Public Markets 3h Briefing
×Last updated: March 13, 2026, 1:30 PM ET
Energy Markets
Oil futures slipped 1.3% bloomberg.com in early Asian trade as OPEC+ signaled potential output increases, while gold held steady bloomberg.com near $2,340/oz despite a weakening dollar. The Iran conflict intensified bloomberg.com with the U.S. escalating strikes to "unprecedented levels," disrupting energy flows and sending Brent crude up 2.4% bloomberg.com to $84.50/barrel. Saudi Arabia's Red Sea tanker buildup bloomberg.com grew as the kingdom raced to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, with 15 supertankers now anchored off Jeddah awaiting cargoes. Meanwhile, China eased BHP iron ore restrictions bloomberg.com after steel mills rushed to secure supplies, temporarily lifting bans on specific grades that had sent prices down 4.2% bloomberg.com earlier in the week.
Corporate & Regulatory
UK petrol retailers faced public backlash ft.com after government ministers accused them of "price gouging," with the PRA reporting staff abuse incidents. In the U.S., Vivid Seats debt sank bloomberg.com deeper into distressed territory after weak earnings missed estimates and guidance pointed to further revenue declines. The EPA moved to weaken ethylene oxide limits nytimes.com, a decision affecting medical device sterilization amid cancer risk concerns. Companies House suspended online filing ft.com after a glitch exposed personal data, allowing potential fraudsters to alter corporate records.
Geopolitics & Trade
Mexico, Colombia, and Brazil's leftist leaders issued a joint ceasefire call bloomberg.com for the Iran conflict, marking Latin America's most significant diplomatic intervention. The EU prepared to suspend duty-free sugar imports bloomberg.com for at least one year to stabilize bloc prices amid global market volatility. India scrapped IDBI Bank bids bloomberg.com after both offers fell below minimum price thresholds, leaving the state lender's privatization in limbo. Iran arranged special transport bloomberg.com to return 180 sailors from India as diplomatic channels remained active despite military tensions.
Financial Markets
Wall Street pitched bond alternatives bloomberg.com to investors frustrated with traditional hedges, promoting buffer ETFs as volatility persists. The private credit sector showed warning signs ft.com, with half the ingredients of a financial crisis present as valuations diverged from reality. Private credit turmoil intensified wsj.com with adviser fees under scrutiny and client redemptions mounting across Wall Street funds. Meanwhile, SpaceX's xAI merger advanced bloomberg.com as Elon Musk positioned the combined entity for growth ahead of a potential IPO, though xAI founder departures continued ft.com amid coding challenges.
Corporate Moves
Starbucks Workers United proposed new contract terms wsj.com, requesting a $17 minimum wage plus 4% annual raises. Peyton Manning-backed soccer teams sold private debt bloomberg.com in a novel financing move for women's sports. Oaktree planned to acquire ft.com a South Carolina insurer following 777 Partners' collapse, stepping into the void left by the failed Miami-based fund. Blackstone arranged a $1.2 billion loan bloomberg.com for Air Trunk's Japanese data center expansion, part of a broader private equity push into AI infrastructure across Asia-Pacific.