Public Markets 3h Briefing
×Market Performance
European stocks bloomberg.com are heading for their worst weekly drop since April as the Iran war shows no signs of resolution. The FTSE 100 bloomberg.com rebounded but remains on track for its worst week since tariff chaos, while European shares investing.com rose but are still set for hefty weekly losses amid Middle East conflict.
Hong Kong's commercial property market bloomberg.com is seeing a "great rebound" according to Hongkong Land's CEO, while UK house prices investing.com reached new highs in February, demonstrating market resilience despite global tensions.
Middle East Conflict Impact
The Iran war is testing Asia's resilience bloomberg.com as investors assess the conflict's duration and economic impact. Deutsche Lufthansa wsj.com warned of Iran conflict impact on 2026 operations, while ComfortDelGro's CEO wsj.com said the Middle East conflict may affect transport operators through fuel costs and consumer demand but will likely be short-lived.
Etihad Airways bloomberg.com resumed commercial flights as missile threats persist, preparing to restart service to around 70 destinations after a week-long shutdown. Meanwhile, the ECB investing.com maintains it's in a "good place" despite Mideast war concerns.
Energy & Commodities
Oil prices wsj.com edged higher as the employment report and Middle East tensions kept markets on edge. The Philippine Central Bank bloomberg.com warned that oil rising toward $100 per barrel could push inflation beyond target ranges, potentially forcing rate hikes.
Gold ticked up as investors sought safe havens amid conflict, while dollar strength bloomberg.com offset war premiums as traditional safe havens like Treasuries and gold offered little refuge.
Corporate & Deal News
Investcorp bloomberg.com closed a fund that buys minority stakes in private investment firms, drawing commitments of over $1.1 billion. KKR bloomberg.com is seeking a $500 million loan to back its acquisition of a majority stake in school operator XCL Education Holdings.
Burlington Stores wsj.com reported higher fiscal fourth-quarter profit as inflation concerns drove consumers to off-price retailers. Atos investing.com met its €8 billion revenue target amid turnaround efforts, while IMI Plc investing.com beat 2025 forecasts and launched a larger-than-expected £500 million buyback.
Defense & Industrial
Vincorion wsj.com plans a Frankfurt listing as European defense spending rises, positioning itself to tap into momentum from increased defense budgets. The company's military and aviation focus aligns with growing European security priorities.
Emerging Markets
The Iran war could spark another round of devaluations in Africa as rising energy costs limit authorities' ability to defend their currencies, according to BMI bloomberg.com. Meanwhile, Chinese markets bloomberg.com have held up better than their Asian peers during the global market selloff caused by the Iran conflict.