Bitcoin (BTC) traded at approximately $71,600 USD on March 5, 2026, down roughly 2% over the past 24 hours, according to aggregated data from major tracking platforms like CoinMarketCap, CoinGecko and Binance. The flagship cryptocurrency opened the day near $73,000 but faced selling pressure, dipping to lows around $71,180 before stabilizing in the mid-$71,000 range.

The 24-hour trading volume exceeded $61 billion, underscoring sustained market participation despite the pullback. Bitcoin’s market capitalization stood at about $1.43 trillion, maintaining its position as the largest digital asset by a wide margin, with a circulating supply nearing 20 million coins out of a capped total of 21 million.

This latest movement comes after Bitcoin briefly topped $74,000 in recent sessions, fueled by optimism around institutional adoption and policy developments. However, renewed geopolitical risks, including escalating tensions in the Middle East involving Iran, contributed to a risk-off tone across assets. Oil prices surged on related news, pressuring riskier investments like cryptocurrencies, which have shown correlation with tech stocks in recent months.

“Bitcoin has not decoupled from broader risk sentiment,” noted BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes in recent commentary, highlighting that the asset remains tied to performance in U.S. software and tech sectors. Despite the dip, some analysts pointed to resilience, with Bitcoin’s ratio against gold improving slightly and exchange outflows indicating hodling behavior among long-term holders.

Institutional flows provided a counterbalance. U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded inflows of around $155 million to $462 million in recent days, extending a multi-week streak of positive accumulation. Major players like Wall Street firms continued to pour capital into these vehicles, even as underlying demand showed signs of fragility according to analytics firm Glassnode.

Traders are eyeing key technical levels closely. Bitcoin faces resistance in the $73,750–$74,400 zone — a “make-or-break” area that has acted as a turning point in prior cycles, including early 2024 highs. A sustained break above this could signal resumption of bullish momentum toward $80,000 or higher. Conversely, failure to hold $72,000 support might reinforce bearish patterns, with some forecasts warning of potential drops toward $65,000 or lower in consolidation phases.

The all-time high remains $126,198 from October 2025, meaning the current price reflects a significant correction of over 40% from peak levels. Year-to-date performance has been mixed, with Bitcoin down from late-2025 highs but up modestly in recent weeks on ETF momentum and infrastructure gains.

Recent developments bolster long-term optimism. Crypto exchange Kraken secured a Federal Reserve master account, marking a milestone for crypto-native firms accessing traditional payment rails. Morgan Stanley filed for a spot Bitcoin ETF, adding to growing mainstream integration. Community sentiment polls show about 80% bullish, driven by themes of institutional adoption and Bitcoin’s role as a potential inflation hedge — though that narrative faces tests amid rising energy costs and fiat currency volatility.

Regulatory and policy chatter persists. Speculation around U.S. crypto-friendly legislation, including the Clarity Act, has supported occasional rallies. However, no immediate plans for government Bitcoin accumulation (such as a national reserve stacking program) were confirmed in recent reports.

Market observers note Bitcoin’s price action remains sensitive to macro factors. With equities mixed and the dollar showing strength in some sessions, cryptocurrencies paused after a brief breakout. Ether and other altcoins mirrored Bitcoin’s moves, with the broader market cap showing similar modest declines.

As of early March 6, 2026 (KST), Bitcoin continues to trade in a range-bound pattern between $70,000 and $74,000 support/resistance. Analysts advise monitoring ETF flows, geopolitical headlines and derivatives positioning for the next directional cue.

Bitcoin’s journey in 2026 reflects its maturation: from speculative asset to increasingly institutionalized one, yet still vulnerable to global events. Whether it reclaims higher ground or consolidates further will depend on balancing these forces in the weeks ahead.

This article was written by

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“We’re proud to build on the strong foundation Philip Pitman has created and remain fully committed to ongoing investment to support future growth.”

GM Marketing Limited, the Belfast-headquartered sales, marketing and distribution business, has acquired Pitman Berryhill in Lisburn. The move strengthens GM’s capability in the specialist food channel whilst creating new opportunities to build, develop and scale brands across the island of Ireland.

