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Real-time financial news from around the world.
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Brazil
Ibovespa Extends Losses for 3rd Session
The Ibovespa closed with a gain of 0.3% at 183,969 points on Wednesday as commodity strength overcame persistent pressures from elevated domestic interest rates. Petrobras shares surged as Brent crude prices remained volatile near 90 dollars following reports of escalating strikes in the Strait of Hormuz which highlighted the role of energy exports in the regional conflict. While the International Energy Agency weighed a massive strategic reserve release to address global supply fears, the market remained sensitive to inflation data confirming a 0.3% rise in the U.S. consumer price index during February. This data reinforces the restrictive stance of the Central Bank of Brazil as it maintains the Selic rate at 15% to combat persistent inflation well above the 3% target. Future interest rates rose across the curve pressuring sensitive sectors including banks like Santander and Bradesco while Vale contributed to volatility amid international uncertainty.
Canada
TSX Finish Lower Midweek
The S&P/TSX Composite Index fell 0.5% to close at 33,120 on Wednesday as investors weighed the impacts of stubborn US inflation against persistent geopolitical volatility. While rising energy prices offered support to producers like Cenovus (4.6%) and Canadian Natural Resources (3.3%), these gains were insufficient to offset downward pressure in the mining sector where companies such as Agnico Eagle (-1.9%) and Barrick Gold (-1.5%). Consumer price data showing inflation at 2.4% reinforced concerns regarding a slower timeline for central bank policy easing. Domestic financial stability also faced scrutiny after goeasy shares plummeted 18.2% following significant loan book charges while the technology sector found a floor through strong quarterly results from Oracle. Market participants remain focused on how these supply chain and energy price developments will interact with the broader North American monetary policy landscape as the regional conflict continues to escalate.
United States
US Stocks Finish Flat to Lower
The S&P 500 edged 0.2% lower, the Nasdaq slipped 0.1%, while the Dow dropped 0.7% on Wednesday as the conflict in the Persian Gulf drove energy prices higher and intensified inflation concerns. West Texas Intermediate futures climbed past 87 dollars following projectile strikes on cargo ships near the Strait of Hormuz which countered news of a record oil reserve release by the International Energy Agency. These geopolitical tensions overshadowed a February consumer price index report that met expectations with a 2.4% annual increase and signals a potential delay in central bank policy easing. While credit sensitive equities faced pressure from rising yields the technology sector found insulation in Oracle which jumped 9.2% following an earnings beat and improved guidance. Clean energy funds also emerged as a bright spot by reaching record highs as market participants sought alternatives to volatile fossil fuel supplies amid the ongoing regional warfare.
United States
Progressive Stock Price Hits 4-week Low
Progressive shares decreased to 200.39 USD, the lowest since February 2026. Over the past 4 weeks, Progressive lost 2.43%, and in the last 12 months, it decreased 27.78%.
Crude Oil Prices Rise Again
WTI crude futures rose more than 4% on Wednesday afternoon, trading near $87 per barrel after briefly approaching $89 earlier in the session, as a historic release of emergency reserves from the International Energy Agency failed to offset fading hopes for a near-term end to the war. The conflict in the Middle East showed no signs of easing following attacks on several commercial vessels off Iran’s coast. Iran has told regional mediators it would only agree to a ceasefire if the United States guarantees that neither it nor Israel will launch future strikes against the country. Washington is unlikely to accept those conditions, further dimming prospects for a near-term resolution. Earlier in the day, Donald Trump told Axios in a brief phone interview that the war would end “soon” because there is “practically nothing left to target.” Meanwhile, the IEA approved its largest-ever release of emergency oil reserves, with member states set to release 400 million barrels.
Crypto Updates: Binance Increases by 1.80%
Top crypto gainers are Binance (1.80%), Ether (1.66%) and Bitcoin (1.13%).
