U.S. Launches Major Combat Operations in Iran
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 15 hours ago
0mins
Source: CNBC
- Market Turbulence Anticipated: U.S. President Trump announced the initiation of 'major combat operations' in Iran, leading market watchers to predict greater implications for global markets than recent geopolitical events, particularly concerning oil prices and stock volatility.
- Oil Price Surge Expected: Given Iran's strategic location in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil transit point, analysts forecast oil prices could rise by 5% to 10% next week due to concerns over supply disruptions amid U.S. military actions.
- Investor Sentiment Cautious: Analysts expect global equities to potentially decline by 1% to 2% on Monday, with U.S. Treasury yields falling by 5 to 10 basis points, as investors may flock to safe-haven assets like gold and the U.S. dollar in light of the uncertainty.
- Impact of Conflict Duration: Market participants are closely monitoring whether the U.S. military actions will escalate into a prolonged 'regime change' effort, as a conflict lasting three to five weeks could lead to significant market volatility, particularly affecting Asian markets reliant on stable energy supplies.
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Analyst Views on NEM
Wall Street analysts forecast NEM stock price to fall
14 Analyst Rating
11 Buy
3 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 127.470
Low
89.00
Averages
110.85
High
125.00
Current: 127.470
Low
89.00
Averages
110.85
High
125.00
About NEM
Newmont Corporation is a gold company and a producer of copper, zinc, lead, and silver with operations and/or assets in the Africa, Australia, Latin America & Caribbean, North America, and Papua New Guinea regions. The Company's operations include Brucejack, Red Chris, Penasquito, Merian, Cerro Negro, Yanacocha, Boddington, Tanami, Cadia, Lihir, Ahafo, and NGM. The Brucejack operation includes four mining leases and six core mineral claims which cover 8,169 acres (3,306 hectares) and 337 mineral claims covering 298,795 acres (120,918 hectares). The Red Chris operation includes five mining leases which cover 12,703 acres and 199 mineral claims, encompassing an area of 164,903 acres (66,734 hectares). Penasquito includes 20 mining concessions for operations comprising 113,231 acres (45,823 hectares) and 60 mining concessions for exploration of 107,456 acres (43,486 hectares). The Merian operation includes one right of exploitation encompassing an area of 41,687 acres (16,870 hectares).
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
U.S. Launches Major Combat Operations in Iran
- Market Turbulence Anticipated: U.S. President Trump announced the initiation of 'major combat operations' in Iran, leading market watchers to predict greater implications for global markets than recent geopolitical events, particularly concerning oil prices and stock volatility.
- Oil Price Surge Expected: Given Iran's strategic location in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil transit point, analysts forecast oil prices could rise by 5% to 10% next week due to concerns over supply disruptions amid U.S. military actions.
- Investor Sentiment Cautious: Analysts expect global equities to potentially decline by 1% to 2% on Monday, with U.S. Treasury yields falling by 5 to 10 basis points, as investors may flock to safe-haven assets like gold and the U.S. dollar in light of the uncertainty.
- Impact of Conflict Duration: Market participants are closely monitoring whether the U.S. military actions will escalate into a prolonged 'regime change' effort, as a conflict lasting three to five weeks could lead to significant market volatility, particularly affecting Asian markets reliant on stable energy supplies.
See More
Gold Miners Expand Profit Margins Amid Price Surge
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- Market Valuation Discrepancy: Despite strong operational performance, many miners trade at modest forward earnings multiples, indicating a disconnect between their market valuation and actual performance, potentially presenting buying opportunities for investors.
- Investor Skepticism: Mining stocks often retreat during brief pullbacks in gold prices, despite record cash generation, suggesting that investors lack confidence in the sustainability of elevated prices, even as central bank demand remains robust.
- Overall Precious Metals Rally: Schiff notes that silver and platinum producers are also experiencing margin expansion, and as the precious metals market recovers, investor interest in these assets may further increase.
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- Overall Price Trends: The headline PPI increased by 0.5%, also surpassing the forecast of 0.3% and up 0.1 percentage points from the previous month, suggesting that inflation is not easing and may pose challenges to economic recovery.
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Newmont Stock Up 26.1% Year-to-Date
- Analyst Ranking: The ranking of 500 components based on average analyst opinions reflects a positive outlook for Newmont, indicating its relative strength in the industry.
- Stock Performance: Newmont's stock has gained 26.1% year-to-date, a significant increase that suggests growing investor confidence in its future performance, potentially attracting more capital inflow.
- Market Reaction: The alignment of analyst views with the positive stock movement indicates a bullish sentiment towards Newmont's fundamentals, which may further propel its stock price upward.
- Industry Impact: Newmont's strong performance could influence the stock price movements of other mining companies, prompting investors to reassess their portfolios to capture potential growth opportunities in the resource sector.
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- Portfolio Dynamics: Leon Cooperman's Omega Advisors increased its stake in Manchester United to $46.5 million, indicating a sustained interest in the sports industry despite the passive nature of the investment.
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U.S. Launches Major Combat Operations in Iran
- Market Turbulence Anticipated: U.S. President Trump announced the initiation of 'major combat operations' in Iran, leading market watchers to predict greater implications for global markets than recent geopolitical events, particularly concerning oil prices and stock volatility.
