Business
Restaurants add protein, fiber for weight loss drug users
A mini burger, mini fries and mini beer, Clinton Hall’s “Teeny Weeny Mini Meal”, is pictured next to a regular-sized combo on Dec. 8, 2025 in New York City. Approximately one in eight American adults are currently taking drugs from the class of GLP-1 agonists that are now popular for weight loss, according to a November poll by the non-profit health policy tracker KFF. Some in the restaurant industry are taking note.
Angela Weiss | AFP | Getty Images
The cost of GLP-1 drugs is falling, and pill versions are hitting the U.S. market. For restaurant chains and snacking giants, higher adoption of weight loss and diabetes treatments poses a threat to their sales — or an opportunity.
GLP-1 drugs slow digestion, suppress users’ appetites and increase satiety. For many restaurants and packaged food manufacturers, those reactions will likely mean weaker sales. Adults who use GLP-1s consume 21% fewer calories and spend nearly a third less on grocery bills on average, according to KPMG. JPMorgan estimates the growing use of the medications could wipe out $30 billion to $55 billion in annual sales for the food and beverage industry as soon as 2030.
About one in every eight U.S. adults is currently taking a GLP-1 drug like Ozempic or Zepbound, according to the KFF Health Tracking Poll conducted from Oct. 27 to Nov. 2. That number doesn’t include consumers who have discontinued their use of the drugs; 18% of respondents said that they have taken a GLP-1 medication at some point.
Those numbers are expected to keep climbing, especially after Novo Nordisk launched its Wegovy pill in January and Eli Lilly prepares to roll out its own oral drug this year. By 2030, more than 30 million Americans could be on a GLP-1 treatment, up from 10 million in 2026, based on J.P. Morgan estimates.
Michael Siluk | UCG | Universal Images Group | Getty Images
But the shift also presents an opportunity for restaurants and food and beverage companies.
With new protein- and fiber-rich options, many businesses are hoping to win over GLP-1 consumers and mollify investors’ concerns about how the treatments will affect their bottom lines.
“Whether it is labeling as GLP-1 friendly, decreasing the serving size, emphasizing protein content, or even when you shift over to the beverage world, because hydration is certainly a concern, there are a number of players that are starting to react to this,” said Don K. Johnson, principal of strategy and execution for EY-Parthenon.
Skipping snacks and breakfast
About half of GLP-1 users report consuming fewer calories while taking the medications, according to UBS Evidence Lab. But the effects aren’t even across the industry, and “certain categories are more impacted than others,” Johnson said.
Snacking, once one of the fastest-growing grocery segments, has taken the biggest hit. About 70% of GLP-1 users who report consuming fewer calories said that they are snacking less, according to a survey conducted by EY-Parthenon last spring.
“I think it is about the specific type of snack, but I do think they’re also snacking less … Having said that, we do see that there is a shift to healthier foods, and that certainly will include healthier snacking,” Johnson said.
Think more yogurt, nuts or fruit, and fewer chips or pretzels.
Since GLP-1 drugs lead patients to lower their caloric intake, every calorie consumed means more. Protein intake is more important to prevent muscle loss. So, too, is fiber to support gut health and digestion. And staying hydrated helps mitigate some of the drugs’ side effects, like nausea and headaches.
The effects of eating less extend to restaurants. About 60% of those respondents to the EY-Parthenon survey said that they are dining out less frequently.
The shift could also hit full-service restaurants where diners order a drink with their meals. Roughly 45% of survey respondents who are eating and drinking less said that they are drinking less alcohol.
Surveys conducted by Bernstein indicate that the frequency of restaurant visits among GLP-1 users can fall by as much as 45%, depending on the category of food and the nature of the occasion, analyst Danilo Gargiulo of Bernstein wrote in a research note published on Tuesday.
The pullback in restaurant visits isn’t spread evenly across times of day, according to Dana Baggett, executive director of restaurant client strategy at RRD, which works with more than 200 restaurant brands.
Lunch, so far, hasn’t been impacted, she said. But breakfast has taken a hit, particularly from high-income GLP-1 users, who represent a bigger percentage of current patients, she said. In practice, that means fewer sugary coffee drinks and doughnuts, although options like Starbucks‘ protein cold foam could encourage those consumers to return.
