Public Markets 8-Hour Briefing
×Last updated: March 12, 2026, 11:37 PM ET
Energy & Commodities
Oil futures edged lower in early Asian trade on technical correction after Thursday's 10% surge, while gold edged higher amid ongoing Middle East conflict. The Trump administration's removal of Russian oil sanctions aimed to boost flows as Brent crude topped $100 again, though prices barely reacted after the initial spike. Meanwhile, iron ore jumped 5.2% heading for its biggest weekly gain in over a year after China's state-backed buyer expanded restrictions on BHP Group products.
Asia-Pacific Markets
China's consumer spending posted its worst start to a year outside the pandemic, highlighting challenges to Beijing's push for domestic demand-led growth. In Singapore, officials disputed US trade surplus data, claiming the city-state actually ran a deficit with America in 2024. Australian gold miner Northern Star plunged 12.8% after cutting output guidance due to processing mill problems, while Xiaomi short sellers collected $1.8 billion as memory prices surged and EV sales weakened.
Technology & AI
The hype around China's Open Claw AI software heightened interest in Tencent and Alibaba earnings, with investors watching how the agent might drive growth. A top-performing emerging markets fund increased exposure to Chinese AI hyperscalers, betting they offer better value than US tech giants pouring vast sums into similar technologies. Meanwhile, Meta delayed its new AI model rollout after performance concerns emerged following billions in investment.
Financial Markets & Policy
S&P Dow Jones Indices is considering rule changes that would potentially fast-track SpaceX's entry into the S&P 500 after its IPO. The Fed plans to loosen capital requirements for big US banks, a move Wall Street cheered as it would water down protections designed to avoid a repeat of the 2008 financial crisis. Inflows into leveraged ETFs and elevated levels of borrowed cash to buy stocks revived fears of an Asian stock rout, echoing last week's war-induced selloff.
Corporate & M&A
Brookfield Asset Management is seeking an $800 million loan to back its proposed purchase of air cargo specialist World Freight Co. Australia's Rest Super pension fund is hunting for private US assets, underscoring strong appetite from the country's A$4.5 trillion super system. Jennifer Garner's Once Upon a Farm fell 9.8% in its first results since IPO after forecasting slowing sales growth in 2026.
Geopolitics & Trade
The Trump administration is expected to launch a forced labor trade investigation into whether dozens of countries have policies to combat the practice. In Brazil, Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes barred a US official from visiting Bolsonaro, who is serving a 27-year prison sentence. Cuba pledged to release 51 prisoners amid pressure from Washington, which has been trying to choke the Cuban government through an oil blockade.
Global Economy
New Zealand's economic recovery likely lost momentum in late 2025, highlighting its fragile nature even before impacts from the Middle East conflict and surging oil prices. Peru held its key rate at 4.25% as inflation pressures mounted, marking the first time in over a year that price growth accelerated above the midpoint of its target range. A magnitude 5.3 earthquake struck eastern Turkey, according to the USGS, though no major damage was immediately reported.
Media & Entertainment
Digital media company Buzz Feed issued a going concern warning, citing lack of liquidity for the coming year and operating at a loss since its inception. Sesame Workshop sued SeaWorld's parent company over alleged unpaid royalties related to their partnership operating Sesame Place parks. Ulta Beauty expects fiscal growth to slow as consumers focus on value, projecting 6-7% sales growth compared to 9.7% in the prior year.
Infrastructure & Real Estate
Utilities across the US are set to spend tens of billions on high-voltage lines, largely to meet demand from data centers. The electric grid's massive upgrade needs have created uncertainty about who will ultimately pay for these critical infrastructure improvements as AI and cloud computing drive unprecedented power demand.
Legal & Regulatory
Florida Republicans passed a bill requiring proof of citizenship to vote, a law modeled in part on President Trump's top legislative priority in Congress. The Trump administration is using courts to fast-track major policy shifts, suing Republican states and making sharp reversals in old cases to implement changes without legislation.