Agricultural Commodities Updates: Orange Juice Rises by 4.20%
Top commodity gainers are Orange Juice (4.20%), Rapeseed (2.25%) and Corn (1.83%). Biggest losers are Coffee (-3.18%), Oat (-1.85%) and Sugar (-1.11%).
Metals Commodities Updates: Silver Drops by 2.98%
Top commodity losers are Silver (-2.98%), Platinum (-2.22%), Copper (-1.05%) and Gold (-0.24%). Gains are led by Titanium (2.20%) and Steel Rebar (0.87%).
Energy Commodities Updates: Heating Oil Rallies by 10.34%
Top commodity gainers are Heating Oil (10.34%), Methanol (8%), Natural gas (6.07%), Brent Crude Oil (4.95%) and Crude Oil WTI (4.77%).
United States
US Budget Gap Expands in February
The United States government recorded a $307.5 billion budget deficit in February 2026, compared with a $296.3 billion deficit in the same month a year earlier. Receipts fell 43.9% from the prior month to $313.3 billion, driven by individual income taxes ($133.4 billion), social insurance and retirement receipts ($144.4 billion), and customs duties ($26.6 billion). The monthly total reflected a normalization of tax collections following seasonal peaks and specific adjustments in corporate and miscellaneous receipts. Meanwhile, outlays fell 5.1% from the prior month to $620.8 billion, with Social Security ($138.4 billion), Health and Medicare ($155.6 billion), and national defense ($71.1 billion) the largest spending categories, while spending totals were influenced by the acceleration of certain benefit payments into February because March 1 fell on a non-business day.
United States
US Stocks Pull Lower
US equity indices swung lower on Wednesday, tracking losses for Treasuries as the war in the Persian Gulf lifted energy prices and worsened concerns of inflation the US economy. The S&P 500 was firmly below the flatline and the Dow fell nearly 400 points, while a strong session for tech limited losses for the Nasdaq 100 to the marginal territory. Crude oil and product prices reignited their surge in the session as escalation between Iran, GCC nations, and US-Israeli military furthered expectations that energy exports from the region will remain halted. This lifted yields and pressured credit-sensitive equities despite the IEA recommending an aggressive release of oil stockpiles by members and no upside surprises to the US CPI for February. Asset managers continued to fall amid concerns on the private credit sector, with Blackrock, Blackstone, Apollo, and KKR dropping over 2%. In turn, AI companies were higher after Oracle surged 8% on its guidance beat.
United States
Comcast Stock Price Hits 5-week Low
Comcast shares decreased to 30.27 USD, the lowest since February 2026. Over the past 4 weeks, Comcast lost 4.71%, and in the last 12 months, it decreased 13.84%.
Italy
Italian Stocks Retreat
The FTSE MIB closed 1% lower at 44,773 on Wednesday, tracking the plunge in BTP prices as a fresh surge in the cost of energy supported dented the outlook for margins and raised the likelihood of rate hikes by the European Central Bank. The heavyweight financial sector recorded sharp losses as higher bond yields pressured their balance sheets and increased the reduced the outlook on net interest margins. UniCredit fell 1.8% while Unipol and Azimut dropped more than 2%. Luxury brands were also under pressure with Ferrari, Moncler, and Brunello Cucinelli losing over 2%. Lastly, Leonardo retreated 3% following the pessimistic guidance by Rheinmetall. On the other hand, Mediobanca and MPS rose after approving a selection of merger plans, with the latter announcing EUR 1.6 billion in new shares and offer Mediobanca shareholders with 2.45 MPS shares for each Mediobanca share.
Euro Area
European Stocks Retreat
European stocks closed sharply lower on Wednesday, cutting the gains from the previous session and extending the period of positive correlation with government bonds as higher energy prices stoked concerns of higher inflation. The Eurozone's STOXX 50 dropped 1% to close at 5,778 and the pan-European STOXX 600 fell 0.8% to 601. Fresh strikes between opposing forces of the war in Iran raised expectations of a prolonged disruption to energy exports from the Persian Gulf, triggering a fresh surge in oil and gas prices for European economies. Banks declined sharply, trimming gains from yesterday on the outlook of higher credit costs with Santander, UniCredit, and Deutsche Bank dropping over 1.5%. Meanwhile, SAP and Prosus fell 2.5% and 1.6% to lead the losses for tech. Also, Rheinmetall sank 8% on a note of weaker than expected orders.
