Public Markets 3 Hours

Last updated: May 17, 2026, 8:36 PM ET

Commodities & Precious Metals

Gold consolidated in early Asian trade as investors weighed expectations of Fed rate increases that typically reduce the appeal of non-interest-bearing precious metals. Meanwhile, Australia's government ordered Chinese investors to sell stakes in rare earths firm Northern Minerals Ltd., marking the second such intervention in two years as Canberra seeks to protect the company from foreign ownership concerns.

Industrial & Energy Markets

Asia heads toward an industrial supercycle with increased capital expenditure in energy, defense, and industrial sectors, while utilities are consolidating to meet rising demand. Next Era Energy is in talks to acquire Dominion, potentially creating a utility giant as power demand surges largely due to rapid growth in AI data centers requiring significant energy resources.

Financial Institutions & Expansion

Jane Street Group doubled capacity in Singapore this month, expanding its seating to 250 people as it continues to ramp up operations across Asia, reflecting the growing importance of Asian markets in global finance and the increasing focus on regional financial hubs.

Global Supply Chain Concerns

German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil urged partners to deepen cooperation on raw materials, energy, and supply chains to reduce vulnerability amid geopolitical challenges such as the Iran war, highlighting the ongoing concerns about supply chain resilience ahead of the G-7 summit.