Public Markets 3h Briefing
×Last updated: July 22, 2026, 2:30 AM ET
Energy & Commodities
Equinor surged on earnings wsj.com as higher energy prices, fueled by Middle East tensions, boosted second-quarter adjusted operating income by over 75%. Meanwhile, copper near $14,000 as traders awaited potential U.S. tariff announcements. Wheat gained Black bloomberg.com, with corn also reaching a two-month high, while the European heatwave ft.com. Insurers are ft.com in safer regions as competition rises.
Financial Institutions & Deals
Santander posted lower wsj.com, with a 36% drop attributed to restructuring charges from recent deals involving TSB and Poland. In private capital markets, a reversal from recent years ft.com while private equity misses out. Grant Thornton is ft.com as it aims to re-enter the market for large UK audits after retreating due to past shortcomings.
Global Markets & Currencies
The Japanese yen slid to ¥163 to the dollar ft.com for the first time in nearly 40 years, prompting Tokyo to vow "bold" action. U.S. Treasury yields wsj.com as investors weighed higher oil prices against hopes for de-escalation in U.S.-Iran hostilities. In Australia, Lynas Rare Earths Ltd. shares dropped five-month bloomberg.com after reporting quarterly sales that missed analyst expectations.
Corporate & Tech News
Nike is ft.com in China as part of a sales overhaul in a market where it has struggled. French AI startup Mistral is ft.com with Samsung, which could invest as much as €1bn at a €20bn valuation, seeking a leading alternative to U.S. tech giants.
Geopolitics & Economic Policy
South Africa's finance chief bloomberg.com amid ongoing corruption concerns at the state pension fund manager. Saudi Arabia has reached a deal with the U.S. nytimes.com that could permit nuclear fuel enrichment, though U.S. lawmakers and Israeli officials have expressed opposition. Japan's 40-year government bond auction bloomberg.com since March 2025, attracting investors with higher yields.