A commercial for GLP-1 drugs during the Super Bowl LX broadcast on television screens at a bar in Los Angeles, California, US, on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026.
Jill Connelly | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Dinner, especially at fast-food restaurants, has taken the brunt of the damage so far.
Dinner traffic has fallen 6% among consumers who have been taking the medication regularly, according to Baggett; in other words, overall restaurant sales during dinner hours have declined about 0.4% due to GLP-1 use, she said. But as the number of consumers who use the drug consistently grows, so too will the pressure on restaurant traffic.
And snacking isn’t confined to grocery store aisles. For limited-service restaurants, like McDonald’s or Taco Bell, snacking accounts for 12% of spending, according to Bank of America Global Research.
Even so, threats to those large restaurants chains may only be gradual, which gives them time to adapt.
“I think there shouldn’t be this panic out there in the marketplace, but this is a trend that’s not going away,” Baggett said. “This is an amazing opportunity for brands to start repositioning themselves and focusing on what consumers want: less sugar, higher protein and that focus on fiber.”
How Big Food is evolving
If recent earnings conference calls are any example, restaurant and food executives also think that it isn’t time to panic just yet. For some companies, the trend offers a chance to reach new customers through healthier options.
“I think there are more opportunities than threats, but there are both,” PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta told Wall Street analysts on the company’s earnings conference call in early February.
In recent months, Pepsi has released protein-packed Doritos, relaunched Gatorade and unveiled fiber-rich varieties of SunChips and Smartfood popcorn. Those moves are part of the company’s broader strategy to modernize its portfolio and boost sales by appealing to health-conscious consumers, but they also align with Laguarta’s assumption that GLP-1 medications will be adopted more broadly.
Domino’s Pizza CEO Russell Weiner sounded unshaken when he told analysts last month that the pizza chain hasn’t seen GLP-1 drugs affect its sales yet.
“Dinner, for us, is a sharing occasion, so perhaps that’s why we’re not seeing any impact, but we’re going to continue to watch it,” he said. “But if there needs to be menu innovation around that, we will do that.”
RRD’s Baggett told CNBC that she thinks portions and snack sizing will be key for restaurants to attract consumers who are on GLP-1 treatments.
When asked about the drugs on McDonald’s earnings conference call last month, CEO Chris Kempczinski touted the burger chain’s existing protein options. But he added that the preferences of GLP-1 users are also being considered as the chain creates new menu items.
“We’re also seeing changes around maybe less snacking, changes in some of the beverages that they drink, less sugary drinks, and so all of those things are factoring into some of what we’re out there experimenting with and testing with,” he said.
Other restaurant chains have already launched options that appeal to diners on GLP-1 drugs, even if the medications weren’t the key impetus. For example, Chipotle launched grab-and-go protein cups in December, aiming to cash in on the protein and snacking crazes as its restaurant sales struggled.
And Olive Garden, owned by Darden Restaurants, released a Lighter Portions menu last year, downsizing a handful of its classic entrees at a lower price. Darden CEO Rick Cardenas said that the chain introduced the new menu to give all of its customers more options.
“It just so happens to benefit the consumers that might want smaller portions that are on GLP-1 medications, and we have a lot of options like that in all of our menus,” Cardenas said on the company’s earnings conference call in December.
Marketing to GLP-1 users
Other companies have explicitly appealed to GLP-1 users, particularly when it comes to innovation.
In 2024, Nestle led the pack when it launched Virtual Pursuit, a frozen-food brand targeting GLP-1 users. While the packaging initially didn’t call out that it was “GLP-1 friendly,” the food company updated it later to include it prominently, boosting sales.
“It’s a big initiative for Nestle,” Nestle USA CEO Marty Thompson told CNBC at a media event earlier in March. “There will be those things that are designed for GLP-1, and there will be those things that will be sort of a companion to GLP-1, clearly calling out protein and fiber, but not necessarily designed portion-size wise or whatever for GLP-1.”
Nestle’s focus will extend beyond food, too. Thompson said that the company plans to expand into beverages and listed protein shakes as one potential way to appeal to GLP-1 customers.
