- Coming off a month where investors were becoming increasingly skeptical of the ongoing bull market, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that jobless claims fell to their lowest in nearly 50 years.
- The senate passed a bill that avoided a government shutdown until at least September. The bill, which included a spending package that exceeded $1.3 trillion in funding, was signed into law before the deadline on March 23.
- Just months after filing for bankruptcy, prominent toy retailer Toys R Us is closing all of its stores in the United States after 70 years in business. Reasons for the collapse include a high amount of debt and an inability to increase its revenue amid big box retailers and online shopping competitors.
- Stock valuations for Facebook fell 7 percent on March 19, representing the largest one-day decline in the six years since the company’s IPO. The tumble came after reports that the social media powerhouse “improperly shared” data of over 50 million users.
- After years of controversy, infamous pharmaceutical figure Martin Shkreli was sentenced to seven years in prison for fraudulent activity. In addition to the sentence, Shkreli must abdicate ownership in Vyera Pharmaceuticals and turn over $5 million in cash, a painting by Pablo Picasso, and a one-of-a-kind Wu-Tang Clan album.
- According to a new study from GoBankingRates, about 42 percent of Americans have less than $10,000 earmarked for retirement and are subsequently “at risk of retiring broke.” From the same survey, almost 19 percent of Millennials have nothing saved for retirement.
