Unicredit share price has been a shining star in the banking sector in the past few years. UCH gas surged by over 560% in the last five years, beating the S&P Bank ETF (KBW), which has jumped by 80% in this period. This growth has transitioned Unicredit into a €80 billion juggernaut in the banking sector. 

Recently, however, a new star in the European banking industry: Societe Generale, the third-biggest bank in France after BNP Paribas and Credit Agricole. 

Societe Generale stock price has surged by 50% this year, beating most banks globally, including popular names like Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and Bank of America. It has soared by 83.58% in the last 12 months, and has just crossed Unicredit’s performance, which is up by 83.3%.

Read more: How Unicredit share price outperformed European banks

Why Societe Generale stock is surging

Societe Generale is one of the biggest banking groups in Europe. Established 160 years ago, the company now serves over 25 million customers across the retail and corporate sectors. 

The company offers its solutions across three divisions: French retail, private banking, and insurance, global banking, and international retail.

Societe Generale share price has surged after it published its financial results in February. Its revenue soared by 6.7% in the fourth quarter to €26.7 billion. This revenue figure was about 5% higher than its previous guidance. 

The company attributed this performance to its robust growth in France, its core market, where the net interest income jumped. The NII figure rose even as the European Central Bank (ECB) slashed interest rates.

Further, Societe Generale’s business thrived because of its Global Banking and Investor Solutions business whose revenues jumped above the €10 billion mark. 

The company has also become highly profitable, helped by its cost reduction policies. Its cost-to-income ratio dropped to 69%, lower than the target of 71%.

This growth has helped the company reward its shareholders through dividends and buybacks. It has increased its distributions by over 75% since 2023 as it returned most of the excess profits to its shareholders. 

Societe Generale committed to return €1.74 billion to shareholders in February through dividends and share repurchase. It also received the ECB approval to boost its payout ratio to 50% of the net income.

Most importantly, Societe Generale boosted its 2025 outlook. It now expects that its revenue will grow by 3%, a good number considering that the ECB rate cuts will affect its net income margin. 

Read more: Why is Societe Generale making a comeback to gold trading?

Societe Generale share price analysis

Societe Generale stock chart by TradingView

The weekly chart shows that the Societe Generale stock price has been in a strong surge in the past few months. It has soared in the last nine consecutive weeks, the longest winning streak in years. 

This surge happened after the stock formed a giant megaphone pattern between February 2022 and last year. This pattern is made up of two ascending and diverging trendlines and often leads to more gains over time.

The Societe Generale share price has jumped above the crucial resistance level at €31.65, the highest swing in 2021. It also remains significantly higher than the 100-week and 50-week moving averages.

Further, the MACD and the Relative Strength Index (RSI) have continued rising and remain above the overbought level. 

Therefore, the outlook for the Societe Generale stock is bullish, with the next target being at €50. However, there is a likelihood that it will drop and retest the support at €31.65 and then resume the uptrend. This price action is known as a break and retest and is one of the most bullish signs in the market. 

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With the White House Crypto Summit just days away, attention is turning to WLFI, a DeFi project backed by the Trump family, and its cryptocurrency holdings.

Reports indicate WLFI has amassed $336 million in digital assets, including Bitcoin and Ethereum, prompting questions about whether these movements could influence the market before key policy announcements.

The timing of these acquisitions, particularly the latest $21.5 million purchase, has led to speculation about potential strategic positioning ahead of the event.

WLFI’s crypto buys trigger speculation

With just over a day left before the summit, where former President Donald Trump is expected to outline a Bitcoin strategy, WLFI has been actively accumulating digital assets.

The most recent transaction saw the purchase of $10 million worth of Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC), $10 million in Ethereum (ETH), and $1.5 million in MOVE tokens.

Blockchain data from EmberCN monitoring suggests that WLFI has spent $336 million acquiring a total of nine tokens, including Ethereum, Wrapped Bitcoin, TRX, LINK, AAVE, ENA, MOVE, ONDO, and SEI.