The acquisition gives GM Marketing a dedicated presence in specialist food – a key route to market for brand discovery – while enabling two-way growth: bringing Pitman Berryhill brands into GM Marketing’s established channels and introducing GM partner brands to Pitman Berryhill’s specialist network.

Gerard McAdorey, Founder and Managing Director of GM Marketing, said: “This is an exciting step that aligns strongly with our long-term vision. Our ambition is to expand our footprint in the specialist channel and, in doing so, create greater value and expertise for our existing brands while also attracting new partnerships. It works both ways – bringing Pitman brands into GM channels, and GM brands into the Pitman specialist network.”

Pitman Berryhill operates throughout Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, supplying customers across mainstream grocery and specialist food – from major multiples to independent retailers and delis – with a long-standing focus on introducing, supporting and growing international specialist food brands in the Irish market.

Gerard McAdorey added: “We’re proud to build on the strong foundation Philip Pitman has created and remain fully committed to ongoing investment to support future growth. The specialist channel plays a critical role in brand discovery, with many brands gaining early traction here before moving into mainstream grocery and convenience.”

Philip Pitman, founder of Pitman Berryhill, who plans to retire at the end of 2026 and will support the transition over the next 12 months, said: “All current roles at Pitman Berryhill will be retained, with a clear intention to invest in the future growth of the business. The existing team will continue to lead day-to-day operations, with Andrew Cambridge continuing as Head of Sales and Hazel Crozier as Head of Operations.

“GM Marketing is a business I believe will bring further growth for the brands we work with. I’m confident this next chapter will strengthen what we’ve built, and I’m excited for the future.”

Layoffs eased in February as new data showed that U.S. employers announced fewer job cuts last month after they were elevated to start the year, new data shows.

U.S. employers announced 48,307 job cuts in February, according to a report by global outplacement and executive coaching firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas. That figure is down 55% from the 108,435 job cuts announced in January, while it’s also down 72% from the 172,017 cuts announced in the same month last year.

Layoff announcements combined to total 156,742 in January and February, the lowest total for the first two months of the year since 34,309 were announced in 2022. The figure is also the fifth-highest January-February total recorded since 2009.

“February’s dip is a nice reprieve from the elevated job cut plans to start the year. With U.S. involvement in a growing war in Iran, the end of Q1 may bring more layoff plans as companies tighten belts amid uncertainty and higher costs,” said Andy Challenger, workplace expert and chief revenue officer for Challenger, Gray & Christmas.

PRIVATE SECTOR ADDED 63,000 JOBS IN FEBRUARY, ABOVE EXPECTATIONS, ADP SAYS

Layoff announcements slowed in February after starting higher to start the year. (Allison Joyce/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The tech industry announced the most layoffs in February, as firms announced 11,039 cuts for the month, bringing the total for the year to 33,330 – up 51% from the 22,042 cuts announced in the sector during the first two months of last year.

“Tech is responding to a number of pressures right now. AI is the big story, but there are also global regulatory concerns, a slowdown in digital advertising driven by tariffs and economic uncertainty, and higher costs to both employ workers and access funding, forcing companies to make difficult decisions,” Challenger said.

The transportation sector has announced 31,702 job cuts in 2026, the second-most among any sector and an increase of 872% from the 3,261 announced in the same period last year. The report noted that the war in Iran is likely to impact transportation companies due to oil costs and supply chain disruptions.

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The war in Iran could cause further disruptions in the transportation sector due to the impact on oil prices and supply chains, the report noted. (Hussein Faleh/AFP via Getty Images)

Healthcare companies and health product manufacturers, a category which includes hospitals, have announced 19,228 job cuts so far this year for the highest January-February total since 2021, when 20,245 cuts were recorded in the sector over that period.

Education had the second-most layoff announcements in February with 5,417. That brings the running total for 2026 to 6,209 – up 96% from the 3,160 cuts that were announced through February 2025.

Challenger noted that school districts “tend to approve budgets and headcount in February,” adding that with “declining enrollment, particularly in major cities, federal funding cuts and rising costs, schools are cutting more workers than last year.”

Job cuts in January and February were the lowest to start the year since 2022. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Industrial manufacturing firms cut 4,109 jobs in February, bringing the 2026 total to 5,685, which is up 143% from the 2,341 cuts announced in the sector in the first two months of last year.

