Public Markets 8 Hours

Last updated: August 13, 2026, 2:41 PM ET

Equities

U.S. equities saw mixed signals as Bill Ackman called his new fund’s slump “frankly absurd.” La Caisse posted a 5% first‑half return but trailed its benchmark. Foreign investors fled Brazilian equities at the fastest pace since 2021. Tapestry investors questioned how long Coach can excel after a soft outlook. StubHub profits were wiped out by the World Cup ticket fiasco. SMIC net profit tripled on mature‑node orders. JD.com beat earnings estimates as food‑delivery losses narrowed. Old Mutual shares resumed trading in Zimbabwe after a six‑year halt. A Polestar dealer sued the automaker claiming it orchestrated its U.S. ban, seeking $25 million in damages.

Fixed Income

Fixed‑income markets saw notable activity as mortgage muni bond securitizations surged amid the housing crisis. AMD announced plans to raise $5 billion in its largest‑ever investment‑grade bond sale. Some bond investors are pushing for the Fed to raise rates, though traders pared bets on rate hikes amid falling oil prices. The 351 Conversion ETF offers ultimate tax deferral. Meanwhile, Chile’s new institutional investor is poised to plow billions into corporate bonds.

Commodities & Energy

Commodity prices were mixed as gold settled 1% lower, snapping a winning streak. A second supertanker was seen loading at Saudi Arabia’s main oil terminal. Crude futures pulled back after days of gains as U.S. inventories rose. US fuel prices are expected to stay high until a lasting Iran deal. Natural gas: US natural gas inventories saw an above‑average build. In agriculture, India urea offers dropped 12% as war supply squeeze eased. Rare earths: the price of erbium jumped on fears of Chinese export controls. In energy transition, wind energy recovery is picking up speed. Orsted and RWE were discussed in energy market talk. Elon Musk is leaning into fossil fuels for AI data centers, while AI’s biggest energy impact may be in the oil patch. A longshot US oil drilling project in Greenland is shaking up the Arctic.

Real Estate

In real estate, retail parks are seen as the real threat to the British high street. IWG’s confusing revpar charts raised investor questions. Canary Wharf Group sold its Soc Gen office in a £625 million deal to its own investors.

Tech, Media & Telecom

Tech and media sectors saw notable developments. AI has opened big holes in cyber security, requiring urgent investment. Chime is exploring stablecoins for its banking platform. OpenAI’s chief revenue officer departed after less than a year. Cerebras Systems and CXMT were highlighted in tech market talk. Bob Iger and Joshua Kushner are buying the Los Angeles Lakers. The mascot trend is driving brand growth, with Crocs joining in with a 6‑foot crocodile. Shein lost a UK copyright lawsuit against Temu. Paramount’s brinkmanship may not work as it threatens to leave California. A Trezor data breach exposed personal details of nearly 14,000 crypto holders.

Corporate & Deals

Corporate news: Selena Gomez is accused of fraud by mental‑health startup investors. Hapag‑Lloyd and Maersk were discussed in the auto & transport roundup. Alfonso Fanjul Jr., the Cuban American sugar baron, died at. Air India ordered one‑off drug tests for its pilots. The $12.5 billion Lakers deal reflects the huge profit potential of major sports franchises.

Policy, Geopolitics & Society

On the policy front, a Trump‑led board voted again to close the Kennedy Center for renovations. Trump keeps pushing after Supreme Court losses, and Donald Trump is enlisting corporate America in the fight against cyber crime. The US investigated left‑leaning groups during a Minnesota immigration crackdown. A California bill may let residents choose “Jewish” as an ethnic identifier. Mourning for Zhu Rongji reflects nostalgia for a more hopeful era in China. A Gaza peace road map gives hope as Hamas is serious about disarming. Supreme Court oral arguments have transformed since Covid. Europe is in the grip of extreme heat again. Thanksgiving tweets became political ahead of Wisconsin’s primary. Luigi Mangione is expected to plead guilty to stalking charges. Taiwan warned against travel to Uganda after passport disputes. Putin visited islands seized from Japan, angering Tokyo. Mexico pressed the US to cut auto tariffs. Seoul Incheon became the world’s busiest international airport. Burnham warned water companies against treating customers like a “blank cheque.” Topos Azteca helped rescue efforts after a Colombia earthquake. A passenger train derailed near Lewes in East Sussex. The vanishing nuns of New York gather for happy hour. 41 greatest Mexican restaurants in the US were listed. A celestial wonder from yesterday’s total solar eclipse.