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Thursday, 5:02 AM

March 19, 2026

Good morning news friend! Discover today’s defining stories and the future they set in motion. 📰🌟

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Energy Clash Surge

New Middle East attacks pushed oil above $111/barrel. Israel struck South Pars, the world’s largest gas field; Iran retaliated against Qatar’s Ras Laffan LNG hub, damaging infrastructure and igniting fire. Qatar expelled two Iranian diplomats.

Gulf states evacuated key energy sites amid Iranian threats. Israel killed Iran’s intelligence minister and Basij leader; Iran fired missiles at Tel Aviv, killing two. Saudi Arabia intercepted missiles aimed at Riyadh, with shrapnel injuring four.

President Trump backed Israel’s initial strike but opposes further attacks unless Iran escalates. National Counterterrorism Center Director resigned opposing the war, while CIA leadership claims Iran posed an immediate threat.

U.S. officials and oil executives will meet to discuss rising energy prices amid rising regional tensions threatening the Strait of Hormuz.

Sources: WallStreetJournal, AP News 

Fed’s Tightrope

The Federal Reserve held interest rates at 3.5%–3.75% in March 2026, with one dissenting vote for a cut. Officials anticipate one 0.25% rate cut this year but remain cautious as inflation rose, with core PCE hitting 3.1%.

The labor market weakened, losing 92,000 jobs in February and pushing unemployment to 4.4%.

Oil prices surged due to the Iran war disrupting Strait of Hormuz shipping, raising inflation risks. The Fed raised the 2026 inflation forecast to 2.7% and GDP growth to 2.4%.

Chair Jerome Powell’s term ends May 15; his replacement’s confirmation is stalled, so he will continue leading.

Sources: AP News, WallStreetJournal, Bloomberg

Inflation Surge Signals

US wholesale prices rose 0.7% in February 2026, exceeding the 0.3% forecast, pushing the annual Producer Price Index (PPI) to 3.4%, highest since February 2025. Core PPI increased 0.5% monthly and 3.9% annually.

Food prices surged 2.4%, led by a 48.9% rise in fresh and dry vegetables. Energy costs rose 2.3%, driven by oil prices above $100 per barrel, up 70% year-to-date amid Middle East conflicts.

Services inflation rose 0.54% monthly, with portfolio management up 1% and brokerage services up 4.2%. The six-month annualized services inflation hit 5.8%, highest since August 2022.

Sources: CNBC, Vtmarkets, Wolfstreet, Finimize

Private Credit Crisis

Stone Ridge’s LENDX fund, holding $2.4 billion in assets and loans from fintechs like Affirm and Upstart, is limiting investor withdrawals to 11% of requests after earlier offering 7% buybacks.

LENDX, an interval fund, must offer quarterly redemptions, with the latest window closing March 6, 2026. Other private credit funds, including Cliffwater’s Corporate Lending Fund, are also restricting redemptions, paying roughly half requested.

Meanwhile, buy now, pay later (BNPL) loans grew 30% annually, totaling $43.9 billion, with stable charge-off rates below credit cards.

Stone Ridge manages $31 billion overall, but private credit shows rising liquidity stress, limiting investor access amid steady BNPL expansion.

Sources: WallStreetJournal, Investmentnews

Keto Seizure Key

Ketogenic diets reduce seizures by shifting brain energy use from glucose to ketones, stabilizing neuron activity, reducing inflammation, and protecting brain cells.

A review of recent studies shows these diets help some patients resistant to medication, mostly in children.

Adult research is limited, with only one recent randomized controlled trial, and adults may face liver complications affecting diet tolerance. Early diet initiation in childhood yields better outcomes.

The review calls for more extensive adult studies and the development of drugs that replicate ketogenic effects without dietary restrictions.

Sources: SciTechDaily

Tumor-Hunting Bacteria

Scientists engineered Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 bacteria to produce Romidepsin, an FDA-approved anticancer drug.

In mice, these bacteria accumulated inside breast cancer tumors and released Romidepsin locally, combining bacterial colonization with targeted drug delivery. This dual-action approach enables the bacteria to act as drug factories within tumors.

The study demonstrated promising tumor-targeting and treatment effects but remains untested in humans. Researchers highlight the need for further safety evaluations, including side effects and bacterial clearance after therapy.

Funded by Chinese science agencies, this work advances bacteria-assisted cancer treatment strategies, potentially paving the way for new targeted therapies.

Sources: SciTechDaily

“It is a curious fact of human nature that the fellow with the least amount of brains usually carries around the highest opinion of his own intellect.”

Baked with love,

Anna Eisenberg ❤️