Public Markets 3h Briefing
×Last updated: March 13, 2026, 5:30 PM ET
Energy Markets Turmoil
Brent crude closed above $100 bloomberg.com for the second consecutive session, reaching the highest level in over three years as Middle East conflict intensifies. Total Energies halted production wsj.com in Qatar, Iraq, and UAE offshore facilities, representing approximately 15% of its total output. The Trump administration's seizure of oil tankers nytimes.com has already cost taxpayers $47 million in maintenance for a single aging vessel, contradicting claims of financial benefits. Meanwhile, the White House authorized Venezuelan fertilizer sales bloomberg.com to U.S. companies, further loosening sanctions as Iran war disrupts global agricultural supply chains.
Geopolitical Flashpoints
A U.S.-made launcher fired missiles from Bahrain nytimes.com toward Iran, though military attribution remains unclear. The conflict is disrupting global trade wsj.com, with supply chains experiencing significant delays far from the Middle East. In Brazil, fears of U.S. meddling have intensified after Trump appointed Darren Beattie as special envoy, who planned meetings nytimes.com with imprisoned former President Bolsonaro and his presidential-candidate son. Domestically, two new executive orders target housing affordability wsj.com as part of a broader effort to address voter frustration over homeownership costs.
Market Volatility
Trading desks experienced extreme chaos bloomberg.com as Brent crude's volatility triggered automated selloffs, with one London trader reporting $1 million losses in seconds. The market turmoil comes as methodological changes nytimes.com in inflation data collection contributed to a better-than-expected reading, though some economists question the accuracy. The Justice Department's failed subpoenas against Fed Chair Powell nytimes.com highlight ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and independent institutions, with Judge Boasberg criticizing the case as politically motivated vengeance.
Corporate & Regulatory
Blackstone arranged a $1.2 billion credit facility nytimes.com for Air Trunk's expansion into Japanese data centers, reflecting private equity's growing appetite for AI infrastructure assets across Asia-Pacific. Meanwhile, the EPA faces calls to repeal Clinton-era energy regulations wsj.com that critics say artificially inflate electricity costs while providing minimal environmental benefit. In the financial sector, hedge fund Odey received a final written warning ft.com after a receptionist alleged inappropriate conduct, underscoring ongoing workplace culture challenges in the industry.