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The leading reasons cited by companies announcing job cuts in February were store or department closings with 10,736, market and economic conditions with 10,114, restructuring with 9,146 and cost-cutting a further 5,636.

In the first two months of the year, market and economic conditions have been cited as causing 38,506 cuts, followed by contract loss with 31,416, restructuring with 29,190, and closings with 23,474.

Artificial intelligence (AI) was cited for 4,680 job cuts in February, representing about 10% of total cuts for the month. In the first two months of 2026, AI was cited in 12,304 layoff announcements, or 8% of total job cut plans.

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Hiring plans rose 140% in February to 12,755 after 5,306 were reported in January. That figure is down 63% from the 34,580 hiring plans in February 2025.

Employers have announced plans to hire 18,061 workers in 2026 so far, down 56% from 40,669 new hires announced in the first two months of 2025.

Australia has had 31 prime ministers in its history, and each one made their mark one way or another.

In this article, we list down 10 interesting trivia on some of these men (and the lone woman) who were privileged to be called prime minister.

1. The Only Australian Prime Minister During Queen Victoria’s Reign

Sir Edmund Barton has the distinction of becoming the very first prime minister of Australia, holding office for a total of two years and 266 days.

He is also the only Australian prime minister that held office during the lifetime of Queen Victoria. Sir Edmund Barton became prime minister on January 1, 1901, and Queen Victoria died just 21 days later on January 22.

2. The Only Australian Prime Minister During Edward VIII’s Reign

Similarly to Sir Edmund Barton, Joseph Lyons is the only Australian prime minister to have served during the short reign of King Edward VIII.

Lyons became prime minister on January 6, 1932. Edward VIII formally abdicated from the throne on December 10, 1936. Lyons ended her term in 1939, during the reign of Edward VIII’s brother, George VI.

3. The Longest-Serving Prime Minister

Holding office for a total of 18 years, five months, and 10 days, Sir Robert Menzies is Australia’s longest-serving prime minister.

He became the 12th prime minister of Australia in 1939 and his first term last for two years and 125 days. His second term began in 1949 and lasted for 16 years and 38 days.

4. The Shortest-Serving Prime Minister

If the longest-serving prime minister stayed in office for nearly two decades in total, the shortest-serving prime minister was in office for seven days. That was none other than Frank Forde.

Forde was an interim leader more than anything, assuming office due to the death of John Curtin, who died in office. Forde was eventually replaced by Ben Chifley.

5. The First Female Prime Minister

Julia Gillard became prime minister in 2010, making history as the first ever female to be named Australia’s prime minister.

She was engaged in a long political rivalry with her predecessor, Kevin Rudd, and she resigned as prime minister after losing the leadership of the Labour Party to him.

6. The Prime Minister Who Disappeared While Swimming

Only three prime ministers in Australia’s history have died while in office, and one of them is Harold Holt.

Believe it or not, he disappeared while swimming at Cheviot Beach in Victoria. Although his body was never recovered, he was presumed dead.

7. The Prime Ministers Who Were Not Born in Australia

Not all prime ministers of Australia were born in the country. The following prime ministers were born outside of Australia:

• Andrew Fisher – Kilmarnock, Scotland
• Billy Hughes – London, England
• Chris Watson – Valparaíso, Chile
• Sir George Reid – Renfrewshire, Scotland
• Sir John Gorton – Wellington, New Zealand (however, he had no birth certificate)
• Sir Joseph Cook – Staffordshire, England
• Julia Gillard – Vale of Glamorgan, Wales
• Tony Abbott – London, England

8. The Prime Minister Who Won Victorian Father of the Year in 1971

Bob Hawke, the 23rd prime minister of Australia, received the Victorian Father of the Year in 1971. Hawke had four children, but only three survived into adulthood.

The award, however, was contested by his ex-wife, Hazel Masterson, who claimed that he was both a womaniser and a heavy drinker.

9. The Prime Minister Whose Chinese Name is Lu Kewen

Kevin Rudd has a Chinese name, and it’s none other than Lu Kewen.

