Q2 Strategic Income Outlook: Everything Everywhere All at Once
The first quarter of 2026 was marked by a cascade of geopolitical shocks—from Venezuela’s president’s arrest to a U.S.-Israel strike on Iran—while AI breakthroughs drove hyperscaler capital expenditures to an estimated $720 billion. Private‑credit markets showed stress, with default risk projected to rise toward 15 % as lenders confront AI‑induced disruption. The Iran conflict closed the Strait of Hormuz, lifting crude to about $100 per barrel and pushing Treasury yields higher despite traditional flight‑to‑safety dynamics. In response, the Strategic Income team is maintaining a defensive, highly liquid portfolio stance heading into Q2.
Teens Prefer TikTok for Reviews and News Over Snapchat
Pew Study about how teens are using TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat - Check out the parts about product reviews and news below "In fact, roughly six-in-ten TikTok users say they go there for product reviews. Fewer on Instagram and even smaller...
On My Mind: The $ Is Dead, Long Live the $
The article challenges the growing narrative that the U.S. dollar is in rapid decline, arguing that its dominance remains underpinned by deep capital markets, institutional credibility, and the sheer scale of the U.S. economy. Recent Deutsche Bank research linking Middle‑East conflict...
PE Firms Circle Pizza Hut and Papa John’s as Sale Processes Advance
Pizza Hut and Papa John’s are entering sale processes as private‑equity interest intensifies. Both chains face weakening demand, higher input costs and fierce competition, prompting owners to explore taking them private. Papa John’s has attracted a consortium led by Qatari‑backed...
When to Step In & When to Stay Out
A new CEO learned that delegating responsibility without retaining ownership can cripple a business. By staying distant from a failing business‑development function, the leader missed early warning signs, leading to a cash‑flow crisis and three layoffs. The experience taught the...
Washington Guard Builds Readiness with New Executive Officer Course
Washington Army National Guard debuted its first Executive Officer Course on April 11‑12 at Camp Murray, a two‑day program designed to ready junior lieutenants for company‑level executive officer duties. The curriculum emphasized logistics, legal processes, command discipline and administrative tasks,...
What LIV Golf’s Demise Means for Saudi Influence
Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund is poised to end its financing of LIV Golf, the Saudi‑backed circuit that tried to rival the PGA Tour. Over four years the league consumed billions in subsidies without generating commensurate revenue, prompting Riyadh to...
Tower Hill Lifts Winston Re 2026-1 Cat Bond Target to as Much as $375m
Tower Hill Insurance Exchange has increased its target for the Winston Re Ltd. Series 2026‑1 catastrophe bond to as much as $375 million, up from the original $225 million goal. The upsized issuance covers three tranches—Class A, B and C—with each tranche’s size and...
All Members Viewed Risks to Inflation Outlook as Tilted to the Upside, ECB Account Shows
The ECB’s Governing Council noted that the recent energy supply shock, amplified by the US‑Iran conflict, has pushed near‑term inflation risks to the upside while longer‑term inflation remains stable. Growth outlook risks are tilted to the downside, prompting the bank...
DA Delay Triggers Nationwide Protest Call by Central Government Employees
A rare delay in announcing the dearness allowance (DA) hike has prompted the Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers to call a lunch‑hour protest on April 16 across multiple ministries. The government has yet to confirm the expected 2‑3 percent increase...
Stop-Loss Insurers Are Using New Tools to ‘Laser’ Out More Patients
Predictive claim‑modeling tools are enabling stop‑loss insurers to more precisely identify participants likely to incur $1 million‑plus medical expenses, a practice insiders call “lasering.” Executives say the rise in high‑cost claims and improved data access are prompting carriers to exclude or...
War‑torn Iran Forced Into Negotiations over Collapsing Economy
"Iran’s War-Shattered Economy Means It Has an Urgent Reason to Negotiate," @WSJ You mean the experts commenting on the unbreakable will of the Islamic regime could be wrong? https://t.co/ednHa2MMNq Damage done by U.S. and Israeli attacks will take years to repair...
Publicis Groupe Middle East Appoints Chief AI Officer to Drive Next Phase of AI Transformation
Publicis Groupe Middle East has created a Chief AI Officer position and appointed Zachary Bambach to lead its regional AI agenda. Bambach, who spent over a decade at Epsilon and within Publicis, will oversee the integration of the group’s proprietary...
No CBP, No International Flights. It’s That Simple.
On April 6 DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin warned that the Trump administration is considering pulling Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers from eleven of the nation’s busiest international airports, including JFK, LAX and SFO. Under federal law, CBP clearance is...
Top CEO Networking Groups, 2026 List
CEO peer advisory groups were ranked for 2026 using a five‑factor algorithm, highlighting Vistage as the clear leader with a 9.20 score and over 45,000 members in more than 40 countries. YPO and Strategic Coach follow, scoring 8.05 and 7.90...
