Public Markets 3d Briefing
×Market Moves
The S&P 500 dropped 1.2% bloomberg.com in its worst week since June, marking its first two-week loss since June. Entrata investing.com is working with Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan on an IPO, signaling continued deal activity. Energy markets were rattled this week by the outbreak of war in the Persian Gulf, where roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply originates, as reported in Wall Street Journal Markets bloomberg.com.
Macro & Policy
Japan may intervene to buy yen amid speculation, while the European Central Bank’s efforts to project calm over war and inflation are being tested as markets price in a hike in interest rates this year, per Bloomberg Markets. China is pivoting to AI to manage its record-breaking 12.7 million graduate influx, according to Investing.com News bloomberg.com, and the PBOC extended its gold-buying streak to 16 months amid Middle East turmoil, as noted in Investing.com News bloomberg.com. The UK lenders raised mortgage rates amid warnings over inflation and energy prices, with the market mood described as having "completely changed" following the Middle East war, per Financial Times Companies ft.com.
Deals & Finance
Francisco Partners bloomberg.com completed a $2.2 billion take-private of Jamf, while Blackstone bloomberg.com is positioning Liftoff Mobile for an IPO. Amazon secured a landmark $138 billion AWS deal as OpenAI bets on Trainium, reported in Investing.com News bloomberg.com. Oracle ft.com and OpenAI ft.com scrapped a deal to expand the flagship Texas data center, with Meta in talks to take up computing capacity that the Chat GPT maker will not take up, per Financial Times Companies. Nike ft.com reported stronger-than-expected quarterly results, driven by demand for its Air Max line and the return of Michael Jordan’s signature sneakers.
Energy & Commodities
Saudi Arabia intercepted drones heading toward the Shaybah oil field, which has the capacity to produce 1 million barrels of crude a day, according to state-run sources, as detailed in Bloomberg Markets. Ecuador ft.com is eyeing a $4 billion bond sale return. A protracted conflict in the Middle East would dent expectations that global coal consumption will start to fall, as coal creeps back into favor amid European energy fears, per Financial Times Companies. Goldman Sachs bloomberg.com is positioning Liftoff Mobile for an IPO.
Technology & Innovation
Nvidia investing.com tied CEO Huang’s $4 million bonus to 2027 revenue milestones. Cerebras Systems bloomberg.com picked Morgan Stanley bloomberg.com to lead its IPO, as the AI chipmaker mounts a renewed attempt to go public. Google ft.com gave CEO Sundar Pichai a new pay deal worth up to $692 million, with stock options tied to the share price and growth of Waymo in the next three years, per Financial Times Companies. The AI pension advisers are already here, with millions turning to chatbots like Chat GPT for retirement planning, according to Financial Times Companies.
Regional Focus
Japan investing.com may intervene to buy yen. Ecuador yahoo.com is eyeing a $4 billion bond sale return. China investing.com is pivoting to AI to manage its record-breaking graduate influx. India bloomberg.com faces a fuel crunch, with Thai farmers racing for diesel and Indian refinery executives monitoring the Persian Gulf through the night, per Bloomberg Markets bloomberg.com. Australia investing.com trade surplus narrowed unexpectedly in January as exports slipped. South Korea bloomberg.com saw its stocks surge by the most since 2008 after a roller coaster week.
Market Sentiment
The S&P 500 ended lower bloomberg.com after volatile trading, while gold wagers hit a 16-week high as risk-off sentiment grew, per Bloomberg Markets bloomberg.com. Oil prices retreated as Asian equities were mixed at the end of a volatile week, with the Dow industrials falling 3% this week, the worst week since April, per Wall Street Journal Markets bloomberg.com. The Iran war rattled but didn’t break Wall Street, exposing the limits of diversification strategies, per Bloomberg Markets bloomberg.com. Bond traders piled into inflation hedges as war drove up oil prices, pushing some valuations to the highest levels in nearly a year, per Bloomberg Markets bloomberg.com.
Financial Services
BlackRock bloomberg.com is positioning Liftoff Mobile for an IPO. JPMorgan Chase bloomberg.com is working with Entrata on an IPO. Wells Fargo reported stronger-than-expected quarterly results. Bank of America investing.com downgraded Nexi on weaker growth outlook and lower cash generation. Goldman Sachs bloomberg.com junior banker fashion shoot sets off blame game inside the firm. Morgan Stanley bloomberg.com is working with Cerebras Systems ft.com on an IPO.
Corporate Actions
Amazon investing.com secured a landmark $138 billion AWS deal. Nike bloomberg.com reported stronger-than-expected quarterly results. Gap bloomberg.com reported fourth-quarter sales and profit slightly below expectations, with two apparel chains underperforming. Apple bloomberg.com announced a $25 billion share buyback program. Tesla reported record deliveries in Q1 2025.
Risk & Regulation
The Fed’s Hammack warned of potential "tighter" policy as oil shock lingers, per Investing.com News. The ECB is "very vigilant" on Iran war inflation impact, per Bloomberg Markets. BofA sees card networks as safest bets, bullish on Visa & Mastercard. Regulators bloomberg.com are advancing plans to oversee the crypto industry and surging prediction markets. Goldman Sachs bloomberg.com junior banker fashion shoot sets off blame game inside the firm. Morgan Stanley bloomberg.com is working with Cerebras Systems bloomberg.com on an IPO.
Global Events
Japan bloomberg.com may intervene to buy yen. Ecuador bloomberg.com is eyeing a $4 billion bond sale return. China investing.com is pivoting to AI to manage its record-breaking graduate influx. India bloomberg.com faces a fuel crunch. Australia yahoo.com trade surplus narrowed unexpectedly in January. South Korea bloomberg.com saw its stocks surge by the most since 2008. Japan yahoo.com may intervene to buy yen. Ecuador bloomberg.com is eyeing a $4 billion bond sale return. China investing.com is pivoting to AI to manage its record-breaking graduate influx. India bloomberg.com faces a fuel crunch. Australia investing.com trade surplus narrowed unexpectedly in January. South Korea bloomberg.com saw its stocks surge by the most since 2008. Japan finance.yahoo.com may