TPM26: Iran Conflict Puts New Risk on US Economic Growth: Yellen
Former Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned that the Iran‑Israel conflict threatens to choke oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, sending crude futures to their highest level in over a year. Higher energy prices could lift inflation and undermine the modest growth expected for the U.S. economy and global container‑shipping demand in 2026. While unemployment remains low and inflation is tapering, Yellen highlighted underlying fragility, including a K‑shaped recovery where consumer spending is concentrated among top earners. The Federal Reserve is likely to hold off further rate cuts as oil‑price pressures mount.
Opkey Targets the Design Phase of Cloud Implementations With Agentic AI
Opkey has launched Design Studio, an agentic‑AI suite for its Cloud Application Lifecycle Management platform. The tools automate the discovery and design phases of large‑scale Oracle and Workday transformations, linking SOW creation, requirements gathering, BPMN process modeling, and configuration into...
Paramount Boss David Ellison Says His Favorite HBO Show Is ‘Game of Thrones’
Paramount CEO David Ellison revealed his favorite HBO series—Game of Thrones—during a March 2 investor call, shortly after the $111 billion Warner Bros. Discovery auction that merged the two giants. The combined Paramount‑WBD entity is being framed as a new media "kingdom"...
Consark Unveils Its Noa Suite of Autonomous AI Agents for Finance Operations
Consark.ai announced the Noa suite, a collection of autonomous AI agents that continuously prepare and execute financial close, reconciliation, and variance analysis tasks. The agents ingest structured data, apply accounting routines, draft journal entries and explanations, and present outcomes for...
Chair File: Leadership Dialogue — Insights and Innovation in Rural Hospitals with Mark Boucot of Potomac Valley Hospital
Mark Boucot, CEO of Potomac Valley Hospital, a 25‑bed critical access facility in West Virginia, received the inaugural AHA Rural Hospital Excellence in Innovation Award. He highlighted the hospital’s low‑cost virtual ICU, built with simple tablets for remote intensivist support,...
8 Tax Pitfalls to Avoid When Expanding Your U.S. Startup Overseas
The article outlines eight tax pitfalls U.S. startups face when expanding overseas, from permanent‑establishment risks to state‑tax nexus. It explains how U.S. worldwide taxation, foreign filing obligations, and local sales taxes can generate unexpected liabilities. Early strategic planning and specialist...
Vero Networks Scores $500 Million Investment
Vero Networks, a Boulder‑based fiber infrastructure and broadband provider, closed a $500 million non‑control growth equity round on March 2, 2026. The investment was led by Hamilton Lane, Braemont Capital and Delta‑v Capital. The capital will fund accelerated fiber deployment and network upgrades...
Hegseth Says Iran Campaign ‘Not Like Iraq or Afghanistan’
The United States and Israel launched a massive air campaign against Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, sinking warships and striking more than 1,000 targets. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth framed the operation as a focused effort to destroy Iran’s...
Underdog Makes Major Job Cuts in Pivot to Prediction Markets
Underdog Fantasy announced layoffs affecting at least 125 employees, roughly 20% of its staff, with two‑thirds of its fraud operations team eliminated. The cuts accompany a strategic pivot from state‑by‑state sports betting and fantasy drafts to a national prediction‑market platform...
Data Centres in Space: Less Crazy than You Think
Tech giants are exploring space‑based data centres to power AI workloads. Elon Musk predicts feasibility within two to three years, while OpenAI’s Sam Altman dismisses the idea as premature. Google plans a test launch next year, and former Google CEO...
Fiber Network Provider Fidium's Latest Master Trust Issuance Raises $664.6 Million
Fiber provider Fidium launched a $664.6 million asset‑backed securities program, issuing three tranches (A‑2, B, C) slated to close on March 31. The trust holds conduits, cables, equipment and contracts covering about 351,000 subscribers across eight states, with Maine, New Hampshire and Texas...
Charlotte-Based SouthCraft Home Builders Rebrands as SouthCraft by Empire Homes
SouthCraft Home Builders announced it will operate as SouthCraft by Empire Homes, reflecting its 2025 acquisition by Empire Homes. Matt Roesch, a veteran homebuilder, was named division president to steer the rebranded unit. The new brand leverages Empire’s scale and...
