Today's Finance Pulse
Anthropic secures $65B round, valuation hits $965B
Anthropic announced a $65 billion Series H financing that pushes its post‑money valuation to $965 billion, overtaking OpenAI as the world’s most valuable AI startup. The capital surge reflects strong enterprise demand for its Claude chatbot and reshapes the AI sector ahead of upcoming high‑profile IPOs.
Also developing:
Paramount Seeks FCC Waiver to Allow $24 Bn Foreign Investment in Warner Bros. Discovery Merger
Paramount Skydance has filed a petition with the Federal Communications Commission to exceed the 25% foreign‑ownership ceiling so it can incorporate $24 bn from Saudi, Abu Dhabi and Qatari sovereign‑wealth funds into its $81 bn takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery. The move, described by Paramount as a “customary petition,” would reshape the financing structure of one of the year’s largest media transactions.
Varonis CFO/COO Highlights 29% SaaS ARR Surge and Scaling Plans
Varonis CFO and COO Guy Melamed announced that first‑quarter SaaS ARR (excluding conversions) jumped 29% year‑over‑year to $522.6 million. He detailed operational scaling initiatives and raised full‑year ARR guidance, citing strong AI‑driven product uptake and a major enterprise win.
S&P Global Posts 10% YoY Revenue Rise in Q1 2026, Boosted by Subscription Gains
S&P Global (SPGI) posted a 10% year‑over‑year revenue increase in Q1 2026, with subscription revenue up 6% and adjusted diluted EPS rising 14%. The data‑provider returned $1 billion to shareholders and reaffirmed full‑year guidance, underscoring its resilience amid geopolitical headwinds.
Bill Ackman's Pershing Square USA Closed-End Fund IPO Targets Up to $10 Billion
Bill Ackman launched the Pershing Square USA closed‑end fund IPO at $50 a share, with an initial $5 bn haul and a ceiling of $10 bn. The offering includes a free share of Pershing Square Inc. for every five shares bought, signaling...
Shelton Wealth Management Dumps $8.6M IBTG Stake, Signals Shift in Treasury‑ETF Sentiment
Shelton Wealth Management sold all 376,011 shares of iShares iBonds Dec 2026 Term Treasury ETF (IBTG) for an estimated $8.61 million, wiping the fund from its portfolio. The exit, filed on April 28, 2026, reflects the fund’s approaching maturity and may signal broader...
Hilton Posts Record Q1 Earnings, CEO Predicts C‑Shaped Economy for Hotels
Hilton Worldwide posted a 13% jump in adjusted EBITDA to $901 million and a 3.6% rise in system‑wide RevPAR for Q1 2026. CEO Christopher Nassetta said the U.S. economy is moving toward a C‑shaped pattern, with stronger demand at lower‑ and mid‑scale...
Bloomberg Unveils AskB, a Generative AI Agent Redefining the Terminal
Bloomberg announced AskB, an internal generative‑AI agent that can create investment screens, full research reports and real‑time financial models through natural‑language prompts. The launch, highlighted at the AI in Finance Summit in London, signals a strategic shift as the data‑rich...
AvalonBay CFO O'Shea Flags 2.1% Q4 Revenue Rise, $2.4B Capital Boost
AvalonBay Communities posted a 2.1% rise in Q4 2025 revenue, driven by the lowest-ever turnover rate of 41% and strong resident engagement. CFO Kevin O'Shea highlighted a $2.4 billion capital raise, $490 million in share repurchases and a dividend increase to $1.78...
Musk Testifies Against Altman, Threatening OpenAI’s For‑Profit Shift and $2 B Microsoft Deal
Elon Musk took the stand Tuesday in Oakland, alleging that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman betrayed the nonprofit’s original charter by converting it into a for‑profit venture. Musk’s lawsuit seeks to unwind the $2 billion Microsoft investment and force Altman off the...
Robinhood Shares Tumble 11% as Crypto Revenue Plunges 47% in Q1
Robinhood (HOOD) fell more than 11% after reporting Q1 2026 revenue of $1.07 billion, missing the $1.17 billion consensus, and a 47% plunge in cryptocurrency revenue to $134 million. The miss highlights the platform’s exposure to volatile digital‑asset markets despite strong growth in...