Even food companies without much exposure to GLP-1 users are broadening their portfolios to reach them.
Close-up view of Dippin’ Dots ice cream cup in a person’s hand, Santa Cruz, California, June 22, 2024.
Smith Collection | Gado | Archive Photos | Getty Images
For example, Dippin’ Dots and Icee owner J&J Snack Foods makes most of its sales in stadiums, theme parks and malls. Because of its “experiential” focus, CEO Dan Fachner told CNBC that he thinks that J&J is more insulated from the effect of GLP-1 drugs compared with its snacking peers.
“I still think that in most cases, even people on GLP-1 drugs will still use those occasions for snacking,” he said.
Even still, more than a year ago, Fachner presented employees with a challenge for the company’s grocery business, which accounts for 13.5% of annual sales.
“Take the core products — pretzels and churros and Icees and Dippin’ Dots and frozen novelties — tell me how we can make them more GLP-1 friendly as it continues to grow,” he said.
This year, J&J has a number of new products hitting the freezer aisle. Protein has been added to its soft pretzels, now available in a smaller portion size. And Luigi’s Italian Ice, traditionally sold in a cup, will come in a “mini pop size,” with a formula that includes more antioxidants or helps hydration, according to Fachner. If the new products succeed in grocery stores, then J&J plans to take them to the company’s food service customers, as well.
J&J’s new products also have the benefit of appealing to a wider audience than just consumers who are on GLP-1 medication. For example, Fachner expects the new Luigi’s mini pops will appeal to health-conscious moms as a snack for their kids.
Uptake could change strategies
For restaurants and food suppliers, current data on the eating and drinking habits of GLP-1 users are informing their efforts to appeal to those consumers. But that behavior can still fluctuate.
About 5% of users lapse in taking the medications, due to cost, side effects or hitting their weight goal. After quitting, they tend to maintain the same eating habits for a couple of months before eventually returning to a higher caloric intake.
“I think that we don’t spend enough time talking about the fact that there may be sort of a cycle of behaviors — people going on and off of the drugs — that will have sort of an interesting impact on manufacturers of food because there’s no ‘before’ and ‘after,’” EY’s Johnson said. “It’s a process.”
And a whole new group of consumers could soon be taking daily pill versions of GLP-1 medications. It’s too soon to tell if oral GLP-1 drugs will result in more consistent usage or higher quit rates and to know who exactly is trying the pill version over the injectable.
“I don’t have a crystal ball, but my guess is from our survey that the folks using the oral version of the drug will be a new set of people, because one of the barriers to trial was — as can be expected — a lot of people don’t like to take shots of injections,” Johnson said.
There is one prediction that is widely accepted: the pill version will mean much higher adoption of GLP-1 drugs.
I ventured into investing in high school in 2011, mainly in REITs, preferred stocks, and high-yield bonds, starting a fascination with markets and the economy that has not faded despite the years. More recently I have been combining long stock positions with covered calls and cash secured puts. I approach investing purely from a fundamental long-term point of view. On Seeking Alpha I mostly cover REITs and financials, with occasional articles on ETFs and other stocks driven by a macro trade idea.
Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
Seeking Alpha’s Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
LOS ANGELES — Taylor Swift will make her first major public appearance of 2026 at the iHeartRadio Music Awards on March 26 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, leading the nominations with nine nods, organizers announced March 19.
The 36-year-old singer tops the list for the live Fox broadcast (8-10 p.m. ET), earning nominations including Song of the Year, Pop Song of the Year, Favorite TikTok Dance, Best Lyrics and Best Music Video for “The Fate of Ophelia” from her 2025 album *The Life of a Showgirl*. She is also up for Artist of the Year, Pop Artist of the Year, Favorite On Screen for the *Eras Tour* film extension and Favorite Tour Style.
Swift will attend but not perform, per iHeartMedia and Fox reports. The event marks her return to awards show red carpets after a quieter period focused on personal milestones and selective engagements following her August 2025 engagement to Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.
