Public Markets 3d Briefing
×Public Markets
The S&P 500 wsj.com dropped 1.2% in its worst week since June, reflecting persistent volatility. Entrata bloomberg.com is working with Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan on an IPO, signaling continued deal activity. Municipal bonds are poised for a solid year after lagging US Treasuries in 2025 as market conditions stabilize, according to Pat Haskell, head of the municipal bond group at BlackRock Inc. Bitcoin bloomberg.com extended its decline, putting the token on course for its steepest monthly drop since the industry suffered a slew of corporate collapses in 2022.
Macro & Policy
Japan may intervene to buy yen bloomberg.com amid speculation over potential rate hikes. Ecuador bloomberg.com is eyeing a $4B bond sale return, while the Philippines may see inflows of about $3 billion if its government bonds are added to JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s benchmark emerging-market index. Telefonica wsj.com posted a Q4 loss on €2.8 bln charges as revenue edged higher, reflecting impairments and asset disposals.
Deals & M&A
Bain Capital and Lone Star Funds have advanced to a second round of bidding for Mitsubishi Electric Corp.’s automotive equipment business. Blackstone bloomberg.com is positioning Liftoff Mobile for an IPO, while Entrata is working with Goldman Sachs on an IPO. Muni bloomberg.com returns are improving as market conditions stabilize.
Corporate News
Telefonica’s net loss widened, though adjusted earnings rose. StanChart CEO Bill Winters bloomberg.com discussed the departure of the lender's chief financial officer and financial targets. Nippon Steel intends to sell $3.5 billion of convertible bonds to repay loans for its acquisition of United States Steel Corp. Tesla investing.com EU registrations fell 17% in January, with market share dipping.
Market Sentiment
Yen extended declines after reports of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi voicing apprehension over more rate hikes. Bitcoin slipped below $63k, wiping out 50% from its October record high. AI shock bloomberg.com and tariff fears split markets, with Asia bloomberg.com stocks rising as China reopens on a strong note.
Debt & Credit
BlackRock sees European credit spreads staying range-bound this year, with attractive yields offsetting AI disruption worries. Ecuador is eyeing a $4B bond sale return. Indonesia bloomberg.com Investment Authority’s Co-Chief Investment Officer resigned, deepening a leadership vacuum.
Regulatory & Geopolitics
China wsj.com banned exports of dual-use items to Japanese entities over military ties, escalating disputes. Trump’s global tariff bloomberg.com took effect at 10% after the Supreme Court defeat. Japan wsj.com maintains close dialogue with the U.S. on foreign exchange moves.
Technology & Innovation
AI ft.com upheaval puts software investors on edge, with Asia bloomberg.com poised to emerge as a winner. DeepSeek investing.com trained its latest AI model on Nvidia Blackwell chips despite US bans. Citrini Research’s dystopian AI vision reinforces bets on Asia’s tech future.
Energy & Commodities
LNG supply bloomberg.com may hit prices, though demand remains firm. Woodside notes a forecast global glut may weigh on prices.
Real Estate & Infrastructure
Hong Kong bank bloomberg.com tries again to sell a seized mansion at a steep discount. Blackstone is positioning Liftoff Mobile for an IPO.
Financial Services
Standard Chartered launched a $1.5 billion buyback after CFO exit. BlackRock head Pat Haskell notes Muni returns improving. Citrini report author Alap Shah maps out a playbook for dealing with AI disruption.
Global Markets
US stock futures investing.com crept higher after bruising losses on tariffs and AI jitters. Australian exporters bloomberg.com brace for Trump policy shifts. European car sales finance.yahoo.com fell in January, with petrol cars sharply declining.
Regulatory & Governance
World Bank ft.com took out a $6B loan insurance policy to boost lending. Hong Kong bloomberg.com is near the end of its budget deficit era but remains cautious. China leaves loan prime rate steady amid mixed growth signals.
Corporate Governance
Centerview ft.com settled a case over a sacked banker’s sleep needs. Citrini Research’s dystopian vision reinforces bets on Asia’s tech future.
Legal & Litigation
Justice Department bloomberg.com probes Netflix’s power over filmmakers in Warner deal review. Jane Street bloomberg.com sued for alleged insider trading by Terraform Labs administrator.
Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG)
Air France bloomberg.com and Accor will pay bond penalties for missing climate goals. Rolls-Royce ft.com propels the case for thoughtful subsidies.
Risk & Regulation
European wealth managers ft.com hit back after fears AI will make them obsolete. EU ft.com top brass are skeptical about decoupling from US tech companies.
Currency Markets
Asia FX investing.com was tepid as the dollar firmed. China bloomberg.com stocks in Hong Kong rallied