Public Markets 3d Briefing
×Market Moves
The S&P500 fell 1.2% investing.com in its worst week since June, marking its first two-week loss since June. Entrata bloomberg.com is working with Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan on an IPO, signaling continued private equity interest in tech listings. The Nasdaq Composite also declined 1.3% as AI disruption fears weighed on growth stocks. Blackstone bloomberg.com is positioning Liftoff Mobile for an IPO, aiming to capitalize on the AI infrastructure boom.
Deals & Capital Markets
Francisco Partners bloomberg.com completed a $2.2 billion take-private of Jamf, expanding its portfolio of software companies. The transaction highlights continued private equity appetite for software-as-a-service businesses. Meanwhile, stablecoin demand surge could end 30-year Treasury auctions for 3 years, according to Investing.com News ft.com, as central banks explore alternatives to traditional funding mechanisms.
Macro & Policy
Japan may intervene to buy yen ft.com amid speculation over currency weakness. The move reflects growing concerns about export competitiveness. In contrast, Ecuador ft.com is eyeing a $4B bond sale to fund infrastructure projects, seeking to capitalize on global capital flows. The S&P 500 wsj.com fell 1.2% marking its first two-week loss since June.
AI & Technology
DeepSeek ft.com is releasing a long-awaited AI model to challenge US rivals, partnering with Huawei to reduce reliance on Nvidia chips. This intensifies the global AI arms race. Conversely, AI bloomberg.com models face scrutiny over corporate ethics, with some companies pre-installing morals to appeal to consumers. The software sell-off continues as investors question AI disruption impacts.
Banking & Finance
US bank stocks suffered another plunge on credit and AI fears, with the sector posting its worst month since April. JPMorgan warned up to $150 billion of loans in CLOs face AI risk. Blackstone ft.com chief Schwarzman received $1.2bn in 2025 income, underscoring private equity wealth generation. Wells Fargo investing.com upgraded Liberty Formula One on balanced risk-reward.
Geopolitics & Commodities
China bloomberg.com fundraising jumped as refinancing and bond issuance boomed, rebounding from pandemic lows. Iran investing.com tensions drove gold prices to a 16-week high, with spot gold set for an 8% monthly gain. The dollar faced pressure amid geopolitical risks and a hawkish Fed, though it may gain from Q2 onwards per Bof A Securities investing.com.
Regional Developments
Argentina investing.com passed its biggest economic overhaul in decades, though stock rallies stalled amid weak corporate earnings. Pakistan bloomberg.com and Afghanistan bloomberg.com edged closer to war, escalating tensions in a region where superpowers vie for influence. Russia ft.com faces scrutiny over CEO accountability, with Telegram’s Durov becoming a poster boy for backlash.
Market Commentary
The software debt slump deepened as AI disruption fears triggered a selloff. Zscaler bloomberg.com CEO Jay Chaudhry emphasized AI as an opportunity, not threat, for their business. Meanwhile, Nvidia investing.com tapped Groq tech to power next-gen AI agents, expanding beyond GPUs. Goldman Sachs bloomberg.com and JPMorgan ft.com joined the race to fund Phoenix’s pension business, though talks remain early-stage.
Closing
The market’s volatility reflects a complex interplay of AI disruption fears, geopolitical tensions, and shifting monetary policies. While tech stocks face headwinds, sectors like AI infrastructure and commodities show resilience. Investors remain cautious, awaiting clearer signals on inflation, interest rates, and geopolitical stability.