Public Markets 24 Hours

Last updated: June 5, 2026, 5:34 PM ET

Equity Markets

The Nasdaq Composite tumbled 4% in late trading as semiconductor and memory chip stocks led a broad technology selloff, with the Nasdaq 100 slumping 4.8% as investors rotated into defensive sectors following stronger-than-expected U.S. employment data. The S&P 500 fell 2.6% in its worst single-day decline of the year, wiping out nine consecutive weeks of gains as traders priced in potential Federal Reserve rate increases later this year. Comex gold settled at $4,337.10 for the week, down 4.9%, while silver dropped nearly 6.6% amid the risk-off sentiment that also pushed U.S. premarket futures lower by 0.5%.

IPO Pipeline

SpaceX's anticipated $75 billion IPO faces a lengthy wait for S&P 500 inclusion despite plans to allocate up to 25% of shares to retail investors, after index gatekeepers rejected proposals to relax listing requirements. The Musk-led rocket company barred Chinese and Hong Kong investors from participating due to U.S. export restrictions on critical technology, while maintaining preferential banking fee structures that set it apart from typical smaller offerings. Meanwhile, Evoke's gaming business accepted a £243 million takeover offer from Bally's Intralot after suffering from steep UK tax increases, and Apollo abandoned its £1.5 billion bid for Bodycote, restricting the private equity firm from making another offer in coming months.

Fixed Income

U.S. Treasury yields surged higher as bond traders fully priced in a 2026 Federal Reserve rate hike following May's robust payroll gains, pushing yields up across the $31 trillion market. Citigroup economists maintained their contrarian call for three rate cuts this year, becoming increasingly isolated among forecasters after the strong jobs report showed employers adding 172,000 workers. OPEC crude production hit multi-decade lows amid U.S. pressure on Iranian supplies, while German real estate group TAG Immobilien prepared a Warsaw IPO for its Polish unit Robyg SA as European markets showed relative stability compared to the tech-heavy U.S. selloff.

Currency Markets

The dollar strengthened broadly after hot jobs data signaled labor market resilience, with traders building in expectations for higher-for-longer interest rates. Indian households project accelerating inflation through year-end, prompting the Reserve Bank of India to exempt foreign investors from withholding taxes on bond investments to support the rupee amid capital outflows and Middle East conflict concerns. The euro faced pressure after the European Commission urged Spain to reduce gas-fired power generation for grid stability, while Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi acknowledged communication gaps with bond markets as the yen weakened against the dollar.

Corporate News

Meta Platforms weighed massive equity issuance worth tens of billions of dollars to fund AI infrastructure expansion following its blockbuster Google partnership, while Raspberry Pi projected robust demand to drive first-half unit sales above 4 million amid investor enthusiasm for AI-linked hardware. Manchester United explored refinancing options for $425 million of debt maturing next year, and Indonesian sovereign wealth fund Danantara planned sub-market-rate bonds to attract investors fleeing the country's currency and economic concerns. Hillhouse Capital neared a significant stake purchase in Goldman Sachs-backed LRQA, the UK certifications business.

Geopolitical Risk

Commercial shipping remained largely absent from the Strait of Hormuz as U.S.-Iran peace talks stalled, while Russian satellite jamming disrupted GPS signals across European airspace, revealing vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure. The UN warned of food price pressures from Middle East supply disruptions and rising fertilizer costs, though May data showed mostly stable prices. Russian President Vladimir Putin signaled continued military action at the St. Petersburg economic forum, while Ukrainian President Zelensky mixed provocations with peace overtures in a letter to his Russian counterpart.

Regulatory Developments

A federal appeals court prepared to hear arguments over President Trump's planned ballroom construction at the White House, after a lower court ordered work halted pending congressional approval. Judge ordered asylum processing restarted following invalidation of Trump administration policies that halted grants for nationals from 39 countries. The SEC settled with Western Asset Management for $100 million over trading practices linked to former star manager Ken Leech, while Franklin Resources' Western Asset unit reached its own $100 million resolution in a civil investigation as its former trader awaits criminal trial.

Market Commentary

Anthropic called for AI nonproliferation measures including "brake pedals" on self-improving models, arguing that unchecked advancement poses existential risks. CFOs struggled to track AI usage metrics across their organizations as vendors shift to token-based pricing models that could create unexpected costs. New York's summer camp operator Simad Holdings filed for bankruptcy despite charging $16,750 per season, highlighting pressures across the youth recreation sector, while purchasing-card spending by public officials drew scrutiny over $264 meals and luxury hotel expenses.