Dow Jumps Over 200 Points; US Initial Jobless Claims Fall
U.S. Stock Market Performance: U.S. stocks rose this morning, with the Dow Jones gaining over 200 points, while energy shares increased by 1.3% and health care stocks fell by 0.9%.
Economic Indicators: Initial jobless claims in the U.S. decreased by 13,000 to 228,000, and labor productivity in the nonfarm business sector declined by 0.8%, with unit labor costs increasing by 5.7% in the first quarter.
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B. Riley Initiates Coverage on Digital Asset Companies
- Coverage Initiation: B. Riley Securities has initiated coverage on digital asset companies Strategy (MSTR) and Strive (ASST) with a Buy rating, indicating a positive outlook for their future performance, particularly in the current market environment.
- Market Stress Test: Analyst Fedor Shabalin noted that the DATCO model faced a stress test, with BTC peaking at $126,000 in October 2025 before falling to approximately $69,000 by March 2026, compressing mNAV premiums across the sector and impacting equity accretion for most DATCOs.
- Capital Structure Advantage: MSTR and ASST are well-positioned to navigate the current environment through their differentiated capital structures and disciplined BTC accumulation strategies, with both companies having established dedicated cash reserves to support preferred obligations, ensuring near-term dividend sustainability.
- Long-Term Appreciation Potential: Beyond attractive dividend yields, the analyst believes that investors in both common and preferred securities can benefit from the potential long-term appreciation of underlying BTC holdings, a value creation mechanism that MSTR has demonstrated over six years of BTC accumulation.
US Stocks Rise Amid Oil Price Plunge and Strong Home Sales
- Oil Price Plunge Impact: US stocks are broadly higher today, with the S&P 500 up 0.28%, the Dow Jones up 0.39%, and the Nasdaq 100 up 0.49%, driven by an 11% drop in oil prices, which positively impacts the US economy and may influence Fed policy direction.
- Strong Home Sales Data: February existing home sales in the US rose 1.7% month-over-month to 4.09 million, exceeding expectations of 3.88 million, indicating resilience in the housing market that could further support stock performance.
- Iran Situation Impact: Despite increased Iranian attacks in the Persian Gulf causing the largest refinery in the UAE to halt operations, oil prices have fallen to $84 per barrel due to President Trump's comments, reflecting market sensitivity to geopolitical risks.
- Corporate Earnings Situation: With over 95% of S&P 500 companies having reported earnings, 74% exceeded expectations, and Q4 earnings growth is projected at 8.4%, providing support for the stock market and indicating sustained corporate profitability growth potential.
US Stocks Volatile Amid Middle East Tensions
- Middle East Impact: The S&P 500 Index fell 0.04% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.13% as fresh disruptions in the Persian Gulf raised doubts about President Trump's comments on the Iran war ending soon, indicating market sensitivity to geopolitical tensions.
- Oil Price Fluctuations: Despite the largest refinery in the UAE halting operations due to an Iranian drone attack, April WTI crude oil futures fell 7%, erasing part of the previous 1.5-week rally, reflecting insufficient market reaction to supply disruptions.
- Strong Economic Data: US existing home sales rose 1.7% month-over-month to 4.09 million in February, exceeding expectations and indicating a robust housing market that could support stock prices amid broader market volatility.
- Corporate Earnings Resilience: With over 95% of S&P 500 companies reporting, 74% exceeded earnings expectations, and Q4 earnings growth is projected at 8.4%, showcasing corporate profitability and contributing to a positive market outlook.
MSTR and ASST Rise in After-Hours Trading – B. Riley States Bitcoin Needs to Surpass Dividend Expenses
Bitcoin Price Surge: Bitcoin's price jumped to $70,000, leading to increased stock prices for Strategy (MSTR) and Strive Asset Management (ASST), with MSTR gaining 1.55% and ASST rising 1.29% in after-hours trading.
Analyst Ratings: B. Riley initiated coverage on MSTR and ASST with a 'Buy' rating, highlighting the potential for significant returns as retail sentiment remains bullish around Bitcoin.