A significant portion of these holdings were transferred to Coinbase Prime, but it remains unclear whether they were liquidated.

While WLFI maintains that no assets have been sold, on-chain data shows unrealized losses amounting to approximately $88 million.

Among the holdings, ENA has seen the steepest percentage drop, losing 63% of its value, while Ethereum represents the largest unrealized loss in dollar terms, with a $67.35 million decline—31% from its initial purchase price.

Trump’s reserve plans remain unclear

Trump has hinted at a cryptocurrency reserve plan, indicating that assets such as XRP, Solana (SOL), and Cardano (ADA) could be included.

However, in a follow-up statement, he clarified that Bitcoin and Ethereum would remain the primary focus of the initiative.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick recently suggested that Bitcoin would receive special treatment compared to other digital assets, though specific details remain undisclosed.

This raises questions about whether WLFI’s asset allocations align with broader policy objectives or if the timing of purchases is coincidental.

Crypto summit expected to impact markets

The highly anticipated White House Crypto Summit on March 8 is expected to provide clarity on Trump’s vision for digital assets.

Market participants are closely watching the event, given its potential impact on regulatory decisions and institutional investment in the sector.

The summit, scheduled from 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. ET, will be led by David Sacks, who has been positioned as Trump’s AI and crypto policy lead.

Several key figures from the cryptocurrency industry and members of Trump’s digital asset task force are set to attend.

Ahead of the summit, Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies experienced a slight price recovery, reflecting growing anticipation around potential policy announcements.

While Trump’s stance on crypto remains a focal point, the event is expected to shape discussions on regulation, institutional adoption, and the future of digital asset markets in the US.

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The cryptocurrency market surged on March 6, adding nearly 4% in value as investor sentiment improved following US President Donald Trump’s announcement of a national crypto reserve.

This initiative, which includes Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL), and XRP, has fuelled optimism after February’s sharp decline triggered by trade war concerns.

With the total market capitalisation approaching $3 trillion, traders are closely watching Trump’s upcoming crypto summit at the White House.

The event, set for Friday, is expected to provide insights into the government’s evolving stance on digital assets.

Meanwhile, market indicators show increased participation, with rising futures open interest (OI) across major cryptocurrencies.

Bitcoin price climbs

Bitcoin’s price jumped nearly 5% in the past 24 hours, trading at $91,678. The leading cryptocurrency briefly peaked at $91,996.45 before stabilising.

Source: CoinMarketCap

The surge coincided with a 6.5% rise in BTC futures OI, reaching $50.83 billion, highlighting growing market confidence.

Bitcoin’s dominance in the market also climbed by 0.43% to 60.67%, outpacing altcoins and reaffirming its position as the primary driver of market momentum.

The recent rally suggests strong institutional and retail investor interest ahead of Trump’s summit, where regulatory clarity on crypto assets is anticipated.

Ethereum rises 5%

Ethereum followed Bitcoin’s upward trajectory, gaining over 5% over the past day to trade at $2,299. The asset fluctuated between $2,159.01 and $2,293.55, mirroring increased investor activity.

Source: CoinMarketCap

Ethereum’s futures OI rose by 6% to $20.03 billion, reflecting renewed market interest in the blockchain’s upcoming upgrades.

Ethereum’s recent performance has been bolstered by developers resolving key issues on the Sepolia testnet, paving the way for the highly anticipated Pectra upgrade.

With Ethereum’s market dominance at 9.2%, traders are closely monitoring its next move, particularly as broader bullish sentiment continues to influence prices.

Altcoins gain

XRP recorded a modest 1% gain, trading at $2.50, with an intraday range of $2.42 to $2.54. The token’s futures OI increased by 3.5% to $3.42 billion.

