Public Markets

Last updated: August 11, 2026, 2:37 PM ET

Equities

The S&P 500 fell as oil climbed ahead of key inflation data, with traders refraining from big bets ahead of the report. US stocks dipped from record levels. US stock futures rose slightly before the bell as oil erased earlier gains. European indexes were boosted by energy stocks on higher oil prices. Volatility tumbled as markets shrugged off Middle East risks, with the Vix falling to prewar levels. European markets are charging ahead this year, defying doom-laden forecasts about the Iran war. Emerging-market assets extended losses as Iran hopes faded and oil neared $90. U.S. stocks edged lower as Treasury yields ticked lower. A buying opportunity is forming around S&P skeptics’ refusal to give up, according to analysts. Europe is ticking a lot of boxes for investors right now with robust earnings and economic growth. Hong Kong’s tech index is set for an overhaul with more firms and an AI focus. India equity fund flows eased in July even as small caps stayed hot. Wipro’s exit from India’s Nifty 50 reflects waning clout of Indian IT giants. Nifty 50 inclusion could boost BSE as NSE gears up for listing. European defense stocks are tipped to reignite as the rearmament cycle enters a new stage. CoreWeave’s forecast is key to stopping another earnings selloff. Trend-chasing funds' big short on bonds raises stakes for CPI. AI stock heavy ETF risks are spreading to the broader equity market. The FTSE 100 faced gilts dropping as the oil rally revived inflation worries. Turkish funds are urging action as stock swings threaten MSCI status. Intel investors are banking on a comeback, with AI mania transforming demand. Healthcare investing is now an AI short in disguise. Shareholder proposal filings are on the wane. Traffic to Truth Social fell sharply this summer. Trump Media reported a Q2 loss of $238.1 million, deepening on a decline in digital asset values. Hims & Hers Health boosted its revenue target to $3.1-$3.3 billion despite swinging to a Q2 loss. AST SpaceMobile reaffirmed its revenue outlook for 2026 of $150-$200 million.

Fixed Income

Treasury yields rose as Middle East tensions and inflation fears increased. Barclays sees picky bond buyers keeping yields at multiyear peaks, with a shift in the buyer base of US Treasuries. Private-credit firms are clamping down on loan sweeteners in fear of ‘shadow defaults.’ Blue Owl is set to raise $750 million to pay down credit lines. Gainwell Technologies kicked off the bond part of a $5.8 billion deal in the software sector. NYSE Parent ICE kicked off a bond sale for the Market Axess takeover, selling investment-grade bonds two weeks after the $6 billion deal. These bonds offer a rare buying opportunity. The SEC is weighing direct funding for a costly market-tracking database. Atlanta Airport tapped munis for a $1.1 billion mega bond sale. Hawaii tapped the muni market to finish the first US driverless rail line. CSN got financial relief as a $1 billion debt exchange was approved. 777 Partners filed for bankruptcy after creditors’ liquidation push.

Commodities

Oil surged with no Hormuz deal in sight. The US sees Iran war oil supply disruptions lasting through 2027, reaching about 600,000 barrels per day. A dozen ships switched oil outside Hormuz as the US touted transits. Latest oil market news showed oil edging up in a choppy session. The real oil squeeze is happening in refineries. Russia’s crude oil exports tumbled to their lowest since May. Heatwaves pushed European gas prices close to Iran war highs. U.S. natural gas futures were steady in early trading, holding on to gains from a hotter weather outlook. U.S. natural gas futures rebounded as near-term weather warmed. Gold was flat ahead of key US inflation data. Gold gained amid a shift in Fed expectations and central bank buying. Gold pulled back from a two-month high as the focus shifted to inflation. Chile cut its copper production forecast again as mine woes persist. Indonesia copper shipments are delayed by a Gresik smelter outage. Aluminum extended its rally after a Brazilian plant cut output to 50%. Radiant World offered a $150 million aluminum stash for sale. Chile granted an unprecedented reprieve to state copper miner Codelco, allowing it to reinvest profits.

Currencies

The yen slid as the effect of US-Japan intervention faded, giving up roughly half its gains. The U.S. dollar edged higher amid concerns about Hormuz negotiations. The yen approached 160 per dollar, raising intervention concerns. Uncertainty over the Fed’s rate path could weigh on the dollar. The yuan’s march against the dollar may resume next month, analysts say. Traders are piling into Taiwan dollar options to bet on a rebound. Deutsche Bank became the first European clearing bank for renminbi. The renminbi’s hardest mile is only now beginning. A side effect of the Iran war is that electric motorcycles are soaring.

