Public Markets 3 Days

Last updated: August 10, 2026, 8:35 AM ET

Equities

U.S. stock futures were mostly higher Tuesday, with the S&P 500 extending its record run as blockbuster earnings from the largest companies eased worries about AI spending. Futures pointed to a positive open ahead of key inflation data later this week. Stock funds are up 10.6% so far in 2026, with tech stocks zipping about on the latest AI expectations. European markets were mixed, with the Stoxx 600 and Germany’s DAX extending Friday’s record highs, while London’s FTSE 100 and France’s CAC 40 traded lower. Investors are returning to European stocks as strong earnings lift the gloom from the Iran war, with companies in the Stoxx Europe 600 on track to deliver a 22% increase in second-quarter profits. Tractor Supply shares climbed to record highs after strong earnings, but the farm-and-ranch chain is also cutting prices and scaling back expansion as shoppers delay purchases. Westpac shares dropped as the Australian lender reported a decline in mortgage loan applications, signaling a worsening housing slump. Treasury Wine shares soared to an eight-month high after the vintner announced a A$558.4 million writedown to tackle US supply chain problems. Cloudflare plans to sell $2.175 billion of senior convertible notes after its guidance boost last week sent shares to an intraday high. Duke Energy is raising about $1.75 billion through equity units to pay down debt. Teledyne Technologies will buy Varex Imaging for about $1.1 billion, inclusive of equity awards and debt. Meta unveiled an open-source version of its most powerful AI model, which is likely to intensify debate over whether AI should be restricted. Mark Zuckerberg attacked “closed” AI rivals as Meta returns to open models. Palantir saw the UK raise cost projections for its NHS data platform to £1.1 billion. Berkshire Hathaway chief Greg Abel finally put Warren Buffett’s cash pile to work, ploughing a net $20 billion into stocks. Hargreaves Lansdown ordered staff back to the office three days a week. Sainsbury’s needs a dose of Big Tech’s boldness, according to a Financial Times commentary. Trip.com Group was fined RMB 518 billion for market abuse in China. Gucci is breaking luxury’s penny-pinching taboo by reducing overheads and reinvesting into lower prices. e.l.f. Beauty CEO shared lessons from a family business. NYT CEO Meredith Kopit Levien discussed running a media brand in the age of AI. FCC is moving to scrap broadcast ownership limits, potentially saving broadcast TV. Netflix used a stunt on Sunset Boulevard to promote a new thriller amid a summer slump. A2A was fined €5 million by Italy for power market manipulation. Barrick chairman John Thornton’s planned overhaul met investor backlash. Barrick and Newmont’s gold mining truce clears the way for an IPO. WuXi AppTec got a temporary reprieve from a Chinese military label. Netflix already used. Need to use all URLs exactly once. We'll continue with other equities.

China’s AI stocks are gaining as Beijing bets on the sector to race against the US for chip and tech dominance. Indonesia’s stocks neared bull-market territory as economic worries recede. Korea volatility ebbed after leveraged trades were flushed out, and small caps surged 30% on rotation from leveraged ETFs. India high-frequency traders are shunning the stock closing auction over SEBI short-selling hurdles. Leveraged ETFs are amping up intraday momentum plays. Private equity is under growing strain as default rates hit recent highs. Private credit liquidity definitions vary widely, and the sector is being squeezed by bank refinancings. Private equity is stuck with 33,575 unsold businesses. London needs capital to revive its struggling public markets, the LSE’s deputy CEO said. London’s housebuilders are finally catching a break. Bunq had its US banking license application rejected. A fintech that soared on Trump sold its core business for $12 million. Crypto had a tough week, with fans downing drinks at a Bitcoin bar. Crypto bill stalls in the US Senate despite $225 million spending push.

Fixed Income

Eurozone government bond yields rose slightly amid uncertainty over the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Wall Street saw signs of bond-market angst behind Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s moves. Condo associations may raise dues due to tighter federal mortgage rules. Insurance payout denials are on the rise after car crashes. London plots digital gold pivot to protect bullion trading.

