Public Markets 8 Hours

Last updated: July 16, 2026, 5:30 AM ET

Commodities and Inflation Concerns Persist

U.S. diesel prices again, marking a 33% increase since the start of the Iran war, driven by renewed conflict in the Persian Gulf and reduced refinery capacity. Oil prices remained steady following three days of gains, with diplomatic gridlock between the U.S. and Iran persisting. Total Energies lowered estimated from the Middle East conflict, expecting a milder second-quarter impact than initially feared. Asian liquefied natural gas prices as Middle East hostilities deepened concerns about shipping disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz. Wheat futures after Ukrainian and Russian strikes threatened key Black Sea export routes. Nickel climbed to a three-week high amid fading expectations for Federal Reserve rate hikes and uncertainty over Indonesian supply policies.

Technology Sector Faces Volatility and Regulatory Scrutiny

U.S. stock futures, with memory chip stocks experiencing significant swings in Asia, leading to trading suspensions. SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics. Australia will impose on AI data centers and seek to protect creator rights for AI training data. Europe faces difficult in reducing reliance on American and Chinese technology for key areas like artificial intelligence. Chipmaker TSMC in U.S. production, bringing its total commitment to $265bn. South Korea of single-stock leveraged ETFs to curb market volatility. Huawei aims for growth. IBM's profit warning highlighted concerns over the pace of AI revenue growth baked into hyperscaler plans.

Corporate Dealmaking and Financial Markets

ABB agreed to buy UK engineering group Rotork for $5.5 billion, a deal that adds to foreign buyer interest in London-listed companies. Uber agreed to a €13bn deal to acquire Delivery Hero, with the German food delivery group spinning off Turkish and some European operations. KKR & Co. and Energy Capital Partners for DCC Plc to over £5.7 billion ($7.6 . EQT AB for Japan’s Kakaku.com Inc., escalating a bidding war. Publicis raised its guidance, citing new business wins driven by demand for AI-powered marketing services. Wall Street traders, with major banks like JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs raking in trading revenue amid a risk-on market. The pound on reports of potential changes in UK economic leadership.

Global Economic and Geopolitical Undercurrents

The dollar after softer-than-expected U.S. wholesale inflation data. Gold prices in U.S. producer price inflation, with New York futures down 0.5%. Fidelity plans rebuild on a long-term bull case. China's rare earth export curbs annually if fully implemented, according to the International Energy Agency. Panama officials to end a shipping row where vessels have been removing Panamanian flags. The U.S. accused Brazil, imposing new tariffs. Telenor cut guidance following a challenging quarter impacted by macro conditions and transformation costs. HSBC upgraded Indian, citing receding earnings risks from oil prices and strong domestic consumption. Citigroup's Indian corporate clients are expecting the rupee to weaken and are seeking products to profit from its volatility.