Dividend Yield Comparison: Analysts noted that the dividend yields offered by MSTR and ASST (8.0% - 12.5%) are superior to traditional yield-oriented alternatives, making them attractive to income-focused investors.
Future Price Targets: B. Riley set a price target of $175 for MSTR, suggesting a potential upside of nearly 26% from its recent closing price, while the average price target indicates a potential upside of 183%.
Michael Saylor Hints at MSTR's Upcoming Bitcoin Purchase Despite $7B Paper Loss
Bitcoin Price and Losses: Bitcoin is currently trading around $66,200, while MSTR's average cost per Bitcoin exceeds $76,000, resulting in a loss of over 12%, approximately $7 billion. Other companies like Strive and Trump Media have also reported significant losses in their Bitcoin holdings.
MSTR's Bitcoin Accumulation: MSTR's executive chairman, Michael Saylor, indicated that the company is set to announce another Bitcoin purchase soon, continuing its strategy of accumulating Bitcoin after a previous announcement of its 100th buy in February.
Market Sentiment and Stock Performance: MSTR's stock sentiment has improved to 'bullish' from 'neutral', with a slight increase in trading, while Bitcoin's price has seen a minor decline. In contrast, other companies like ASSST and DJT are experiencing deeper losses in their Bitcoin investments.
Comparative Holdings and Costs: MSTR is the largest corporate holder of Bitcoin with around 717,722 tokens valued at approximately $47.65 billion, while ASSST and DJT hold significantly fewer tokens and are facing higher average costs per Bitcoin, leading to substantial unrealized losses.
Bitcoin's Rise to $69,000 Boosts COIN, MSTR, and BMNR Stock Prices
Bitcoin Price Surge: Bitcoin's price crossed $69,000 but later adjusted to around $68,700, reflecting a 4.8% increase over the last 24 hours amid a recovering cryptocurrency market.
Market Reactions: Companies like Coinbase Global and Bitmine Immersion Technologies saw significant gains, with Circle Internet Group's stock jumping over 35% following better-than-expected earnings.
Growing Demand for Bitcoin: Demand for Bitcoin has started to grow for the first time since November 2025, potentially leading to further gains for cryptocurrency-linked stocks.
Retail Sentiment Shift: Retail sentiment around cryptocurrency stocks has shifted to "bullish," indicating increased investor confidence, as seen in the stock performance of companies like Circle and Bitmine.
B. Riley Initiates Coverage on Digital Asset Companies
- Coverage Initiation: B. Riley Securities has initiated coverage on digital asset companies Strategy (MSTR) and Strive (ASST) with a Buy rating, indicating a positive outlook for their future performance, particularly in the current market environment.
- Market Stress Test: Analyst Fedor Shabalin noted that the DATCO model faced a stress test, with BTC peaking at $126,000 in October 2025 before falling to approximately $69,000 by March 2026, compressing mNAV premiums across the sector and impacting equity accretion for most DATCOs.
- Capital Structure Advantage: MSTR and ASST are well-positioned to navigate the current environment through their differentiated capital structures and disciplined BTC accumulation strategies, with both companies having established dedicated cash reserves to support preferred obligations, ensuring near-term dividend sustainability.
- Long-Term Appreciation Potential: Beyond attractive dividend yields, the analyst believes that investors in both common and preferred securities can benefit from the potential long-term appreciation of underlying BTC holdings, a value creation mechanism that MSTR has demonstrated over six years of BTC accumulation.
US Stocks Rise Amid Oil Price Plunge and Strong Home Sales
- Oil Price Plunge Impact: US stocks are broadly higher today, with the S&P 500 up 0.28%, the Dow Jones up 0.39%, and the Nasdaq 100 up 0.49%, driven by an 11% drop in oil prices, which positively impacts the US economy and may influence Fed policy direction.
- Strong Home Sales Data: February existing home sales in the US rose 1.7% month-over-month to 4.09 million, exceeding expectations of 3.88 million, indicating resilience in the housing market that could further support stock performance.
- Iran Situation Impact: Despite increased Iranian attacks in the Persian Gulf causing the largest refinery in the UAE to halt operations, oil prices have fallen to $84 per barrel due to President Trump's comments, reflecting market sensitivity to geopolitical risks.
