Public Markets 3 Hours

Last updated: August 12, 2026, 8:39 PM ET

Asian Equities

Stocks in Asia were poised to gain Thursday after the latest US inflation report matched expectations, easing fears of imminent Federal Reserve rate hikes. The upbeat sentiment provided a tailwind for earnings reports across the region. ANZ Group posted a profit rise in its third quarter, driven by customer deposit growth and an expansion in business lending. Origin Energy beat analyst estimates for full-year profit, bolstered by accelerating uptake of electric vehicles and home batteries in Australia. In contrast, ASX Ltd missed profit estimates as costs grew ahead of incoming CEO Anthony Attia’s arrival at the Australian exchange next month. Treasury Wine Estates suffered a 36% earnings drop, reflecting a global downturn in alcohol consumption and supply disruptions in China and the US. Meanwhile, CapitaLand Investment returned to profit growth in the first half, lifted by higher fee income from private funds and real estate investment trusts.

Commodities

Gold steadied near $4,400 an ounce after the subdued US inflation reading relieved near-term pressure on the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates, supporting demand for the non‑yielding asset. In the energy sector, North Sea oil producers are being told to accelerate well closures, with the NSTA having already fined one company more than £16 million this year and vowing to enforce deadlines.

Corporate Movers

Apple is in talks to pay publishers for news content to improve its AI‑powered Siri assistant, a move that could reshape how the voice assistant delivers current information. StubHub failed to turn a profit in the second quarter despite surging revenue from the World Cup, as costs for marketing and technology climbed faster than revenue growth. The mixed earnings results across sectors underscore the uneven recovery in consumer spending and corporate profitability amid shifting global demand patterns.