A Week at A Galacne: Oil Volatility, AI Optimism, and Trump’s Protectionist Shift

The week of March 9–13, 2026, was marked by sharp market swings as geopolitical tensions, energy price surges, and major corporate developments shaped investor sentiment. Oil prices hit multi-month highs amid renewed fears of a prolonged disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, while the U.S. market saw volatile performance as the Nasdaq and S&P 500 both closed lower for the week. In contrast, the AI sector showed resilience, with Oracle and Vertex Pharmaceuticals delivering standout gains. Meanwhile, Trump’s expanding sanctions waivers and tariff investigations signaled a new phase of protectionist economic policy that could reshape global trade dynamics.

Market Movement: Oracle’s stock surged Thursday by 9.18% on strong Q3 earnings and aggressive AI growth projections, while bioAffinity jumped an extraordinary Friday by 98.13%. On the downside, SenesTech and Robin saw sharp declines—Friday, SenesTech fell 15.04%, and Robin dropped 15.73%—highlighting the week’s extreme swings in speculative and small-cap stocks.

What's Been Around?: Oracle's Q3 results and AI strategy, including a $2 billion investment in TikTok, became a major catalyst for its 9.18% rally on Thursday, signaling strong momentum in enterprise AI adoption. Meanwhile, Friday brought renewed focus on energy as the Strait of Hormuz remained closed, pushing oil prices above $97/barrel and intensifying fears of stagflation. On the political front, the Trump administration announced Friday expanded sanctions waivers for Venezuela to boost energy and fertilizer exports, signaling a proactive stance toward stabilizing global commodity supply. Lastly, Thursday saw a major escalation in Iran tensions as naval mines were deployed in the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting 20 million barrels of daily oil flows and raising global energy security concerns.

Bullish or Bearish? Trump’s Protectionist Shift and Oil Volatility Fuel Uncertainty

Despite AI and biotech gains, the broader market trend for the week was cautiously bearish, driven by oil price volatility, geopolitical risks, and lingering inflation concerns. The Fed’s potential delay in rate cuts and Trump’s aggressive tariff investigations added uncertainty for global investors. Looking ahead, markets will closely watch the U.S.-led response to the Hormuz standoff, the pace of AI-driven corporate earnings, and the Fed’s policy decisions in the coming weeks. With oil prices hovering near critical levels and Trump’s economic agenda shifting toward protectionism, the next few weeks may determine whether the market regains confidence or continues to trade in a high-risk, low-conviction environment.