Public Markets 24 Hours

Last updated: August 9, 2026, 5:33 PM ET

Equities

Blockbuster earnings from the largest US companies have bolstered stocks’ record run, easing worries about AI spending and inflationary pressures. European stocks are firing on all cylinders, drawing money managers who say the rally will be more durable than a short-term trade as companies in the Stoxx Europe 600 are on track for a 22% increase in second-quarter profits. The Korea volatility spike ebbed after a historic selloff flushed out leveraged positions and regulatory curbs sent trading in some of the riskiest products plunging. The leveraged ETF boom is creating new ways to profit from sudden bursts of tech-stock volatility, amplifying intraday momentum plays. Amid the turbulence, stock funds are up 10.6% so far in 2026 as tech stocks zip about on the latest AI expectations.

Fixed Income & Currencies

Scott Bessent is sending fresh signals that he is eager to keep bond yields from spiking higher, a move Wall Street interprets as a sign of bond-market angst. Hungary’s central bank renewed its support for the government’s efforts to meet conditions for joining the euro area, arguing it would benefit the economy. Emerging Asia central banks are increasingly finding ways to support their currencies without dipping into foreign-exchange reserves as Middle East tensions and higher-for-longer rate expectations persist. China inflation cooled more than expected in July, with consumer and factory-gate price growth decelerating amid tepid domestic demand and declining oil costs, while a separate report noted the easing of Iran war oil shock pressures.

Commodities & Energy

The Venezuelan oil boom sputters as the costs of forcing Caracas into free elections prove too high for Washington now. Iranian demands for reopening the Strait of Hormuz are narrowing Trump’s options, as Tehran says the US must meet new conditions before the waterway reopens, hardening rhetoric amid talks with Oman. The Strait of Hormuz remains Iran’s best leverage to secure the release of frozen assets and lift sanctions. Romania kept its second Cernavoda reactor operating for nine more days after explosive works on the Danube increased river flow. Typhoon Dolphin made landfall in eastern China after Beijing issued its highest storm alert, canceling more than 1,000 flights and suspending rail services. Cuba is turning to solar power with China’s help to offset low oil supplies, weathering increased pressure from the US. Indonesia’s coal attempt to contain prices at home has discouraged companies from supplying the local market, causing power blackouts.

Sector & Thematic Plays

Asian carmakers are cashing in as high petrol prices lift US demand for hybrids, with sales from Honda, Hyundai and Toyota jumping by a fifth in July. Private-credit funds report liquidity metrics differently, with some using aggressive math to project strength, raising questions about the asset class. Auto insurers did not pay out on 45% of liability and medical claims resolved last year, according to a Wall Street Journal analysis. Condo association dues are likely to rise as tighter Fannie Mae rules require more budget allocation to reserve accounts for future repairs. U.S. consumer brands including packaged-goods companies, retailers and food makers are seeing overseas revenue outpace slowing domestic sales. Marinas have emerged as a hot private-equity asset class, ticking the “dependable cash flow” box with room for improvement as yacht owners grow more impatient. Medicare Advantage perks are getting scrutiny, with officials rejecting plans to expand extra benefits to cover medical marijuana and streaming services.

IPOs, Deals & Corporate Actions

SpaceX saw its market value swing by $300 billion in the past week, putting Elon Musk back in grind mode as he must execute on highflying promises made before the biggest IPO ever. Kalshi’s founder, Tarek Mansour, co-founded the prediction market company to provide a “mathematical, objective” view of the world and says he isn’t interested in management advice. CICC has become a dominant financier in Beijing’s drive to compete with the US in AI, leading China’s AI IPO bonanza. Barrick Chairman John Thornton’s planned overhaul is facing investor backlash after he seized control from his long-time CEO and began driving a reinvention of the mining company. TKMS Chief Executive Oliver Burkhard steered the German shipbuilder to large order wins, stressing “prudent growth” with a focus on delivery.

Geopolitics & Infrastructure

The Hall of Fame Village in Canton, Ohio, was pitched as a boon to the city in 2014, but hundreds of millions were spent, the NFL backed out, and the project remains unfinished. Israel rejected Trump’s 15-point plan to disarm Hamas, which aimed at the militant group giving up its weapons alongside an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Iran’s old guard is consolidating power with the appointment of Mohsen Rezaei as secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, a longtime IRGC commander. A new law in Turkey shifts sweeping cyber powers to the presidency, raising concerns of “absolute digital obedience” among social media and gaming platforms. Turkey also resumed Black Sea ship transits via its straits after unexplained delays amid heightened security risks. Investors returned to European stocks as strong earnings lifted gloom from the Iran war, with the Stoxx 600 profit increase on track for a 22% gain in the second quarter. A Maine town that depended on a paper mill for over a century is trying to move on after a new owner took over, though uncertainty persists.