Public Markets 3h Briefing
×Last updated: March 13, 2026, 8:30 AM ET
Energy & Commodities
Oil futures dropped 1.3% bloomberg.com in early Asian trade after OPEC+ signaled potential output increases, while gold held near $2,340 ft.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. Energy stocks tread water bloomberg.com as crude soars amid the Iran war, signaling investor anticipation of a price pullback, while Lundbeck Eyes US, China Investment bloomberg.com as European drug rewards lag, reflecting a strategic shift away from a region facing heightened geopolitical risk.
Fixed Income
Japanese government bonds extended gains ft.com tracking overnight Treasury rallies as traders increasingly price in a September Fed rate cut. Meanwhile, U.S. airline bonds weakened wsj.com after jet fuel costs spiked 8% on Middle East supply fears, and Chicago's planned muni bond sale ft.com is testing investor appetite amid geopolitical uncertainty. The dollar extended gains wsj.com to its highest level in over three months as investors sought safe havens during the war, while Indonesia Says Various Scenarios Show 3% Deficit Hard to Keep bloomberg.com amid soaring oil prices, highlighting fiscal pressures. BNP Paribas Tests Appetite for SRT bloomberg.com as war reprices credit risk, and Eurozone Bond Yields Rise to Multimonth Highs wsj.com on uncertainty over Middle East developments, with Commerzbank advising investors to avoid Bunds.
Public Markets & Deals
A Thailand Mega-Deal bloomberg.com saw authorities seize over 100,000 counterfeit items worth nearly $1 million, part of intensified IP protection efforts. South African Stocks Set for a 10% Correction bloomberg.com as losses deepen since late February, while India Considers Covid-Era Relief For Exporters Hurt by Iran War bloomberg.com to mitigate trade disruption impacts. Dubai Crypto Event Token2049 Postponed bloomberg.com as the UAE and others face ongoing missile threats, and Turkey Moves Toward Nuclear bloomberg.com in a bid to diversify energy sources, partnering with South Korea. UK Plans to Overhaul Nuclear Regulation bloomberg.com to speed projects after a review criticized risk aversion, and UK to speed up nuclear power projects ft.com by weakening wildlife protections, dismaying ecologists.
Global Markets & Macro
The War Threatens ‘Abrupt End’ to UAE Real Estate Bond Bonanza bloomberg.com as investors nursing losses from hammered bonds face a stalled borrowing binge. Lagging Energy Stocks Show Investors See Limits to Crude’s Rally bloomberg.com as the Iran conflict continues, while A 60-40 Portfolio Is No Help as War Drives Stagflation Threat bloomberg.com sees stocks and bonds falling in tandem on inflation and slowing growth risks. Forint Lags Emerging Peers bloomberg.com as energy hit amplifies Hungary's election-year risks, and Economists See Two Fed 2026 Rate Cuts bloomberg.com pushing back the next cut expectation to June but still forecasting reductions by year-end, while Kevin Warsh’s Dilemma as Fed Chair Nominee nytimes.com faces a tough confirmation road amid the Iran war.