Public Markets 24 Hours

Last updated: August 12, 2026, 5:37 AM ET

U.S. Equities

U.S. stock futures rose ahead of a key inflation report, while tech earnings from Super Micro and Core Weave rekindled the AI trade. Upbeat results from Core Weave and Super Micro buoyed sentiment before the CPI reading. U.S. stocks slid as investors remained cautious ahead of inflation data. Major indexes slipped in afternoon trading with the Strait of Hormuz deadlock. The market continued to fade for a second straight session. Anxiety about geopolitics and inflation may be creating a buying opportunity, according to some strategists. Systematic buyers are preparing to reload on levered stock bets, Citadel Securities said. Small-business confidence rose to a near two-year high in July, the NFIB reported.

Technology & AI

Foxconn’s profit beat was driven by AI hardware sales. CoreWeave shares jumped 12% on record revenue and a $104 billion sales backlog. Super Micro Computer reported Q4 profit of $1.17 billion, up from $195.2 million a year earlier. Nvidia is easing investor anxiety over its $500 billion AI financing plan. Credit risk on Nvidia eased after the CEO clarified limits on the company’s exposure. Analysts flagged two big problems with the AI buildout: scarcity and profit margin. Target hired its first chief AI officer. OpenAI COO Brad Lightcap stepped down to start something new. Intel investors are betting on a comeback. The Japanese startup Turing plans a U.S. office and targets a $10 billion IPO valuation.

Energy & Commodities

Oil extended gains as markets remained skeptical of a Hormuz deal. The IEA said the Hormuz standoff deepens the demand slump. A sixth day of gains for oil was driven by skepticism over a potential Hormuz agreement. The U.S. sees Iran war oil supply disruptions lasting through 2027. The UAE is shuttling Iraqi oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz. A dozen ships continue to switch oil outside Hormuz. Gold rose ahead of U.S. inflation data. Gold advanced as traders watched for rate-hike clues. Silver fell 0.5%, snapping a two-session winning streak. U.S. natural gas futures gave back some of the previous day’s gains. Colombian coffee exports were largely halted after a deadly earthquake. Chile cut its copper production forecast again as mine woes persist. A $150 million aluminum stockpile from Radiant World is for sale.

FX & Fixed Income

Yen intervention by Japan and the U.S. has had limited impact, analysts said. The yen gained slightly on hints of coordinated action. Yen traders are using options for flexibility into U.S. inflation data. The yen inched toward 160 per dollar, raising intervention concerns. A katsu curry index rivals the Big Mac gauge in showing yen weakness. The WSJ Dollar Index ended flat. The dollar faces more volatility from U.S. inflation data and the Middle East conflict, Commerzbank said. Eurozone government bond yields rose ahead of U.S. CPI data. South Korea’s 30-year yield hit a record on oil and rate hike bets. Trend-chasing funds hold a record short on bonds ahead of CPI. Barclays sees picky bond buyers keeping yields at multiyear peaks. TIPS bonds with 3% real yields present a rare buying opportunity.

European Markets

European indexes were mostly lower as Middle East tensions weighed. European markets are ticking a lot of boxes for investors, with surprisingly robust earnings. The FTSE 100 slipped and the pound held steady. Heatwaves pushed European gas prices close to Iran war highs. Vestas Wind Systems shares jumped on earnings growth and a margin upgrade. ABN Amro boosted guidance as profit jumped. The Dutch bank beat profit estimates and raised its revenue forecast. Hannover Re posted lower net profit on a currency hit. Constellation Software profit rose to $274 million on acquisition growth. Volatility tumbled as markets shrugged off Middle East risks.

Asia-Pacific Markets

SK Hynix and Samsung gained on a report that Temasek plans to invest. Global investors favor Taiwan stocks over Korea after the AI selloff. JPMorgan boosted its Singapore stock target to 7,000. DMG Mori seeks $300 million in a Japan share sale. Rakuten shares dropped on mobile losses. Sanrio shares plunged the most since 2014 after a Q1 miss. AGL Energy jumped the most in six months on strong battery performance. New Zealand PM Christopher Luxon survived a leadership challenge. India’s small-cap funds remain hot with investors. India’s retail traders lost $9.6 billion in options despite curbs. Options trading in India dropped 27% as a new auction mechanism upended strategies. Godrej Consumer shares plunged after the CEO’s sudden resignation. South Korea will require mock trading for single-stock leveraged ETFs. GoTo Group faces MSCI index removal after a share plunge. Indonesia’s bonds may have seen the worst of selling, analysts say. China revived its free-trade zone bond market after a 2023 crackdown.

Corporate & Deals

Blackstone and La Caisse will buy 25% of Air Canada’s Aeroplan program for nearly $2 billion. TPG agreed to buy South Korea’s Lotte Rental for $925 million. Nasdaq will acquire off-exchange execution venue Leve L Markets. Intercontinental Exchange sold $3.75 billion in bonds for its Market Axess acquisition. Elliott Management nominated six candidates for the board of Northern Star Resources. Aurora Cannabis is reviewing a hostile takeover bid from Curaleaf for about $272 million. Anson Funds is pushing Lionsgate to put itself up for sale. The Kone-TK Elevator deal faces a US antitrust review. CSN got $1 billion in debt exchange relief. Blue Owl Capital raised $750 million to pay down credit lines. Jane Street is repaying $5.5 billion of loans in a debt overhaul.

Other Markets & Economy

Norway’s $2.3 trillion fund posted its best quarter since 2020. Omers returned 4.8% in the first half, fueled by stocks and the US dollar. US household delinquencies improved in Q2, the NY Fed reported. High credit-card delinquencies are driven by stale, charged-off loans. Americans are tapping record home equity to pay credit card debt. Private-credit firms are clamping down on loan sweeteners over fear of “shadow defaults.” Shareholder proposal filings are on the wane. Bitwise cut 14% of its jobs with the crypto industry under pressure.