West Texas Intermediate was down 2.09 percent at $79.32 per barrel at around 0015 GMT, having soared 8.5 percent on Thursday to $81.01. Brent North Sea Crude, which rose 4.9 percent on Thursday, was not yet being traded.

“Further action to reduce pressure on oil is imminent and the oil (price) seems to have pretty much stabilised,” US President Donald Trump said on Thursday.

On Tuesday, Trump had ordered the US Development Finance Corporation to provide political risk insurance for all maritime trade through the Gulf.

He said the US Navy would “if necessary” begin escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz — a vital chokepoint for crude which Iran has effectively closed off — “as soon as possible.”

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On stock markets, Japan’s Nikkei index was down 0.8 percent shortly after the open, while South Korea’s benchmark Kospi slipped 1.2 percent.
On Thursday, European exchanges shed around 1.5 percent and Wall Street’s main indices also retreated.

Virginia has filed a notice announcing plans to appeal a judge’s preliminary injunction blocking the enforcement of the state’s law restricting the amount of time that minors under 16 can be on social media to one hour today.

While U.S. District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles admitted that the prevalence of social media and overexposure to it “can [undoubtedly] impact minors,” she ultimately granted the preliminary injunction, citing First Amendment concerns.

“The issues in this matter are not to be taken lightly. The Court recognizes the Commonwealth’s compelling interest in protecting its youth from the harms associated with the addictive aspects of social media. However, it cannot infringe on First Amendment rights, including those of the same youth it aims to protect,” Giles wrote in her Memorandum Opinion.

FEDERAL JUDGE HALTS FLORIDA’S SOCIAL MEDIA BAN FOR KIDS

Three friends are using their smartphones while sitting on a bench in a park. (pixdeluxe/Getty Images)

When reached by Fox News Digital, NetChoice, the organization that requested the preliminary injunction, pointed to a previously released statement.

“This ruling prevents the state of Virginia from imposing unconstitutional restrictions on how its citizens access lawful speech online while NetChoice v. Miyares moves through the legal system,” the organization’s statement reads.

Paul Taske, co-director of the NetChoice Litigation Center, celebrated the preliminary injunction, saying that, “The First Amendment is alive and well in Virginia.”

NetChoice’s case bears the name of Virginia’s former Attorney General Jason Miyares, a Republican, as it was filed while he was still in office. The current Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones, a Democrat, issued the notice of appeal for this case, signaling that the state is still interested in enforcing this law.

A 12-year-old boy looks at an iPhone screen showing various social media apps including TikTok, Facebook and X, on Dec. 19, 2023, in Bath, England.  (Matt Cardy/Getty Images / Getty Images)

APPLE IMPLEMENTING AGE VERIFICATION TOOL TO ENSURE USERS ARE 18 AND UP FOR SOME APPS

In its complaint, NetChoice stated that “Virginia Senate Bill 854 is the latest attempt in a long line of government efforts to restrict new forms of constitutionally protected expression based on concerns about their potential effects on minors.” The organization compared concerns about youth and social media to those historically expressed about various books, movies, television shows, rock music, video games and the internet.

“These debates are important, and the government may certainly take part in them. But the First Amendment does not take kindly to government efforts to resolve them,” the complaint reads.

Instagram’s Teen Accounts — which have certain limitations to protect minors — has 60-minute time limit reminders that encourage teens to get off the app after an hour. Additionally, it turns on sleep mode between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., muting notifications and sending auto replies to direct messages. Meta also instituted Teen Accounts for Facebook and Messenger.

Virginia is appealing a federal judge’s preliminary injunction blocking the enforcement of its law limiting minors under 16 to one hour of social media per day. (Matt Cardy/Getty Images / Getty Images)

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Last week, Meta announced the implementation of new parental notifications aimed at letting parents know if their child is repeatedly searching terms related to suicide or self-harm.

Jones provided notice to the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia that he intends to appeal Giles’ ruling. Her ruling was issued on Feb. 27, and, under federal appellate rules, the appeal must be filed within 30 days of the judge’s order. A brief could be submitted before the end of the month.

Fox News Digital reached out to the Virginia Attorney General’s Office, NetChoice, X and Google for comment. Meta declined to comment.

Sports fans, you now have an opportunity to be rewarded solely for being yourself.

Wunderfan is a startup app where you can watch, attend, or even talk about sporting events and turn earned “Wunder” points into real rewards.

