Public Markets 3d Briefing – Mar 13, 2026

848 articles summarized · Last updated: March 13, 2026 at 5:36 AM ET v442

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Last updated: March 13, 2026, 5:36 AM ET

ENERGY & COMMODITIES

Oil futures dropped 1.3% wsj.com in early Asian trade after OPEC+ signaled potential output increases, while gold held near $2,340 bloomberg.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. European natural gas open interest dropped to a five-month low bloomberg.com, with traders struggling to navigate intense price swings driven by unpredictable newsflow from the Middle East. Iran's war with Israel threatens China's oil refineries bloomberg.com, potentially cutting off a crucial source of supply and amplifying global price volatility. The Iran war tests Xi’s plan to build China’s stockpiles ft.com, as Beijing drives major increases in strategic commodity inventories amid supply uncertainty.

Japanese government bonds extended gains bloomberg.com tracking overnight Treasury rallies as traders increasingly price in a September Fed rate cut. U.S. airline bonds weakened bloomberg.com after jet fuel costs spiked 8% on Middle East supply fears, while Chicago's planned muni bond sale bloomberg.com is testing investor appetite amid geopolitical uncertainty. The euro fell to its lowest level since August bloomberg.com, amid broader dollar gains as the Middle East war escalates, pressuring European bond markets. Japan will sell oil from its national reserves at pre-Iran war prices bloomberg.com, aiming to shield consumers from price spikes while the U.S. Treasury eased Russian oil sanctions ft.com, freeing up 19 million barrels for purchase. The Federal Reserve's rate outlook faced pressure as U.S. Treasuries volatility surged to a nine-month high bloomberg.com, driven by inflation concerns from the war.

The Iran war forced Thailand’s growth to halve bloomberg.com, as a triple hit from weaker tourism, softer exports, and higher energy prices threatens the economy. Iran's leaders play diplomatic hardball wsj.com, demanding concessions amid escalating conflict, while U.S. sanctions eased on Russian oil bloomberg.com, allowing tankers to reach India. China strengthens its yuan fixing bloomberg.com for a record 15th straight week, showing currency support despite Middle East volatility. Saudi Arabia's mineral sector benefited from higher oil prices bloomberg.com, with CF Industries shares hitting a record high as fertilizer markets tightened. Iran's oil shipments provide a vital source of income ft.com, allowing China to build reserves while the Strait of Hormuz remains under threat, keeping oil on edge bloomberg.com.

Indian stocks faced a technical test bloomberg.com, nearing a key support break amid surging oil prices. The FTSE 100 futures remained steady bloomberg.com as the pound fell ahead of GDP data, while Asian hedge funds held gains bloomberg.com despite a rout. The euro's weakness spurred a rare technical breach bloomberg.com in India's equity market, amplifying strain from energy costs. Gold prices faced a weekly loss wsj.com, pressured by a stronger dollar and rising oil prices. The U.S. released 400 million barrels of oil nytimes.com to stabilize prices, the largest coordinated action in history, though Brent crude held above $100 wsj.com as Hormuz threats persisted.