Public Markets 3h Briefing
×Last updated: March 13, 2026, 10:31 AM ET
US Equity Markets
US stocks opened higher bloomberg.com Friday as tepid economic data bolstered rate-cut expectations, with S&P 500 futures climbing 0.4% in premarket trading. Charles Schwab forecast 16% revenue growth bloomberg.com for Q1, citing resilient retail investor engagement despite Middle East uncertainty. Meanwhile, Bank of America's Michael Hartnett warned markets resemble 2008 bloomberg.com as oil spikes and private credit concerns mount.
Fixed Income & Rates
US Treasuries extended gains bloomberg.com after data showing weaker growth and sticky inflation, with traders now pricing in nearly one Fed rate cut this year. UBS Asset Management positioned for shorter European debt bloomberg.com, betting Bank of England and ECB hike expectations are overdone. Eurozone bond yields rose to multimonth highs wsj.com as Brent crude surpassed $100, with Commerzbank advising against Bund purchases amid Middle East volatility.
Energy & Commodities
Crude oil hovered near $100 bloomberg.com as the Iran war continued, testing US shale producers' restraint despite early signs of increased activity. Raw sugar headed for fourth weekly gain bloomberg.com, buoyed by crude's rally and traders watching Brazil's potential gasoline price increases that could divert more cane to sugar production. Canada's carbon tax reprieve vanished bloomberg.com as Iranian conflict erased nearly a year of lower gasoline prices.
Geopolitical & Regional Markets
Saudi equities defied regional turmoil bloomberg.com to rise as local buyers stepped in, contrasting with Gulf markets' initial tumble. India's foreign exchange reserves fell most since November bloomberg.com as the central bank intervened to support the rupee amid Iran war volatility. India's neighbors turned to New Delhi bloomberg.com for fuel supplies as Middle East war curtails Persian Gulf access, giving Asia's third-largest economy an opportunity to expand regional influence.
Corporate & Deal Activity
Rio Tinto slowed Quebec lithium plant construction bloomberg.com as costs surged just weeks after taking majority control of the Nemaska project. Andreessen Horowitz-backed startup plans to revive Utah copper mine bloomberg.com to test automated mining technology. Tanzanian tycoon Rostam Azizi acquired Nation Media Group ft.com from Aga Khan in a politically connected deal critics say threatens press freedom.
Emerging Markets & Commodities
Ghana's cocoa regulator hasn't repaid $400M+ in loans bloomberg.com, raising risks it won't have cash to buy beans next season. Cuban officials confirmed talks with US ft.com for the first time, seeking "solutions" to energy blockade while insisting on sovereignty respect. French and Italian officials opened talks with Iran ft.com to secure safe Hormuz passage as Tehran vowed to keep the strait shut.
Technology & Innovation
China's BYD launched 5-minute 'flash charging' ft.com technology challenging Porsche and BMW, enabling EVs to charge almost as quickly as fueling conventional vehicles. French defense contractor Exail Technologies saw shares rally bloomberg.com as Iran's Hormuz closure highlighted its mine-destroying sea drones.
Alternative Assets
BlackRock's $220 billion model platform maintained bullish stock outlook bloomberg.com despite geopolitical tensions roiling asset classes. Retail investors showed first buyer fatigue bloomberg.com as Middle East escalation and inflation concerns weighed on risk appetite, according to JPMorgan.
Market Infrastructure
Commercial maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remained effectively at standstill bloomberg.com with no confirmed transits over the past 24 hours, according to vessel-tracking data.