United Kingdom
UK Stocks Finish on Lower Note
London’s FTSE 100 closed about 0.6% lower at 10,354 on Wednesday, reversing the modest recovery in the prior session, as traders weighed persistent geopolitical risks and some disappointing corporate earnings. Oil prices remained elevated amid ongoing uncertainty caused by the Middle East conflict, reducing expectations for further interest rate cuts from the Bank of England this year. Legal & General remained the biggest loser, down 6.8%, after reporting full-year profits below expectations, a lower solvency ratio, and announcing its largest-ever share buyback. Smiths Group, Endeavour Mining, Fresnillo, ICG and Babcock International were also among the worst performers. On the upside, BP (2.9%) and Shell (2%) benefited from rising oil prices. Rentokil Initial (2.5%) and Hikma Pharmaceutical (1.5%) also advanced firmly.
Cotton Futures Hover Around 1-Week Highs
Cotton futures traded around 65.2 cents per pound, holding close to recent one-week highs, supported by firmer crude oil prices amid the Middle East crisis. Meanwhile, market participants assessed the outlook for supply and demand. The US Department of Agriculture, in its March 2026 WASDE report, projected higher global cotton production and ending stocks for the 2025–26 season while slightly lowering consumption. The production forecast was raised by over 1.1 million bales to 120.99 million bales, up from the USDA’s February 2026 estimate of 119.86 million bales, reflecting larger crops in Brazil and China. The world consumption forecast is down 140,000 bales, with mill use projected lower in several countries, partially offset by higher consumption in China.
Sugar Futures Continue to Ease
Sugar futures in the US eased further to trade slightly below 14.3 cents per pound, down from recent one-month highs of 14.6 per pound, pressured by ample global supply, which helped temper recent volatility from oil price swings driven by geopolitical tensions. The consulting firm Hedgepoint noted that the 2025/26 season continues to point to an oversupplied market, supported by strong Brazilian production and expectations of Northern Hemisphere recovery. Meanwhile, market fundamentals show that while global sugar supply still exceeds demand, the margin is narrowing. Broker StoneX cut its forecast for a global sugar surplus in the current 2025/26 season to just 870,000 tons from 2.9 million tons, driven by India’s reduced harvest and shifts in Brazil’s production patterns.
United States
Charles Schwab Stock Price Hits 15-week Low
Charles Schwab shares decreased to 91.27 USD, the lowest since November 2025. Over the past 4 weeks, Charles Schwab lost 3.87%, and in the last 12 months, it increased 23.15%.
South Africa
South African Rand Weakens
The South African rand fell toward 16.4 per USD, as traders sought refuge in the US dollar amid heightened inflationary risks from the Iran conflict. The rand has been under pressure recently, weighed down by global risk aversion and volatile oil prices, a particular concern for South Africa as a net fuel importer. This adds complexity to the country’s inflation outlook ahead of the next South African Reserve Bank meeting on March 26. Meanwhile, the latest data showed the South African economy recorded its fifth consecutive quarter of growth in Q4 2025, expanding by 0.4%, slightly above analysts’ forecasts of 0.3%. Full-year economic growth reached 1.1%, showing signs of recovery after challenging years of load shedding, though below the Treasury’s 1.4% and the Reserve Bank’s 1.3% estimates.
Bonds Update: United Kingdom 10Y Bond Yield Gains by 16 bps
Government bonds yields are higher on Wednesday. Top gainers are United Kingdom 10Y (15.51bps), Italy 10Y (12.79bps) and Greece 10Y (10.80bps).
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