Public Markets 3 Days

Last updated: July 5, 2026, 5:30 PM ET

Global Markets & Economy

Global equities closed higher for a fourth consecutive week, hitting record levels as investors anticipate the Federal Reserve holding off on interest rate hikes. The dollar weakened against a basket of currencies following cooler-than-expected U.S. jobs data, which also bolstered gold prices rising after jobs data. Eurozone business activity showed signs of stagnation rather than contraction in June, revised upward from initial estimates Euro-Zone Business Activity Revised. Investors are also tracking AI token prices for clues on the next moves in the volatile tech sector Investors Track Tokens Clues. In a significant move, investors have pulled billions from ESG funds, though proponents maintain the strategy's viability, albeit pursued more quietly State of ESG Investing Dire.

Energy & Commodities

Oil prices surged in June as OPEC members restored exports through the Strait of Hormuz amid a U.S.-Iran peace accord, though producers remain eager to offload stockpiled crude Mideast Producers Desperate Sell. This increased supply has led to fears of a global glut and is threatening to weaken Iran's hand in future negotiations. OPEC+ has ratified a planned oil quota hike, with major members agreeing to another modest increase for August OPEC+ Ratifies Planned Oil. Russia, meanwhile, is increasing subsidies to domestic refiners to avoid fuel shortages Russia Hikes June Subsidies, with President Vladimir Putin signing a law to stimulate domestic fuel supply Putin Signs Tax Amendments. The U.S. energy sector faces soaring prices for clean power as AI demand coincides with subsidy cuts US clean power prices.

Corporate & Dealmaking

UK airline Easy Jet has reached an outline agreement for a takeover by U.S. private credit group Castlelake, with the board recommending a proposal exceeding £5 billion EasyJet reaches outline agreement. In the tech sector, SK Hynix Inc. is pursuing a $29 billion U.S. stock-market listing, potentially the largest-ever by a foreign company, aiming to compete in the AI space SK Hynix Seeks Access. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board is investing $1.75 billion to support EQT AB's artificial intelligence infrastructure buildout CPP Invests $1.75 Billion. France's Thales will record a charge after Germany scrapped a frigate program Thales Take Hit. Apollo is struggling to sell a Hispanic grocer after U.S. immigration raids impacted sales Apollo’s grocery aisle mess. Uber is stalling its European food delivery expansion to pursue a takeover of Delivery Hero Uber stalls European food. German aerospace and defense group OHB has warned that a three-way merger would harm competition and increase costs for taxpayers European space deal. Italian startup Bending Spoons has achieved a $23 billion valuation through a Nasdaq listing after transforming struggling brands Bending Spoons built. Wall Street banks like Goldman Sachs, and JPMorgan are recovering in China amid a trading boom, posting record profits.

US Politics & Policy

President Trump's administration is rolling back dozens of gun regulations, a move critics argue weakens public safety Trump Administration Rolls Back. He has also been interceding in political races, pushing Robert Smullen out of a New York House race Push Robert Smullen Out and pardoning violators of the Clean Air Act and a major donor Trump Pardons Violators. Federal agencies are abandoning discrimination cases at Trump's direction, scaling back regulations Federal Agencies Are Abandoning. The U.S. is preparing for its 250th birthday amid extreme heat, storms, and political tensions America Marks 250th Birthday. Thousands of National Guard troops have been deployed in Washington ahead of holiday events Trump’s National Guard Deployment. Justice Alito has given no indication he is ready to step down from the Supreme Court, having delivered major wins for conservatives this term Justice Alito Gives Indication. A report details how nearly a million investors lost a total of $3.8 billion on a Trump crypto coin Nearly a Million Investors. The White House has criticized the Smithsonian Museum for ‘extreme political activism’ regarding its portrayal of American history White House Criticizes Smithsonian.

