Public Markets 3d Briefing
×Global Market Overview
Global markets braced for more turbulence bloomberg.com as the Iran war entered its second week, with escalating hostilities and widening stress on oil shipping and infrastructure. Investors are increasingly wary, as multiple forces collide in ways bloomberg.com that defy easy fixes. The US economy remains reliant on oil wsj.com, increasing the impact of price shocks. US stocks rebounded bloomberg.com on signals that the war may be ending soon, but trading is still volatile.
Energy & Commodities
Oil prices surged wsj.com to their highest levels since 2022 as major producers in the Gulf were forced to cut output amid the war. Saudi Aramco shares jumped the most bloomberg.com since April 2023, while several LNG shipments diverted toward Asia bloomberg.com from Europe. Trend riders maxed out on bullish bloomberg.com US oil bets for the first time since 2021, and discussions over releasing oil reserves reflect growing concern in the Trump administration wsj.com. The halt of production in Qatar is likely to remove bloomberg.com most of a glut forecast for this year, according to Morgan Stanley bloomberg.com. A resumption of flows through the Strait of Hormuz wsj.com will be needed to sustain an oil-price decline, according to ING. The U.S. and Western allies turned to reserves wsj.com to counteract the Gulf oil crisis, and the EU’s Dombrovskis said a release of oil reserves would be warranted bloomberg.com. China raised crude imports bloomberg.com in the first two months of the year, while Taiwan set a weekly cap bloomberg.com on oil-price increases.
Palm oil futures in Kuala Lumpur fell bloomberg.com as much as 4.3% on Tuesday, tracking a slump in crude oil prices, and aluminum extended its retreat bloomberg.com from a four-year high. Gold steadied bloomberg.com after US President Trump signaled bloomberg.com the Iran war could be ending soon, and gold pared losses bloomberg.com as the dollar pushed lower.
Fixed Income & Currencies
China’s government bond yield curve reached its steepest level bloomberg.com in about four years, as inflation concerns triggered by the Iran war pile pressure on longer‑term debt. JGBs rose wsj.com in the morning Tokyo session, tracking overnight price gains in U.S. Treasurys. The Singapore dollar was steady wsj.com against its U.S. counterpart in the Asian session, supported by the pullback in oil prices. Emerging-market currencies rebounded bloomberg.com as the dollar and oil prices sank after the President’s comments.
Equities
Japanese stocks rebounded bloomberg.com as a fall in oil prices eased some concerns around the Middle East conflict, though investors remained on alert. FedEx eclipsed bloomberg.com rival UPS bloomberg.com as the largest US parcel carrier by market value. Hims & Hers shares wsj.com doubled on a report of a Wegovy tie-up, and Koenigsegg is weighing wsj.com an IPO. China’s enthusiasm for Open Claw ignited a stock rally bloomberg.com in local technology firms. Aier Eye Hospital Group bloomberg.com is considering a Hong Kong listing.
Geopolitical & Economic Impact
The Iran war sends tremors nytimes.com through the global economy. The conflict could boost LNG trade through the Panama Canal bloomberg.com. The US told its G-7 partners that Russia sanctions relief would be temporary bloomberg.com, while Australia’s fiscal coffers are set to be boosted by higher LNG and coal export prices bloomberg.com. The U.S. economy’s reliance on oil makes it harder wsj.com for consumers to shield themselves from rising gasoline prices. US gasoline prices nytimes.com hit $3.48 a gallon. The US is considering releasing oil buffers wsj.com.
Corporate News & Deals
Blackstone bloomberg.com arranged a $1.2 billion credit facility for Air Trunk's expansion into Japanese data centers, and Agilent acquired bloomberg.com Biocare Medical for $950 million. Madison Air filed bloomberg.com for an IPO, and AMC’s Deutsche Bank debt deal bloomberg.com rewards market return within a year. Darktrace names third chief ft.com in 18 months. Phillips 66 changes board ft.com to avoid a proxy battle with Elliott. Carmignac bloomberg.com is supporting a campaign by activist fund Palliser Capital bloomberg.com to try to improve corporate governance at South Korea’s LG Chem Ltd. BRK Ambiental Participações bloomberg.com is considering delaying its IPO. Koenigsegg says bloomberg.com it’s in no hurry, but might want extra cash to boost production. SoftBank’s bet ft.com on OpenAI is starting to weigh.
Financial Sector & Regulation
India’s central bank is poised to play a bigger role bloomberg.com in both currency and bond markets as crude oil surges above $100 a barrel. Kotak Mahindra Bank bloomberg.com is on the lookout for acquisitions. Germany’s BaFin head bloomberg.com sees more risk with smaller property funds. Jefferies claims ft.com Western Alliance made ‘false’ statements over First Brands. SRT sales cost bloomberg.com is likely to rise as war fuels economic uncertainty.
Asia Developments
Asia credit risk gauge drops bloomberg.com as Trump signals possible war end. Chinese exports soared bloomberg.com 22% before the Middle East war broke out. Taiwan is considering selling debt bloomberg.com to finance overseas investments. Several more liquefied natural gas shipments diverted toward Asia bloomberg.com as tensions in the Middle East curb global supply.
Other Notable News
Air New Zealand suspended bloomberg.com its earnings guidance as jet fuel prices fluctuate. HPE raised earnings outlook wsj.com, expecting a memory shortage to persist. Tokenized stocks are coming wsj.com to a market near you, and Nasdaq partners wsj.com with Kraken in a plan for 24/7 tokenized stock trading. US stocks are the world’s wsj.com least-dirty shirt.
Legal & Political Developments
Two Supreme Court Justices nytimes.com debated handling of Trump emergency cases. Lawmakers pressure Hochul nytimes.com to raise taxes in New York, and Judge voids mass layoffs nytimes.com at Voice of America. The US ft.com reached an agreement to end prosecution of Turkey’s Halkbank. Bennie Thompson faces nytimes.com a young challenger in the Mississippi primary. Billionaires made 19% nytimes.com of federal campaign contributions in 2024. Trump sons back launch ft.com of new military drone company. Anthropic sues wsj.com the U.S. Defense Department.