Deals & Corporate Finance

Nvidia is becoming the bank of AI, working with Wall Street groups to assemble a $500bn funding package for AI infrastructure. Nvidia credit risk eased after the CEO clarified the $500 billion plan. Wall Street wants another half-trillion dollars for the AI boom. Morgan Stanley will facilitate a $1.5 trillion infrastructure initiative. Ari Emanuel bought theatre group ATG for £4.5bn. Ari Emanuel’s company will acquire 7 Broadway theaters and 10 in the West End. Nasdaq will acquire Leve L Markets, an off-exchange equity execution venue. The US opened an in-depth antitrust review of the Kone-TK Elevator deal, valued at €29.4 billion. Curaleaf plans a hostile bid for rival Aurora Cannabis at $272 million. TPG agreed to buy South Korea’s Lotte Rental for $925 million. Adani landed an $800 million data center loan as US charges were dropped. Gautam Adani won dismissal of US securities fraud charges, ending legal woes. Barrick tapped Bock to lead its ex-North America unit ahead of an IPO. DayOne Data Centers confidentially filed for a $5 billion IPO in the US. Veritas-backed Gainwell kicked off the bond part of a $5.8 billion deal. Air Baltic plans a smaller fleet and debt-for-equity swap. JBS seeks US margin recovery with a new CEO pledging continuity. JBS returned leadership to the Batista clan as the scion was named CEO. JBS returns to Batista leadership with a new CEO. Uber exited its Serve Robotics stake as the delivery alliance unraveled. Samsung SDI bought GM’s stake in a US battery JV. Hanwha Aerospace made a US defense push with a shipbuilding bid for Austal’s American business. Construction giant L&T plans an India rare-earth magnet bid. China is tightening its grip on Europe’s car supply chain. Tony Blair’s son is seeking funding for a defence tech start-up called Pyra. Activist Anson Funds pushed Lionsgate for a sale. Goldman staff were named as suspects in a Brazil investigation. Larsen & Toubro plans to manufacture rare-earth magnets in India. The SEC alleged a fund adviser misled investors in pre-IPO schemes.

Earnings & Company News

Target hired its first chief AI officer in retail’s latest tech push. OpenAI COO Brad Lightcap stepped down to “start something new.” OpenAI’s head of ethics left the startup less than a year after joining. On Holding tempered its outlook as running-shoe sales underwhelmed, with sales now expected to grow in the low-20% range. Cardinal Health logged mixed sales but sees growth in the new year. Smithfield Foods cut its outlook as sales fell. Chobani cut its annual earnings forecast on rising material costs. Domino’s is set to release a new individual-size pizza for solo diners. Buc-ee’s trademark blitz sparked backlash in Beavercreek and on HBO. A chicken surplus is squeezing poultry companies. Phillips 66 is building a $5 billion, 900-mile pipeline from Texas to Arizona and California. Adnoc L&S posted a record quarterly profit despite regional disruption. Rocket Lab narrowed its loss as revenue climbed. China’s auto market weakened further on subdued domestic demand. G.M.’s ‘car guy’ talked electrics, China and nepotism. Waymo is growing faster than ever, but so are its ‘edge cases.’ Robots that walk and talk are coming to car factories. Tencent’s WorkBuddy sparks AI turnaround hopes after a stock rout. A Chinese robot maker’s IPO was 5,500 times oversubscribed by retail investors, raising $900 million. India’s retail traders lost $9.6 billion in equity derivatives. Flight-tracking platform Flight Aware sued Kalshi over flight cancellation prediction markets. U.S. small business confidence rose last month to its highest level since August 2025. US household delinquencies improved, according to the NY Fed quarterly report. Behind high credit-card delinquencies are stale, charged-off loans. As credit card debt mounts, home becomes a piggy bank. Banks’ refusal to take on crypto firms risks stunting UK industry growth, lawmakers say. How the AI trade is stealing crypto’s thunder. The University of Michigan will ease up on grades for student mental health.

