Public Markets 24 Hours

Last updated: July 27, 2026, 8:30 PM ET

Oil Prices Tumble Amid De-escalation in Middle East Conflict

Oil futures as President Donald Trump announced the US and Iran were engaged in talks to end the Middle East conflict. Brent crude after two weeks of escalating violence had pushed prices above $100 a barrel. US stock futures with the US pausing strikes against Iran and tankers sailing for a recently-disrupted Kazakh export terminal, easing supply pressures. Macquarie analysts before the end of the year if Washington pushes to end the Iran conflict. Italy approved a temporary tax cut on diesel fuel through Aug. 6 to cushion the impact of surging energy prices.

AI Spending Fuels Tech Sector Dynamism and Credit Concerns

BlackRock Inc. raised $12.5 of debt for a Meta Platforms Inc. data center project in Texas, with the bonds rallying in early trading. However, big tech credit risks are rising sharply as investors grow concerned over the rush of borrowing to fund massive data center investments. SK Hynix Inc.'s American depositary receipts slumped to a new low after a record-setting debut, as investors dump semiconductor stocks. Separately, regained spot over Nvidia as the most valuable public company amid growing concerns about the costs associated with the artificial intelligence boom. Nvidia is also on an AI breakthrough from Ilya Sutskever, while Microsoft unveiled new AI cybersecurity tools.

Merger and Acquisition Activity Across Industries

Curium is in advanced talks to acquire radiopharma company Lantheus Holdings Inc. in a deal that could be valued at. Ares Management has held talks to buy Leonard Green & Partners, a deal that would. TPG Inc. is in exclusive talks to acquire Macquarie Group Ltd.-backed Netrality Data Centers for up to. Advisers for Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena SpA and Banco BPM SpA are in talks over a possible merger of equals, structured as a mix of shares and cash, as an alternative to Intesa Sanpaolo SpA’s €. Luxfer will go private in a with Wynnchurch.

Market Movements and Investor Sentiment

Gold held a gain after President Donald Trump expressed optimism over US-Iran talks, which have stoked inflationary concerns and raised the likelihood of higher interest rates. CME Group Inc. reported that the debut weekend of 24/7 trading for its one-ounce gold futures saw stronger-than-expected demand. US stocks were mixed as a pause in tit-for-tat strikes in Iran was offset by doubts about the artificial-intelligence boom and chip-stock valuations, with the. JPMorgan Chase & Co. analysts poised rally as an in-house indicator flashes a buy signal. US state and local government debt hit its cheapest level since the spring, with municipal bonds seeing their.

Global Economic and Corporate Developments

Louis Vuitton owner LVMH's sales accelerated, signaling hope for a luxury recovery, with sales of $22.20 billion for the second quarter. However, LVMH's fashion and leather goods unit's return to growth was. Philip Morris International opened a in Colorado to expand its Zyn portfolio. Royal Philips reported an increase in sales, with customer demand for its products remaining healthy, and large orders in North America. Chile is returning to international debt markets for the second time in 2026 after Congress raised the limit on sovereign bond sales this year, signaling a need for further borrowing.