Public Markets 8-Hour Briefing
×Market Movements
US banks showed broad gains in key metrics during the fourth quarter despite a modest decline in overall profit, and the bedrock deposit insurance fund's balance continued to tick higher, according to the FDIC. The S&P 500 Index futures are little changed as of 7:45 a.m. in New York after Monday's selloff on AI fears. European AI chip startup Axelera raised an additional $250 million, signaling continued investor appetite for semiconductor technology despite market jitters.
Corporate Developments
Telecom Italia proposed an up to €400 million ($471 stock buyback and a 1-for-10 reverse stock split, moving to overhaul its equity profile after selling off assets. Morgan Stanley upgraded Freshpet on upside from same-day grocery delivery, while JPMorgan upgraded Domino's saying steady growth globally warrants higher valuation. Stripe valuation soared to $159 billion in latest share sale, allowing the payments company to stay private for longer.
Technology & AI
Anthropic launched new enterprise offerings, raising the heat on software companies already facing disruption fears. Google signed AES and Xcel supply deals to meet data-center energy needs as AI infrastructure demands surge. Intuit partnered with Anthropic to bring custom AI agents to businesses, while Digital Ocean surged on earnings beat and raised outlook.
Private Markets & Investment
Brookfield Asset Management bought cloud-computing firm Ori Industries in a bet that governments and tech companies will need chips to win an escalating artificial-intelligence race. Ares Management moved to weaken John Textor's operational control of his football club group after continued losses and tension over one of the credit investor's biggest sports bets. Reform UK plans to use £500 billion of council pension assets to invest in British businesses, though experts gave a skeptical response.
Energy & Commodities
US natural gas futures declined in thin trading as weather forecasts shifted warmer, indicating lower demand for the heating and power-plant fuel. Soybeans nudged further down from a three-month high in Chicago as US Department of Agriculture data signaled weaker demand for American exports amid trade uncertainty. Iran's crude loadings have surged to multiyear highs this month as geopolitical risks build ahead of a third round of nuclear talks with Washington.
Regulatory & Policy
Canada's aviation regulator certified the remaining Gulfstream private jet models that US President Donald Trump asked it to approve, defusing tensions with the White House. The German government agreed to abolish a controversial ban on new gas and oil heating systems as Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservatives rush to deliver on a key electoral promise. Hungary's central bank cut its key interest rate for the first time in almost a year and a half but pledged to stay cautious as policymakers look to protect the stability of the local currency.
Earnings & Outlook
Medtronic Diabetes Unit Mini Med seeks $784 million in US IPO, while Booking was lifted to Buy as analyst says it will remain a 'key driver of travel.' Planet Fitness logged higher quarterly profit and revenue but said it expects to grow adjusted earnings per share between 9% and 10% in 2026, below analyst forecasts. Keurig Dr Pepper offered an upbeat forecast for its full-year sales, saying it expects a boost from its planned purchase of Dutch coffee maker JDE Peet's NV later in 2026.