Public Markets 3h Briefing
×Market Moves
The S&P 500 wsj.com futures dropped over 1.5% as oil prices surged on escalating Middle East tensions, while Dollar investing.com strength against the euro and sterling intensified. Airline stocks wsj.com plummeted after Iran's strikes disrupted key Middle East air corridors, crippling travel logistics. Oil prices wsj.com spiked towards $80/bbl, driving a sharp rebound in energy equities like European defense stocks wsj.com and Galp investing.com, which rose 6% despite weak 2026 forecasts. Container shipping stocks wsj.com also jumped as firms rerouted vessels around the Suez Canal and Strait of Hormuz.
Macro & Policy
Japan wsj.com may intervene to buy yen as the currency weakened against the dollar amid heightened geopolitical risk. Ecuador is eyeing a $4B bond sale to stabilize its currency, while European bond deals bloomberg.com face delays due to market volatility. Gold prices hit a 16-week high as investors sought safe-haven assets, though Pepperstone investing.com warned the surge could fade. Central banks ft.com face uncertainty, with the conflict potentially impacting Fed rate-cut expectations as Dollar strength curbed bets on easing.
Corporate & Deals
SES investing.com posted a FY25 net loss due to Intelsat costs, causing a 4% share drop. Novo Nordisk bloomberg.com invested $507M to expand its Wegovy pill plant in Ireland. Bavarian Nordic bloomberg.com saw its CEO step down after a failed $3B deal. Smith+Nephew investing.com beat Q4 forecasts but flagged 2026 deal reimbursement risks. Oxford Nanopore investing.com announced a new CEO amid slower 2026 growth.
Other Developments
UK house prices investing.com rose 0.3% in February, showing market resilience. Canada’s Cameco bloomberg.com signed a $1.9B uranium deal with India. BYD ft.com reported a significant February sales decline, marking a shift from its pandemic-era growth.