Source: CoinMarketCap

The rally comes amid reports of rising whale activity and an increase in active addresses on the XRP network. Speculation regarding the conclusion of Ripple’s lawsuit with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has also contributed to market confidence.

Solana, another major altcoin, saw a 4% increase, reaching $149. The token’s price fluctuated between $140.60 and $149.64, driven by a 4% rise in futures OI.

Source: CoinMarketCap

With broader market trends favouring bullish activity, Solana continues to attract significant trader interest.

Meme coins and top movers

Meme coins also saw gains in line with broader market sentiment. Dogecoin (DOGE) climbed 5% to $0.2086, Shiba Inu (SHIB) gained 4% to $0.00001348, and Pepe Coin (PEPE) rose 3% to $0.000007152.

Meanwhile, several smaller altcoins recorded double-digit gains, highlighting increased speculation in the market.

Among the top gainers, Ondo (ONDO) and Cronos (CRO) both jumped 20%, trading at $1.18 and $0.08784, respectively. Movement (MOVE) rose 16% to $0.4677.

On the losing side, Story (IP) dropped 6% to $5.22, while Toncoin (TON) and Ethena (ENA) declined by 3% each.

As the market continues to navigate regulatory and macroeconomic developments, investor sentiment remains cautiously optimistic.

The fear and greed index still indicates ‘fear’ in the market, which some traders interpret as a potential buying opportunity. All eyes now turn to Trump’s crypto summit, where key policy announcements could shape the next phase of the market’s trajectory.

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The global cybercrime landscape has evolved beyond isolated hackers operating in the shadows.

An underground economy of cybercriminal marketplaces is expanding, offering illicit services that lower the barriers to entry for digital fraudsters.

These networks provide hacking tools, stolen data, and AI-powered scam technology for purchase, allowing even unskilled individuals to engage in cybercrime.

With transactions surpassing $70 billion, platforms like Huione Guarantee are central to this underground economy, enabling criminals to operate on an unprecedented scale.

Cybercrime-as-a-service (CaaS) is no longer confined to the darknet but is increasingly visible on public messaging platforms like Telegram.

As authorities struggle to contain the growth of these networks, experts warn that the rise of AI-driven scams and deepfake fraud is making it harder than ever to distinguish between legitimate and malicious activities.

Cybercrime as a service grows

Cybercrime has shifted from isolated efforts to a structured, organised industry. In the past, technical expertise was essential to execute online fraud, but today’s cybercriminals can simply buy the tools they need.

The emergence of CaaS platforms has made fraud more accessible, allowing individuals to purchase phishing kits, ransomware tools, and identity theft services without any coding knowledge.

The darknet has long been home to such marketplaces, but Huione Guarantee is proof that cybercriminals are operating in more visible spaces.

The Chinese-language platform, reportedly linked to Cambodia’s Huione Group, has processed billions in cryptocurrency transactions since 2021.

It acts as a peer-to-peer marketplace, directing potential buyers to private Telegram groups where they can access hacking services, money laundering tools, and fraudulent investment platforms.

By acting as an escrow service, Huione Guarantee facilitates seamless transactions while shielding its users from detection.

AI scams and deepfake fraud

As cybercriminal networks expand, so does the sophistication of their tactics. AI-generated deepfake videos and voice cloning technology have transformed scams, making fraudulent transactions harder to detect.

Last year, Hong Kong police reported a case where a finance worker at a multinational firm was tricked into transferring $25 million after cybercriminals used deepfake technology to impersonate the company’s chief financial officer in a video call.

This level of deception was once considered impossible without advanced technical skills, but now, fraudsters can easily access AI-powered scam technology.

Cybercriminals use stolen social media accounts, synthetic identities, and AI-generated content to create realistic fake personas.

Victims are lured into investment scams, romance fraud, or business email compromise attacks, with many losing thousands before realizing they have been deceived.

The expansion of AI tools has also made phishing campaigns more effective. Scam emails and messages are now personalised and human-like, increasing the likelihood of successful attacks.

