Public Markets 3h Briefing
×Market Sentiment & Economic Data
Manufacturing activity investing.com rose as tariffs weighed on consumers, according to the latest Fed Beige Book. The report showed US economic growth at a slight to moderate pace, though more regions reported flat or declining activity. Money market funds bloomberg.com surged to a record $8.27 trillion as investors rushed into cash amid Middle East tensions. New Zealand house prices bloomberg.com edged higher in February while buyers remained cautious, with values still down year-over-year.
Energy & Commodities
Airlines and shippers bloomberg.com scrambled for fuel hedges as oil prices spiked to multi-year highs amid US-Iran tensions. Supertankers bloomberg.com began abandoning voyages into the Persian Gulf, seeking safer destinations as the Strait of Hormuz crisis deepened. Wizz Air bloomberg.com cut its profit guidance after the Iran conflict forced flight suspensions and increased fuel costs. Marsh bloomberg.com said US tanker-insurance plans for the Strait of Hormuz could take weeks to arrange.
Corporate & M&A
Blackstone bloomberg.com financed its Champions Group acquisition with over $1 billion in private credit as buyout firms seek refuge from volatile sectors. Victory Capital bloomberg.com said all options remain on the table to pursue Janus Henderson if the asset manager doesn't respond to its unsolicited offer. KKR bloomberg.com co-CEO Scott Nuttall expects a k-shaped industry to emerge in alternative assets, with consolidation likely. Paramount bloomberg.com CEO Bob Bakish's departure marks a major shift in the Warner Bros. Discovery deal landscape.
Tech & Innovation
Nvidia's CEO investing.com said demand went "from very high to higher than that" as AI chip sales accelerate. CPUs finance.yahoo.com are making a comeback in data centers amid changing computing needs. Medtronic's diabetes unit bloomberg.com Mini Med sparked analyst debate over whether its growth prospects justify its IPO valuation. An activist AI report urged Block-like job cuts at Docu Sign to improve efficiency.
Global Markets & Policy
Russian President Putin bloomberg.com said Russia will consider ending most natural gas sales to Europe in favor of alternative markets. Temasek's CEO bloomberg.com discussed global investment strategies and capital deployment across private and public markets. Clearlake Capital bloomberg.com and Goldman examined whether expanding liquidity in private markets strengthens or weakens the system. State Street bloomberg.com and Apollo explored private markets going mainstream for retail investors.
Regulatory & Legal
The Justice Department bloomberg.com has been investigating whether fertilizer producers colluded to raise prices. KPMG ft.com named former Australia boss Gary Wingrove as its next global chief, beating UK boss Jon Holt. The BIS ft.com defended its global rulemaking role against US criticism, with Trump administration officials questioning European-set standards for American banks.
Emerging Markets & Alternative Assets
Apollo's John Zito bloomberg.com sees private credit pain lasting up to 18 months but downplays withdrawal concerns. DoubleLine bloomberg.com sees a "virtuous loop" in emerging markets despite Iran war tensions, citing structural convergence with advanced economies. BCA Research investing.com upgraded Canada and Australia amid the Hormuz closure. HPS CEO Scott Kapnick bloomberg.com discussed the next wave of private credit growth under BlackRock at Bloomberg Invest.