Anheuser-Busch Completes Its $490M BeatBox Acquisition
Anheuser‑Busch completed a $490 million acquisition of 85% of Austin‑based RTD brand BeatBox, finalizing a deal announced in December. BeatBox, which posted over $340 million in retail sales and a 50% revenue jump last year, joins AB InBev’s expanding Beyond Beer portfolio...
Decision Velocity: The New Operating Advantage for Supply Chain Leaders
Supply chain leaders must shift from merely detecting disruptions to acting on them at unprecedented speed. The concept of decision velocity—rapidly converting data signals into confident decisions and coordinated actions—emerges as a critical capability. The article outlines three practical domains...
Manitoba Looks to Spur More Investment with Tax Credit Ceiling Raise
Manitoba announced an $8 million increase to its Small Business Venture Capital Tax Credit, raising the annual cap from $22 million to $30 million. The province also broadened the credit by recognizing SAFEs, lowering the minimum investment to $5,000, and extending eligibility to...
The Neuroscience Behind Why Leaders Stall Under Pressure — and What to Do About It
The article links leaders’ decision‑making stalls to a neurological split between the right brain’s idea‑generation and the left brain’s editing functions. Under high stress, the nervous system defaults to the left brain, creating a "checked‑up" state that suppresses creativity and...
BioAtla Axes 70% of Staff, Explores Strategic Options
BioAtla announced it is slashing roughly 70% of its staff as it evaluates strategic alternatives, leaving only essential personnel for the review. The move follows a 30% reduction last year and leaves the company with about $7.1 million in cash, down...
Project Planning and Timelines Guide: Tools and Best Practices
The guide outlines how project planning and timelines work together to give teams structure, direction, and visibility. It breaks down core plan components—scope, stakeholders, dependencies, risk—and walks readers through seven planning stages from initiation to execution. The article compares planning,...
Damon CEO, CFO, and Board Resign Following Prolonged Struggle on Public Markets
Vancouver‑based electric motorcycle maker Damon Motors announced the resignation of its entire board, including founder‑CEO Dom Kwong and CFO, following a tumultuous public‑market debut. After a 13‑month reverse‑merger that took the company public on NASDAQ in November 2024, its share...
L3Harris Appoints New CFO as Firm Prepares to Spin Off Missile Business
L3Harris announced that Kenneth Sharp, former Peraton finance chief, will assume the role of chief financial officer on March 16, succeeding Ken Bedingfield. Bedingfield will concentrate on the company’s Missile Solutions segment as it prepares for a late‑2026 spin‑off and...
Iran Risk Brief: Maintaining Defensive Posture, Vigilance for Disparate Outcomes, Opportunities
The U.S.–Israel air strikes on Iran on Feb. 28 have heightened geopolitical risk, creating a fluid credit environment that could swing from rapid de‑escalation to a protracted regional war. DoubleLine’s Global Sovereign Debt team entered the episode with a defensive posture,...
BNP Paribas: ‘Alternative” Evergreen Structures Attract Institutional Investors
BNP Paribas highlights the growing appeal of alternative evergreen structures, such as run‑off evergreens and rolling‑vintage umbrella funds, among institutional investors. These vehicles differ from traditional closed‑end drawdown funds by allowing continuous capital commitments and periodic vintage refreshes. The bank...
How Corporations Can Use This Simple Solution to Beat Turnover and Supercharge Innovation
Corporations are turning to Venture Capital‑as‑a‑Service (VCaaS) to solve chronic turnover in internal corporate venture capital (CVC) teams. High staff churn erodes institutional knowledge, slows deal flow, and damages startup relationships, undermining innovation goals. VCaaS providers supply seasoned investors who...
Amazon Seller Wallet Launches in Europe
Amazon has launched its Seller Wallet in seven European marketplaces—Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Ireland and the Netherlands—extending the U.S.‑originated tool that consolidates earnings and payout scheduling. The service lets sellers hold balances in euros or U.S. dollars, view real‑time...
