Public Markets 3d Briefing
×Last updated: March 13, 2026, 6:35 AM ET
Energy & Commodities
Oil futures surged past $100 wsj.com as the Middle East conflict intensified, with Brent crude climbing 8.4% bloomberg.com to $102.50 a barrel amid fears of extended supply disruptions. Gold prices edged higher wsj.com to $2,347 per ounce as investors sought safe-haven assets, while the euro fell to its lowest level since August bloomberg.com against the dollar, pressured by energy crisis concerns. European natural gas open interest dropped to a five-month low bloomberg.com as traders struggled with Middle East volatility, and the yen weakened to July 2024 levels bloomberg.com amid rising oil prices.
Global Markets Turmoil
Emerging market stocks headed for a second weekly drop bloomberg.com as Brent oil remained above $100, while European equities fell for a second consecutive week bloomberg.com amid war-related inflation fears. South Africa's stock benchmark declined 10% bloomberg.com since late February as investors pulled back from overheated markets. The S&P 500 inched down in futures trading wsj.com as conflict in the Middle East escalated, pushing oil prices close to $100 a barrel. Wall Street traders pored over charts bloomberg.com to determine potential further downside as technical analysts noted early signs of bearish momentum.
Fixed Income & Currency Markets
US Treasury volatility jumped to a nine-month high bloomberg.com as the Iran war fanned inflation concerns and upended Fed policy expectations. The dollar extended gains wsj.com to its highest level in more than three months as investors sought safe-haven assets. China's yuan fixing rose for a record 15th straight week bloomberg.com showing continued support for currency appreciation despite Middle East volatility. Open interest in European natural gas futures dropped to a five-month low bloomberg.com with traders struggling to navigate intense price swings driven by unpredictable Middle East newsflow.
Corporate & IPO Developments
Hong Kong Exchange proposed easing listing rules wsj.com to strengthen the city's appeal as an IPO venue, while regulators planned to 'name and shame' lawyers and auditors ft.com for sloppy IPO work amid an influx of Chinese companies seeking funds. JPMorgan leased Sun Hung Kai's office tower bloomberg.com in West Kowloon, marking one of Hong Kong's largest leasing deals amid a prolonged commercial downturn. MDA Space sought $300 million in a US IPO bloomberg.com after being listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, and SoftBank-backed Pay Pay kept dual listing on table bloomberg.com following its $880 million New York trading debut.
Regional Market Impacts
India's struggling equity market faced a pivotal technical test bloomberg.com with the benchmark index close to breaking a key long-term support level amid surging oil prices. Malaysia's subsidy bill was set to rise bloomberg.com due to higher oil prices caused by the Middle East war. Thailand's growth could be halved bloomberg.com if the conflict lasts three months, with a triple hit from weaker tourism, softer exports, and higher energy prices. Singapore banks paused Gulf expansion goals bloomberg.com after war deflated recent enthusiasm for Middle East markets.
Industrial & Manufacturing Effects
Germany's chemical industry warned of output cuts bloomberg.com as shockwaves from the Iran war began ricocheting through Europe's largest economy with companies dialing down production as supply chains seized up. German chemical firms warned of supply-chain hits wsj.com from the Middle East war, with risks spreading beyond oil and natural gas. European businesses warned Brussels over tech sovereignty push ft.com arguing it could hit profits and undermine continental competitiveness. BMW projected flat automaking margins bloomberg.com due to tariff costs and intensifying China competition.
Private Credit & Financial Services
Some investors began cashing out of private-credit funds wsj.com, potentially leaving banks more exposed to them. India's top private credit borrower planned a $1 billion bond debut bloomberg.com as Shapoorji Pallonji Group aimed to raise up to $1 billion through its first dollar bond sale. Private credit lenders provided over $400 million bloomberg.com in delayed draw term loan for Blackstone's Enverus after supplying roughly $3 billion in December. The UK government planned to overhaul nuclear regulation bloomberg.com after a review criticized it for being too risk-averse and favoring process over outcomes.
Technology & Innovation
Airwallex earmarked $1.1 billion wsj.com for European expansion, courting clients with global customer bases across the UK, France, Germany, Netherlands, and UAE. Toronto-listed MDA Space sought $300 million in US IPO bloomberg.com as the robotics and satellite company prepared for public trading. The hottest job in tech wasn't very glamorous wsj.com as job postings for 'forward deployed engineers' surged among tech companies despite limited appeal to engineers. Software stocks appeared to find a bottom bloomberg.com after months of heavy selling on fears of AI disruption.
Geopolitical & Defense
Serbia bought Chinese supersonic missiles bloomberg.com as President Vucic alleged threats, part of $17 billion defense upgrades against claimed hostile intentions of nearby NATO countries. The UAE cut partners' crude shipments bloomberg.com with flows sent to Fujairah as the Strait of Hormuz remained all-but-shuttered. The Group of Seven supported use of strategic reserves bloomberg.com to address oil supply and market volatility since the outbreak of war in Iran. The IEA said the Iran war was causing unprecedented turmoil bloomberg.com in oil markets, hitting 7.5% of global supply and an even bigger swath of exports.
Real Estate & Construction
Berkeley Group Holdings warned of Middle East impact bloomberg.com on risk sentiment while reiterating profit guidance for the year. Dubai's real estate bond bonanza faced an abrupt end bloomberg.com as investors nursed losses from bonds hammered by the Iran war. UK's HS2 rail executives entered last-ditch talks ft.com to renegotiate contracts hoping to reach new deals with suppliers to peg back runaway costs. The ultra-short-term crypto betting market added 'even more mania' ft.com to trading as five and 15-minute contracts surged in popularity.
Emerging Markets & Commodities
Algeria hoped for an oil price boon bloomberg.com as authorities were thrown a lifeline after Russia's invasion of Ukraine sent energy prices soaring. Congo's government faced calls to end illegal mining bloomberg.com after a deadly landslide prompted Eurasian Resources Group to urge stopping activities on one of its copper licenses. Vietnam's government faced warnings of legal action bloomberg.com from foreign investors over a long-running dispute about payments to solar and wind power projects. Nigeria halted gasoline import permits bloomberg.com in a major win for Aliko Dangote, who controls Africa's largest refinery.
Financial System Resilience
Economists saw ECB holding rates until 2028 bloomberg.com in a split from market expectations, even as inflation threats resurfaced. The European Central Bank confronted another bout of war-induced inflation bloomberg.com knowing this time is probably different and it's better positioned to respond. Australia's pension system became one of world's largest bloomberg.com at A$4.5 trillion ($3.2 , expected to overtake Canada's as the fastest-growing among major markets. One of Australia's biggest pension funds sought more US private assets bloomberg.com underscoring strong appetite from the country's fast-growing retirement savings pool.
Market Structure & Trading
Leveraged ETFs saw renewed inflows bloomberg.com reviving fears that some of Asia's largest markets may suffer a repeat of last week's war-induced selloff. European stocks headed for second weekly drop bloomberg.com as Brent oil stayed above $100 a barrel amid deepening Middle East conflict. The dollar-oil link became all that mattered bloomberg.com in currency markets as war spiraled in the Middle East. South African stocks faced a 10% correction bloomberg.com as losses deepened with investors pulling away from overheated markets while Middle East conflict dragged on.