Public Markets 3d Briefing
×Markets & Deals
The S&P500 ft.com fell 1.2% marking its first two-week loss since June, pressured by escalating Middle East tensions and higher oil prices. Entrata investing.com is working with Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan on an IPO, signaling continued private equity activity. Maersk wsj.com and other container shipping giants like Hapag-Lloyd and CMA CGM diverted vessels around Africa after military strikes on Iran, adding to global supply chain strains. BYD ft.com reported its worst monthly sales decline since the pandemic, a stark reversal from years of growth, as Chinese EV demand softened. Saudi Aramco bloomberg.com halted operations at its Ras Tanura refinery following a drone attack, disrupting significant Middle East oil output.
Macro & Policy
Dollar strength intensified as rising oil prices fueled swaps traders to scale back bets on Fed rate cuts, pushing the dollar to a five-week high versus major peers. Japan may intervene to buy yen investing.com amid Middle East conflict speculation. Ecuador bloomberg.com is eyeing a $4B bond sale, while India bloomberg.com refiners explored contingency plans after Strait of Hormuz disruptions. Singapore bloomberg.com signaled potential GDP outlook revisions due to the crisis. Japan’s yen bloomberg.com weakened as oil surged, complicating Prime Minister Takaichi’s cost-of-living agenda.
Corporate Activity & Finance
BlackRock investing.com is positioning Liftoff Mobile for an IPO, while Morgan Stanley bloomberg.com and JPMorgan Chase bloomberg.com advised Entrata bloomberg.com on its IPO. Bavarian Nordic investing.com CEO Paul Chaplin departed after 27 years, and Vodafone finance.yahoo.com partnered with Amazon’s satellites for European/African mast connectivity. Russia bloomberg.com condemned US-Israel strikes, while Iran bloomberg.com stated it won’t negotiate. Turkey bloomberg.com stocks plunged over 5% as conflict fears mounted. Bitcoin investing.com slipped below $67,000 amid risk-off sentiment.
Market Reactions
European natural gas bloomberg.com surged 25% as Iran crisis threatened supply flows. Asian airline stocks investing.com fell on Middle East tensions, and Indian stocks bloomberg.com erased gains from a US trade deal. UK house prices investing.com rose 0.3% in February, extending a market recovery. UK competition watchdog ft.com launched a probe into hotel chains over data sharing. Spain’s Moeve ft.com bucked green hydrogen gloom with a €1B project.
Other Developments
UK physics cuts ft.com risk undermining tech growth, and Lloyd Blankfein ft.com warned against complacency on financial crisis risks. Sony ft.com faced a £2B lawsuit over PlayStation overcharging, and Retail investors ft.com shunned private credit funds post-Blue Owl gating. China’s annual parliament finance.yahoo.com set a tech race roadmap, while Chinese automakers bloomberg.com saw a sharp sales drop. Geely bloomberg.com extended its lead over BYD bloomberg.com in February sales. Nissan ft.com CEO Ivan Espinosa cited relentless challenges amid restructuring. MTN bloomberg.com forecast earnings quadrupling from Nigerian/Ghanaian gains. Barclays ft.com blocked transactions linked to failed lender Market Financial Solutions months prior. Amazon ft.com and Apple bloomberg.com faced antitrust scrutiny, and Barclays bloomberg.com reduced its stake in Australian bank to 4.9%. India’s MTN bloomberg.com saw muted IPO reception, and UK physics cuts ft.com threaten tech growth. Barclays ft.com blocked transactions tied to collapsed lender Market Financial Solutions months prior. UK competition watchdog ft.com backed curbs on non-compete clauses. Lululemon wsj.com founder intensified a board battle over governance. Emerging market currencies bloomberg.com and stocks slumped on Iran conflict. Gold investing.com prices climbed, with spot gold poised for an 8% monthly gain. Australia’s Lynas investing.com jumped on Malaysian operating licence renewal. Iran’s regime bloomberg.com will not splinter easily, per a former US diplomat. China bloomberg.com called for an immediate ceasefire after US strikes. Bitcoin investing.com recovered above $67,000 as markets digested Khamenei’s death. Israel bloomberg.com reported its first casualties in the Iran conflict. South Africa’s budget chief bloomberg.com resigned after stabilizing debt. Argentina investing.com passed a major economic overhaul. US bank stocks bloomberg.com recorded their biggest slide since April, reflecting private credit strains and AI disruption fears. Goldman Sachs bloomberg.com sought to reassure clients on redemption rates and AI exposure. Nasa ft.com overhauled its Artemis Moon programme. Hertel & Brown yahoo.com owners received prison sentences. Lululemon wsj.com founder intensified a board battle over governance. Iran bloomberg.com stated it won’t negotiate with the US. Saudi Aramco bloomberg.com halted operations at Ras Tanura refinery after a drone attack.