AMC Shares Surge to $1.75 on Ticket‑sale Rebound, but Debt Looms
AMC Entertainment's stock jumped from under $1 to about $1.75 as ticket sales for releases like Project Hail Mary and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie improved. Analysts caution the rally masks a $4 bn debt load and an EV/EBITDA multiple more...
Indian Rupee Slides as Oil Prices Surge, Losing 3.5% Since West Asia Conflict
The Indian rupee weakened by roughly 3.5% against the U.S. dollar after crude oil prices jumped from $63 to above $114 per barrel, a shift tied to the West Asia war. Reserve Bank of India officials warned of heightened external...
US Treasury Yields Jump to 4.35% as Middle East Conflict Fuels Inflation Fears
U.S. Treasury yields surged on Tuesday, with the two‑year note topping 3.85% and the 10‑year reaching 4.35%, the highest in about a month. The spike was driven by rising oil prices and heightened inflation worries amid the ninth‑week Iran‑related conflict,...
The Loadstar Leader: China Merchants Tipped to Join the Hutch Port Sale Talks – Why?
China Merchants, a centrally administered state‑owned enterprise, is being added to negotiations over the sale of Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH). Beijing previously forced Cosco’s participation, and the new partner may help finance and structure the deal, potentially easing regulator concerns....
HKEX Posts Record Q1 Profit of $662 Million as Listings and Turnover Surge
Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) posted a record first‑quarter profit of HK$5.19 billion ($662 million), up 27% year‑on‑year, as new listings raised $13.26 billion and daily turnover climbed 14%. The results highlight the exchange’s resilience amid global volatility and its expanding multi‑asset...
Citi Launches AI‑powered Wealth Advisor “Citi Sky” To Boost Client Service
Citi introduced “Citi Sky,” a generative‑AI wealth advisor that will be rolled out to select clients this summer. Developed with Google Cloud and DeepMind, the tool promises 24‑hour personalized advice while highlighting memory challenges that could limit its long‑term usefulness.
IonQ Posts $130 M FY2025 Revenue, Earns Wedbush Strong‑buy Upgrade
IonQ announced $130 million in FY2025 revenue, crossing the $100 million GAAP threshold, and Wedbush Securities upgraded the stock to strong‑buy. The analyst firm highlighted the company's fault‑tolerance roadmap and a cash pile of $3.3 billion as catalysts for sustained growth.
Snabbit Secures $56M Series D, Valuation Jumps to $350M
Snabbit, the Bengaluru‑based on‑demand home‑services platform, closed a $56 million Series D round co‑led by Susquehanna Venture Capital and Mirae Asset. The financing lifts the startup’s valuation to roughly $350 million, underscoring growing investor interest in India’s service‑market startups.
CFTC Sues Wisconsin Over Prediction Market Jurisdiction, Escalating Federal‑State Clash
The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission filed a suit in Milwaukee on April 28, demanding that Wisconsin’s enforcement actions against prediction‑market platforms be declared invalid. The case pits the federal regulator’s claim of exclusive jurisdiction over event‑contract derivatives against state...
Ed Dymott: Trail Commission Isn’t the Problem
Fourteen years after the Retail Distribution Review forced a shift to fee‑based advice, the FCA is consulting on a ban of trail commissions that still flow from legacy insurance bonds and with‑profits funds. Ed Dymott argues that while trail commissions...
UK Gov to Legislate for Risk Transformation and ILS Flexibility to Promote Innovation and Growth
The UK Treasury will push primary and secondary legislation to make the risk transformation regime for insurance‑linked securities (ILS) more flexible. Reforms will loosen funding rules, allowing the PRA to waive full paid‑in capital, and broaden authorisation processes for insurance...
USAA Now Targets up to $825m of Reinsurance From Residential Re 2026-1 Cat Bond
USAA has increased its target for the Residential Re 2026‑1 catastrophe bond to between $800 million and $825 million, making it potentially the insurer’s largest ever cat‑bond sponsorship. The issuance comprises three tranches – a $150 million Class 14 aggregate, a $150‑$175 million Class 15 aggregate,...
