Public Markets 3h Briefing
×Market Sentiment and Volatility
Citadel Securities’ Rubner bloomberg.com lifted his bearish call, signaling a potential March bounce as fundamental analysis suggests turning bullish despite recent Iran war volatility. African dollar bonds bloomberg.com are widening as investors flee to the safety of the US dollar, driving up borrowing costs across the continent. Gulf insurance costs ft.com have soared 12-fold despite Trump guarantees, with shipowners quoted millions in premiums as brokers grapple with escalating risk.
Commodities and Energy
Oil storage bloomberg.com is filling rapidly across the Middle East as the Iran war blocks the region's main export artery, threatening output cuts if the situation persists. Jet fuel prices bloomberg.com are surging globally as oil traders navigate the fallout from the conflict, adding to broader inflation concerns. Container shipping companies wsj.com have begun halting bookings and diverting vessels in response to increasing Middle East security risks, disrupting global trade flows.
Central Bank and Policy
Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem wsj.com urged regulators to step up surveillance of private-credit risks from nonbank lenders like hedge funds to protect financial stability. The Federal Reserve's Neel Kashkari investing.com maintained that rate cuts remain appropriate despite Middle East war tensions. Fed grants Kraken ft.com access to the payments system in a first for a crypto group, allowing direct connection to central bank infrastructure.
Corporate and Sector News
Goldman Sachs bloomberg.com further sweetened terms on a $1.25 billion loan for DuPont's Aramids business sale as market conditions remain challenging. Vistry shares ft.com plunged 20% after the UK housebuilder warned of lower margins, announcing CEO and chair role separation. Brown-Forman wsj.com reported higher third-quarter sales as emerging markets growth offset weakness in the US and developed markets.
Market Technicals and Outlook
Wolfe Research investing.com warned the S&P 500 may drop to as low as 6500 before staging another rally, highlighting downside risks. KeyBanc investing.com shuffled its chemicals playbook amid Iran conflict uncertainty. Ares Management bloomberg.com partner Julie Solomon said lending markets will remain friendly despite the higher interest rate environment creating discipline in real estate markets.
Economic Data
US services activity bloomberg.com expanded in February at the fastest pace since mid-2022, with the Institute for Supply Management's services index rising to 56.1, exceeding all projections. Canadian labor productivity wsj.com edged down in the final quarter of 2025 as economic activity pulled back slightly. Goldman Sachs' David Solomon investing.com said the market reaction to the Iran war has been surprisingly benign given the geopolitical tensions.