Dolce & Gabbana Names Melinda Melrose as Global Makeup Expert
Dolce & Gabbana has appointed Philadelphia‑born makeup artist Melinda Melrose as its Global Makeup Expert. Melrose, who built a career on Instagram tutorials, brings over 1.4 million followers and a contemporary aesthetic to the luxury brand. Her debut featured new D&G beauty...
Allegiant Moves Closer to Sun Country Acquisition After DOT Approval
Allegiant Air announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation has approved a joint interim exemption, removing the last regulatory obstacle to its $1.5 billion acquisition of Sun Country Airlines. The approval lets both carriers continue operating separately under common ownership while...
We Are Measuring the Value of TPRM Wrong
At Icon 2026 the speaker warned that companies are measuring third‑party risk management (TPRM) value the wrong way, treating it as a simple technology purchase or compliance checklist. He argued the true business case centers on avoided disruption, avoided loss, and...
SEBI Extends Not-for-Profit Registration Validity for Social Stock Exchanges
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has eased rules for Social Stock Exchanges by extending the registration validity for not‑for‑profit organisations (NPOs) to three years without requiring immediate fundraising, up from two years. It also lowered the minimum...
Renewable Energy Transition Driving Strategic Shift in Captive Use
Renewable energy projects are outpacing traditional insurance and financing models, prompting firms to adopt captive insurers as strategic platforms. Captives are being leveraged not only for risk financing but also to optimise capital, absorb early‑stage project risk, and increase commercial...
Which Workplaces Are the Best for America’s Financial Advisors? Find Out
InvestmentNews released its annual list of the best workplaces for financial advisors in the United States, highlighting firms that excel in transparency, agility, and employee support. Vanderbilt Financial Group and Prentice Wealth Management topped the rankings, recognized for offering purpose‑driven...
Bunker Fuel Prices Begin to Stabilise – but Not at All Ports
Bunker fuel prices are beginning to stabilise at Singapore, the world’s largest bunkering hub, after an early surge that saw very‑low‑sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO) breach $1,000 per tonne. The stabilisation reflects ample local stocks and fierce competition that keeps margins...
Sponsor-Designated Lenders’ Counsel
Borrower‑designated lenders’ counsel has become the norm in U.S. leveraged‑buyout financing, allowing a single law firm to represent all potential lenders during the financing auction. The practice, praised for efficiency, also gives sponsors significant influence over lender counsel, aligning lawyer...
WNBA Draft Viewership up, Hits Seven Figures for Third-Straight Year
The 2026 WNBA Draft drew an average of 1.50 million viewers on ESPN, a 20% increase from the 2025 draft’s 1.25 million. Peak viewership reached 1.79 million during the 7:45 PM ET quarter‑hour, up 23% year‑over‑year. The surge follows a 15% rise in the...
This Episode Will Make some of You Squirm...
In this episode of the Liquid Lunch Project, hosts Matthew Meehan and Professor Luigi Rosa Bianca interview Dr. Thomas J. Powell, a constitutional law professor and founder of the Founder’s Office, which helps small‑to‑medium businesses raise capital and build sustainable...
Side Letter: Private Permira
Permira announced it will retain its equity stake in a flagship portfolio company, underscoring confidence in the asset’s growth prospects. The decision, disclosed via a side‑letter, aligns with a broader trend of managers seeking longer lock‑up periods and flexible redemption...
DC3 Making Better Sense of Its Cyber Data
In this episode of Ask the CIO, Defense Cybercrime Center (DC3) Architecture Management of Data and Enterprise Division Chief Kajal Pal explains how DC3 protects the defense industrial base through digital forensics, threat intelligence sharing, and supply‑chain security. She details...
Meeting of 18-19 March 2026
The ECB Governing Council met on 18‑19 March 2026 and flagged a sharp uptick in inflation risk after the Middle‑East war drove Brent crude above $100 a barrel and pushed European gas prices up 52%. Market participants now price roughly...
Banks Won't Get Serious About Climate Risk Until GSEs Make Them
Former FHFA chief economist Alexei Alexandrov argues that climate risk in U.S. mortgages will only be addressed when the government‑sponsored enterprises (GSEs) embed forward‑looking insurance costs into underwriting. Escalating flood and wildfire exposure is already driving higher premiums and pressuring...
The Hardy Men
In 2022 Jonathan Keeperman, a former UC‑Irvine lecturer and right‑wing provocateur, launched Passage Press to build a reactionary cultural apparatus that counters the left’s dominance in arts and media. The boutique publisher quickly gained notoriety, hosting a “Coronation Ball” attended...
Resolve AI Raises $40M at $1.5B Valuation
Resolve AI announced a $40 million Series A extension, pushing its valuation to $1.5 billion and bringing total capital raised to over $190 million. The startup, founded by observability veterans Spiros Xanthos and Mayank Agarwal, offers an AI‑driven platform that automates incident...