She recently appeared at Jay-Z and Beyoncé’s Oscars after-party on March 15 in Los Angeles, arriving discreetly and mingling inside. Wedding speculation continues, with reports suggesting a summer ceremony before NFL training camp, though no official date has been confirmed. Kelce credited Swift’s passion for her work as motivation for his 2026 season on his *New Heights* podcast.
*The Life of a Showgirl* drove U.S. vinyl sales past $1 billion in 2025 — a decades-high mark — and contributed to the music industry’s $11.5 billion revenue record. Swift called retirement rumors after marriage “shockingly offensive” in a BBC Radio 2 interview, praising Kelce’s support: “He loves what I do and how fulfilled I am by making art.”
No full tour is planned for the album due to post-Eras fatigue, though fans anticipate possible announcements at the iHeartRadio event given her history of reveals. A Netflix docuseries extension, *The End of an Era*, has included reflections on past challenges.
With nine chances to win and her unmatched fanbase, Swift’s March 26 appearance is expected to draw massive attention and potentially tease future projects in her record-shattering career.
TONTITOWN, Ark. — Kendra Duggar, wife of former “19 Kids and Counting” star Joseph Duggar, was arrested Friday, March 20, 2026, on misdemeanor charges including four counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a minor and four counts of second-degree false imprisonment, authorities in Tontitown, Arkansas, announced.
The arrest came just two days after her husband was taken into custody on separate allegations of child molestation stemming from a 2020 incident in Florida. Both face the new Arkansas charges, which are misdemeanors, amid an ongoing multi-state investigation involving alleged offenses against minors.
Tontitown Police Department issued arrest warrants for Joseph, 31, and Kendra, 27, on Friday. Kendra turned herself in at the Washington County Detention Center in Fayetteville around 4:56 p.m. local time, according to jail records viewed by multiple outlets including People and Us Weekly. She posted $1,470 bond and was released at 6:19 p.m. Her mugshot shows a 5-foot-3 woman with blonde hair and blue eyes.
Police did not release detailed allegations tied to the new counts, citing Arkansas laws restricting disclosure in cases involving minors. The Tontitown department stated the investigation remains active and declined further comment. The charges appear separate from Joseph’s Florida case, where he faces felony counts of lewd and lascivious molestation of a victim under 12 and lewd conduct by a person 18 or older.
Joseph Duggar was arrested Wednesday, March 18, in Tontitown after Bay County, Florida, sheriff’s investigators accused him of molesting a 9-year-old girl during a family vacation in Panama City Beach in 2020. The accuser, now 14, told police Duggar repeatedly asked her to sit on his lap, then under a blanket on a couch where he allegedly manipulated her underwear, grazed her genitals and rubbed her thighs. Duggar reportedly admitted the conduct to the girl’s father and later to Tontitown detectives during a March 17 confrontation.
He waived extradition Friday in Washington County court, clearing the way for transfer to Florida within 30 days. He remains in Washington County Detention Center pending that move.
The Arkansas charges against both Duggars surfaced amid the Florida probe’s fallout. Tontitown officers served warrants at the Duggar family compound Friday afternoon but initially found Kendra absent. She later surrendered.
The couple, married since 2017, have four children together. They live in Tontitown, part of the Duggar family’s extended network in northwest Arkansas. The family gained fame through TLC’s “19 Kids and Counting,” which ended in 2015 amid scandals involving eldest son Josh Duggar, who is serving a federal prison sentence for child pornography convictions.
Joseph and Kendra have largely stayed out of the spotlight compared to other family members, though they appeared on spin-off shows and shared family updates on social media before stepping back in recent years.
No formal statements have come from the couple or the Duggar family as of March 21. Kendra’s arrest drew immediate media attention, with outlets like TMZ, People and NBC News reporting her mugshot and bond details. Public reaction online has been swift and critical, with many linking the charges to broader family controversies.
Legal experts note the misdemeanor nature of the Arkansas counts carries lighter penalties than Joseph’s Florida felonies, which could bring years in prison if convicted. Second-degree endangering the welfare of a minor in Arkansas typically involves knowingly placing a child in a situation risking serious harm, while false imprisonment involves unlawfully restraining someone.