Icelandic Fish Farming Company First Water Finances Phase One of Six for Expansion
Icelandic salmon processor First Water announced the completion of phase one financing, raising roughly €75 million ($88 million) to double its land‑based production capacity. The funding combines a €40 million ($47 million) convertible bond from existing shareholders and a €35 million ($41 million) loan from Landsbankinn...
Mining M&A Maintains Momentum Into 2026 as Supply-Chain Focus Underpins Deal Activity
Mining mergers and acquisitions accelerated in Q1 2026, with 121 deals valued at $21.6 bn, outpacing both 2025 and 2024. The surge represents the fastest start to a year since 2023 and follows a $93.7 bn total deal flow in 2025, a 35%...
Press Release: Hall Chadwick Launches in the UK with Capital Markets Offering
Hall Chadwick, the 140‑year‑old Australian accounting and advisory firm, launched its UK practice at Kensington Palace on 23 April 2026. The new London office will deliver cross‑border M&A, capital‑raising and restructuring services, targeting data‑centre, infrastructure and AI sectors. The move...
Risky Asset Inflows Outpace Safe Funds in Four Weeks
Over the past 4 weeks, flows into risky asset funds have overwhelmed those into safe asset funds. Goldman Sachs via WallStJesus
Press Release: MEA Treasury Priorities Report
Citi released a Treasury Priorities report for multinational corporations operating in the Middle East and Africa, based on a survey of over 900 senior treasury and finance professionals across more than 25 countries. The study finds cash visibility and forecasting...
Eging PV Confirms Restructuring Investors, Bringing in Ningbo Ruilian and Solarspace
Eging PV, China’s first listed PV‑module maker, signed a pre‑restructuring investment agreement with Ningbo Ruilian and Solarspace. The investors will purchase at least 455 million new shares for RMB 819 million (about $120 million), with Ningbo Ruilian contributing RMB 719 million to become the controlling shareholder....
Press Release: ION and KPMG Bring EU Payee Verification Live at Scale, Preventing Disruptions to Critical Payment Flows
ION Treasury announced that its treasury management suite now includes Verification of Payee (VoP) capabilities, meeting the EU Instant Payments Regulation’s mandatory requirements. The company launched VoP in its ITS platform, making it the first ION solution live in production...
UK Ministers Gain Power to Force Pension Funds to Invest in British Companies
UK ministers have been granted new statutory powers to require pension schemes to allocate a portion of their assets to UK‑listed companies. The measure, introduced under recent financial legislation, seeks to channel private retirement savings into domestic businesses and support...
FCA Approves Vestd as a PISCES Operator
Vestd has received FCA approval to operate under the Private Intermittent Securities and Capital Exchange System (PISCES), placing it alongside the London Stock Exchange and JP Jenkins. The PISCES framework, launched in June 2025, enables private companies to auction shares to professional...
DWS Lists Xtrackers II Global Government Bond UCITS ETF 4D in London
DWS listed the Xtrackers II Global Government Bond UCITS ETF 4D on the London Stock Exchange on 28 April 2026. The physically replicating, distributing ETF tracks the FTSE World Government Bond Index – Developed Markets and is denominated in USD with a 0.20% total expense...
Is Credit Now Impervious to the Middle East Conflict?
Credit markets have shown surprising resilience to the Middle East conflict, with Euro investment‑grade spreads widening only 10‑15 basis points before fully retracing. Higher swap rates have added 50‑60 basis points of extra yield, keeping demand strong despite lingering uncertainty....
Hong Kong Surplus Hits HK$11 Billion as Finance Chief ‘Monitors’ Mideast War
Hong Kong’s financial secretary Paul Chan announced a revised fiscal surplus of HK$11 billion (about US$1.9 billion) for the 2025‑26 year, roughly four times the original forecast. He stressed that the ongoing Middle‑East conflict has only a limited effect on the city’s...
China’s VOLANT Raises USD300 Million to Progress Its VE25-100 eVTOL Programme
Shanghai‑based VOLANT announced the close of a Series C round that raised over $300 million, the largest single financing event in China’s commercial passenger eVTOL sector. The round was led by UAE‑based Stone with participation from HSG, Fortera Capital, Future Capital...
