Public Markets 3h Briefing
×Last updated: March 12, 2026, 11:31 AM ET
Energy Markets
Oil futures fell 1.3% nytimes.com in early Asian trade after OPEC+ signaled potential output increases, while gold held near $2,340 nytimes.com as a weakening dollar offset risk-on sentiment. A surge in aluminum prices bloomberg.com pushed China Hongqiao's Zhang Bo past the $48 billion mark, cementing his position among Asia's wealthiest industrialists.
Geopolitical Impact
The U.S. spent $11.3 billion bloomberg.com in the first week of conflict with Iran, with officials telling lawmakers the six-day cost exceeded initial estimates. Angola's central bank kept rates at 17.5% bloomberg.com as oil prices surged from the Middle East conflict, pausing its hiking cycle for the first time since August. The International Energy Agency called it the largest oil disruption nytimes.com ever, forcing producers to slash output and close ports as Iran escalated attacks on energy infrastructure.
Financial Markets
Leon Cooperman warned markets are overpriced bloomberg.com as stocks became too costly relative to company profits amid geopolitical risks. Charles Schwab's CEO noted Gen Z's dip-buying bloomberg.com frenzy, saying a new generation of investors keeps showing up to buy U.S. equities at every pullback. Meanwhile, Orient Overseas International warned of Middle East risks bloomberg.com after earnings sank, citing an array of geopolitical woes that eroded last year's profits.
Fixed Income
Japanese government bonds extended gains bloomberg.com tracking overnight Treasury rallies as traders increasingly price in a September Fed rate cut. U.S. natural gas futures swung between gains and losses bloomberg.com as traders weighed Middle East supply fears against expectations of a small storage build. Voya Financial limited data center credit bloomberg.com on AI demand worries, concerned that technology companies' billions in borrowed expansion could plateau before debts are repaid.
Policy & Regulation
The Trump administration plans Jones Act waivers bloomberg.com to allow foreign ships to transport oil between U.S. ports, aiming to tame surging prices. The European Commission weighs looser carbon rules bloomberg.com and more state aid to cut spiking power prices as part of an emergency plan. Senior loans are losing elite status ft.com as first-lien positions become less special due to changes in leveraged finance markets.
Corporate & Technology
McKinsey rushed to fix AI system ft.com after a hacker exposed flaws, though the consultancy said no client information was compromised. Nscale's borrowed credibility ft.com comes from backing by major investors in the AI infrastructure space. Credit Mutuel's chairman identified inflation as the main bank risk bloomberg.com from the Iran war, warning of rapid price acceleration's impact on European lenders.
Emerging Markets
Senegal made $471 million payments bloomberg.com on foreign bonds ahead of Friday's deadline, avoiding potential default as it seeks IMF aid. South Africa's planned fiscal rule needs significant support bloomberg.com to succeed in restoring policy credibility, according to the IMF. The U.S. trade deficit fell in January nytimes.com as imports dipped and exports rose before the Supreme Court struck down most of Trump's tariffs.
Corporate Governance
Lululemon founder Chip Wilson escalated board critique wsj.com amid the ongoing CEO search, telling candidates the company's challenges stem from the board rather than leadership vacancy. Chicago's largest exchanges urged review of easy listings bloomberg.com in prediction markets, concerned about platforms growing quickly by listing financial contracts without explicit regulatory approval.