Public Markets 3d Briefing
×Market Volatility & Geopolitical Tensions
US stocks bloomberg.com fell as heightened geopolitical worries zapped risk appetite, with the Dow dropping more than 260 points and oil prices surging amid concerns over a possible US strike in Iran. Canadian stocks bloomberg.com rose after the US Supreme Court struck down President Trump's global tariffs, while investors braced for potential market disruption. The S&P 500's placid surface masked dramatic swings underneath, as stock moves whipsawed traders and threatened more turbulence ahead. Investors investing.com warned that a 10% market drop could meaningfully dent US consumption, while BCA flagged rising risk of Trump trade escalation by 2027.
Corporate & Legal Developments
Honeywell bloomberg.com is considering walking away from its acquisition of Johnson Matthey Plc's Catalyst Technologies business, people familiar with the matter said. Kirkland & Ellis bloomberg.com saw its star lawyer's antitrust warning sow seeds of his own exit after 15 years at the firm. Latham & Watkins ft.com poached two more partners from rival Wachtell Lipton in the latest move of the legal M&A talent wars, with Latham advising Paramount Skydance on its hostile bid for Warner. Qualtrics International bloomberg.com secured $5.3 billion in debt financing led by JPMorgan Chase to support its purchase of health-care survey firm Press Ganey Forsta.
Technology & AI Sector
Google Deep Mind CEO bloomberg.com warned of AI risks and urged global cooperation on the technology's development. Samsung Electronics bloomberg.com shares jumped to a fresh record high after local media reported the firm is negotiating a price for its latest AI memory chip that's up to 30% higher. Deep Mind CEO Demis Hassabis and Google's James Manyika discussed AI's risks and potential in a Bloomberg interview. UBS investing.com upgraded DWS to "buy," seeing 20% upside on dividend boost and cost cuts, while Bernstein investing.com mapped out AI disruption risks in software stocks.
Commodities & Energy Markets
Oil traders bloomberg.com rushed to hedge Iran risk after a wild start to the year, with the oil market experiencing its strongest start since 2022 as supply shocks and sanctions confounded expectations of a glut. Swiss watch exports bloomberg.com resumed their long slump in January after a brief respite triggered by the easing of US tariffs. Imerys bloomberg.com mothballed its UK lithium mining project due to funding constraints and tough market conditions for the key battery metal. Anglo American investing.com booked a $3.7 billion loss after a fresh De Beers writedown, while Ineos bloomberg.com was cut deeper into junk by S&P, with recovery not seen before 2028.
Financial Services & Investment
Blue Owl Capital bloomberg.com restricted withdrawals from one of its retail-focused private credit funds, reversing a previous plan to resume redemptions this quarter. South Africa's biggest lenders bloomberg.com raised $322 million in new loss-absorbing debt to comply with a central bank framework designed to ensure failing financial institutions can be recapitalized without taxpayer bailouts. Investors bloomberg.com preferred short-term Senegal bonds at an auction as concerns over its long-term debt sustainability lingered. Invesco bloomberg.com and Carmignac bet against US debt, seeing limited Fed cuts despite the bond market's consensus view that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates at least twice more this year.
Trade Policy & Economic Outlook
Trump investing.com preempted official GDP data with a social media post as the economy slowed, while the Supreme Court's ruling on tariffs created ripple effects across markets. The US economy bloomberg.com has borne most of the burden of tariffs imposed by President Trump, according to European Central Bank Governing Council member Fabio Panetta. India's opposition bloomberg.com called for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration to put the nation's trade deal with the US on hold and amend it. Brazil and India bloomberg.com sealed a framework pact on critical minerals, agreeing to work closely on processing to secure rare earth supplies amid global disruption.
Market Structure & Innovation
NYSE Holdings UK Ltd investing.com streamlined market access with a new platform launch, while prediction markets wsj.com drew risk-loving options traders who feasted on complicated stock-option plays. Michael Selig emerged as a key figure in the fight over sports betting on emerging platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket. Apollo Global Management bloomberg.com brought partners to Tokyo to see changes firsthand, with CEO Marc Rowan saying Japan is poised for a big comeback and needs private capital. Core Weave's investing.com B+ rating led to Blue Owl's failed $4 billion data center financing.
Retail & Consumer Markets
Packaged food producers ft.com turned to price cuts as US sales stagnated amid inflation, anti-obesity drugs, and a processed foods backlash that drove consumers from snack aisles. Nestlé investing.com shares rose after Q4 organic sales beat despite profit drop and recall costs, while the company planned to shed its ice-cream business to focus on four main categories. Moncler investing.com shares surged as fourth-quarter revenue topped estimates, and Telstra investing.com hit a 9-year high on upbeat interim earnings and a buyback boost.
International Markets
Hong Kong bloomberg.com proposed higher-than-estimated acquisition prices for owners who lost homes in the Wang Fuk Court blaze, with a total plan cost of HK$6.8 billion ($870 . Germany investing.com added more wind power, yet the outlook remained far from clear. New Zealand's central bank bloomberg.com found itself in the unusual position of expecting a strong economic recovery without triggering inflation pressures. The haven asset status ft.com of US Treasuries was eroding as Trump came close to exploding one of the great myths of the investment world.