Iran Tensions, M&A Outlook & Health-Care Cost Crisis| Open Interest 3/18/2026

Get a jump start on the US trading day with Matt Miller and Dani Burger on "Bloomberg Open Interest." Oil shockwaves hit global markets as Brent crude surges past $108 after a strike on Iran’s critical South Pars gas field escalates tensions. As the Fed faces a pivotal decision day, all eyes are on Chair Powell for clues on how war-driven volatility could reshape the economic outlook. Meanwhile, major players like Pimco and Sixth Street sound the alarm on growing risks in private credit. Pimco President Christian Stracke joins us live. Plus, Lazard’s Global Head of M&A, Mark McMaster, breaks down dealmaking in a world on edge, and the CEO of HealthEquity weighs in on the deepening health-care affordability crisis.

Chapters:
00:00:00 - Open Interest
00:02:22 - Prices Paid to US Producers Rises by More than Forecast
00:06:37 - Oil Advance After Iran Reports Energy Attacks
00:12:07 - Nvidia Boost H200 Manufacturing for China Sales
00:15:12 - High Interest | Takaichi, Howard Marks, Disney
00:16:53 - Disney's New CEO
00:23:26 - Stock to Watch | Macy's
00:24:38 - Alicia Levine BNY | Equities Fall After Iran Gas Field Attack
00:33:41 - Top Calls | CF Industries, Netflix, Block
00:35:51 - Christian Stracke PIMCO | Wake-Up Call in Private Credit
00:46:09 - Breaking News
00:49:11 - David Mericle Goldman Sachs | Stocks Fall as Oil Spikes Add to Inflation Jitters
00:59:56 - Mark McMaster Lazard | 2026 M&A Outlook
01:07:05 - Scott Cutler HealthEquity | America's Healthcare Cost Crisis
01:17:20 - Martha Gimbel The Budget Lab at Yale | The "Hallmark Movie Theory"
01:24:36 - Tightening in Private Credit will Trickle into Economy
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