Regulation & Policy

Deputy PM Salvini proposed a windfall tax on Italian bank profits. South Africa vowed Eskom won’t weaken after transmission restructuring. UK letting agents are under pressure from AI-assisted tenant complaints. The FDA ordered food-ingredient disclosure, delaying RFK Jr.’s ultraprocessed crackdown. Food companies dodged a crackdown in RFK Jr.’s proposal on new additives. The EU border checks are doubling waiting times. German states suspended the Sunday truck ban as low Rhine levels disrupted shipping. A carbon tax will hit the EU’s budget airlines where it hurts. Hong Kong is set to include trading firms in ‘big bang’ tax reforms. Chicago tapped a Fitch senior director as its new CFO amid a rash of exits. Burnham will crack down on vape and betting shops to boost high streets. The US missile stockpile is dangerously low after the Iran war. Sanders called on AI companies to pause development to ‘avoid disaster.’ The Fed’s Hammack said ‘some number’ of rate hikes may be needed.

Energy & Commodities Market Talk

Energy & Utilities Roundup offered insight on oil futures, European energy stocks, and Contact Energy. Another Energy & Utilities Roundup covered Adnoc Gas and oil futures. Oil market news for Aug. 11 showed oil edging up in a choppy session. Trump’s anti-wind crusade is boosting US gas. Rooftop panels in cities cannot replace solar farms. Activists are battling solar panel cowboy installers. Texas power demand was trimmed after a data center pause. The AI data center boom is ‘maxing out’ P&C insurers, the AIG CEO said. The AI threat to India’s IT jobs machine is growing. BlocPower, a clean energy darling, stumbled and is at risk of collapse.

Auto & Transport

Auto & Transport Roundup offered insight on Yangzijiang Shipbuilding and Schaeffler. Another Auto & Transport Roundup covered Wizz Air, Hero Moto Corp, and Qantas. Uber exited its Serve Robotics stake as the delivery alliance unraveled.

Tech, Media & Telecom

Tech, Media & Telecom Roundup offered insight on TSMC, ASML Holding, and Axiata. Nvidia credit risk eased after the CEO clarified the $500 billion plan. Tencent’s WorkBuddy sparks AI turnaround hopes. CoreWeave’s forecast is key to stopping another earnings selloff. Hong Kong’s tech index is set for an overhaul with more firms and an AI focus. DayOne Data Centers filed for a $5 billion IPO. Adani secured an $800 million data center loan.

Other Key Stories

Four were killed in a Houthi strike on a Red Sea ship, the Yemeni government said. Colombia’s earthquake killed at least 111 people. The earthquake hit hardest near the epicenter. Images emerged from quake-battered Colombia. Trump secretly used a military jet to leave Turkey amid threats from Iran. Before Trump’s catering container ruse, other presidents obscured risky travel plans. Officials revealed a secret ruse to evacuate Trump. Ari Emanuel bought ATG Entertainment. The frenzy for solar eclipse glasses took over London. Hotel prices in Europe surged before the historic solar eclipse. Flock cameras are dividing US cities. A 5th summer heat wave will hit Europe this week. Chicago and the Midwest are under a tornado threat as flights were grounded. Vietnam is betting on Korean-style ‘chaebols’ to boost growth. How investors killed AstraZeneca’s $400bn megadeal with Bristol Myers. Investing in the forgotten lands of Europe is back on the radar. Confessions of a former star M&A reporter revealed malice at the billion-dollar rumour mill. The perils of Wall St.’s race to pour billions more into AI are becoming clear. Humans cannot remain passengers in the back of the AGI car. Why the BoE needs more parliamentary attention. When trouble strikes, who shadow-banks the shadow bankers? America’s mortgage king lost $600 million and needed a rescue from Oaktree. Why investors fall for shooting stars was explored in a WSJ piece. Three political tests were highlighted in crucial primary elections. Will the left keep winning in the Midwest? Democrats plan a new push to defeat Max Miller in Ohio. Trump stokes Islamophobia by calling Democratic candidates ‘jihadists.’ Trump wants to move on from the Middle East, but it’s not letting him. Netanyahu walks a tightrope on Trump’s Gaza disarmament deal. Trump picks a Project 2025 co-author for a role overseeing the Interior Department.

Private Equity

Last updated: August 11, 2026, 2:45 PM ET

Private Equity Briefing

Mega-Deals & Sports Finance

Apollo Sports Capital

has made a landmark $2.6bn investment in Yankee Global Enterprises, the parent company of the New York Yankees. The capital infusion will support franchise growth and refinance existing debt. In a separate but related development, Apollo also acquired a passive 25% stake in Hollyport Capital, a tail-end specialist, via Blue Owl, allowing the firm to maintain its independence while securing anchor capital.