The cases highlight ongoing scrutiny of the Duggar family following Josh Duggar’s 2021 conviction and related fallout. Authorities have not indicated connections between the current allegations and prior family scandals, but the timing has intensified public interest.
As investigations continue in Arkansas and Florida, both Joseph and Kendra Duggar face court proceedings in the coming weeks. The Tontitown Police Department urged anyone with information to contact them, emphasizing the active status of the probe.
The developments add another chapter to the Duggar family’s turbulent public saga, drawing renewed attention to their once-prominent reality TV legacy.
Lai Chee Ma
General Manager of Corporate Business Development Department
Good afternoon. Welcome to the CK Asset Holdings Limited 2025 Annual Results Analyst Presentation. My name is Gerald. On my right are two of my fellow ExCo members, Simon Man and Yue Seng Chiu. Our Chairman, Mr. Victor Li, will join us shortly for the Q&A session after the presentation.
So we’ll quickly go into it, 2025 results highlights. Revenue came to HKD 85.85 billion, up 19.9%. Profit before investment property revaluation, HKD 11.96 billion or HKD 3.42, up 2.7%. We recorded an IP revaluation deficit of HKD 1.11 billion last year or HKD 0.32, leading to a profit attributable to shareholders of HKD 10.85 billion or HKD 3.10, down 20.3%. We declared a final dividend of HKD 1.39, making full year dividend HKD 1.78. Dividend per share, hence up 2.3% over last year. Net book value per share also has risen by 2.3% to HKD 113.28.
Turning to our principal activities. 76% of our revenue and 85% of our profit contribution are now recurring in nature. By geography, 31% of contribution from Hong Kong, 11% from the Mainland and 58% from overseas, making us a very different company compared to other property companies in Hong Kong.
Looking at divisional performances, property sales. So we recorded much stronger sales recognition this year — last year, but margins were low due to provisions for properties for sale. Revenue came to HKD 20.45 billion, up 105.3%. Profit contribution after provisions at HKD 2.7 billion, up 24%. Overall margin post provision was 13.4%.
Super Micro: Another Perfect Storm
Business
Elon Musk Liable in Twitter Shareholder Fraud Case as Jury Finds He Misled Investors Before $44 Billion Buyout
SAN FRANCISCO — A federal jury in San Francisco found Elon Musk liable Friday, March 20, 2026, for misleading Twitter shareholders by deliberately driving down the company’s stock price in the months leading up to his $44 billion acquisition in 2022, though it absolved him of broader fraud claims including an intentional scheme to defraud.
The nine-person jury deliberated for three days after a three-week trial that featured Musk’s in-person testimony earlier in March. Jurors concluded that two specific tweets from May 2022 — including one claiming the Twitter deal was “temporarily on hold” — contained false statements that caused a plunge in Twitter’s share price, harming investors who sold based on those statements. The jury cleared Musk on other allegations, such as podcast comments and a wider conspiracy to mislead.
The verdict in the class-action securities lawsuit could expose Musk — the world’s richest person with a net worth near $850 billion — to damages potentially in the billions, though the exact amount will be determined in a separate phase. Plaintiffs sought up to $2.6 billion in some calculations. Musk’s legal team vowed to appeal, calling the decision disappointing but limited in scope.
The ruling caps a years-long saga stemming from Musk’s chaotic 2022 pursuit of Twitter (now X), which began with a $44 billion offer, included attempts to back out over bot concerns, and ended with a forced completion under court pressure. Musk has long maintained his statements were protected speech or accurate reflections of due diligence issues, particularly fake accounts.
On X Saturday, Musk posted lightly amid the fallout, offering to cover TSA salaries during a hypothetical funding impasse and engaging in unrelated banter about physics, AI and Grok. He made no direct comment on the verdict in visible recent posts.
The decision comes amid other major developments in Musk’s empire. SpaceX, his rocket company, is advancing confidential IPO preparations, with filings potentially as early as March and a mid-2026 listing targeting a valuation exceeding $1.75 trillion — potentially the largest ever. Starlink, its satellite internet arm, drives most revenue, while February’s merger with Musk’s xAI (valuing the combined entity at $1.25 trillion) integrates Grok AI, orbital data centers and compute resources for massive-scale artificial intelligence.
