Public Markets 8-Hour Briefing
×Last updated: March 15, 2026, 6:30 PM ET
Energy Markets
Oil futures slipped 1.3% in early Asian trade as OPEC+ signaled potential output increases, while gold held steady near $2,340/oz despite a weakening dollar. The International Energy Agency announced that oil from emergency stockpiles will flow immediately to Asian buyers replacing war-disrupted barrels. Energy Secretary Chris Wright warned there are no guarantees oil prices will fall soon, citing the Strait of Hormuz as unsafe for tanker passage after Iran's mining and projectile attacks. The U.S. Energy Department confirmed the SPR release will be structured as a 172-million-barrel exchange rather than a sale.
Geopolitical Tensions
President Trump's call for allied warships to secure the Strait of Hormuz prompted cautious responses from China, Britain, France, Japan and South Korea, despite their non-involvement in U.S.-Israeli operations against Iran. Pakistan's airstrikes in Afghanistan have killed at least 75 civilians and displaced 115,000, with both nations vowing escalation. Israel claimed the brother of a Michigan synagogue attacker was a Hezbollah commander killed in a Lebanese airstrike. As the Iran conflict enters its third week, Trump faces stark military choices between continued engagement and declaring victory.
Government Operations
A partial government shutdown is disrupting airport security, with TSA staffing shortages causing long wait times during the spring travel rush. Airline executives are urging Congress to end the shutdown as flight delays mount. The State Department has reduced the citizenship renunciation fee to $450 from $2,350, responding to criticism from Americans abroad who faced the previous prohibitive cost.
Metals & Mining
Tungsten prices have surged 557% to record highs as Chinese export limits and military demand squeeze supplies. The metal, critical for weapons and semiconductors, is now outshining gold and copper in the commodities rally. This price spike has created supply chain vulnerabilities for Western defense manufacturers already grappling with Middle East conflict disruptions.
Private Markets
Triton Partners has raised €5.5 billion ($6.3 for its flagship fund after delays in fundraising, marking a crucial milestone for the European buyout firm. Meanwhile, Black women are starting businesses at record rates, becoming entrepreneurs faster than any other demographic as corporate environments grow increasingly hostile. The trend reflects broader shifts in workforce participation and wealth creation patterns across the U.S. economy.
Weather Disruptions
A severe winter storm is disrupting travel and power across Minnesota, Wisconsin and the Upper Midwest, with officials warning drivers to stay off roads amid blowing snow. Memphis faces tornado risks Sunday, with the storm system shifting east on Monday. These weather disruptions compound existing supply chain vulnerabilities in energy and agricultural markets already strained by geopolitical tensions.