--- title: "U.S. stock market midday update: Merlin rises 13.75% with increased trading volume, market sentiment is high but volatility raises concerns" type: "News" locale: "en" url: "https://longbridge.com/en/news/280201694.md" description: "Merlin rose 13.75%; Palantir Tech rose 5.98%, with a transaction volume of USD 6.151 billion; Strategy rose 0.99%, with a transaction volume of USD 1.903 billion; S&P 500 fell 0.25%, with a transaction volume of USD 1.546 billion; SAP rose 1.88%, with a market value of USD 209.1 billion" datetime: "2026-03-23T18:07:56.000Z" locales: - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/280201694.md) - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/news/280201694.md) - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/280201694.md) --- > Supported Languages: [简体中文](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/280201694.md) | [繁體中文](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/280201694.md) # U.S. stock market midday update: Merlin rises 13.75% with increased trading volume, market sentiment is high but volatility raises concerns **U.S. Stock Market Midday Update** Merlin, up 13.75%, with increased trading volume and no significant news recently. Trading is active, and capital flows are evident. Considering sector and industry trends, the stock shows significant volatility, and the specific reasons need further observation. **Stocks with High Trading Volume in the Industry** Palantir Tech up 5.98%. Based on recent key news: 1. On March 23, the U.S. Department of Defense decided to integrate Palantir's AI system into core military operations. This decision is seen as a significant recognition of Palantir's AI capabilities, potentially enhancing its role in defense and driving the stock price up by 5.4%. Source: Jin Shi Data 2. On March 23, the Pentagon officially listed Palantir's Maven system as a formal project, which is expected to provide the company with a more stable long-term funding source, further boosting the stock price. Source: Reuters 3. On March 23, Rosenblatt raised Palantir's target price to $200, maintaining a buy rating, resulting in a 5.39% increase in stock price. Source: Benzinga ProAI's importance in military applications is increasing. Strategy up 0.99%, with active trading. Based on recent key news: 1. On March 23, Strategy announced the issuance of up to $21 billion in common and preferred stock through an ATM method. This move aims to provide funding support for Bitcoin purchases, demonstrating the company's flexibility in the capital market and ongoing investment in crypto assets. 2. On March 23, Strategy increased its holdings by 1,031 Bitcoins, costing approximately $76.5 million. Despite Bitcoin price fluctuations, the company continues to increase its position, reflecting confidence in its long-term crypto asset strategy. 3. On March 23, Texas Capital Securities gave Strategy a "buy" rating with a target price of $200. Analysts recognized its Bitcoin holding strategy, boosting market confidence in the company's stock. Bitcoin price fluctuations affect market sentiment. SaaS down 0.25%, with increased trading volume. Based on recent key news: 1. On March 23, analysts rated SaaS as a moderate buy but did not include it in the top recommendations. Analysts believe other stocks are more attractive, which may lead to a decline in investor confidence and affect the stock price. 2. On March 23, the market holds an optimistic view on the long-term investment potential of AI-driven enterprise software stocks, but SaaS was not listed as a preferred choice, which may impact its market performance. 3. On March 21, SaaS was listed as one of the three undervalued stocks in the market, yet the market remains cautious about its short-term performance. Tech stocks face AI-driven market pressures. **Stocks with High Market Capitalization in the Industry** SAP rose by 1.88%, with increased trading volume. Based on recent key news: 1. On March 21, SAP CEO Christian Klein stated that the defense industry has become the company's fastest-growing business line, with approximately 10% of revenue related to defense. The surge in global military spending has driven an increase in demand for software and artificial intelligence solutions, leading to a rise in SAP's stock price. Source: Zhitong Finance 2. On March 21, SAP's collaboration project with the German Federal Armed Forces overcame technical challenges and successfully migrated systems to an updated platform, enhancing market confidence in SAP's ability to deliver mission-critical software in highly regulated environments, further driving up the stock price. Source: Wall Street Insight 3. On March 21, geopolitical tensions have impacted multiple industry clients of SAP, particularly in the energy, finance, and transportation sectors. SAP may benefit from the additional demand for enterprise resource planning systems in these industries, with market expectations optimistic, leading to a rise in stock price. Source: Jinshi Data Increased defense spending drives software demand ### Related Stocks - [Merlin, Inc. (MRLN.US)](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/MRLN.US.md)