Public Markets 3d Briefing
×Market Turmoil
Oil prices bloomberg.com surged as the Strait of Hormuz traffic neared a halt, with Aramco shifting crude exports to the Red Sea route. Jet fuel prices ft.com soared globally as the Iran war disrupted Middle East supply chains, forcing airlines to panic-buy fuel hedges. Emerging-market currencies bloomberg.com broadly retreated as Tehran vowed to escalate attacks, with the won hitting its weakest level since the global financial crisis.
Corporate Moves
Berkshire Hathaway ft.com executed its first share buyback of the post-Buffett era, with cash holdings at a record $373 billion. Delta Air Lines wsj.com overhauled its C-suite as operations chief plans to exit. Victoria's Secret bloomberg.com projected its best year since splitting from L Brands, forecasting revenue growth above Wall Street expectations. Six Flags wsj.com agreed to sell seven amusement parks to EPR Properties for $331 million in cash.
Tech & AI
Nvidia investing.com shares slipped on reports of potential US chip export caps to China. China's megacap tech stocks bloomberg.com faced deepening selloffs as AI costs spiraled amid heated competition. Apple iPhone shipments investing.com in China dropped 37% year-over-year in January, according to UBS. BlackRock bloomberg.com slashed another private loan value from 100 to zero just three months after its previous assessment.
Energy & Commodities
Venezuelan oil cargoes wsj.com surged as US fuel makers gobbled up heavy crude despite US-Israeli strikes on Iran. Aluminium supply ft.com faced crunches and shutdowns across the Middle East, threatening base metals repricing. Gold and silver flows ft.com were disrupted as the Iran war grounded flights, affecting Dubai's role as a key shipping hub for precious metals.
Global Markets
UK mortgage costs bloomberg.com were set to rise as swap rates hit yearly highs amid Iran war fallout. European bond markets bloomberg.com saw stabilization last just one day as the energy crisis quashed rate-cut bets. US Treasuries bloomberg.com fell for a second day as surging oil prices dimmed Federal Reserve rate-cut expectations. Target wsj.com accelerated in-store investments as part of its turnaround strategy, planning to open more than 30 locations this year.
Defense & Aerospace
Sierra Space bloomberg.com raised $550 million, lifting its valuation to $8 billion as it drives toward becoming a US government defense contractor. South Korean defense contractor LIG Nex1 bloomberg.com shares jumped on reports of potential Gulf nation orders for missile interceptors. Australia's GDP investing.com hit a 3-year high in Q4, growing more than expected despite global uncertainty.
Financial Services
Barclays investing.com cut TF1 stock to underweight on potential Middle East conflict impact. Morgan Stanley investing.com no longer expects the ECB to roll out rate cuts in 2026. BNY Mellon bloomberg.com CIO Leigh-Ann Russell discussed upskilling employees with AI and internal AI platform development. CrowdStrike investing.com beat fourth-quarter estimates while forecasting an in-line annual outlook.
Luxury & Retail
Prada bloomberg.com met views while warning Versace integration would dilute margins. Campari bloomberg.com raised its dividend after strong US sales growth, seeing its stock make its biggest gain in months. Kroger investing.com posted higher profit but gave a cautious full-year forecast as new CEO took helm. Burlington Stores investing.com shares jumped on Q4 earnings beats and strong fiscal 2026 outlook.
Emerging Markets
Zimbabwe bloomberg.com took steps to clear its $23 billion debt as talks with lenders progressed well. India bloomberg.com sought clarity from the US on proposed Strait of Hormuz insurance mechanisms for oil tankers. Philippines inflation bloomberg.com hit a one-year high in February, potentially curbing further monetary easing. Southeast Asian governments wsj.com remained on alert for economic fallout from the Iran crisis, monitoring oil price and supply chain impacts.
Private Markets
Galvanize bloomberg.com hit $1 billion for its commercial real estate strategy fueled by energy bets. KKR co-CEO Scott Nuttall bloomberg.com saw consolidation emerging in alternative assets, expecting a K-shaped industry. Investors bloomberg.com remained spooked by private credit despite market stabilization attempts. Mapletree Investments bloomberg.com agreed to sell East Coast warehouses to EQT Real Estate for $575 million.
Crypto & Digital Assets
Bitcoin and crypto stocks ft.com surged amid a relief rally for risky assets following Trump's insistence that banks won't undermine crypto legislation. NYSE owner Intercontinental Exchange bloomberg.com invested in crypto exchange OKX at a $25 billion valuation. XRP's first native yield product finance.yahoo.com went live with two more coming, potentially impacting XRP price dynamics.
Policy & Regulation
US Defense Department bloomberg.com sought information to expand critical mineral stockpiles amid supply chain risks. US Marines yahoo.com fired on protesters storming the consulate in Karachi, officials said. UK Border Force ft.com former official among two British-Chinese nationals accused of spying for Hong Kong. State Street's Noel Dixon bloomberg.com examined implications of reaccelerating inflation for markets.
Small Cap & Regional Markets
Russell 2000 investing.com exposure to Iran shock was analyzed as small-cap stocks faced pressure. Q2 Holdings finance.yahoo.com shares skyrocketed on positive developments. US initial jobless claims investing.com stood at 213,000, providing labor market context. Small businesses investing.com faced cost pressures from tariffs and inflation according to Federal Reserve survey data.
Industrial & Manufacturing
Adani Total Gas bloomberg.com tripled gas prices for large industrial users as war disrupted supply. Airbus investing.com gained after Citi upgraded stock to buy with a higher target price. Caterpillar autos.yahoo.com long-awaited pickup faced questions about whether it was disappointing or poorly timed. RENK Group investing.com beat Q4 revenue while guiding fiscal 2026 EBIT range.
Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals
Novo Nordisk investing.com shares rose 3% after FDA sent warning letters to 30 GLP-1 telehealth firms. Pat McGrath bloomberg.com agreed to pull her cosmetics company out of bankruptcy but had to give up control. CVS finance.yahoo.com tapped Google Cloud to roll out AI-powered health platform. JD.com wsj.com posted its first loss in over three years as food-delivery subsidy wars continued in China.
Real Estate & Infrastructure
India Highway Authority bloomberg.com Infra Trust's IPO sought up to $656 million for infrastructure investment. South East Water bloomberg.com was fined £22 million after repeated supply outages affected nearly 300,000 customers. Ares Management bloomberg.com partner Julie Solomon said higher interest rates created discipline in real estate markets. EQT bought East Coast warehouses from Mapletree for $575 million.
Media & Entertainment
ITV ft.com remained "actively engaged" with Sky to sell its broadcast division despite 5% slide in advertising revenue. Victoria's Secret investing.com shares dropped despite Q4 earnings beat and upbeat outlook. Target accelerated in-store investments as part of its turnaround strategy. Six Flags sold seven parks to EPR Properties for $331 million in cash consideration.
Agriculture & Food
Kroger wsj.com logged higher profit and sales in fiscal Q4 while forecasting continued growth in 2026 at a slower rate than last year. Prada wsj.com warned Versace revamp would drag on profitability, with integration diluting profit margins this year but improving from 2027. Campari focused on core brands, seeing strong growth and raising its dividend after robust US sales.