Public Markets 3d Briefing
×Market Moves
The S&P 500 nytimes.com dropped 1.2% in its worst week since June as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East fueled volatility. Entrata wsj.com is working with Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan on an IPO, signaling continued private equity interest in tech infrastructure. Oil prices surged to a 16-week high bloomberg.com as traders piled into options amid supply disruptions from the Iran war, pushing gasoline prices higher globally. Saudi Aramco jumped the most since April 2023 on Sunday as the Iran war entered its second week, prompting supply disruptions that may send oil prices higher when global markets reopen. The Dow Jones Industrial Average turned red for 2026 as the Iran war roiled the old-economy gauge, highlighting investor concerns about sustained energy price pressures. Iran attacks and Mideast flights nytimes.com remain a key risk factor, though experts say the danger to commercial airliners is "fairly remote."
Macro & Policy
The US Energy Secretary Chris Wright sought to counter market warnings about an extended Middle East war, saying global energy supplies are sufficient and the surge in oil prices reflects a "fear premium." US inflation gauges bloomberg.com likely diverged before the war in Iran, according to Bloomberg Markets analysis, as a pair of inflation reports surface after a dismal February jobs report. The Iran war bloomberg.com has dealt a blow to one of Wall Street's favorite trades — emerging markets — as EM assets marked their worst week since 2020. US has no plans to tap SPR bloomberg.com to bring down oil prices, National Economic Director Kevin Hassett stated, emphasizing alternative tools exist to address the surge. Goldman Says Stocks May Suffer Correction bloomberg.com, but "nothing systemic," as geopolitical risk weighs on equities.
Deals & Companies
Francisco Partners bloomberg.com completed a $2.2 billion take-private of Jamf, expanding its portfolio into enterprise software. Kalshi wsj.com is working with Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan on an IPO, aiming to expand beyond sports betting into broader prediction markets. Blackstone bloomberg.com is positioning Liftoff Mobile for an IPO, targeting the burgeoning mobile gaming sector. Morgan Stanley bloomberg.com downgraded Indian stocks, citing heightened risk from the Middle East conflict and domestic macroeconomic challenges. Morgan Stanley bloomberg.com also highlighted the surge in private credit hedging as investors pile into inflation protection products amid rising energy costs.
Geopolitics & Energy
Iraq’s oil output plunged about 60% bloomberg.com as the Iran war means there aren't enough tankers to load the nation's crude, exacerbating global supply tightness. Qatar outage bloomberg.com and Middle East tensions spurred several more liquefied natural gas shipments to divert toward Asia, boosting competition for the fuel. Gulf businesses ft.com are buying political violence insurance as conflict spreads, with data centers, energy projects, and hotels moving to limit potential losses. The Iran war wsj.com is hitting Gulf markets, lifting Israel and shifting risk across the region, as investors factor in new dangers. Oil surge bloomberg.com and jobs misses sent stocks to their worst week since October, marked by a spike in volatility. Iran Could Retrieve Uranium nytimes.com at a site the US bombed last year, officials say, adding urgency to securing nuclear materials. Swiss Put Cash Into Constitution bloomberg.com to guard against the demise of physical money, enshrining cash availability in the nation's foundational document. UK to delay AI copyright rules ft.com after proposals triggered backlash from creative industries. Canada, Japan, Australia nytimes.com form a Western