Public Markets 3 Days

Last updated: July 13, 2026, 5:30 PM ET

Mideast Tensions Send Oil Prices Surging, Rattling Markets

Brent crude futures surged to their highest in a month as President Trump vowed to hit Iran "hard" this week, potentially renewing a blockade and leading to further escalations. Oil prices amid claims Washington would act as the "guardian" of the Strait of Hormuz and seek reimbursement for providing security. The Strait of Hormuz following an Iranian attack and subsequent U.S. strikes, with little crude oil being transported. Dubai is now planning a new port on the UAE's east coast to bypass the Strait of Hormuz in a major shift. U.S. stocks fell on Monday as investors assessed tit-for-tat attacks between the U.S. and Iran, and conflicting information regarding the Strait of Hormuz. Iran, meanwhile, managed to export at least 57 million barrels of crude during a brief gap between two American naval blockades. Russia's crude output declined to the lowest in at least two and a half years in June, impacted by Ukrainian attacks on its oil infrastructure. The United Arab Emirates, however in June after exiting OPEC.

AI Selloff and Corporate Dealmaking Shake Up Equities

U.S. stocks declined as a sharp selloff in chip stocks rattled investor confidence in the artificial-intelligence trade. The Nasdaq also slumped as AI doubts soured SK Hynix’s big U.S. debut. Wall Street tech stocks. A quarter-trillion-dollar onslaught of AI bonds is, with tech giants borrowing more than expected and weighing on bond prices. The dollar's recent gains are at risk if the selloff in artificial intelligence stocks deepens, according to Apollo Global Management. Royal Bank of Canada is in the U.S. and Europe, anticipating that multibillion-dollar fundraising for artificial intelligence will fuel hedging demand. Intel announced it will as AI chip demand surges, strengthening Dublin’s role in Europe's bid to secure advanced semiconductor manufacturing.

In corporate news, a coalition of a dozen states would boost prices for consumers and lower quality for film and television, prompting a lawsuit to block the deal. The lawsuit could and cost the studio tens of millions of dollars. Chipotle Mexican Grill is expanding in an international push as domestic sales growth slows amid high inflation. Brown-Forman, the maker of Jack Daniel's, announced its CEO Lawson Whiting. First Hawaiian Bank has in an all-stock transaction valued at $2.01 billion. Shell is as the energy major refocuses on oil and gas. In the UK, several companies, including Waterstones Booksellers and Sum Up Payments, are in London to 2027.

Fed Signals Potential Rate Hikes Amid Stubborn Inflation

Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller stated that policymakers may need to raise rates in the near term if underlying inflation continues to signal broad price pressures. Waller indicated he needed to see several months of lower inflation data to feel confident about the outlook, warning that the Fed. Wall Street strategists expect a group assembled by Chairman Kevin Warsh to review the Federal Reserve’s $6.7 trillion balance sheet will. Traders are grappling with a world that is, and investors are finding ways to navigate this environment.

Global Economic and Regulatory Developments

New Jersey is initiating a process to develop new nuclear power plants to meet rising electricity demand. Canadian oil sands producers have reached an agreement with the Alberta and federal governments on next steps toward building a carbon capture and storage system as part of a deal. The International Monetary Fund warned that Europe's sovereign-debt dynamics are in danger of going badly awry if the region doesn’t get a grip on its public finances. India has asked state-owned banks to intensify efforts to garner foreign currency deposits from its diaspora, as the country seeks to boost its external buffers and shore up its flagging currency in a push for foreign currency. Zurich and Geneva of the highest disposable incomes globally, despite being expensive cities. The European Commission is considering changing rules across the 27-nation bloc to potentially. China's regulators are pressuring agencies to limit triple-A designations for higher-interest borrowers for corporate bonds.