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Mojtaba Khamenei’s Rise Sparks Market Turmoil as Hardliners Mobilize

People attend a gathering to support Iran's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran, Iran, March 9, 2026.  Iran’s hardline factions mounted a powerful show of support for newly appointed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei , rallying across Tehran in a display that signaled a tightening of conservative control and diminished hopes for de-escalation in the Middle East.  The demonstrations, marked by mass gatherings and imagery linking Mojtaba to his late father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, underscored the regime’s consolidation at a moment of heightened regional conflict.  Analysts warn that the hardliners’ unified backing suggests Iran is unlikely to soften its stance amid ongoing tensions with the U.S. and Israel. Global markets reacted sharply. Fears that prolonged instability could further disrupt energy supplies sent oil prices soaring and triggered steep declines in major stock indices. With one of the most significan...

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Wall Street Stumbles as December Opens with Tech Selloff and Bitcoin Slide



The first trading day of December brought a sharp reversal for markets, as U.S. stock futures fell across the board while Bitcoin extended its decline. After a strong rebound in late November, investors shifted into a risk-off mood, pulling back from equities and cryptocurrencies.

  • Dow Jones futures slipped 0.5%, erasing part of last week’s gains.
  • S&P 500 futures dropped about 0.7%, while Nasdaq 100 futures fell nearly 1%, led by weakness in technology stocks.
  • The so-called “Magnificent Seven” megacap stocks—Nvidia, Meta, and Tesla among them—each fell more than 1%, underscoring the retreat in tech leadership.
  • Meanwhile, Bitcoin plunged below $85,000, continuing a weeks-long slide before bouncing slightly above that level.

The downturn comes after equities posted their strongest week since June, with the S&P 500 surging 3.7% and the Nasdaq jumping nearly 5% in late November. Historically, December is one of the market’s friendliest months, often buoyed by the “Santa Claus rally.” However, analysts warn that seasonal optimism may not materialize this year, as volatility and shifting investor sentiment continue to weigh on risk assets.

Cryptocurrency-linked stocks also felt the pressure, with companies tied to digital assets sliding in premarket trading. Broader concerns about global growth, interest rates, and geopolitical uncertainty appear to be fueling the cautious tone.

In short, December has opened with a sobering reminder that markets remain fragile, and investors may need to brace for a more turbulent end to 2025 than many had hoped.


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