Commodities

Oil prices rose amid growing doubts that the Strait of Hormuz can reopen soon. Brent crude remained under pressure from the prolonged stalemate. Iran insists the strait will stay closed until Trump agrees to demands. Tehran says the US must meet new conditions before reopening the waterway. Iranian demands include a US withdrawal to open Hormuz. Oil held onto gains as Iran and Oman remained short of a deal. European TTF gas rose more than 5% on Hormuz shipping concerns. Adnoc Gas will invest more than $8 billion in expansion. Adnoc Gas is exploring a new LNG export plant to avoid the Strait of Hormuz. Venezuelan oil boom sputters. Diesel squeeze sets the stage for a winter fuel crunch. Coal producer Indonesia battles to keep lights on. Solar eclipse threatens to tighten Europe’s electricity squeeze. Romania extended a nuclear reactor output by nine days after Danube blasts. Gold held above $4,400 ahead of US inflation data. Gold is rallying again thanks to deep-pocketed buyers, including ETFs and central banks. Gold held above $4,300 after soft US jobs data trimmed rate-hike bets. Wheat hit its highest this month on Black Sea supply disruptions. Australian wheat crop rebound is buffering the global supply outlook. Danube low levels strain the vital route for Black Sea grain. Turkey resumed Black Sea ship transits via its straits after delays. BHP union workers struck at Port Hedland iron ore export hub. US pledged $2 billion for battery and materials producers.

Currencies

The euro was flat against the dollar after reaching a seven-week high, and upcoming US inflation data could lift it above $1.16. The yen underperformed all G-10 peers as the boost from intervention fades. The Aussie-yen is set to approach a three-decade high. Currency interventions have a mixed record. Emerging Asia is finding ways to defend currencies without using reserves. India’s FX reserves climbed toward a record on foreign inflows. Emerging-market stocks and currencies gained after soft US jobs data. Hungary central bank touted benefits of joining the euro area. US bares financial weak spot with yen intervention. Your move, BoJ – the Bank of Japan faces challenges after intervention.

Central Banks & Policy

Indonesia President Prabowo nominated Destry Damayanti as central bank chief to calm markets. Philippine central bank keeps a rate hike on the table despite weak GDP growth. Egypt headline inflation quickened for the first time since March. China inflation cooled more than expected in July, with consumer and factory-gate prices slowing. China’s slower price gains revived deflation risk. US labor market shifted into reverse, with a surprise contraction in jobs. Canada offered concessions in trade talks but demanded a comprehensive deal. Burnham’s fiscal flexibility could backfire, UK Treasury officials fear.

IPOs & Corporate Finance

Shein is valued at $22 billion to $25 billion ahead of its IPO, according to Bloomberg Intelligence. DatVietVAC advances its Vietnam IPO, looking to the Korea playbook. Moonshot is shaking up its structure to win Beijing’s nod for a stock market debut in Hong Kong. CICC is the bank behind China’s AI listings bonanza. Australia widened orders on Chinese investors in a rare earths firm. US backs an Australian rare earth miner with a $400 million loan to cut out China. Billionaire brokerage faces Beijing crackdown on offshore money flows.

Sector Spotlight

Asian carmakers are cashing in as high petrol prices lift US demand for hybrids. Chinese EVs are upending the global car market, helped by war. US consumer brands say overseas sales are outpacing domestic growth. Auto & transport roundup includes insight on Wizz Air, Hero Moto Corp, and Qantas. Tech, media & telecom roundup covers Apple, Net Link NBN Trust, and Cambricon Technology. AI-driven chip crunch leads to a new lobbying rush in Washington. Data-center backlash leads to a land rush in the Texas oil patch. Wonder takes a gamble on robots, drones, and AI-generated menus. Food scares can serve up healthy profits, including lessons from Yum Brands. Blockbuster earnings bolstered stocks’ record run. FTSE 100 set to fall, with the pound steady. Reservation apps have made getting into a restaurant a nightmare.