Meanwhile, Wall Street's biggest private capital houses are lining up behind NVIDIA in a $500bn initiative to make computing infrastructure an investable asset class. Apollo, Blackstone, Brookfield, and KKR are among the firms partnering with the chip giant, signaling a structural shift in how institutional capital approaches compute capacity.

Funds, Secondaries & Continuation Vehicles

Scaleup Europe, a public-private fund targeting $5.7bn, has made its first investment by backing Finnish satellite company ICEYE. The fund represents a new model for European deep-tech financing, blending public sector mandates with private market returns.

Exponent Private Equity has closed a single-asset continuation vehicle of approximately $867m (€750m) to retain H&MV Engineering, tapping Apollo, Pantheon, and SQ Capital as lead investors. The deal underscores the growing use of continuation funds as a liquidity solution for high-performing assets.

Monogram Capital has completed a continuation fund for beverage company Mountaintop, with Apollo S3 serving as the lead investor. Ardian co-CEO Mark Benedetti, meanwhile, noted that the most attractive mispricing opportunities currently lie in European assets and the secondaries market, as more family-owned businesses seek partners for international expansion.

Major PE Acquisitions & Add-Ons

Thoma Bravo

has completed its $466m take-private of Kneat, a Limerick, Ireland-based digital validation software provider. The firm has been delisted from the Toronto Stock Exchange following the deal.

Clearlake Capital-backed PrimeSource Brands has acquired Starborn Industries, a provider of specialty branded building products. Lindsay Goldberg has landed a majority investment in Alro Steel, the metals distributor founded by the Glick family in 1948, which will retain a significant ownership stake.

HIG Capital has completed its acquisition of UK engineering firm Phoenix ME, which provides mechanical and electrical engineering services to blue-chip clients across Europe. Amberjack Capital has closed the carve-out of Flowserve's PMV Automation group, including facilities in Houston and Solna, Sweden.

Infrastructure, Industrials & Energy Services

THL Partners

has invested in PaveMasters, a pavement maintenance services firm, with existing investor Northern Lakes Capital exiting as part of the transaction. Vance Street-backed Keltec has acquired AJF Filtration, expanding its filtration solutions platform.

Altamont Capital-backed Big Top Manufacturing has scooped up Coast to Coast Contracting, a provider of engineered fabric structures. Godspeed-backed BNP Group has acquired cost management firm US Cost Incorporated from seller Schneider S.E.

New Heritage Capital has invested in PowerRail, an Exeter, Pennsylvania-based manufacturer and distributor of aftermarket locomotive parts serving the global rail industry. CCMP Growth-backed Airo has acquired Legrande's Enterprises, a specialty plumbing and HVAC firm for multifamily and light commercial developers.

Healthcare, Safety & Professional Services

Quad-C

has invested in Paradigm, an occupational safety and health platform formed through the combination of Code Red Safety, Concept Controls, and Haz Tek. Dune Glass-backed Phase 1 Equity, a doctor-owned platform for orthodontists and pediatric dentists, has acquired a North Dakota orthodontic practice.

Trinity Hunt has backed management consulting firm Fisher Management Partners, with Todd Fisher and the firm's partners continuing in leadership roles. Baymark has acquired Meal Prep Sunday, a healthy meal prep and delivery company, marking its 66th acquisition.

European PE & Market Trends

Private equity

is increasingly backing Europe's growing HVAC market, with firms targeting consolidation opportunities across the fragmented sector. South Summit 2026 highlighted three trends shaping the future of European tech, including the rise of deep-tech startups and cross-border collaboration.

Monashees, one of Latin America's oldest and most influential VC firms, is crossing into Silicon Valley, opening a San Francisco office to support the next phase of the region's startup ecosystem. Seventeen physical AI startups are attracting VC attention, while First Momentum's cofounder highlighted the most underrated areas in deeptech.

Sovereign wealth funds are leading the AI investing charge, while PE talent increasingly flows into Spain. Plymouth County Retirement Association has issued an RFP for a North American private equity manager.

AI Strategy & Business Transformation

AI-native, not AI-sprinkle: AI is a business change, not a technology change. Companies unlock AI's biggest productivity gains not by adding tools to existing workflows, but by redesigning teams, roles, and daily work around AI, according to Bob Morse, co-founder of a leading AI-native firm.

Sector Investment

Last updated: August 11, 2026, 2:47 PM ET

Sector Investment

Korea Investment Corporation will anchor a new $14bn account targeting domestic data centers and supporting infrastructure.