Public Markets 3d Briefing
×Last updated: March 12, 2026, 4:32 AM ET
Energy & Commodities
Oil futures surged past $100 bloomberg.com after attacks on tankers in Iraqi waters and the Strait of Hormuz closure, with Brent crude climbing 8% in two days. European natural gas followed oil higher bloomberg.com as shipping turmoil expanded across the Middle East, while palm oil futures extended a five-day rally bloomberg.com as crude's jump above $100 increased demand for biofuel feedstocks. China's refined fuel exports dropped sharply bloomberg.com as Beijing tightened curbs to cope with supply disruptions, with refiners canceling agreed gasoline and diesel cargoes.
Fixed Income & Currencies
German 10-year yields climbed to 2023 highs bloomberg.com as rising energy prices fueled inflation fears, while global bonds surrendered 2026 gains bloomberg.com amid war-driven inflation angst. The dollar rose to fresh 2026 peaks bloomberg.com as the Iran conflict kept energy prices elevated, with the yen hovering near year-lows bloomberg.com and traders seeing a higher threshold for intervention. Australia's dollar emerged as an unlikely haven bloomberg.com buoyed by elevated oil and gas prices and growing bets on potential rate hikes.
Corporate & M&A
Deutsche Bank raised its bonus pool 6.6% bloomberg.com amid mixed performance, less than some Wall Street peers. Blackstone arranged a $1.2 billion credit facility wsj.com for Air Trunk's expansion into Japanese data centers. Chubb partnered with the US International Development Finance Corp bloomberg.com on a $20 billion reinsurance backstop to revive Hormuz shipping. Meanwhile, Sealed Air's $7 billion buyout debt bloomberg.com may launch next week to help finance Clayton Dubilier & Rice's acquisition.
Automotive & Manufacturing
Honda expects up to $15.7 billion in charges wsj.com as it cancels EV launches and development in response to North America's slowdown. BMW projects flat automaking margins bloomberg.com due to tariff costs and intensifying China competition, while Volkswagen warns of luxury sales hits ft.com as conflict and tariffs cloud its outlook. Daimler Truck reported a 29% drop in adjusted EBIT wsj.com despite growing order intake, and Volvo Group cut its full-year forecast wsj.com after component shortages worsened.
Technology & AI
Atlassian cut 10% of its workforce ft.com to adapt to AI threats, becoming the latest tech company to restructure. Microsoft added Anthropic AI models ft.com to its Copilot workplace tools as it diversifies from OpenAI. Oracle set aside $500 million for restructuring ft.com while hailing efficiencies from AI coding tools. Uber, Nissan and Wayve teamed up for Tokyo robotaxi services wsj.com with a pilot planned for late 2026.
Defense & Aerospace
Leonardo targets €32 billion in orders by 2030 wsj.com as defense order boom continues, with 2025 revenue expected to rise to €25 billion from €23.8 billion. Rheinmetall prepares bumper dividends ft.com from booming arms sales, becoming one of the biggest corporate winners from the Ukraine war. Aero Vironment cut its guidance wsj.com after government shutdown delayed orders in Q3.
Financial Services
Standard Bank reported record profit bloomberg.com as growing client base bolstered fee income and market volatility drove trading revenue. Generali posted 12% profit growth wsj.com with €4.17 billion net profit and proposed a €1.64 dividend. Hong Kong authorities arrested hedge fund and brokerage staff ft.com in a $300 million insider trading probe, alleging brokers accepted bribes for share placement information.
Real Estate & Infrastructure
UI Boustead REIT began trading after Singapore's biggest 2026 IPO bloomberg.com, raising S$973.6 million ($764 . Thailand's oil fund burns $32 million daily bloomberg.com to cap diesel prices as it bleeds cash fighting to keep domestic prices low. South Africa plans to expand a credit-guarantee vehicle bloomberg.com to support billions in infrastructure projects from power grids to ports.
Asia Markets
Indian assets extended their slide bloomberg.com as energy shock from the Iran war pushed the rupee to record lows, with Elara Securities expecting weakening to 94-95 per dollar. Japanese insurers remain keen on private debt bloomberg.com despite growing red flags, planning to increase investment in the fiscal year beginning April. Chinese exports accelerated 22% bloomberg.com before the Middle East war broke out, putting shipments on a record path.
