“While significant uncertainty remains about the path forward, from a markets perspective, we believe developments in the Middle East remain in an escalation phase and warrant ongoing caution,” said Morgan Stanley’s strategists, including Jonathan Garner, in a note to clients.

The brokerage said India’s improved macroeconomic stability position leaves it less exposed to higher oil prices than historically, but concerns around the fallout of the AI-related disruptions remain. “With uncertainty also still swirling around AI disruption and absolute valuations still expensive, we expect it will take some time – and potentially a peak in the tech cycle for Korea and Taiwan -before international investors reposition towards India,” said Morgan Stanley.

The brokerage said India, Thailand, Korea and Taiwan would be more exposed to growth risks on account of their wider oil and gas balances, while the Philippines, Indonesia and India may face some pressures from wider current account deficits.

“Asia/ EM equities stand at a crucial juncture here, with a baseline of multi-week shipping disruption and uncertainty, and risks of an escalation scenario featuring disruptions more acute than 2022 (which were more concentrated in European energy markets),” said Morgan Stanley. The brokerage said MSCI Asia Pacific fell by 16% between March and July 2022 in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and energy market impacts, before stabilising briefly, and then falling further amid a global equity correction and tech down-cycle.

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Frito-Lay is pulling select bags of potato chips from store shelves after discovering they may contain an undeclared allergen.

The recall covers certain 8-ounce bags of Miss Vickie’s Spicy Dill Pickle Potato Chips that may have mistakenly included jalapeno-flavored chips containing milk, according to a notice Wednesday from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

“Those with an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk run the risk of a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume the recalled product,” the notice said. 

MAJOR FROZEN FOOD RECALL EXPANDS TO 37M POUNDS OF TRADER JOE’S, KROGER PRODUCTS OVER GLASS CONCERNS

Frito-Lay is pulling select bags of Miss Vickie’s Spicy Dill Pickle Potato Chips from store shelves after discovering some may contain an undeclared allergen. (U.S. Food and Drug Administration)

The affected bags were distributed as early as Jan. 15 to grocery, convenience and drug stores — as well as online retailers — in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.

No other Miss Vickie’s flavors, sizes or variety packs are included in the recall.

OVER 650,000 BOTTLES OF WATER RECALLED AFTER BEING PACKAGED IN ‘INSANITARY CONDITIONS’

Affected bags were distributed as early as Jan. 15 to stores in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. (iStock / iStock)

Consumers should check for 8-ounce bags of Miss Vickie’s Spicy Dill Pickle chips with a UPC of 0 28400 761772, a “Guaranteed Fresh” date of April 21, 2026 and one of two manufacturing codes — 38U301414 or 48U101514. 

The codes appear on the front of the bag along the right side.

“If consumers have an allergy or sensitivity to milk, they should not consume the product and discard it immediately,” the notice said.

CHEESE SOLD AT WALMART RECALLED IN 24 STATES OVER POTENTIAL HEALTH RISK

A close-up of the Frito-Lay logo on a box in Lafayette, Calif., Jan. 19, 2026.  (Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images / Getty Images)

Frito-Lay said the issue came to light after a customer reached out to the company. 

No allergic reactions have been reported to date.

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“Unless a consumer has a dairy allergy or sensitivity to milk, this product is safe to consume,” Frito-Lay told FOX Business in an email.

Shares of The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) declined modestly Friday, March 6, 2026, trading around $76.75 to $77.03 midday, down approximately 0.3% to 1.4% from Thursday’s close of $77.03 to $78.10 in recent sessions, reflecting a broader pullback from February’s all-time highs near $82 amid ongoing consumer budget pressures and geopolitical volatility.

The Atlanta-based beverage giant opened near $76.80 to $77.68, with intraday ranges from lows around $76.35-$76.50 to highs of $76.90-$77.72. Volume remained elevated at over 3-23 million shares in early trading, consistent with recent activity. The stock has now retreated about 6% from its February 27 peak of $81.56-$82.00, its highest close in recent history, but remains up roughly 10% year-to-date in 2026 and about 10-12% over the past year.

The dip follows a strong but volatile start to the year, with KO hitting record territory in late February before softening. Analysts attribute the recent weakness to macro headwinds, including higher energy costs from Middle East tensions and cautious consumer spending in key markets like North America and Asia. Despite these pressures, Coca-Cola’s defensive profile — bolstered by pricing power, brand strength and consistent dividends — continues to attract income-focused investors.