ReconKering: How Kering Is Pulling Out All the Stops to Save Gucci
Kering has launched ReconKering, a turnaround plan aimed at more than doubling its operating profit margin by mid‑2028 and achieving a return on capital employed above 20%. The strategy focuses on restoring Gucci’s brand appeal while tightening operational efficiency across...
US M&A Deal Volume Drops 15% in March
"U.S. M&A deal activity decreased in March, going down 15.4% with 946 announcements compared to 1,118 in February. Aggregate M&A spending decreased as well. In March, 51.3% less was spent on deals compared to February." -FactSet
Turn PAA Questions Into Subheadings for SEO Wins
Most bloggers ignore this goldmine: “People Also Ask” (PAA) Every question in the PAA box is a ranking opportunity. Take those questions, turn them into subheadings, and answer them directly. Now your post is optimized for: • Featured snippets • More SERP real estate • Higher authority...
North-East Tech-Focused Switching Service Expansion Set to Create 20 Newcastle City Centre Jobs
North-East startup Procure Smart is opening a new office in Newcastle city centre in May 2026, creating about 20 sales jobs. The firm, founded in 2022, has grown to over 50 staff with locations in Sunderland, Manchester and a remote...
Corporate Buzzwords and Ego-Driven Meetings Push Talent Out
Meetings, egos, ‘circling back’: The ‘corporate ick’ that drives workers away https://t.co/5U1nZG1gZS #leadership #jobs #workplace #corporate
Google Ads PMax Spend Trends Across Channels
Google Ads PMax channel performance report on the insights report that shows spend over time per channel https://t.co/1qbNeb12Tq via @AndrewLolk https://t.co/FE8snV6sFF
FCA Takes Next Steps Toward Enforcement Action Against Hartley Pensions and an Individual
The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has issued warning notices to Hartley Pensions Limited and a senior individual, signalling the next phase of potential enforcement. The regulator alleges the pension firm supplied false information and withdrew customers' SIPP funds without...
US Blockade Shift Signals War De‑Escalation, Not Market Overreach
The most common comment I hear from policy makers at this week's IMF/WB meetings is that markets are way too early in pricing de-escalation. Disagree. It's clear the US wants wants to end this war, hence the shift to a...
Dollar Rebounds Amid Fed Concerns, Robust UK, China Growth
Greenback Recovers Despite New Threats on the Fed and Stronger UK and Chinese GDP: (A business trip will disrupt the daily commentary tomorrow and next week, but the weekly analysis will be posted here on April 18 and the May...
FCA Introduces Clearer and Simpler Short Selling Rules
The UK Financial Conduct Authority has finalized a streamlined short‑selling regime that replaces individual seller disclosures with aggregated net‑short data. The new rules extend the reporting timetable, giving firms more time to calculate positions, and simplify market‑maker notifications to an...
Ohio Lawmakers Waste $100M on Haslam Family
Elected representatives are tossing another ~$100 million of Ohio taxpayer money to the Haslams (net worth $10 billion). We don't know exactly how much because government officials are too negligent to find out. I guess access to the owner's suite...
Brook Park Council Prepares Vote on Browns Stadium Deal
Brook Park Council moves toward vote on first part of stadium deal with Browns https://t.co/GEj5lVYVMP
Year 2 Consumer Duty Board Reports: Progress and What Comes Next
The FCA’s second‑year Consumer Duty board reports reveal that firms are tightening governance, with boards formally reviewing and signing off on outcomes and action plans. Data usage has broadened, incorporating both quantitative trends and qualitative insights, especially for vulnerable customers....
Biden Blocks JetBlue Deal, Opens Cheap Asset Grab
Great work by Biden admin blocking JetBlue acquisition. Now acquire the assets on the cheap so a win for $JBLU ?
FinTech Fund Helps CarryHQ Secure AngelList Sale
Big congrats to @ankurnagpal and the team at @carryhq_ on the sale to @AngelList. Glad that we could support you from @thefintechfund 🙌 https://t.co/ToMKqLpS99
US‑Iran Talks Lift Latin American Commodity Exporters
Now that Iran and the US are negotiating, fear that war may escalate out of control is leaving markets. That's lifting EM oil and commodity exporters, especially across LatAm. Good news for Colombia, Argentina and Brazil. A replay of 2022...
Fed Leadership Uncertain After Trump's Threat to Fire Powell
If no chair is confirmed by May 15, who leads the Fed? The Fed and the White House seem to have very different answers—a suddenly live dispute after Trump’s latest threat to fire Powell. It’s a question that a 28-year-old John Roberts...
IMG Appoints Barney Francis as CBO After Guinness Departs
Chris Guinness Leaving IMG After 30 Years, Barney Francis Named Chief Business Officer of Sports Marketing Agency https://t.co/9UyQoyGDXx via @variety
Companies Are Hoarding Talent, Not Cutting Jobs
Has the era of the mega-layoff arrived? - no, the era of hoarding talent unnecessarily certainly is https://t.co/QRlmiONI4W