Public Markets 8 Hours

Last updated: August 11, 2026, 2:40 AM ET

European Markets

FTSE 100 futures held steady in early trade as attention turned to the oil rally, with energy stocks supporting the index. Europe’s investment revival has gathered pace, with the Stoxx 600 up 12% year-to-date, drawing investors back to a region that had been overlooked. However, a planned carbon tax on aviation will hit budget airlines particularly hard, as the EU’s wider levy could benefit long-haul carriers but do little for low-cost operators. German truckers are taking on extra load as drought hits Rhine shipping, with an emergency move to suspend Sunday lorry bans as economists warn of a hit to GDP growth. Meanwhile, hotel prices in Europe have surged ahead of a historic eclipse, with tourists rushing to Iceland and Spain to glimpse the first solar alignment of its kind visible from the continent this century.

US Markets

Wall Street is mobilizing a massive financing effort to support the AI boom. Nvidia is working with Wall Street groups to assemble a $500bn funding package for AI infrastructure, effectively becoming the “bank of AI”. Separately, a Wall Street consortium announced a $500bn effort to raise money for Nvidia’s customers to pay for computing power. A Tesla-SpaceX merger could give Elon Musk a shortcut to his $1 trillion payday, as a critical clause in his Tesla stock award would wipe away lofty performance targets if a merger happened. South Korea’s Hanwha made a nonbinding $1bn offer for Austal USA, pushing into U.S. naval shipbuilding as Washington seeks to revive domestic shipyards. The company is also bidding for Austal’s American business in a separate $1.2bn deal that sells ships to the navy and coastguard.

Asia Markets

Hong Kong’s tech index is set for an overhaul with more companies and an AI focus, a long-awaited move for investors. The territory is also pushing to include trading firms in “big bang” tax reforms as part of a push to compete with Singapore for top-tier financial talent. In India, Nifty 50 inclusion could boost BSE with passive flows of about $741 million, as NSE gears up for listing. Tencent’s WorkBuddy has sparked AI turnaround hopes after a stock rout, giving the Chinese internet giant a chance to catch up with peers. Vietnam is betting on Korean-style “chaebols” to boost growth, prioritizing homegrown conglomerates after relying on trade and foreign investment. The AI threat to India’s IT jobs machine is growing as disruption comes to the tech services sector. Meanwhile, a 30-person start-up, Cosine, has UK government backing to build Britain’s answer to OpenAI, though it faces far better resourced rivals.

Commodities

Aluminum hit a seven-week high as the Hormuz impasse threatens supply, advancing for a seventh day on fading prospects for a quick deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Copper shipments from Indonesia are suffering delays after a boiler leak at the Gresik smelter that processes ore from the Grasberg mine. Gold gained amid a shift in Fed expectations and central bank buying, supported by a weaker-than-expected U.S. jobs report. The yellow metal climbed above $4,400 as traders turned focus to U.S. inflation data that could provide clues on the Fed’s appetite for an interest-rate hike. China’s teapots may boost Iran oil buying as regional stockpiles in Shandong province dwindle, offering Tehran a needed boost after slow sales.

Currencies & Rates

The yuan may resume its march against the dollar next month, with strong fall exports and seasonal factors expected to lift the Chinese currency. The renminbi is facing its hardest mile as turning the currency into an asset the world wants to hold will be difficult. The Singapore dollar was steady, supported by stronger-than-expected 2Q GDP growth. Traders are piling into Taiwan dollar options to bet on a rebound, signaling a shift in sentiment after the currency suffered its worst July since 2015. The Bank of England needs more parliamentary attention, as further scrutiny and accountability would strengthen independence. Colombia’s inflation unexpectedly slowed last month, easing pressure on rates after policymakers recently surprised investors by keeping borrowing costs unchanged.

M&A and Corporate

A $400bn potential tie-up between AstraZeneca and Bristol Myers unravelled after an FT report, which would have marked a return to pharma megadeals. JBS’s heir Wesley Batista Filho will become CEO of the world’s largest meatpacker, restoring control to the founding family. TSMC could see central processing units become a new growth driver, as Bernstein analysts say the market is set for faster growth with the takeoff of agentic AI. Nick Blair, son of former UK PM Tony Blair, is seeking funding for a defence tech start-up called Pyra.

Sector Highlights

Banks’ refusal to take on crypto firms risks stunting the UK industry’s growth, lawmakers say, as a parliamentary group asks lenders to clarify rules. Activists are battling solar panel cowboy installers, as complaints about faults and fakes surge amid rising adoption of renewable energy equipment. EU border checks are doubling queues at major airports, with peak waiting times hitting two hours in Frankfurt and Amsterdam. Spain’s migrant crisis exposes serious challenges for young Moroccans, as the country’s failure to translate growth into better living standards drives migration attempts.