Public Markets 3h Briefing
×Last updated: March 13, 2026, 7:30 PM ET
Market Volatility and Geopolitical Tensions
U.S. stock markets extended losses wsj.com for a third consecutive week as investors grappled with escalating Middle East tensions and potential supply chain disruptions. Oil prices settled above $100 wsj.com a barrel, capping a volatile week marked by Iran's threats to close the Strait of Hormuz and the U.S. deploying 2,500 Marines to the region. Hedge funds turned most bullish bloomberg.com on Brent crude in six years as the conflict intensified, with the Iran War now disrupting global trade wsj.com and rippling through supply chains far from the Middle East.
Fixed Income and Credit Markets
The London Stock Exchange Group targeted a $3 billion bond sale bloomberg.com as early as next week, seeking to capitalize on current market conditions. Meanwhile, Oaktree Capital's Danielle Poli warned that bigger price moves bloomberg.com in credit markets are coming, though she believes the moment for distressed debt investors to scoop up assets hasn't arrived yet. TD Securities recommended buying corporate bonds bloomberg.com, arguing valuations have become attractive enough to warrant taking on additional risk.
Technology and AI Developments
Nvidia prepared to launch new AI inference chips ft.com at its upcoming GTC event, as the company faces rising competition in the AI hardware space. The shift from AI model training to inference represents a strategic pivot for the semiconductor giant, with Jensen Huang set to unveil products designed to maintain Nvidia's dominance as spending patterns evolve. This development comes as investors closely monitor nytimes.com the fallout from Judge Boasberg's decision to quash Justice Department subpoenas targeting Federal Reserve officials, a move that crippled efforts nytimes.com to pursue cases against Trump administration rivals.
Aviation and Transportation
Chemical fumes at Washington's air traffic control center triggered ground stops nytimes.com at major airports across the region, affecting flights in Baltimore, Richmond, and surrounding areas through at least 7 p.m. The FAA reported that the odor had incapacitated controllers, creating cascading delays across the East Coast's aviation network. This incident highlights ongoing infrastructure vulnerabilities as air travel demand continues to recover post-pandemic.
Private Markets and Corporate Activity
Blue Owl Capital's private credit fund urged investors to reject bloomberg.com a share purchase offer from Saba Capital Management, calling the proposed price too low. The dispute underscores tensions in the private credit space as firms navigate a higher interest rate environment. Meanwhile, Blackstone arranged a $1.2 billion credit facility wsj.com for Air Trunk's expansion into Japanese data centers, reflecting continued private equity investment in AI infrastructure despite broader market uncertainty.
Political Developments
President Trump softened his rhetoric nytimes.com on Iranian protests, warning demonstrators they risk being shot "right through the head" - a notable shift from his earlier calls for regime change. This change in tone comes as the administration secured a $10 billion fee wsj.com for brokering the TikTok deal, with investors in the platform's U.S. business agreeing to multibillion-dollar payments to the government. The political landscape remains volatile as legal battles continue over executive authority and judicial independence.