The company reported fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 results on February 10, 2026, showing resilience amid softer soda demand in developed markets. Net revenues grew 2% to $11.82 billion in Q4, missing some estimates of over $12 billion, while organic revenues (non-GAAP) rose 5%, driven by 4% price/mix growth and 1% volume increase. Comparable EPS grew 6% to $0.58, with full-year comparable EPS up 4% to $3.00 and reported EPS surging 23% to $3.04 due to one-time factors.

For 2026, management guided organic revenue growth of 4%-5%, in line with or slightly below 2025’s 5% pace, alongside expected EPS growth of 7%-8%. The outlook reflects confidence in pricing strategies to offset input costs, though executives noted challenges from inflation-squeezed budgets pushing consumers toward cheaper alternatives. Rival PepsiCo’s recent price cuts on snacks highlighted competitive dynamics in the broader consumer packaged goods space.

Coca-Cola’s dividend remains a cornerstone appeal. The company announced its 64th consecutive annual increase in early 2026, with the forward yield around 2.67% at current levels (quarterly dividend $0.515, annualized $2.06). The ex-dividend date is March 13, 2026, drawing income investors amid market uncertainty. The low payout ratio provides room for future hikes, supporting its Dividend King status.

Analyst sentiment stays positive, with a consensus Buy rating from 13-16 firms. Average 12-month price targets range from $80.58 to $84.33, implying 4-10% upside from current levels, with highs up to $87. Firms like Citi maintain Buy calls, citing durable brand equity and digital transformation efforts. Some models suggest potential for $95 in optimistic scenarios, driven by sustained mid-single-digit growth.

Market capitalization hovers around $330-335 billion. The stock trades at a forward P/E in the mid-20s, reasonable for a stable consumer staple with predictable cash flows. Year-to-date performance of about 10% outpaces the S&P 500’s modest gains, underscoring KO’s defensive appeal in volatile times.

Broader influences include participation in the Citi 2026 Global Consumer & Retail Conference on March 9, where CFO John Murphy is scheduled to present, potentially offering fresh insights on strategy. The company continues emphasizing innovation in low- and no-sugar options, ready-to-drink teas and sustainability initiatives to adapt to shifting preferences.

Despite the pullback, Coca-Cola’s fundamentals remain solid: global reach, pricing discipline and a fortress balance sheet position it well for economic uncertainty. With earnings due April 28, 2026, investors will watch for signs of volume stabilization and margin resilience.

As trading continues, the stock’s modest decline reflects short-term caution rather than fundamental concerns. Long-term holders value its reliability, while new buyers may see the dip as an entry point for a blue-chip dividend play.

Elon Musk, the world’s richest person and CEO of Tesla, SpaceX and xAI, remains at the center of global headlines in early March 2026, with fresh developments in his sprawling empire fueling speculation about a massive SpaceX initial public offering, aggressive debt management and ambitious plans for space-based artificial intelligence.

As of March 7, 2026, Musk’s net worth hovers near $850 billion, per Forbes estimates, driven largely by stakes in Tesla and the newly merged SpaceX-xAI entity. Recent activity on X — where Musk posted actively Friday, March 6 — included endorsements of Starlink’s global reach, agreement with critiques of AI models like Claude, praise for Grok’s real-time capabilities and commentary on political and cultural topics. One notable reply affirmed “Truth about @DOGE,” defending the Department of Government Efficiency’s actions at NASA amid ongoing scrutiny.

The most prominent story revolves around SpaceX’s potential IPO. Reports from Bloomberg and others indicate the company is preparing confidential filings with the SEC as early as March, eyeing a mid-2026 public listing with a valuation potentially exceeding $1.75 trillion. If achieved, it would shatter records set by Saudi Aramco in 2019 and position SpaceX among the world’s most valuable companies. Starlink, generating the bulk of revenue through satellite internet, remains the growth engine, while the February merger with xAI — valued at $1.25 trillion combined — aims to enable orbital AI data centers powered by limitless solar energy.

Musk has described space-based AI as “obviously the only way to scale,” estimating that within 2-3 years, orbital compute could become the lowest-cost option. The merger integrates Grok AI, Starlink connectivity and rocket capabilities under one roof, with plans to repay approximately $17.5 billion in tied debt fully, per Bloomberg sources. This financial cleanup bolsters balance sheets ahead of any public debut.

Tesla updates also command attention. Musk urged investors to “hold on” to shares, describing the company’s 5-10 year outlook as “extremely bright” in a recent interview clip shared on X. He highlighted autonomy advancements, with robotaxi services expected to expand “very, very widespread” in the U.S. by year-end, and regulatory progress in markets like the Netherlands potentially by March 20. Tesla warned of semiconductor supply disruptions critical for robots, vehicles and AI data centers, prompting preparations for potential shortages.