- Corporate Earnings Situation: With over 95% of S&P 500 companies having reported earnings, 74% exceeded expectations, and Q4 earnings growth is projected at 8.4%, providing support for the stock market and indicating sustained corporate profitability growth potential.
US Stocks Volatile Amid Middle East Tensions
- Middle East Impact: The S&P 500 Index fell 0.04% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.13% as fresh disruptions in the Persian Gulf raised doubts about President Trump's comments on the Iran war ending soon, indicating market sensitivity to geopolitical tensions.
- Oil Price Fluctuations: Despite the largest refinery in the UAE halting operations due to an Iranian drone attack, April WTI crude oil futures fell 7%, erasing part of the previous 1.5-week rally, reflecting insufficient market reaction to supply disruptions.
- Strong Economic Data: US existing home sales rose 1.7% month-over-month to 4.09 million in February, exceeding expectations and indicating a robust housing market that could support stock prices amid broader market volatility.
- Corporate Earnings Resilience: With over 95% of S&P 500 companies reporting, 74% exceeded earnings expectations, and Q4 earnings growth is projected at 8.4%, showcasing corporate profitability and contributing to a positive market outlook.
MSTR and ASST Rise in After-Hours Trading – B. Riley States Bitcoin Needs to Surpass Dividend Expenses
Bitcoin Price Surge: Bitcoin's price jumped to $70,000, leading to increased stock prices for Strategy (MSTR) and Strive Asset Management (ASST), with MSTR gaining 1.55% and ASST rising 1.29% in after-hours trading.
Analyst Ratings: B. Riley initiated coverage on MSTR and ASST with a 'Buy' rating, highlighting the potential for significant returns as retail sentiment remains bullish around Bitcoin.
Dividend Yield Comparison: Analysts noted that the dividend yields offered by MSTR and ASST (8.0% - 12.5%) are superior to traditional yield-oriented alternatives, making them attractive to income-focused investors.
Future Price Targets: B. Riley set a price target of $175 for MSTR, suggesting a potential upside of nearly 26% from its recent closing price, while the average price target indicates a potential upside of 183%.
Michael Saylor Hints at MSTR's Upcoming Bitcoin Purchase Despite $7B Paper Loss
Bitcoin Price and Losses: Bitcoin is currently trading around $66,200, while MSTR's average cost per Bitcoin exceeds $76,000, resulting in a loss of over 12%, approximately $7 billion. Other companies like Strive and Trump Media have also reported significant losses in their Bitcoin holdings.
MSTR's Bitcoin Accumulation: MSTR's executive chairman, Michael Saylor, indicated that the company is set to announce another Bitcoin purchase soon, continuing its strategy of accumulating Bitcoin after a previous announcement of its 100th buy in February.
Market Sentiment and Stock Performance: MSTR's stock sentiment has improved to 'bullish' from 'neutral', with a slight increase in trading, while Bitcoin's price has seen a minor decline. In contrast, other companies like ASSST and DJT are experiencing deeper losses in their Bitcoin investments.
Comparative Holdings and Costs: MSTR is the largest corporate holder of Bitcoin with around 717,722 tokens valued at approximately $47.65 billion, while ASSST and DJT hold significantly fewer tokens and are facing higher average costs per Bitcoin, leading to substantial unrealized losses.
Bitcoin's Rise to $69,000 Boosts COIN, MSTR, and BMNR Stock Prices
Bitcoin Price Surge: Bitcoin's price crossed $69,000 but later adjusted to around $68,700, reflecting a 4.8% increase over the last 24 hours amid a recovering cryptocurrency market.
Market Reactions: Companies like Coinbase Global and Bitmine Immersion Technologies saw significant gains, with Circle Internet Group's stock jumping over 35% following better-than-expected earnings.
Growing Demand for Bitcoin: Demand for Bitcoin has started to grow for the first time since November 2025, potentially leading to further gains for cryptocurrency-linked stocks.
Retail Sentiment Shift: Retail sentiment around cryptocurrency stocks has shifted to "bullish," indicating increased investor confidence, as seen in the stock performance of companies like Circle and Bitmine.
