Public Markets 3 Hours

Last updated: April 13, 2026, 5:30 PM ET

Public Equities & Market Sentiment

The S&P 500 Index surged, erasing all losses sustained since the beginning of the Iran conflict, as traders reacted positively to a temporary ceasefire agreement and the commencement of US earnings season. This rally, which marks the benchmark's eighth consecutive session of gains, brings the index back to pre-conflict levels, reflecting growing market confidence that the Middle East tensions are likely contained. BlackRock strategists shifted back to an overweight position on US equities, viewing the geopolitical damage to global growth as limited. Meanwhile, software stocks provided substantial propulsion for the upward move powering the index through, even as specific commodity pressures mounted elsewhere.

Private Markets & Regulatory Scrutiny

In the private equity sphere, Thoma Bravo is reportedly winding down its growth equity business less than five years after its inception, choosing instead to concentrate capital on its core strategy of acquiring and owning established technology firms. This pivot contrasts with broader regulatory observations, as a Wall Street watchdog dismissed concerns that private credit poses a systemic risk, even as unlisted assets flow into retail portfolios. Separately, major consulting firms faced cybersecurity breaches, with Code Wall claiming access to Bain & Co's Pyxis platform through publicly available credentials, mirroring a similar vulnerability exposed at McKinsey just last month.

Geopolitics & Commodity Pressures

Global supply chains remained strained by maritime insecurity, as the final pre-war oil cargoes that departed the Strait of Hormuz began unloading, intensifying the worldwide scramble for available crude barrels. In response to rising input costs, the USDA is requesting information from American farmers to aid an ongoing Justice Department probe into soaring prices for fertilizer and machinery. This agricultural pressure is mirrored globally, with the United Nations warning against curbs on energy and fertilizer shipments, citing historical precedent where such restrictions exacerbated global food price spikes. Separately, Colombian presidential candidate Paloma Valencia pledged a sharp fiscal adjustment, aiming to slash the national deficit by 50 trillion pesos ($14 and reinstate strict fiscal guidelines.

Corporate & Crypto Incidents

Crypto exchange Kraken confirmed it is facing extortion from a criminal group that alleges unauthorized access to some customer account data, marking a security incident for one of the industry's longest-standing platforms. In corporate news facing state-level inquiries, Lululemon Athletica is under investigation by the Texas attorney general regarding the alleged use of PFAS "forever chemicals" in its athletic wear, though the company asserts it has ceased using the compounds. On the consumer front, a high-profile maritime tragedy saw a 16-year-old charged with murder and sexual abuse in connection with the death of 18-year-old Anna Kepner aboard a Carnival cruise ship.