Public Markets 8 Hours

Last updated: August 10, 2026, 5:37 AM ET

Equities

U.S. stock futures ticked higher Monday, with markets on course to extend gains after last week’s rally. European indexes opened mixed — the Stoxx 600 and Germany’s DAX extended Friday’s record highs, while France’s CAC 40 and London’s FTSE 100 slipped lower. In Asia, Indonesian stocks advanced, pushing the benchmark index toward bull-market territory as investor sentiment improved on signs of a resilient economy. South Korea’s small-cap stocks surged 30% as a rotation from leveraged ETFs tracking heavyweight chipmakers redirected capital into lagging names. Emerging-market stocks and currencies rose broadly after soft U.S. jobs data eased expectations for Fed rate hikes, with the MSCI emerging-market index climbing 0.8%. London’s public markets remain under pressure: the LSE’s deputy CEO warned that the city needs fresh capital to revive its struggling IPO pipeline as major U.K. companies increasingly shift primary listings to the U.S.

Fixed Income & Bonds

Eurozone government bond yields rose slightly as uncertainty over U.S.-Iran negotiations to reopen the Strait of Hormuz weighed on safe-haven demand. Yields on German bunds edged up 2 basis points to 2.45%, while French OATs and Italian BTPs also moved higher. In the U.S., Treasury yields fell ahead of Wednesday’s key CPI data, with the 10-year note yielding 4.12%. The Bank of Japan’s signal of faster rate hikes pushed Japanese government bond yields higher, as traders await the BoJ’s next move. The U.K.’s Financial Conduct Authority is preparing a framework for tokenised gold, aiming to digitise London’s bullion market and attract new liquidity. India’s foreign-exchange reserves climbed for a fifth straight week, approaching a record high of $675bn, driven by strong foreign inflows.

Currencies

The euro was flat against the dollar after reaching a seven-week high on Friday, with ING forecasting that upcoming U.S. inflation data could lift the single currency above $1.16. The yen underperformed all G-10 peers this month as the boost from recent intervention faded, putting traders on alert for further official action. The yen weakened 0.3% to 147.8 per dollar, and analysts expect the Bank of Japan to consider rate hikes to stem the decline. The Philippine peso slipped after the central bank governor said it’s ready to tighten further despite weak GDP growth, while Indonesia’s rupiah firmed after President Prabowo nominated Destry Damayanti as the sole candidate for central bank chief, a move that calmed markets. The pound steadied after last week’s volatility, with the UK currency trading at $1.2750.

Commodities

Oil prices rose amid growing doubts that the Strait of Hormuz can reopen soon, with Brent crude gaining 1.2% to $82.50 a barrel and WTI climbing to $78.30. Oil is broadly flat ahead of key U.S. CPI data, but supply disruption fears persist after the U.S.-Iran standoff. Gold held above $4,400 a troy ounce after booking its best weekly performance since January, with futures trading at $4,425 as traders await the inflation data. Wheat futures jumped to a one-week high as disruptions to shipping in the Black Sea raised supply shortage fears. Adnoc Gas is exploring a new LNG export plant outside the Strait of Hormuz, with plans to invest more than $8 billion in expansion after the UAE’s OPEC exit freed it from production quotas. The company is also considering a separate LNG hub to bypass the contested waterway.

Central Banks & Monetary Policy

The Philippine central bank is ready to hike rates further to guide inflation back to target, Governor Eli Remolona said, though he noted less pressure after last quarter’s GDP miss. Egypt’s headline inflation accelerated for the first time since March, disrupting a disinflation streak as the ongoing U.S.-Iran war pushes up food and energy costs. Japan’s Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance is tracking an industrywide rise in policy cancellations as rising interest rates prompt customers to shift into other financial products. The BoJ’s signal of faster rate hikes is also pressuring Japanese government bonds and the yen. In the U.S., the Federal Reserve’s next move remains data-dependent, with soft jobs data boosting expectations for a pause or even a cut by year-end.

Corporate & Deal News

Todd Boehly’s Eldridge group is rolling out AI across its portfolio, including Chelsea Football Club and film studio A24, after acquiring a 50% stake in start-up Sudolabs. U.K. missile and drone interceptor start-up Cambridge Aerospace raised $300mn at a $3.4bn valuation, with contracts from the MoD and talks with the U.S. government about providing systems. The U.K. government raised its lifetime cost projection for Palantir’s NHS data platform to £1.1bn, up from earlier estimates, while forecast benefits fell to £808mn. German shipbuilder TKMS boss Oliver Burkhard stressed ‘prudent growth’ after a series of major order wins, warning not to underestimate the company’s capacity. The U.S. rejected Dutch fintech Bunq’s banking license application, citing supervisory and compliance concerns and insufficient clarity on capital. Gucci is breaking luxury’s penny-pinching taboo by reducing overheads and reinvesting the proceeds into lower prices to attract a new cohort of buyers. The family dispute between Leonardo Del Vecchio’s heirs has paralysed Delfin, the €55bn holding company, as its portfolio is reshaped by consolidation.

Geopolitical & Trade

The U.S. backed Australian rare earth miner Sunrise Energy with a $400mn loan to develop a scandium project, aiming to cut China’s dominance in critical minerals. Sunrise Energy shares soared on the news. China is bypassing shipping chokepoints with an ‘Ice Silk Road’ through the Arctic, launching the first scheduled container service between Europe and Asia via the Northern Sea Route, which will significantly reduce voyage times. China’s Arctic shipping is part of a broader effort to avoid the Strait of Hormuz and other vulnerable waterways. Europe faces a rocket launcher shortage by 2030, the European Space Agency chief warned, as demand for launches grows faster than regional capabilities. The rocket shortage threatens Europe’s independent access to space. Malaysia’s social media ban for under-16s is proving ineffective, as children remain logged in despite officials’ demands for age verification via government ID; tech companies have balked over privacy concerns.