Cybertruck pricing adjustments surfaced in early March, with the dual-motor long-range model rising $10,000 to $69,990 after a brief promotional period. Production shifts continue, with lines at Fremont repurposed for Optimus humanoid robots following the phase-out of Model S and Model X.

Neuralink advances include plans for high-volume production of brain-computer interface devices in 2026, transitioning to nearly automated surgical implantation. Musk envisions scaling to restore functions like vision and speech, with ongoing human trials.

xAI’s momentum ties into broader AI efforts, with Musk predicting Tesla could be among the first to achieve AGI. The merged entity’s debt repayment and orbital data center vision underscore a push for exponential compute growth beyond Earth’s constraints.

Musk’s political footprint persists. He avoided a deposition related to his DOGE tenure and USAID dismantling after a court ruling, while backing Republican candidates — including a $10 million Super PAC donation in Kentucky’s Senate primary that yielded mixed results.

Public discourse on X Friday included Musk agreeing with claims of bias in Anthropic’s Claude, calling it “racist,” and sharing videos on various topics. His feed reflected typical eclectic style: tech endorsements, cultural commentary and Starlink promotion.

As March unfolds, Musk’s influence spans transportation, space, AI and policy. With SpaceX IPO speculation peaking, debt strategies solidifying and AI ambitions orbiting Earth, the entrepreneur continues shaping industries and markets. Investors and observers watch closely for filings, launches and announcements that could redefine his legacy in 2026.

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates finds himself at the intersection of philanthropy, energy innovation and renewed scrutiny in early March 2026, as a House committee seeks his testimony on ties to Jeffrey Epstein and federal regulators approve construction for his TerraPower nuclear reactor in Wyoming.

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, led by Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.), sent a letter March 3 requesting Gates appear for a transcribed interview on May 19 regarding the federal investigation into Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s death and sex-trafficking networks. The panel cited public reporting, Justice Department documents and committee-obtained materials suggesting Gates has relevant information.

Gates’ spokesperson indicated he plans to cooperate. “Gates welcomes the opportunity to appear before the Committee,” the statement said. Gates has repeatedly denied involvement in Epstein’s crimes, expressing regret over their association in past interviews and a foundation town hall.

The request names Gates alongside six others — including Goldman Sachs’ Kathryn Ruemmler, Apollo’s Leon Black and others — for interviews between April and June. The probe examines alleged mismanagement in Epstein-related investigations and broader trafficking issues. Gates’ name surfaced in Epstein correspondence released by the DOJ in recent years, though no criminal allegations have been made against him.

Amid this, Gates’ energy ventures advanced significantly. On March 4, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued its first commercial reactor construction permit in nearly a decade to TerraPower, the company Gates founded and primarily funds. The sodium-cooled Natrium reactor in Kemmerer, Wyoming, targets 345 megawatts and aims for operation in the early 2030s, with construction starting soon and an operating license application planned for late 2027 or early 2028.

TerraPower touts the plant — estimated at up to $4 billion — as a breakthrough using high-assay low-enriched uranium fuel for safer, more efficient power. Gates has positioned nuclear as essential for AI data centers’ massive energy needs and climate goals. “This will revolutionize how power is generated,” he has said, emphasizing next-generation designs to support clean, reliable baseload energy.

The approval marks progress in Gates’ Breakthrough Energy efforts, launched a decade ago to scale clean tech. In his January 2026 annual letter “Optimism with Footnotes,” Gates warned global progress risks stalling without sustained innovation and aid, urging investments despite setbacks like foreign aid cuts.

The Gates Foundation’s 2026 agenda accelerates toward a 2045 closure, committing $200 billion total over the next 20 years — including a record $9 billion payout this year — to eradicate diseases like polio, malaria and tuberculosis while advancing AI in health and climate adaptation. CEO Mark Suzman highlighted three goals: saving lives, reducing inequities and building resilient systems.

Gates expressed cautious optimism in the letter, noting reversals in global health but predicting a “new era of unprecedented progress” within a decade if innovation pipelines hold. He stressed AI’s role in education, agriculture and healthcare, including partnerships like Horizon 1000 with OpenAI for African clinics.

Philanthropically, Gates continues divesting personal wealth to the foundation, focusing on high-impact areas. His portfolio through the foundation trust includes major stakes in Waste Management, Berkshire Hathaway and others, though specific March updates remain limited.

The dual headlines — congressional summons and nuclear milestone — underscore Gates’ enduring influence and controversies. At 70, he balances climate advocacy, health philanthropy and public accountability.

As TerraPower breaks ground and the Oversight probe unfolds, Gates’ actions in 2026 could shape energy transitions and public trust in billionaire philanthropists.