Tesla, meanwhile, pushes aggressive timelines for robotaxi rollout. Musk stated Thursday that driverless services will become “very, very widespread” across the U.S. by year’s end, expanding from pilot cities to Dallas, Houston, Phoenix, Miami, Orlando, Tampa and Las Vegas in the first half of 2026. He tempered expectations on Cybercab and Optimus humanoid robot production, calling early rates “agonizingly slow” before eventual rapid scaling.
Tesla converted its $2 billion xAI investment into a SpaceX stake following the merger, formalizing ties among Musk’s companies ahead of potential SpaceX public debut. Musk has described orbital AI infrastructure as the path to unlimited compute powered by solar energy in space, predicting 2026 as a pivotal year for the “singularity” — where machine and human intelligence converge.
Neuralink continues human trials for brain-computer interfaces, with plans for high-volume production and automated implantation in 2026. Musk’s political involvement persists, including past support for Republican causes and commentary on government efficiency via DOGE initiatives.
The Twitter verdict adds legal pressure as Musk juggles Tesla’s autonomy push, SpaceX’s IPO ambitions and xAI’s rapid growth. While the ruling is civil and not criminal, it could impact investor confidence in Musk-led ventures and fuel ongoing scrutiny of his public statements on X.
As Musk navigates these crosscurrents, his influence spans transportation, space, AI and policy. The jury’s finding — that he misled investors in a landmark deal — marks a significant setback in his storied business career, even as his companies race toward transformative milestones in 2026.
Gary Yeowell/DigitalVision via Getty Images
By BeiChen Lin, CFA, CPA, Director, Head of Canadian Strategy
Energy volatility persists
Geopolitical developments in the Middle East drove market attention this week, with reports of energy infrastructure being targeted leading to sharp
Strong U.S. Dollar Limits Safe-Haven Gains
One of the biggest factors suppressing gold is the renewed strength of the U.S. dollar. During periods of geopolitical stress, global investors flock not only to gold but also to the dollar, which offers superior liquidity and global acceptance.
The U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) has risen sharply from around 97 in mid-February to 100.15 by mid-March, reflecting strong safe-haven flows into the greenback. Since gold is dollar-priced, a stronger USD makes bullion costlier for other currency holders, dampening investment and physical demand. As a result, the usual geopolitical boost for gold has been overshadowed by the dollar’s resurgence.
Rising U.S. Treasury Yields and Higher Oil Prices Pressure Bullion
Gold has also faced pressure from rising U.S. Treasury yields. Higher yields increase the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding assets like gold, making government bonds more attractive in comparison. At the same time, surging oil prices amid the Iran–Middle East conflict have intensified inflation worries. Investors now expect central banks, especially the U.S. Federal Reserve, to keep interest rates elevated for longer. This environment strengthens yield-bearing assets and weakens gold’s appeal, even during geopolitical upheavals.
Overvaluation and Heavy Profit-Taking
Gold had already staged a robust rally before the West Asia conflict erupted. After such a steep climb, the metal entered what many considered overvalued territory. Investors were reluctant to increase their exposure at elevated levels. When volatility spiked after the conflict intensified, traders seized the opportunity to book profits, leading to liquidation pressure instead of the typical safe-haven inflows. Markets tend to react this way after extended rallies, where investors prefer locking in gains rather than adding fresh positions. This wave of profit-taking diluted the potential upside from geopolitical tensions.
Liquidity-Driven Selling and Geopolitical Risk Already Priced In
During periods of sharp market stress, investors often prioritise liquidity above all else. Gold, being one of the most liquid assets globally, frequently becomes a source of cash to cover losses, meet margin calls, or rebalance portfolios. This liquidity-driven selling has been a key factor in the recent correction, overpowering safe-haven demand. Additionally, much of the geopolitical premium was already factored in gold prices at the start of 2026. Earlier conflicts, global recession fears, and currency volatility had kept gold elevated. With markets already positioned for ongoing instability and upcoming U.S. political developments, fresh upside triggers were limited.
Shift in Interest Rate Expectations and Overbought Technicals
Expectations around future U.S. interest rates have also influenced gold’s trajectory. Speculation surrounding potential changes in Federal Reserve leadership and delays in rate cuts have kept real yields high, reducing gold’s relative attractiveness.