- Oil Price Surge Expected: Given Iran's strategic location in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil transit point, analysts forecast oil prices could rise by 5% to 10% next week due to concerns over supply disruptions amid U.S. military actions.
- Investor Sentiment Cautious: Analysts expect global equities to potentially decline by 1% to 2% on Monday, with U.S. Treasury yields falling by 5 to 10 basis points, as investors may flock to safe-haven assets like gold and the U.S. dollar in light of the uncertainty.
- Impact of Conflict Duration: Market participants are closely monitoring whether the U.S. military actions will escalate into a prolonged 'regime change' effort, as a conflict lasting three to five weeks could lead to significant market volatility, particularly affecting Asian markets reliant on stable energy supplies.
See More
Gold Miners Expand Profit Margins Amid Price Surge
- Significant Profit Growth: Economist Peter Schiff highlights that gold miners are expanding profit margins and earnings beyond internal forecasts, driven by gold prices holding above $5,000 per ounce since January, while production costs remain relatively stable, enhancing profitability.
- Market Valuation Discrepancy: Despite strong operational performance, many miners trade at modest forward earnings multiples, indicating a disconnect between their market valuation and actual performance, potentially presenting buying opportunities for investors.
- Investor Skepticism: Mining stocks often retreat during brief pullbacks in gold prices, despite record cash generation, suggesting that investors lack confidence in the sustainability of elevated prices, even as central bank demand remains robust.
- Overall Precious Metals Rally: Schiff notes that silver and platinum producers are also experiencing margin expansion, and as the precious metals market recovers, investor interest in these assets may further increase.
See More
Key Wall Street Calls on Friday: Upgrades and Downgrades
- Core Stock Rating: Deutsche Bank reiterates its Buy rating on CoreWeave, lowering the price target from $140 to $125, indicating that the company faces uncertainties in its rapidly scaling financial model, which may impact investor confidence.
- Strong Airline Demand: TD Cowen upgrades Southwest Airlines from Hold to Buy with a target price of $66, anticipating strengthened airline demand in 2026, reflecting the potential for industry recovery.
- AI Software Leader: Rosenblatt initiates coverage of Palantir with a Buy rating and a $150 price target, believing the company holds a unique market position in AI with a sustainable growth trajectory, despite a 33% decline from its peak.
- Optimistic Financial Performance: Bank of America raises Dell's price target to $155, based on its broad product portfolio and AI-related growth potential, expecting higher margins in the coming years, although global economic slowdown poses some risks.
See More
Wholesale Prices Rise Unexpectedly, Intensifying Inflation Pressures
- Core PPI Surge: The core Producer Price Index (PPI) rose by 0.8% in January, exceeding the market expectation of 0.3%, indicating persistent inflationary pressures that could influence the Fed's interest rate decisions.
- Overall Price Trends: The headline PPI increased by 0.5%, also surpassing the forecast of 0.3% and up 0.1 percentage points from the previous month, suggesting that inflation is not easing and may pose challenges to economic recovery.
- Service Price Drivers: Service prices rose by 0.8%, marking the highest increase since July 2025, with over 20% of this increase attributed to margins in professional and commercial equipment wholesaling, reflecting strong demand in the services sector.
- Goods Price Fluctuations: While overall goods prices fell by 0.3%, core goods prices increased by 0.7%, and metal prices surged by 4.8%, indicating robust demand for certain goods that may impact future supply chain costs.
See More
Newmont Stock Up 26.1% Year-to-Date
- Analyst Ranking: The ranking of 500 components based on average analyst opinions reflects a positive outlook for Newmont, indicating its relative strength in the industry.
- Stock Performance: Newmont's stock has gained 26.1% year-to-date, a significant increase that suggests growing investor confidence in its future performance, potentially attracting more capital inflow.
- Market Reaction: The alignment of analyst views with the positive stock movement indicates a bullish sentiment towards Newmont's fundamentals, which may further propel its stock price upward.
- Industry Impact: Newmont's strong performance could influence the stock price movements of other mining companies, prompting investors to reassess their portfolios to capture potential growth opportunities in the resource sector.
See More
Ultra-Wealthy Investors' 2025 Investment Overview
- Portfolio Dynamics: Leon Cooperman's Omega Advisors increased its stake in Manchester United to $46.5 million, indicating a sustained interest in the sports industry despite the passive nature of the investment.
- Major Investment Moves: Omega Advisors also acquired over $375 million in shares of mortgage lender Rocket Companies, making it the firm's largest holding valued at nearly $407 million, reflecting confidence in the real estate market.
- Tech Stock Performance: David Tepper's Appaloosa tripled its investment in Micron to $428.1 million, making it the firm's top holding, as Micron's stock surged approximately 50% since the start of 2026, showcasing optimism in the semiconductor sector.
- Gold Investment Strategy: Ray Dalio's Marino Management disclosed a $438.5 million position in SPDR Gold Trust, constituting nearly 90% of its portfolio, highlighting the emphasis on gold as an effective asset diversification tool.
See More
