Public Markets 3h Briefing
×Last updated: July 23, 2026, 2:30 AM ET
European Markets Face Downward Pressure Amid Rising Oil Prices
European stocks were poised to fall bloomberg.com as oil prices climbed higher, with escalating conflict in the Middle East and attacks in the Red Sea contributing to the upward pressure. Global oil prices rose sharply bloomberg.com as tensions with Iran deepened, while crop prices bloomberg.com due to heat waves and Black Sea disruptions, further stoking food inflation. US oil refineries are running at breakneck speeds ft.com to meet demand amid choked fuel supplies, with American refiners operating at high utilization rates that risk outages. Russia is reportedly ft.com following Ukrainian strikes that have damaged its own refineries.
Tech and Logistics Companies Report Strong Demand and Upgraded Forecasts
Nokia continues ride wsj.com of surging demand from AI and data-center customers, with supply constraints leading clients to place longer-term orders. STMicroelectronics, a key supplier to SpaceX wsj.com, raising its revenue target after a previous upgrade. Kuehne + Nagel has lifted its earnings guidance again wsj.com, driven by significant strength in its air logistics division, which saw revenue jump 20% in the quarter. Dassault Systemes agreed to buy wsj.com Aris Global for up to $2 billion to bolster its artificial-intelligence offerings. In Asia, Semight Instruments Co. is considering a second listing bloomberg.com in Hong Kong after its shares surged approximately 2,200%.
Corporate Earnings and Strategic Moves
Roche backs full-year wsj.com as first-half sales rose 6% on a constant exchange rate basis, exceeding analyst expectations, though its blockbuster eye drug Vabysmo showed a slower-than-expected recovery in the second quarter due to the drug bloomberg.com. Nestle agreed to offload wsj.com half of its Waters business in a joint venture with Platinum Equity. Hyundai Motor recorded a weaker second-quarter net profit as vehicle sales declined amid cooling global demand and labor unrest affecting its performance wsj.com. Chinese carmakers, meanwhile, logged a surge wsj.com in European monthly sales in June, solidifying their competitive position. BNP Paribas reported better-than-expected second-quarter results, with its stock traders and overall profits surging by a third on the back of a trading boom and a 12% revenue increase.
Market Developments and Investment Trends
Hong Kong and Malaysia to expand cross-market access and attract more international investment. China is reportedly from using a popular offshore loan structure that has aided some in navigating the property crisis. China's sovereign bonds are bloomberg.com amid economic weakness and expectations for greater monetary policy support. SBI Funds Management, India's largest asset manager, is planning its first bloomberg.com technology-focused fund for private firms. Global gold prices, while currently down wsj.com by the end of 2026, with UBS forecasting $4,675 an ounce. Zimbabwe's state-owned lithium miner, Mutapa Energy Resources, has secured $300 million to develop its facilities. Buyout groups are ft.com after a sector downturn, with one firm raising $21 billion. Private credit funds under stress present an opportunity ft.com for secondary investors.