Rudd graduated with Bachelor of Arts (Asian Studies) with First-Class Honours from the Australian National University. He majored in Chinese language and Chinese history, and is proficient in Mandarin.

10. The Prime Minister Who Was Told Growing Up That His Father Was Dead

The current prime minister believed when he was younger that his father Carlo, who was Italian, was killed in a car crash. That wasn’t exactly true.

Albanese only got to meet his father in 2009. Five years later, his father died.

Chief executive of Principality Building Society Iain Mansfield takes up the role

Chief executive of Principality Building Society, Iain Mansfield, has been appointed chair of business body CBI Wales. He succeeds Alison Orrells in what is a two-year term. Mr Mansfield, who took up his role at the helm of the UK’s sixth biggest mutual last October, takes up the chair role having previously served as vice-chair.

As a partner of FinTech Wales, he has been a strong advocate of backing supporting start-ups and scale-ups.

He said: “It is a genuine privilege to take up the position of chair of CBI Wales, at such an important time for our economy.

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“Businesses up and down the country are facing a challenging economic and policy backdrop. At the same time, we must address issues closer to home, particularly the urgent need to unlock productivity to secure sustainable, long-term growth.

” As chair, I am committed to strengthening CBI Wales’ position as the leading voice for business across Wales and supporting each and every sector that powers our economy.

” I look forward to amplifying the collective views of business at the highest levels of decision-making as we work together towards the more prosperous Wales we all want to see.”

Russell Greenslade, CBI Wales director, said: “I am delighted to welcome Iain as CBI Wales chair. Iain brings a deep understanding of the high costs and economic challenges faced by businesses.

“With the launch of the CBI Wales Senedd election manifesto,’ Iain will be an important voice in business’ relationship with the current and next government to ensure it delivers the jobs and sustainable growth – from north to south to east and west Wales – needed to turbo charge the economy.

“Iain will also build on Alison Orrells’ work as chair. I thank Alison for her efforts to remove barriers to growth, through her passion, dedication and conversations with senior political leaders from the Prime Minister to the First Minister and Secretary of State for Wales as a member of the Welsh Economic Advisory Group.”

In its manifesto CBI Wales calls on the next Welsh Government to devise its own industrial strategy and well as seeking to double the number of innovation ready firms in Wales.

It also calls for the next administration to look at the case for delivering an M4 Relief Road. The previous project was rejected by then First Minister Mark Drakeford, despite it having been a manifesto pledge and recommended by an independent planning inspector, on cost and environmental grounds.

More than 40,000 bicycle helmets sold at Walmart are being recalled by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission because they violate federal safety standards and pose a “serious risk of injury or death” from head injuries.

Todson Inc., a bicycle wholesaler in Massachusetts, is recalling 40,245 Concord-branded 360 Degree Rechargeable Light-Up bike helmets after federal safety officials said the helmets failed to comply with mandatory retention system and positional stability requirements. 

“The helmets can fail to protect the user in the event of a crash,” the company said.

The recall, which was announced on Feb. 26, involves large-size helmets with a black exterior, built-in LED lighting system, black straps and buckle, and a black plastic adjustment knob at the back.

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The Concord bicycle helmets, recalled by Todson, violate federal safety standards and may not stay securely in place during an accident, raising the risk of severe or fatal head injuries. (Consumer Product Safety Commission)

“Concord” is printed on the rear of the helmet.

The helmets were sold at Walmart stores nationwide and online at Walmart.com from January 2025 through September 2025 for about $30.

Buyers are being urged to immediately stop using the recalled helmets and contact Todson for a full refund.

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The recalled Concord bicycle helmets can be identified by a sticker on the inside of the product. (Consumer Product Safety Commission)

“Consumers should destroy the recalled helmets by cutting the straps off the helmets. Consumers can send photos of the helmet with the straps cut off to 360concordhelmet@todson.com to obtain a refund,” Todson said.

No injuries have been reported.

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Todson has issued a recall for its Concord bicycle helmets after tests found they can fail to properly protect riders during a crash. (Consumer Product Safety Commission)

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The company also warned consumers not to throw the helmet’s lithium-ion battery in the trash or standard recycling bins because of the risk of fire. 

Consumers should contact their local household hazardous waste facility for proper disposal guidance.