Public Markets 8 Hours

Last updated: June 14, 2026, 8:31 PM ET

Energy & Commodities

Oil futures slid toward $80 in early Asian trade after President Trump announced the US-Iran peace agreement, with Brent crude tumbling on Sunday as traders priced in a potential reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway's partial closure since April has created a backlog that may take weeks to clear, though a liquefied natural gas tanker trapped for three months appears to be finally navigating toward the strait. Trump vowed the passage would open Friday and remain "permanently toll free", fueling risk-on sentiment that lifted US equity futures while pushing oil lower and pressuring the dollar.

Equities & Markets

Japanese stocks are poised to extend gains following the diplomatic breakthrough, with investors shifting focus away from last week's SpaceX IPO toward the Iran deal and upcoming Fed policy decisions. The market expansion signals the end of stock scarcity that has gripped Wall Street for years, as companies like SpaceX and OpenAI bring substantial new supply to trading floors. However, Israeli discontent with the emerging agreement suggests geopolitical tensions may persist despite the ceasefire announcement.

Fixed Income

Australian government bonds attracted heavy buying from both local and global funds as investors bet the Reserve Bank's rate-hiking cycle has peaked, while Japan's leading regional bond trader purchased JGBs for the first time in a decade. Despite this, international funds are retreating from Japan's long-bond market as the BOJ maintains its cautious stance on yield increases. Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey defended gilt sales against criticism from Nigel Farage's Reform UK party, arguing the central bank's interventions remain appropriate.

M&A & Corporate Developments

Sigma Healthcare abandoned its pursuit of UK drugstore chain Boots, stating the acquisition would not meet strategic objectives or generate adequate returns on capital invested. Meanwhile, ASX Ltd. will pay A$20.5 million ($14.5 to settle misleading statements about its clearing and settlement system replacement, marking Australia's securities regulator's largest penalty in years. In Africa, IDC and Vision Group are nearing a restructuring deal that could save century-old sugar mills from collapse.

Policy & Regulation

UK opposition leader Kemi Badenoch courted financial markets with promises of greater risk-taking as she seeks to distance the Conservative Party from the market turbulence that followed former Prime Minister Liz Truss's economic policies in 2022. Prime Minister Keir Starmer prepared to reduce electric vehicle targets from 80% to 50% by decade's end amid concerns over automotive job losses. French President Emmanuel Macron plans intensive diplomacy to keep President Trump at the upcoming G7 summit, where central bankers will also convene for critical policy discussions.