Public Markets 3d Briefing
×Last updated: March 12, 2026, 7:39 AM ET
Energy & Commodities
Oil futures dropped 1.3% bloomberg.com in early Asian trade after OPEC+ signaled potential output increases, while gold held near $2,340 wsj.com as a weakening dollar offset risk-on sentiment. A surge in aluminum prices bloomberg.com pushed China Hongqiao's Zhang Bo past the $48 billion mark, cementing his position among Asia's wealthiest industrialists. Meanwhile, spot container rates to Europe jumped 8% bloomberg.com over the past week as the war in the Mideast disrupted one of the world’s busiest shipping routes, lengthening delivery times. The conflict also spurred a renewed focus on nuclear power ft.com as surging gas prices make alternatives more attractive.
Fixed Income
Japanese government bonds extended gains bloomberg.com tracking overnight Treasury rallies as traders increasingly price in a September Fed rate cut. However, U.S. airline bonds weakened ft.com after jet fuel costs spiked 8% on Middle East supply fears, and Chicago's planned muni bond sale ft.com is testing investor appetite amid geopolitical uncertainty. The Iran war is causing the largest-ever oil supply disruption wsj.com, forcing the IEA to slash its growth forecast and contributing to a global move higher in borrowing costs bloomberg.com, with the 30-year US Treasury yield climbing toward 4.9%. European natural gas prices followed oil higher bloomberg.com as shipping turmoil expands, and the dollar was on course for a fresh 2026 high bloomberg.com as energy prices elevated.
E-commerce & Retail
The German e-commerce giant Zalando bought back shares of up to $347 million wsj.com, adding that its Scayle software unit expanded in the U.S. and secured a partnership with Levi Strauss. This follows a broader trend where emerging-market currency options hint at more near-term pain bloomberg.com, reflecting heightened risk aversion amid the conflict.
Auto & Manufacturing
Tesla Inc.’s China sales recovered in February bloomberg.com from a low base last year, weathering a nine-day Lunar New Year lull and gradual subsidy phase-out. Conversely, Honda Motor Co. expected charges of up to $15.7 billion wsj.com as it rethinks its electric vehicle strategy, joining a growing list of global brands battered by the EV downturn. The Japanese automaker also warned of a $15.7 billion loss bloomberg.com, highlighting the sector's challenges.
Financial Markets & Corporate Finance
Deutsche Bank AG raised its bonus pool 6.6% bloomberg.com, less than some peers, amid mixed performance. Meanwhile, the National Stock Exchange of India selected 20 bankers for its $2.5 billion IPO bloomberg.com, targeting a valuation boost. In corporate finance, Honda expected up to $15.7 billion in charges wsj.com from its EV strategy reassessment, while China’s auto sales dropped wsj.com due to subdued demand and the holiday lull. The Iran war is causing the biggest-ever oil market disruption bloomberg.com, with Russia’s oil-export revenue sinking to the lowest since the Ukraine invasion. To counter this, China tightened fuel export curbs bloomberg.com, and India negotiated safe passage for tankers through the Strait of Hormuz bloomberg.com. The dollar options were most bullish since 2022 bloomberg.com, reflecting the market's sensitivity to oil prices.