supply routes, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for international oil shipments."

Jose Cuervo remains the top-selling tequila brand in the U.S., consistently outperforming both budget and high-end competitors. With 8.9 million cases sold, it still leads the market despite a 6.4% decrease from the previous year.

The Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) is the most widely held energy ETF in the U.S., with roughly $38 billion in net assets, spanning the full energy value chain.