Criminal organisations operating these networks are structured like legitimate companies, with dedicated customer support, marketing, and refund policies to maintain trust within their illicit marketplaces.

Law enforcement struggles

Law enforcement agencies face significant challenges in tackling cybercrime, as shutting down one marketplace often results in another taking its place.

The sheer scale of illicit activities makes it difficult to track and dismantle these networks.

Experts warn that cybercrime cannot simply be eradicated through arrests—prevention and public awareness are critical.

Interpol has highlighted the need for stronger cybersecurity frameworks and educational initiatives to help individuals and businesses recognise and counter digital threats.

Meanwhile, companies are investing in AI-driven security systems and dark web monitoring tools to detect stolen data and prevent cyberattacks before they occur.

With cybercrime becoming more accessible than ever, experts stress the urgency of investing in advanced security measures to protect sensitive data.

As the underground cyber economy continues to grow, individuals and businesses alike must remain vigilant against emerging threats, ensuring that technological advancements are used for security rather than exploitation.

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Stellantis share price remains on edge, and is at risk of further downward momentum as its growth and profits slow and its exposure to the United States remain. STLA stock was trading at $12.90 in New York, down by over 53% from its lowest level in 2023. So, is it safe to buy the dip, hoping for a quick turnaround or sell the rip?

Stellantis business is facing risks

The automobile industry is going through the biggest changes on record. The biggest one is that China has become a major industry player as its brands have improved. This includes popular names like Nio, Xpeng, BYD, and Li Auto. 

All these brands are experiencing double-digit growth, a trend that may continue as they increase their focus to the international market. As a result, analyst caution that many international brands that made a fortune in China will now continue slowing in the coming years.

The newest risk facing these companies is that the United States has implemented huge tariffs that could have major impacts going forward. Trump has added a 25% tariff on all products brought in the country from Canada and Mexico.

And while he has paused tariffs on the auto sector, he has insisted that they will go on later next month.

Trump hopes that these tariffs will force companies like Stellantis and General Motors to start manufacturing their vehicles in the United States.

Stellantis is highly exposed to tariffs on US goods because of its large presence in Mexico. It manufactures a third of the Ram truck in Mexico and two Jeep models in the country. Additionally, the firm makes its Chrysler model in Ontario, Canada, and is about to open a Dodge Charger facility in Canada.

Stellantis will, therefore, decide whether to maintain these locations or shift its vehicle production in the US. It may decide to move some of its Ram manufacturing to its facility in Detroit.

What is clear, however, is that Stellantis will be one of the most affected companies because these challenges come at a time when its business is in a crisis.

Profits have crashed

Stellantis’ business has gone through a rough patch in the past few years. This slowdown is mostly because of its perennial underinvestment in its American brands like Ram and Chrysler. Many of its other brands like Jeep, Alfa Romeo, and Maserati have continued to lose market share in key markets. 

The most recent results showed that Stellantis shipments dropped by 12% to 5.4 million in 2024, which caused its revenue to crash 17% to €156.9 billion.

More data showed that the adjusted EPS dropped by 61% to €2.48, while the industrial free cash flow dropped by 147% to €6 billion. This continued decline may continue now that the company does not have a CEO.

Therefore, a combination of low revenue growth, management uncertainty, tariffs, and competition means that Stellantis will remain on edge for a long time.

Stellantis share price analysis: death cross nears

The weekly chart shows that the STLA share price has crashed this year and is hovering near its 61.8% Fibonacci Retracement level. It has dropped from $27.6 in 2024 to the current $12.89. 

Worse, Stellantis share price is about to form a death cross pattern as the spread between the 50-week and 200-week moving averages has narrowed. This pattern often leads to further downside, especially when an asset lacks a clear catalyst.

Therefore, Stellantis stock price will likely have a bearish breakdown, with the next level to watch being at the 78.6% retracement point at $9. 

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