Public Markets 3h Briefing
×Last updated: July 20, 2026, 5:30 PM ET
Treasury Yields Climb Amid Geopolitical Tensions
Treasury yields rose to start the week wsj.com as investors braced for increased spending under the new UK Prime Minister, Andy Burnham. Burnham’s pledge to "use any flexibility" within fiscal rules ft.com. Meanwhile, crude futures wsj.com as U.S.-Iran tensions escalated, despite ongoing mediation efforts for a ceasefire. The Pentagon nytimes.com killed in Jordan during an Iranian strike.
Corporate Earnings and Dealmaking
Cracker Barrel raised its guidance wsj.com for the fiscal year following its divestiture of Maple Street Biscuit and a sale-leaseback deal. Crown Holdings reported wsj.com as global beverage can volumes increased by 5%. Washington D.C. is preparing to bloomberg.com this week in its municipal debt sale, capitalizing on stabilizing credit conditions. The White House announced that Air Force One, a gift from Qatar wsj.com this fall, temporarily removing it from service for about a month.
Market Movements and Sector Performance
U.S. stocks edged lower wsj.com in cautious trading, though chip stocks rebounded from recent declines. Investors appeared to be shrugging off anxieties surrounding an AI bubble, with the Nasdaq wsj.com. Silver futures wsj.com as demand was eyed, although the metal remains down year-to-date. Gold prices, however, slipped on the session wsj.com.
Geopolitical and Legal Developments
Authorities identified a suspect nytimes.com in an attack at a New York City federal plaza as an Army veteran targeting ICE officials. A judge nytimes.com to Minnesota's immigration laws, ruling against the Trump administration's argument that state policies limiting cooperation with ICE were unconstitutional. Republicans themselves boxed nytimes.com on Iran war funding as President Trump sidelines Congress, potentially forcing them to support an unpopular conflict with limited oversight.