From attending and watching games to participating in pick’em contests and receiving curated sports content, Wunderfan delivers a seamless experience that puts fans first and ensures they finally win.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXBUSINESS.COM

A general view of fans as they arrived at Levi’s Stadium prior to the start of the Seattle Seahawks versus the New England Patriots Super Bowl LX game on Feb. 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. (Matthew Huang/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images / Getty Images)

“Simply put, it’s a loyalty app, and it’s all based on fan engagement,” co-founder Michael Testa said in a recent interview with FOX Business.

“Anything you’re doing when you open up your phone and are checking on sports, we think that you should be rewarded for it.”

Testa said Wunderfan values “passion as a currency,” whereas major companies value “currency as a currency.”

“Spend all your money with us, lose all your money betting, and we’ll give you some rewards points.’ Not us. We’re saying, ‘Hey, are you watching a football game? Snap a photo and earn rewards. Are you attending with that hard-earned money? Get some money back in rewards. Are you buying tickets? Buy tickets through our ticket marketplace, get rewarded for that, or use your Wunder points to buy the tickets. Are you scrolling social media? Why don’t you do it through our app and earn rewards for it?’” Testa said.

Wunderfan gives fans the opportunity to win rewards simply by being their passionate selves. (Wunderfan / Fox News)

GOP SENATOR CALLS FOR REVISION TO FEDERAL LAW AS SPORTS FANS PAY BIG ON OUTRAGEOUS STREAMING PRICES

“We’re continuing to build this feature set where anytime you open your phone to check on sports, we want to be the all-in-one sports engagement app, and you’re gonna check Wunderfan when you look at your sports apps.”

Last month, Wunderfan closed on a $3.1 million investment led by Sororibus Capital. The funding will support the company’s continued growth as it builds the next generation of fan engagement and loyalty in sports.

Wunderfan also has its own ticketing platform that offers another opportunity to earn rewards like merchandise, gift cards, vouchers, and additional tickets and experiences.

Testa’s long-term goal for Wunderfan is to “become the sports engagement everything app” and become the sports version of Robinhood.

“I gotta pay homage to my guy, Vlad Tenev, building Robinhood — they’re becoming the all-in-one financial app. Anytime you check your stocks, crypto, Roth IRA, anything like that, when you open anything about finances, people are now opening Robinhood. We’re gonna do the same thing for sports,” Testa said.

“Our product roadmap is so robust. Instead of going to TheScore or ESPN to check your scores—or Apple Scores soon enough — we’ll have you go to Wunderfan. Anytime you want to comment on something, why not earn rewards for messaging on the message board, right? We’ll police it. Don’t worry, you gotta be kind. Wunderfan is a kind platform. 

A general view of the Seattle Seahawks versus the New England Patriots defense during Super Bowl LX game on Feb. 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. (Matthew Huang/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images / Getty Images)

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“But anything you want to do related to sports that’s on your phone, Wunderfan’s gonna be the go-to place.”

Allstate has been ordered to face a lawsuit alleging the insurance giant tracked drivers through their cellphones without their consent and tried to cash in on the data to boost profits.

A federal judge in Chicago ruled Tuesday that drivers can move ahead with a proposed class action accusing Allstate of illegally collecting detailed cellphone data, including location, speed, braking, acceleration and phone use, Reuters reported.

The Illinois-based company is being accused of using that information to raise premiums and deny coverage, as well as selling the data to other insurers.

ALLSTATE SAYS CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES TO BRING COMPANY $1.1 BILLION IN LOSSES

An Allstate sign on March 16, 2020, in Melville, New York.  (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Drivers may also seek to prove that Allstate’s data analytics arm, Arity, violated federal law by misreporting their driving behavior, according to Reuters.

The lawsuit alleges Arity’s tracking software was built into apps including GasBuddy, Fuel Rewards, Life360 and Routely.

The judge allowed drivers to proceed with claims under the laws of 20 states, while throwing out three of the 38 claims in the case.

Meanwhile, Allstate argued that drivers did not claim the company actually collected their data or raised their insurance rates. 

STATE FARM ANNOUNCES REFUND FOR CAR INSURANCE CUSTOMERS

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on Sunday reinstated a sharp increase in penalties for automakers whose vehicles do not meet fuel efficiency requirements for model years 2019 and beyond. (Eduardo Munoz/Reuters)

The insurer also said its privacy policies made clear that data could be collected.

“Consumers who choose to share driving data through Arity-powered apps can access emergency assistance, track fuel efficiency and unlock personalized insurance rates after a clear notice and explicit opt-in process,” Allstate told FOX Business in an email.

The case combines 15 separate lawsuits filed against Allstate, Reuters reported.

HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE COSTS COULD SPIKE OVER NEXT 2 YEARS

The insurer also said its privacy policies made clear that data could be collected. (Tiffany Hagler-Geard/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Insurance companies including Allstate, Progressive and Geico use telematics technology to track driving behavior, saying it can reward safe drivers with lower premiums, according to Reuters.

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In January 2025, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a similar lawsuit accusing Allstate and Arity of unlawfully collecting, using and selling Texans’ cellphone location and movement data through software embedded in mobile apps, including Life360.

Attorneys for the plaintiffs could not be immediately reached by FOX Business for comment.

Reuters contributed to this report.

This article was written by

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Tesla Inc.’s shares edged lower in early Thursday trading, reflecting a modest pullback after a strong gain the previous session, as investors weighed fresh optimism around the company’s autonomous driving and robotics ambitions against ongoing regulatory scrutiny and market volatility.

Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) opened around $401.57 and was trading at approximately $403.50 to $403.64 by mid-morning Eastern Time, down about 0.6% from Wednesday’s close of $405.94. The electric vehicle giant’s market capitalization hovered near $1.52 trillion, with intraday volume exceeding 12 million shares.

The modest decline followed a 3.44% surge on Wednesday, when shares closed at $405.94 after climbing from an open of $397.85 and ranging between $394.58 and $408.33. That rebound came on the heels of Bank of America’s decision to reinstate coverage of Tesla with a “Buy” rating and a $460 price target, implying roughly 14% upside from recent levels.

BofA analysts highlighted Tesla’s leadership in consumer autonomy, citing advances in Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology and its robotics ventures as key drivers. “Tesla is the current leader in consumer autonomy,” the firm noted in a client report, pointing to potential market share gains in a shifting regulatory landscape for electric vehicles and autonomous systems.

The upgrade injected fresh confidence into a stock that has navigated choppy waters in 2026. After hitting a 52-week high of $498.83 in late December 2025, TSLA has pulled back but remains well above its 52-week low of $214.25, achieved earlier in 2025. Year-to-date performance has shown resilience, with the stock up significantly from earlier lows amid broader enthusiasm for AI-integrated mobility solutions.

Tesla’s momentum stems partly from Elon Musk’s bold vision for artificial general intelligence (AGI) and humanoid robots, positioning the company beyond traditional automotive manufacturing. Recent commentary from Musk has emphasized Tesla’s role in leading AGI development, with ambitious timelines for robotaxi deployment and Optimus humanoid robot production.

Sales data has provided additional tailwinds. Reports indicate robust growth in Europe during February, suggesting a potential turnaround in key markets where EV adoption had faced headwinds from competition and economic pressures. Strong deliveries and expanding energy storage business have bolstered revenue streams, with trailing twelve-month figures showing solid contributions from non-auto segments.

Yet challenges persist. Tesla faces a critical deadline on March 9 to submit detailed data on its Full Self-Driving system to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), part of an ongoing investigation into traffic incidents and system performance. Analysts warn that any adverse findings could pressure the stock, particularly as regulatory oversight intensifies for autonomous technologies.

Wall Street remains divided on Tesla’s valuation. The stock trades at a lofty price-to-earnings ratio exceeding 377, reflecting bets on future growth from robotaxis, AI and energy rather than current automotive margins. Some analysts express caution over execution risks in Musk’s robotics push, while others see untapped value in software and autonomy.

” Tesla’s self-driving effort could be worth more than double its EV division,” one market analysis suggested, underscoring the narrative shift toward AI and robotics as primary value drivers.

Broader market context also influences TSLA. With interest rates and inflation dynamics in flux, growth stocks like Tesla remain sensitive to macroeconomic signals. However, renewed analyst confidence and positive sales indicators have helped stabilize sentiment.

Looking ahead, Tesla’s first-quarter earnings, expected around late April, will provide further clarity on delivery numbers, margins and progress on Cybercab and Optimus initiatives. Prediction markets and investor forums show mixed conviction on near-term milestones, but many view dips as buying opportunities amid long-term upside potential.

Tesla’s stock has historically been volatile, driven by product launches, regulatory news and Musk’s public statements. Wednesday’s gain illustrated how quickly sentiment can shift on positive catalysts, while Thursday’s early softness serves as a reminder of profit-taking and broader caution.

Investors continue to monitor developments closely, balancing enthusiasm for Tesla’s transformative technologies against execution hurdles and competitive pressures in the EV space.

As of mid-morning trading on March 5 (U.S. time), with markets still open, Tesla shares showed resilience near $403, down modestly but holding key support levels. The coming weeks, particularly around the NHTSA deadline and quarterly updates, could prove pivotal in determining whether 2026 marks a consolidation phase or renewed breakout for the EV pioneer.