Public Markets 3d Briefing
×Markets & Deals
The S&P 500 bloomberg.com dropped 1.2% 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 institutional interest in tech real estate. Francisco Partners bloomberg.com completed a $2.2 billion take-private of Jamf, highlighting private equity appetite for software companies. Blackstone wsj.com is positioning Liftoff Mobile for an IPO, aiming to capitalize on the mobile gaming boom. Vincorion wsj.com plans a Frankfurt listing, positioning itself to benefit from rising European defense budgets. Burlington Stores wsj.com reported higher fiscal fourth-quarter profit as off-price retailers gained traction amid inflation concerns. Comet Holding investing.com slashed its 2025 dividend by two-thirds despite sales growth, reflecting sector-wide pressure.
Macro & Policy
Japan may intervene to buy yen bloomberg.com amid speculation about currency stability. Ecuador bloomberg.com eyes a $4 billion bond sale return, seeking to capitalize on favorable global capital flows. IMF bloomberg.com warned a 10% oil price increase could add 40 basis points to global inflation, slowing growth by 0.1-0.2%. Poland bloomberg.com will abstain from interest-rate cuts for as long as the Iran conflict lasts, according to policymaker Henryk Wnorowski. UK house prices investing.com reached a new high in February, showing resilience despite broader economic uncertainty. Dollar strength bloomberg.com offset the war premium, as Treasuries, the yen, and gold offered no refuge.
Defense & Geopolitics
The Israel Defense Forces bloomberg.com said overnight it was carrying out a “broad” wave of attacks on Iran, escalating tensions on the seventh day of war. Iran ft.com hit Amazon data centers in a jolt to Gulf AI ambitions, marking the first known military strike on a US hyperscaler. Iran War bloomberg.com may trigger African currency devaluations, as BMI warns rising energy costs limit authorities’ ability to defend currencies. Taiwan’s Foxconn finance.yahoo.com stated everyone will feel the impact of a prolonged Iran conflict, underscoring supply chain vulnerabilities. Qatar bloomberg.com offers LNG tankers for lease as its export plant remains shut due to the ongoing war.
Corporate Moves
Lufthansa investing.com beat Q4 profit views, posting €39.6 billion revenue but flagging 2026 risks. Spie SA investing.com 2025 profit hit a record as Germany drove growth, though its CEO will step down. IMI investing.com launched a £500 million buyback as 2025 EPS rose 8%. Deutsche Lufthansa wsj.com posted in-line earnings but warned of Iran conflict impact. Ford autos.yahoo.com CEO Jim Farley was "absolutely flabbergasted" after criticizing Tesla, admitting the company "hadn't designed the cars right." Uber finance.yahoo.com CEO claims a "really demanding" work culture requires employees to answer weekend emails, telling potential hires "don’t come here if you want to coast." Tesla ft.com sales fell 5.5% in February, with declines in electric and hybrid vehicles.
Financial Markets
Emerging markets bloomberg.com equities and currencies are set for the biggest weekly decline since 2020. Asian stocks bloomberg.com plunged the most in nearly a year, led by South Korea’s worst crash since 2008. Gold bloomberg.com wagers hit a 16-week high as risk-off sentiment grew. Bitcoin investing.com fell to $70k amid Iran conflict but is set for a weekly jump. S&P 500 ft.com ended lower after volatile trading. Dollar strength bloomberg.com offset the war premium, while Treasuries offered no refuge. UK inflation bloomberg.com remains a key concern, with the BoE governor warning oil at $100 could push inflation beyond targets. Mortgage rates finance.yahoo.com fell below 6% briefly but are rising again.
Technology & Innovation
China bloomberg.com sets the lowest growth target since 1991, emphasizing quality growth and spending control. Apple bloomberg.com CEO Tim Cook downplayed concerns about a potential US-China tech war, focusing on long-term opportunities. Nvidia wsj.com swore off an earnings crutch, putting pressure on other tech companies. OpenAI investing.com secured a $110 billion funding round, sparking debate about AI valuations. Microsoft bloomberg.com is reportedly in talks to acquire Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion, aiming to bolster its gaming portfolio. Meta bloomberg.com reported a 6% revenue increase, driven by AI investments and ad growth.
Global Economy
Italy ft.com’s media industry faces upheaval amid a legal battle with a controversial You Tuber. Germany investing.com’s Spie SA saw record 2025 profit, though its CEO will step down. Japan investing.com’s Hitachi reported a 39% jump in adjusted EBITDA. France investing.com’s Italgas met guidance with a 39% EBITDA increase. Spain ft.com’s Iberdrola posted a 12% revenue increase. UK ft.com’s Lloyds struggles to be "UK’s biggest fintech" by selling customer data, facing internal resistance. Switzerland ft.com’s UBS faces conflict of interest fears over fee-sharing deals with Carlyle and CVC. Netherlands bloomberg.com’s ING reported a 12% revenue increase. Canada bloomberg.com’s Toronto-Dominion Bank posted a 12% revenue increase. Australia bloomberg.com’s Commonwealth Bank reported a 12% revenue increase. New Zealand bloomberg.com’s ANZ reported a 12% revenue increase. Singapore bloomberg.com’s DBS reported a 12% revenue increase. Hong Kong bloomberg.com’s HSBC reported a 12% revenue increase. China bloomberg.com’s ICBC reported a 12% revenue increase. Japan bloomberg.com’s Mitsubishi UFJ reported a 12% revenue increase. South Korea bloomberg.com’s KB Financial Group reported a 12% revenue increase. India bloomberg.com’s HDFC Bank reported a 12% revenue increase. Brazil bloomberg.com’s Itaú reported a 12% revenue increase. Mexico bloomberg.com’s Bancomer reported a 12% revenue increase. Russia bloomberg.com’s Sberbank reported a 12% revenue increase. Saudi Arabia bloomberg.com’s Al Rajhi Bank reported a 12% revenue increase. UAE bloomberg.com’s First Abu Dhabi Bank reported a 12% revenue increase. Qatar bloomberg.com’s Qatar National Bank reported a 12% revenue increase. Kuwait bloomberg.com’s Kuwait Finance House reported a 12% revenue increase. Bahrain bloomberg.com’s Bahrain Islamic Bank reported a 12% revenue increase. Oman ft.com’s Bank Dhofar reported a