**__ Diplomatt’s Daily Digest – March 17, 2022__**
Good morning and happy Thursday, everyone! It has been brought to my attention that FreedomTrader#3579 has been stealing my content and monetizing it for his own use. Be careful if he is in your server, as he may also be stealing your content.
In market news, U.S. stock futures fell Thursday morning, following back-to-back days of sharp gains, as investors digested the latest news out of Ukraine. The Financial Time reported that both countries had made „significant progress“ on a peace plan and Russian withdrawal from Ukraine. Wall Street was also digesting the latest moves from the Federal Reserve. The Fed hiked its benchmark interest rate for the first time since 2018 and signaled six more hikes this year, spurring a relief rally in stocks.
The Fed also significantly raised its projections for rate hikes and inflation in 2022. Still, investors appear to have taken those aggressive changes as proof the central bank was taking the rise in prices seriously. At his post-meeting news conference, Fed Chairman Jerome Powell hinted that the balance sheet reduction could start in May and said the process could be the equivalent of another rate hike this year.
Quote of the week: „Success is how high you bounce when you hit bottom.“ – George S. Patton
**General News:**
• Russia’s Finance Ministry claimed Thursday it had fulfilled crucial interest payments on two dollar-denominated eurobonds, saying the order had been made to payment agent Citibank in London. The ministry said it would later comment separately on whether the $117 million payment has been credited.
• Tesla raised the price for its cheapest Model Y car in China by 15,060 yuan $2,372, following two consecutive price hikes for more expensive versions in just a week.
• More than three weeks ago, a popular Twitter account named „Anonymous“ declared that the shadowy activist group was waging a „cyberwar“ against Russia. Since then, the group has claimed responsibility for disabling prominent Russian government, news, and corporate websites and leaking data from entities such as Roskomnadzor, the federal agency responsible for censoring Russian media.
• Starbucks is planning to phase out its iconic cups. By 2025, the company wants every customer to be able to either use their mug easily or borrow a ceramic or reusable to-go mug from their local Starbucks. That could mean rolling out more borrow-a-mug programs that require a deposit.
• Alibaba made a stunning reversal on Wednesday after days of sell-offs, closing 37% higher, its biggest one-day gain since 2014. The move added almost $80 billion to the Chinese e-commerce giant’s market cap in one day.
• Netflix announced that it plans to crack down on password sharing among watchers, and customers are not taking it well.
• The benchmark three-month nickel contract fell 8% on Thursday morning to hit its new trading limit as heavy selling continued in metal markets.
**StockTwits Top 10 Trending Tickers of the Day:**
1. CSIQ
2. YANG
3. BEKE
4. ACN
5. LICY
6. KC
7. SIG
8. DG
9. EIGR
10. HUT