Best Data Discovery Tools in 2026 for Product, Network, and IT Assets
Data discovery tools are essential for uncovering product, network, and IT assets, providing the first step toward risk mitigation and operational optimization. The article outlines top‑rated 2026 solutions—Productboard, Amplitude, Fullstory, Pendo for product; Auvik, SolarWinds NPM, Paessler PRTG, Domotz for...
Modern Approaches to Closing the Skills Gap in Government
New research shows 76% of talent development professionals view a significant skills gap in government, yet 72% of agencies still depend on traditional classroom instruction. The article outlines four modern approaches—mission‑aligned buy‑in, targeted pilot programs, creative cross‑agency resourcing, and training...
Hexagon Unveils “Octave” As Planned Software Spin-Off
Hexagon AB announced the creation of Octave, a new brand that will house its Asset Lifecycle Intelligence division, Safety, Infrastructure & Geospatial portfolio, and the Bricsys, ETQ and Projectmates businesses. The spin‑off aims to form a standalone industrial‑software company delivering...
For Ellison, Combining HBO Max and Paramount+ Is About 'Reinventing' Film and TV
Paramount Chairman David Ellison outlined a plan to merge HBO Max and Paramount+ after a $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, creating a streaming platform with over 200 million subscribers. The combined entity will inherit blockbuster franchises such as Harry Potter, Lord...
HGGC Leverages Strong Distributions for Oversubscribed Fund V
HGGC announced that its fifth fund, Fund V, was oversubscribed, driven by a strong track record of returning capital to investors. The firm highlighted that over the past two to three years it has distributed significant cash back to limited...
Tariffs Turned UK Manufacturers Away From the US Market in 2025
British manufacturers have sharply reduced their focus on the United States in 2025 due to President Donald Trump's reciprocal tariff regime, according to the UK Trade Barometer survey of 2,000 firms. Export activity migrated to Asia and Europe, with China,...
Google Uses Both schema.org Markup and Og:image Meta Tag for Thumbnails in Google Search and Discover
Google updated its image SEO guidance, confirming that both schema.org markup (such as primaryImageOfPage, mainEntity, and mainEntityOfPage) and the og:image meta tag are consulted when selecting thumbnail images for Google Search and Discover. The new documentation outlines how publishers can...
Advanced Systems Group Ups Gretchen Taipale To VP, Managed Services
Advanced Systems Group (ASG) promoted Gretchen Taipale to vice president of Managed Services, succeeding Jody Boatwright who moved to chief strategy officer. In her new role, Taipale will steer the strategic direction and delivery of media operations for a global...
Veyor Raises $10.5 Million in Series A Funding to Grow Construction Logistics Platform
Construction logistics platform Veyor secured a $10.5 million Series A round, valuing the company between $50 million and $75 million. The round was led by Marbruck Investments with participation from CoAct, Investible and SpringCapital. US revenue now exceeds 30 % of total sales and is...
Uzbekistan’s Afghanistan Push Accelerates
Uzbekistan has accelerated economic integration with Afghanistan, with 2025 bilateral trade reaching $1.5‑$1.68 billion—a 53% jump from the prior year and 2.5‑fold growth since 2021. Deputy Prime Minister Jamshid Khodjaev aims to lift trade to $5 billion, backed by a forthcoming Kabul...
CEE FX: Forint and Lira Seen Under Pressure – ING
ING analyst Frantisek Taborsky warns that Central and Eastern European (CEE) currencies, especially the Hungarian forint and Turkish lira, will feel downward pressure as an Iran‑related energy shock pushes oil and gas prices higher and strengthens the US dollar. The...
PSEi Falls 2.79% as Middle East Tensions Spark Sell-Off
Philippine stocks tumbled on Monday as the PSEi slipped 2.79% to 6,426.83 points, driven by heightened US‑Iran tensions and fears of rising oil prices. The sell‑off was broad‑based, with the services sector falling 4.11% and foreign investors exiting with net...
DFS Partners with ITV to Deliver an Integrated Marketing Campaign with Britain’s Got Talent
DFS has partnered with ITV to embed its brand into the 19th season of Britain’s Got Talent, featuring 10‑second TV commercials and bespoke sofas on set. The campaign includes an Amanda Holden‑branded sofa collection, social media sponsorship, and a competition...
