TotalEnergies SE

One of the world's largest oil and gas companies, France's TotalEnergies, dominated the physical Middle East oil market in March. The company took advantage of supply disruptions due to military action to make super profits, a source <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/eba87bd4-7e55-4a7b-b14c-71bf486bfd31">told the</a> Financial Times.

A major oil and gas company bought up oil and made over $1 billion in war profits

The Yemeni Houthis' entry into the war in the Middle East is increasing the risks to global trade and oil supplies. Two years ago, the group was able to paralyze ship traffic on a crucial sea route between Asia and Europe. This weekend, the Houthis shelled Israel for the first time since the war began out of solidarity with Iran. How their actions can exacerbate the oil crisis - in this material.

The Houthis have gone to war: 6 questions about how they could affect global trade

Tesla, Inc.

Nasdaq will change the rules for inclusion of companies in the Nasdaq-100 index in order to speed up the access of major players that have recently entered the exchange, Reuters <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/new-nasdaq-rules-include-fast-entry-new-listings-benchmark-index-2026-03-30/">writes</a>. Elon Musk's SpaceX, which is expected to hold an IPO in June and will be listed on Nasdaq, has been seeking just that. For issuers of this size, the time to get into the index will be reduced from three months to 15 days.

Nasdaq will accelerate the inclusion of post-IPO companies in the main index. This is what SpaceX wanted

Energy Transfer LP

Ares Capital Corporation

Motley Fool contributor Matt DiLallo has <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2026/03/29/is-it-time-to-load-up-on-these-3-ultra-high-yieldi/">spotlighted</a>&nbsp;three stocks with ultra-high-yielding dividends. They vary in size and operate across different sectors, but share a long track record of stable or growing payouts.

Motley Fool spotlights three ultra-high-yield dividend plays

US stock indices opened trading with significant gains after President Donald Trump voiced a new threat against Iran.

US markets opened higher after Trump's new threats against Iran. The fear index fell

Apple Inc.

Apple's European division, Apple Distribution International (ADI), which is responsible for product sales in Europe and the Middle East, has been fined £390,000 (about $516,000) by a British regulator for transfers in 2022 to a sanctioned Russian company, the Financial Times <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/915ac02f-96f8-4224-b2ab-10d83e5afd92?syn-25a6b1a6=1">reports</a>.

Apple's European unit fined for violating sanctions against Russia

Laopu Gold Co., Ltd.

Chinese jewelry company Laopu Gold remains an attractive investment despite the volatility of gold prices, analysts at JPMorgan believe. They see the potential for the stock to grow by more than 100% and note the sustainability of the business even with the decline in the value of the metal, CNBC <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/29/this-chinese-jewelry-stock-is-attractive-despite-the-swings-in-gold-prices.html">writes</a>.

JPMorgan names jewelry company with 100% upside potential, contrary to gold's fluctuation

US President Donald Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116317880658472708">has declared</a> "progress" in peace talks with Iran. But at the same time, he threatened to strike the entire Iranian energy infrastructure, including Iran's important export hub of Kharq Island, if a ceasefire agreement is not signed soon and the Strait of Hormuz is not opened.

Trump has threatened to "blow up" Iran's Kharq. What will happen to oil?

Data

M-tron Industries, Inc.

Shares of Mtron Industries, a U.S. small-cap manufacturer of high-precision electronic components, now offer upside of more than 17%, as laid out in a&nbsp;Freedom Broker upgrade note. The company's participation in U.S. defense programs could expand amid rising budgets for defense, the analysts write.

Freedom raises TP, maintains 'buy' on  Mtron amid rising defense spending

Olaplex Holdings, Inc.

Shares of Olaplex, a small-cap premium hair care brand, surged more than 50% on Thursday. The company said it is set to be acquired at a premium by German conglomerate Henkel. The deal is a “welcome relief” for Olaplex investors, <a href="https://www.fool.com/coverage/stock-market-today/2026/03/26/stock-market-today-march-26-olaplex-shares-surge-after-henkel-agrees-to-usd1-4-billion-buyout/">reckons</a>&nbsp;Motley Fool contributor Josh Kohn-Lindquist. Since its IPO in 2021, the company’s shares have lost almost all their value, having fallen more than 90%, while its financial performance has largely stagnated.

'Welcome relief': Hair-care company Olaplex jumps after Henkel agrees to acquire it

Hims & Hers Health, Inc.

Novo Nordisk A/S

Eli Lilly and Company

LifeMD, Inc.

“The enemy of my enemy is my friend,” points out Ilya Zubkov, Freedom Broker senior equity analyst, describing the situation that has unfolded this year between Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk and telehealth platform and online pharmacy operator Hims &amp; Hers Health. The “enemies” are Novo Nordisk and its U.S. rival Eli Lilly, which have been competing for leadership in the obesity drug market for several years. Their rivalry has spilled over beyond the pharmaceutical sector, now affecting companies like Hims &amp; Hers Health. Overall, the weight-loss drug market is beginning to shift. Which small caps should investors watch?

The obesity therapy market is changing. What smid-cap investors should know.

LANXESS Aktiengesellschaft

JPMorgan has upgraded shares of German chemicals group Lanxess AG by two notches and now <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-03-25/lanxess-soars-as-jpmorgan-s-double-upgrade-provides-rare-boost">recommends</a>&nbsp;overweighting them. The company is set to gain a competitive advantage due to supply chain disruptions caused by the conflict in the Middle East, which should boost earnings, analysts said.

German chemical company Lanxess gets double upgraded by JPMorgan; shares soar

Terns Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Merck & Co., Inc.

Pharmaceutical giant Merck, known outside of the U.S. and Canada as MSD, <a href="https://ir.ternspharma.com/news-releases/news-release-details/merck-acquire-terns-pharmaceuticals-inc-expanding-its-hematology">has agreed to acquire</a> mid-cap drug developer Terns Pharmaceuticals, which focuses on treatments for cancer and obesity. Following the news, shares of the mid cap <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/TERN/">rose</a>&nbsp;less than 6% on Wednesday. The price tag is low “considering the startlingly good data Terns put out for its chronic myeloid leukemia treatment,” William Blair analyst Andy Hsieh <a href="https://www.investors.com/news/technology/merck-terns-pharmaceuticals-takeover/?src=A00220">says</a>.

Merck to buy mid-cap biotech Terns, but William Blair thinks the price tag is low

Small Caps

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