Middle East & Shipping
Saudi Aramco warned of catastrophic consequences ft.com if the Iran war drags on, racing to restore 70% of normal shipments. Oman evacuated ships from its oil terminal bloomberg.com as a precautionary measure. Two tankers were attacked in Iraqi waters bloomberg.com, prompting nation's oil terminals to suspend operations. Supertankers rushed to Red Sea ports ft.com as Iran war chokes Gulf oil exports, with Saudi pipeline allowing ships to avoid the perilous Strait of Hormuz.
Mining & Resources
Mali established a special mining brigade bloomberg.com with judicial powers to oversee gold mining and quarrying sites. Venezuela appointed a new hydrocarbons minister bloomberg.com as the US guides the country's oil recovery under a new energy law. China tightened fuel export curbs bloomberg.com as Iran war hits oil supply, with refiners canceling agreed refined fuel export cargoes.
Healthcare & Biotech
Novo Nordisk's Wegovy tablet offers a window to win back market share ft.com from Eli Lilly in the weight-loss drug battle. Grifols operates Canadian plasma clinics nytimes.com where two people died after paid donations. Pediatricians navigate a sea of vaccine misinformation nytimes.com as they strive to do what's best for children's health.
Media & Entertainment
Amazon won against Perplexity wsj.com, with a judge ruling it can keep outside AI bots off its site for now, but retailers prepare for a new shopping normal. Netflix faces pressure to reduce password sharing bloomberg.com as it tests stricter enforcement in select markets. The Academy Awards prepare for potential drone strikes nytimes.com after the FBI warned state officials about retaliatory Iranian attacks.
Politics & Policy
The Trump administration started sweeping trade investigations bloomberg.com setting the stage for new tariffs, the centerpiece of a push to replace levies struck down by courts. The US plans to release 172 million barrels bloomberg.com from emergency reserves as part of coordinated IEA efforts to ease surging crude prices. The EU warned Iran conflict could push inflation above 3% bloomberg.com if Brent oil remains around $100 per barrel.
Emerging Markets
Brazil's central bank held rates steady bloomberg.com as inflation pressures mount from food and energy costs. Mexico's peso weakened to record lows bloomberg.com amid concerns about US trade policy and domestic political uncertainty. Turkey's lira fell 3% in a single session nytimes.com after the central bank governor signaled potential rate cuts despite high inflation.
Private Markets
Private credit's redemption pressure created a roller coaster bloomberg.com as bankruptcies and AI investment risks mount. JPMorgan marked down private credit loans ft.com to software companies. Partners Group sounded alarm on default rates ft.com, warning pace could double to above 5% in coming years. CVC sports empire signed €3.5 billion debt deal ft.com after stake sale faltered.
Alternative Assets
Art market pulled out of slump nytimes.com thanks to $2.2 billion auction week in New York and strong fall fairs. Bitcoin legal battle intensified ft.com over £3 billion haul seized by British police, with Chinese crypto fraud victims fighting to stop Treasury capturing inflated value. Water utilities may finally be worth a dip ft.com despite recent price bumps, as valuations remain relatively low.
Regional Developments
South Korea passed a $350 billion US investment package ft.com establishing a fund to put money into American industries as part of a trade deal. Malaysia referred graft chief probe to chief secretary bloomberg.com after cabinet received report on shareholdings. Taiwan mulls debut bond for foreign outreach bloomberg.com as it intensifies efforts to resist diplomatic pressure.
Market Sentiment
Hedge funds hit worst drawdown since April bloomberg.com as unwinds in crowded trades punished fast-money cohort. Goldman Sachs sees potential for extreme rally bloomberg.com as positioning across US equities creates setup for stocks to rip higher. Manulife's Thooft says dollar is best haven bet bloomberg.com amid "pogo stick" markets, shifting more investments to greenback.
Regulatory & Legal
The UK's Bank of England fined Direct Line £10 million ft.com for overstating capital after motor insurer took almost a year to detect accounting error. Simpson Thacher missed deadline for appeal ft.com, blocking a merger after lawyers' misinterpretation of rules. The US reached agreement to end Halkbank prosecution ft.com, citing Ankara's help in negotiating hostage releases and ceasefire.
Technology Supply Chain
Japan locked in rare earths supply ft.com with Australian miner Lynas, with contract's price guarantee reflecting growing push by countries outside China to safeguard key materials. Ukraine prioritized self-sufficiency in drone manufacturing nytimes.com though weaning itself fully off cheaper Chinese components remains difficult. Chinese Gen Z day traders trust in chatbots and move markets bloomberg.com, becoming increasingly important drivers of investment growth.