International Affairs

Iran is commemorating Ayatollah Ali Khamenei with a funeral unlike any in recent history Funeral Iran’s Supreme Leader, amidst chants of "Revenge" Mourners Chant ‘Revenge’. The unfinished complex where mourners are paying respects is seen by critics as emblematic of unfulfilled promises Site Where Iran’s Slain. The war in Ukraine continues, with Russia's Putin vowing to take more territory Putin Visits Battlefield, while Ukraine denies Russian claims of taking a city in Donetsk Soldiers Stalk Ruins. Crimea has become crucial in the Ukraine war due to escalating drone strikes and fuel shortages Four Reasons Crimea. China is urging "unimpeded passage" of the Strait of Hormuz as fee discussions mount China Urges ‘Unimpeded Passage’. Relations between China and Australia have improved, but China's ambassador warns of a "Cold War mentality" Australia Tried to Push. Germany's economic rebound is set to be determined by upcoming data reflecting the impact of the Iran war Germany’s Second Chance.

Technology & AI

Elite students are foregoing traditional internships for San Francisco hacker houses and incubators as AI disrupts career paths Forget Wall Street. Elite. AI labs are increasingly hiring philosophers for their contrarian thinking Philosophers Latest Hiring Target. The AI trade is losing one of its key signals as sector prices for each unit of usage drift downwards AI Trade Is Losing. The internet's largest repository of free knowledge, Wikipedia, is under threat from MAGA, AI, and foreign autocrats Wikipedia Battling Soul Internet. Data centers are presented as a crucial test of U.S. industrial resolve, with a warning not to repeat past mistakes that handed China dominance in rare-earth materials Data centres crucial test.

Finance & Investment

Wall Street banks are recovering in China amid a trading boom, with units of Goldman Sachs, and JPMorgan posting record profits. Investors are turning away from U.S. stocks at the fastest pace in over three months, according to Bank of America Corp. US Stocks Post Largest. The Bank of Korea has warned of risks from single-stock leveraged ETFs, particularly those tied to Samsung Electronics Co. and SK Hynix Inc., citing potential market concentration and volatility BOK Warns Risks. Emerging market traders are increasingly funding bets in the developing world with currencies like the euro and Australian dollar, shifting away from the U.S. dollar Carry Traders Shift Away. Investors are seeking shelter from the AI storm by turning to India's equities, which are regaining attention after the global AI rally Investors Looking for Shelter. The share of private software debt down more than 20% was higher in 2025 than in the past five years, even before AI fears triggered a "Saa S-pocalypse" Software Loans Hit Rough. EU asset managers will have revised disclosure requirements, no longer needing to report ESG data on all assets held Cut ESG Reporting Requirements. Standard Chartered Plc sees potential for debt sales by mid-sized African companies, following a successful green bond placement for a solar home financier StanChart Targets Mid-Sized African. ICICI Bank is considering its first benchmark dollar bond sale since 2017, aiming to raise at least $500 million ICICI Bank Mulls First. Argentina's central bank extended maturities worth $6 billion on its repurchase agreements to ease the government debt burden before the 2027 presidential election Argentina Pushes $6 Billion.

Other Notable Developments

The reversal of Folarin Balogun's World Cup suspension is highly unusual, marking the first time since 1962 that FIFA has nullified a red card suspension from the tournament Review U.S. Player’s Suspension. The movie Minions opened at No. 1 but generated significantly less than previous franchise entries, taking in $36.4 million in North America over the holiday weekend ‘Minions’ Opens at No.. The Brooklyn Bridge briefly caught fire during a fireworks display on the Fourth of July, with no reported injuries Brooklyn Bridge Briefly Catches. New York City experienced thunderstorms that raised flood risks as a massive heat dome across the U.S. East began to crack, impacting power grids and transit New York Thunderstorms Raise. The U.S. is deploying large reactors at scale and investing in advanced and small reactors, signaling a nuclear renaissance America’s Nuclear Renaissance Underway. The U.S. presidential election campaign is marked by rising political tensions, with Democrats clashing with Trump over American ideals Democrats Clash Trump and Trump deriding opponents as "communists" Mount Rushmore, Trump Veers. The World Cup soccer tournament is proving to be a bright spot amidst global political turmoil Deflecting America’s Political Turmoil. The U.S. Department of Justice's insider trading cases have resulted in few prison sentences Insider Trading Cases End.