Public Markets 3d Briefing
×Oil & Energy Markets
Oil investing.com held near seven-month highs as US-Iran nuclear talks loomed, with traders weighing diplomatic prospects against tariff-related uncertainty. Woodside investing.com shares hit 18-month highs following strong full-year results and dividend announcements, while SQM bloomberg.com reported lithium output slightly above forecasts as the industry recovers from global oversupply.
Tech & AI Developments
Anthropic ft.com accused Chinese AI labs of "distillation attacks" on its models, alleging rivals DeepSeek, Moonshot and Mini Max copied its technology. Meanwhile, IBM investing.com shares tumbled 10% after Anthropic launched a COBOL AI tool, raising concerns about legacy systems. The viral doomsday report wsj.com from Citrini Research rattled investors already wary of AI's impact on corporate profits, contributing to a 1.7% Dow decline.
Corporate Moves & Litigation
FedEx ft.com became the first major American company to file suit over Trump-era tariffs, seeking full refunds plus interest after the Supreme Court deemed the levies illegal. Jane Street bloomberg.com faces insider trading allegations from Terraform Labs' administrator, accused of using nonpublic information during the crypto firm's $40 billion collapse. Paramount investing.com submitted a higher offer for Warner Bros Discovery in Hollywood's intensifying bidding war.
Regional Markets & Policy
Chinese stocks investing.com reopened higher on tariff relief hopes and Lunar New Year spending optimism, while Asian currencies wsj.com mostly weakened amid lingering US-Iran tensions. Hong Kong bloomberg.com approaches the end of its budget deficit era after two decades, though officials remain cautious. India bloomberg.com may begin buying dollars for reserves once the rupee strengthens to 88-89 per dollar, according to Citigroup.
Metals & Commodities
Copper bloomberg.com jumped as China traders cheered prospects of lower US levies following the Lunar New Year break. Gold investing.com snapped a four-day winning streak amid profit-taking, though tariff tensions lingered. Gold bloomberg.com retreated further as traders took profits after four days of gains driven by trade policy uncertainty and Middle East tensions.
Banking & Financial Services
Amundi bloomberg.com warmed to Japanese government bonds for the first time in three decades, joining foreign investors bullish on the nation's debt. UOB investing.com missed Q4 profit estimates as trading income weakened, sending shares tumbling their most in four months. Eversource bloomberg.com raised $1.5 billion from its first hybrid bonds to refinance debt, while the Federal Reserve bloomberg.com unveiled plans targeting reputation risk in bank examinations.
Real Estate & Infrastructure
Australian real estate firms bloomberg.com gained as staff returned to offices more frequently than required, benefiting office landlords in major cities. Carlsberg bloomberg.com began preparations for a potential $700 million IPO of its India unit, appointing three banks for the listing. KKR-backed bloomberg.com Global Medical Response selected banks for a US IPO, joining the growing pipeline of healthcare services companies going public.
Pharmaceuticals & Healthcare
Apotex bloomberg.com seeks up to $730 million in a first-half IPO in Toronto, aiming to raise as much as C$1 billion. Novo Nordisk bloomberg.com Chief Scientific Officer Martin Holst Lange discussed clinical trial results for the weight loss obesity shot Cagri Sema, which delivered less weight loss than Eli Lilly's Zepbound in head-to-head comparisons.
ETF & Investment Products
Active ETF market bloomberg.com momentum grows too large to ignore as asset managers intensify competition. Electronic Arts bloomberg.com bondholders band together to fight a debt buyback plan, even as S&P Global Ratings questions whether the maneuver would ultimately save money. Coinbase bloomberg.com stablecoin revenue could surge sevenfold, according to Bloomberg Intelligence, as the company lobbies Washington to preserve key revenue streams.
Labor & Industrial Markets
RXO CEO bloomberg.com noted the freight recession persists but sees positive trends in the trucking market following deflationary pressure. US factory and durable goods orders declined in December, with factory orders falling 0.7% and durable goods down 1.4%, according to Census Bureau data. The frozen housing market wsj.com continues battering US manufacturers as weak home sales curb demand for appliances, cabinets and flooring.
Regulatory & Legal Developments
Nevada Attorney General bloomberg.com Aaron Ford stated President Trump overstepped authority on tariffs, expressing no surprise at the Supreme Court's ruling. Hungary bloomberg.com plans to block all EU decisions concerning Ukraine, including sanctions and loans, until oil flows resume through the Druzhba pipeline. Switzerland investing.com may need to accept US tariffs as permanent, according to the country's trade chief.
Private Markets & Takeovers
KKR bloomberg.com agreed to buy a majority stake in XCL Education Holdings Pte, valuing the Southeast Asian school operator at about $1.3 billion. Francisco Partners completed a $2.2 billion take-private of Jamf, expanding its enterprise software portfolio. Blue Owl bloomberg.com anxiety rattled the $1.8 trillion private credit market after permanently closing one of its tech-focused funds.
Market Sentiment & Strategy
Cautious foreign investors bloomberg.com are getting their India stock calls right as retail investors' favorite stocks fell a median 20% since January 2025. Marsh bloomberg.com explores selling its financial risk manager and life insurance broker for high-net-worth individuals in Asia. Am Cham Hong Kong bloomberg.com reports some members rethinking China supply chain plans after weighing US tariffs, costs and sourcing alternatives.