Public Markets 24 Hours

Last updated: May 15, 2026, 5:32 PM ET

Equity Markets & IPOs

Stock markets worldwide confronted mounting inflation pressures this week as the S&P 500's weekly winning streak faced its first serious test amid accelerating price pressures and rising Treasury yields. In a significant portfolio shift, Berkshire Hathaway boosted its Alphabet stake during CEO Greg Abel's first quarter at the helm while simultaneously exiting positions in Amazon, Mastercard, Visa and United Health as the conglomerate repositions for the AI era. The tech sector saw renewed vigor as hedge funds increased bullish copper wagers to five-month highs ahead of record prices on New York's Comex, while Intel joined Taiwan and South Korea as latest winners in the global AI-driven market rally. SpaceX is aiming for a June 12 IPO filing that could become the largest public offering ever, with Adtek joining the wave of Chinese AI listings through its Hong Kong filing. Even traditional automakers are adapting, as Stellantis and Dongfeng finalized a $1.17 billion EV partnership covering Peugeot and Jeep brands in China.

Fixed Income & Currencies

Global bond markets tumbled on mounting inflation fears from the Iran conflict, with the 10-year Treasury yield climbing to nearly 4.6%, its highest level in over a year, while 30-year yields neared 2007 highs. The bond rout caught up with Wall Street's risk rally as credit investors shifted toward corporate bonds, finding better value in high-yielding blue-chip debt amid persistent Middle East conflict concerns. Morgan Stanley projects $200 billion in euro-supporting hedging flows as the currency could climb to levels last seen five years ago, though bond futures face disruption risks from rapid position overhauls as yields surge globally. G-7 finance chiefs prepared to discuss the multi-decade bond selloff that has sent benchmark yields to historic highs, while the dollar strengthened and may drift higher within this year's trading ranges according to RBC Capital Markets.

Commodities & Energy

Oil markets settled higher on inventory worries as the prolonged Strait of Hormuz closure raised concerns about falling global petroleum stocks, with Argentina's state-run YPF announcing a $25 billion oil project marking the largest investment since President Javier Milei took office. Hedge funds extended bullish positions on copper to five-month highs before prices climbed to fresh records, while gold ended the week 3.49% lower at $4,555.80 as silver collapsed below $80 an ounce amid extreme volatility. The House passed an ethanol bill allowing year-round E15 sales, though its Senate fate remains uncertain, while U.S. natural gas futures rose on warming weather forecasts extending their winning streak to three sessions. Despite oil price increases following the Trump-Xi summit, hopes for Iran conflict resolution faded without Chinese commitments to reopen Hormuz shipping lanes.

Cryptocurrency & Alternative Investments

Bitcoin dropped below $79,000 as inflation fears swept through risk assets, dragging cryptocurrencies lower alongside equities amid concerns over oil prices and geopolitical uncertainty. The digital asset selloff coincided with traditional market volatility as global bonds tumbled on inflation shock fears from the Iran war, while QVC's bankruptcy filing marked another casualty in consumer discretionary sectors. In alternative investments, Corgi ETFs are challenging BlackRock and Goldman Sachs with buffer strategies, and Anthropic raised $30 billion more as AI labs absorb the majority of venture funding, with the AI front-runner potentially seeking even more capital amid unprecedented investment concentration.