Nedbank Wins Regulatory Approval To Take Majority Stake In Kenya’s NCBA
Nedbank has secured regulatory clearance to acquire a 66% controlling stake in Kenya’s NCBA for $855.5 million, marking one of the largest cross‑border banking deals in recent African history. The acquisition gives Nedbank access to NCBA’s $5.4 billion in assets, more than...
#58462
The Options Clearing Corporation’s Governance and Nominating Committee has put forward two candidates—Joseph C. Lewis of Jefferies LLC and Joshua Woods of Citadel Securities—for Class I Member Director seats. The election will occur at the April 22, 2026 annual stockholders meeting, with each...
Fox’s Lachlan Murdoch Expects Regulators to Put Conditions on Paramount-WBD Merger
Fox Corp. CEO Lachlan Murdoch warned that U.S. regulators will likely attach a third‑party content‑licensing condition to the $110 billion Paramount‑Warner Bros. Discovery merger. He also noted that CNN, under David Ellison, will continue to challenge Fox News as a strong competitor....
SEDEMAC Raises ₹325.9 Cr From Anchor Investors
SEDEMAC Mechatronics secured ₹325.9 crore from anchor investors at the top of its ₹1,287‑₹1,352 price band, allocating 24.10 lakh shares. The anchor tranche was 68% held by domestic mutual funds, while the OFS‑only IPO totals ₹1,087 crore and targets a valuation of about...
Is DAZN Planning to Make a Run at the NFL?
DAZN is positioning itself to bid for a domestic NFL package as the league prepares for its next round of broadcast negotiations. The streamer already distributes NFL Game Pass internationally and saw a 24% subscription increase in 2025, signaling appetite...
From Gaming Analytics to Creative Intelligence: Aggero’s Pivot to AI-Powered Video Performance
Aggero, originally a gaming‑focused analytics firm, has shifted to a creative‑intelligence platform that predicts short‑form video performance across industries. Backed by a seed round and partnerships, it now leverages over seven million hours of content and 42 billion comments to deliver...
How to Stop Your Startup Sale From Erasing Who You Are as an Entrepreneur
Entrepreneurs often experience an identity crisis after selling their startup, as the business that defined them disappears. Experts at Yale note that post‑exit founders can feel confused and anxious, treating the sale more like a pit stop than a finish...
National Bank of Poland Preview: Geopolitical Tension Makes a March Cut a Close Call
Poland’s central bank is poised to cut rates by 25 basis points in March, aligning with its recent dovish communication and a cooling inflation outlook. However, recent US‑Israeli strikes on Iran have raised oil prices, introducing upside risks to headline...
Raising Funds in the United States: A How-To Guide
The United States offers French startups larger capital, sophisticated investors, and a growth‑friendly ecosystem, but success requires proven product‑market fit at home and early traction stateside. Experts warn that premature fundraising can drain resources and expose tax risks, especially without...
Tekken and Pac-Man Owners Bandai Namco Announce Major Restructure with Investment From Sony
Bandai Namco Holdings announced a company‑wide restructuring affecting its film, toy, arcade and video‑game divisions, effective 1 April. The move follows Sony’s purchase of 16 million shares—about 2.5% of the firm—for roughly $464.5 million, and precedes Nintendo’s planned acquisition of Bandai Namco Studios Singapore. The...
Iran War Shakes Up Global Shipping Routes
The U.S.-Israeli strike on Iranian targets and Tehran's retaliatory actions have caused a sudden shutdown of maritime traffic in the Gulf of Oman, especially the Strait of Hormuz. Ship groundings and heightened naval alerts have crippled oil tanker movements and...
Paramount Plans to Merge Streaming Service with HBO Max After WBD Deal Closes
Paramount plans to merge its Paramount+ service with HBO Max once its $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery closes, creating a single streaming platform with over 200 million direct‑to‑consumer subscribers. The combined service will sit between Netflix’s 325 million global base and...
CCMP at Early-Stage Sale Process for Facilities Manager BGIS, Sources Say
Canadian facilities‑management firm BGIS has entered an early‑stage sale process led by private‑equity sponsor CCMP. Sources indicate the transaction could be priced at roughly 12 times EBITDA, valuing the business near $2.2 billion. The move reflects heightened interest in stable, cash‑generating...