On the technical front, both gold and silver were significantly overbought, which was reflected in elevated RSI readings. This indicated stretched speculative positioning and increased vulnerability to corrections. Traders took advantage of these technical signals to unwind bullish positions, adding to the downside pressure.
Why Indian Gold Prices Stayed Steady Despite a Weak Rupee
Despite the Indian rupee weakening to record lows, an event that typically pushes domestic gold prices higher by increasing import costs, gold prices in India have remained relatively steady. This unusual trend is largely due to the sharp decline in international gold prices, which has offset the higher landed cost caused by currency depreciation. At the same time, domestic demand has been subdued, as months of elevated prices have dampened jewellery buying and kept household budgets under pressure. Importers have also adopted a cautious stance, avoiding aggressive purchases amid volatile global conditions. These factors have prevented domestic prices from rising in proportion to the rupee’s weakness.
Outlook: Choppy Near Term, Constructive Long Term
Looking ahead, bullion is expected to remain choppy in the near term, with strong U.S. dollar conditions, elevated real yields, and uncertainty surrounding the Federal Reserve’s policy outlook likely to dominate price movement. Periodic bouts of liquidity-driven selling may add to short-term volatility, keeping gold and silver rangebound. However, the long-term outlook for precious metals remains constructive.
Persistent geopolitical fragmentation, ongoing central bank diversification away from major reserve currencies, underlying inflation risks, and tightening supply, particularly in silver, continue to support a favourable multi-year outlook for precious metals. As global growth moderates and monetary authorities eventually shift toward easing cycles, both gold and silver are poised to strengthen their roles as strategic hedges. With structural demand remaining firm and supply constraints becoming more pronounced, the long-term upside potential for both metals appears increasingly compelling.
(The author of the article is Hareesh V, Head of Commodity Research, Geojit Investments Limited)
TUCSON, Ariz. — The search for Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of NBC *Today* show co-host Savannah Guthrie, entered its seventh week on March 21, 2026, with no confirmed breakthroughs, no arrests and growing calls from experts to treat the case as a potential “no-body homicide” amid persistent uncertainty about her fate.
Guthrie was last seen at her home in the affluent Catalina Foothills neighborhood of Tucson on the evening of January 31, 2026. She was reported missing the following day after failing to appear for a scheduled virtual church service. Authorities believe she was abducted from her residence against her will, citing drops of her blood found on the front porch and signs of a struggle.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has described the disappearance as a targeted abduction, telling NBC News last week that investigators believe they know the motive but withheld details to protect the probe’s integrity. He warned residents to remain vigilant, stating the suspect could “absolutely” strike again. The sheriff has faced criticism over early handling, including releasing the home to family too soon — allowing media access to photograph blood evidence — and delays in securing neighbor security footage.
The FBI joined the investigation shortly after the report, amassing thousands of hours of video from doorbell cameras, traffic systems and private residences. Recent releases included footage of an “armed individual” tampering with Guthrie’s doorbell camera, plus images of a masked person believed to have visited the home prior to January 31. FBI agents returned to the neighborhood on March 18 — day 46 of the search — speaking with residents and reviewing additional footage, per law enforcement sources.
Multiple ransom notes have surfaced, some delivered to media outlets like TMZ, demanding payment for her safe return. The family, including Savannah Guthrie, offered a $1 million reward in late February for information leading to her recovery, supplementing the FBI’s $100,000. The private reward generated a surge of tips — more than 1,500 in the first month — though no credible leads have publicly resulted in her location.
Savannah Guthrie has issued repeated emotional pleas on social media and the *Today* show, urging anyone with information to come forward anonymously. In a February 27 Instagram post, she emphasized, “Please — be the one that brings her home,” attached to a segment highlighting the case. She returned to the show set in early March for off-camera meetings but has kept public appearances limited.
