Public Markets 3h Briefing
×Last updated: August 7, 2026, 5:54 PM ET
U.S. Equities
All three major stock indexes rose, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq capping their best week since April wsj.com after a July payrolls report showed the economy lost 23,000 jobs, far weaker than expected. The surprising data gave the Federal Reserve reason to hold off on raising interest rates next month wsj.com, fueling a broad rally that also saw Airbnb shares soar wsj.com. The financial world’s catalog of complaints keeps getting longer, but in markets the response is increasingly one of indifference bloomberg.com.
Fixed Income
Treasury yields fell after the weaker-than-expected jobs report wsj.com, with the 10-year note yield declining as traders priced in a slower economy and diminished rate‑hike risk.
Commodities
U.S. natural gas futures posted their seventh consecutive weekly loss wsj.com as strong production and soft LNG feedgas offset high seasonal power‑sector demand. Oil futures settled higher on Friday but finished down on the week: WTI rose 1.2% to $78.18 a barrel, though it lost 7.7% for the week, and Brent gained 1.3% to $83.55 for a 5% weekly decline wsj.com.
Currencies
Hedge funds sharply reduced bearish bets on the yen after coordinated efforts by U.S. and Japanese officials helped stabilize the currency bloomberg.com.
Deal Flows & Corporate
Live‑shopping platform Whatnot has nearly doubled its valuation to $20 billion wsj.com in less than a year. SpaceX shares surged for a second straight day, approaching the company’s $135 initial public offering price for the first time since falling below that level last month, after staging a $327 billion rally bloomberg.com. In a contrasting view, Sports Direct founder Mike Ashley cast doubt on Harvey Nichols’ prospects, calling the department store chain a ‘death spiral’ ft.com even as he vies to acquire it.
Geopolitics & Policy
Escalating tensions between the Iran‑backed Houthi group and the Yemeni government have prompted fears that a truce is nearing collapse, after Houthis claimed an attack on a military camp that killed 30 nytimes.com. In Washington, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer is forging ahead in the fight for the Senate despite setbacks, telling a new Michigan contender to just win nytimes.com. The Senate passed a sanctions bill targeting Russia and Iran, championed by the late Senator Lindsey Graham, whose sudden death spurred quick action nytimes.com. The Trump administration has resumed its battle to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, sending her a letter saying it is “considering” removing her nytimes.com. Separately, the Army opened test ranges to private industry to help break a munitions bottleneck, allowing companies to prove their weapons in battlefield conditions wsj.com.
Health
A growing number of people who feel that antidepressants block their true emotions are searching for guidance on how to exit these drugs, but many don’t have clear pathways nytimes.com.