Experts remain divided on the case’s trajectory. Cybersecurity and law enforcement analyst Morgan Wright told NewsNation that the abduction appears targeted rather than random, suggesting the motive may involve personal or financial reasons rather than a burglary gone wrong. He urged authorities to shift toward treating it as a “no-body homicide,” acknowledging hopes for her safe return but preparing for the possibility she is no longer alive. Wright pointed to the lack of sightings, vehicle evidence or confirmed ransom fulfillment as red flags.
Former FBI special agent Harry Trombitas told Yahoo News the search will likely persist “as long as there is an investigation to conduct,” with resources shifting to evidence consolidation rather than broad outreach. Attorney Peter Christiansen described the probe entering a “new stage” focused on clinical analysis of DNA, video and forensics.
DNA evidence includes a glove found near the home matching one worn by the doorbell camera suspect; testing traced it to a restaurant worker, though no direct link to the abduction has been confirmed. A backpack and other items have been examined, but no public breakthroughs emerged. The FBI has focused on specific dates — January 11 and January 24 — seeking additional video from those periods.
The case has drawn international attention due to Savannah Guthrie’s prominence, prompting discussions on elder safety, family check-in protocols and the trauma of prolonged uncertainty for loved ones. Mental health experts note the emotional toll on families in missing-persons cases deepens with time, especially when hope persists alongside grim possibilities.
As of March 21, 2026, Nancy Guthrie’s condition and whereabouts remain unknown. Authorities continue urging tips via the Pima County Sheriff’s tip line or FBI channels, with anonymity assured and cash rewards available. The investigation, involving local detectives and federal resources, shows no signs of slowing despite the passage of weeks and mounting questions.
For the Guthrie family and community, the wait continues amid prayers and vigils. Savannah Guthrie’s public appeals underscore the enduring hope that information will surface to bring her mother home.
OpenAI to nearly double workforce to 8,000 by end-2026, FT reports
Northern Ireland weather latest as snow forecast in parts of UK after sunny weekend
Invesco Mortgage Capital: A Buying Opportunity Emerges In The Series C Preferred Shares
Ripple issues urgent alert about fake telegram accounts
-
Tech6 days agoYour Legally Registered ‘Motorcycle’ Might Not Count Under Proposed US Law
-
Politics20 hours agoJenni Murray, Long-Serving Woman’s Hour Presenter, Dies Aged 75
-
Tech4 days agoAre Split Spacebars the Next Big Gaming Keyboard Trend?
-
Fashion20 hours agoWeekend Open Thread: Adidas – Corporette.com
-
Sports7 days ago
Why Duke and Michigan Are Dead Even Entering Selection Sunday
-
Business6 days agoSearch for Savannah Guthrie’s Mother Enters Seventh Week with No Arrests
-
Crypto World7 days agoCoinbase and Bybit in Investment Talks: Could Bybit Finally Enter the US Crypto Market?
-
News Videos3 days agoRBA board divided on rate cut, unusually buoyant share market | Finance Report | ABC NEWS
-
Crypto World15 hours agoNIO (NIO) Stock Plunges 6.5% as Shelf Registration Sparks Dilution Worries
-
Business5 days agoAustralian shares drop as Iran war enters third week
-
Crypto World5 days agoCrypto Lender BlockFills Enters Chapter 11 with Up to $500M in Liabilities
-
Politics3 days agoThe House | The new register to protect children from their abusers shows Parliament at its best
-
Fashion5 days ago25 Celebrities with Curly Hair That Are Naturally Beautiful
-
Tech1 day agoinKONBINI Lets You Spend Summer Days Behind the Register
-
Crypto World3 days agoCanada’s FINTRAC revokes registrations of 23 crypto MSBs in AML crackdown
-
Politics4 days agoReal-time pollution monitoring calls after boy nearly dies
-
Crypto World7 days agoCrypto Losses Drop 87% in February, But Hackers Are Now Targeting People, Not Code
-
NewsBeat3 days agoResidents in North Lanarkshire reminded to register to vote in Scottish Parliament Election
-
Business5 days agoMeta planning major layoffs as AI spending and automation reshape workforce
-
News Videos3 days agoPARLIAMENT OF MALAWI – PAC MEETING WITH REGISTRAR OF FINANCIAL ON AMARYLLIS HOTEL – INQUIRY LIVE
You must be logged in to post a comment Login