Soft Results, yet Cash Rises and Dividend Increases
#W7L results a bit soft. Net Cash £17.3m (up). Increased Dividend to 13p for the year (7.4% on 175p). Brand Architekts integration appears to be going well. Products into new Retailers in many countries. Signs of recovery in April...
Wealthy Investors May Be Underestimating Private Credit Risk, Says Citadel’s Griffin
Citadel founder Ken Griffin warned that high‑net‑worth investors may underestimate liquidity risk in private credit. The sector has ballooned to over $3.5 trillion in assets as alternative lenders filled gaps left by banks. Many funds, including those from Blackstone, KKR and...
Citadel Among Creditors Pushing Back on Spirit Airlines Rescue Deal
Citadel, alongside a consortium of senior lenders, has formally objected to Spirit Airlines' proposed $1.5 billion rescue financing package. The deal, which would replace existing high‑cost debt with a new senior secured loan, also includes equity kicker provisions that creditors say...
Porr Approves up to 10% Share Buyback
$POS Holding Equity Small Caps FI Porr authorizes share buyback of up to 10% of share capital
The Rise of Real-Time Liquidity in an Always-On World
Citi’s Global Head of Liquidity Management Services, Stephen Randall, outlined how the bank is leveraging tokenisation and AI to deliver real‑time, 24/7 cash movement across its global network. By combining blockchain‑based Citi Token Services with automated funding rules, clients can...
Travelers Returns with $500m Target for New Long Point Re IV 2026-1 Cat Bond
Travelers Companies is re‑entering the catastrophe‑bond market with a $500 million target for the Long Point Re IV 2026‑1 issuance, a multi‑peril reinsurance deal covering the Northeastern United States. The bond will issue a single Class A tranche, attaching at $2.85 billion of losses...
Policy Paper: Changes to the Risk Transformation Regulations
The UK government has released a policy paper outlining reforms to the Risk Transformation Regulations, targeting the insurance‑linked securities (ILS) and captive insurance sectors. The proposals introduce more flexible funding and streamlined authorisation for transformer vehicles, and allow protected cell...
Money Box Live: Making Tax Digital Guide
The Moneybox Live episode walks listeners through the UK’s Making Tax Digital (MTD) rollout for sole traders and landlords, explaining that they must keep digital records and submit quarterly updates to HMRC. HMRC’s Director General of Strategy and Policy, Jonathan...
Scope of Insurers Subject to Recovery and Resolution Planning Requirements in the Key Attributes: Overview of Consultation Responses
The Financial Stability Board released its final report on the scope of insurers subject to recovery and resolution planning (RRP) in the FSB Key Attributes, incorporating feedback from nine public and private stakeholders. The consultation, launched in November 2025 and closed...
Premier Raises £1 Million Again as Zulu Lithium Plant Nears Commissioning Amid Heavy Dilution
Premier African Minerals raised a second £1 million (≈$1.27 million) equity round, issuing about 7.35 billion new shares and pushing its total share count above 25 billion. The capital supports the near‑completion of the Zulu Lithium flotation plant, with electrical switchgear installed and piping...
Key Attributes Assessment Methodology for the Insurance Sector: Revised Version
On 29 April 2026 the Financial Stability Board released a revised Methodology for assessing a jurisdiction’s insurance resolution framework. The paper updates the definition of a “critical function” and aligns the sector‑specific criteria with the FSB’s Key Attributes of Effective Resolution Regimes....
Developing Effective Resolution Strategies and Plans for Systemically Important Insurers: Revised Version
The Financial Stability Board released a revised guidance on resolution strategies for global systemically important insurers. It stresses that a credible plan must preserve essential economic functions, protect policy‑holders, and avoid taxpayer bailouts by ensuring shareholders and unsecured creditors bear...
Warpaint London Navigates Tough 2025 and Q1 2026, but Rest of Year Looks Stronger
Warpaint London reported FY 2025 revenue of £105.1 million (≈$133 million), up 3% year‑on‑year, and gross profit margin improved to 42.6% from 41.2%. Adjusted EBITDA fell 15% to £21.3 million (≈$27 million) and profit before tax dropped 24% to £18.1 million (≈$23 million), reflecting a tough trading...
The Private Credit Infection
Peter Schiff warns that unchecked private‑credit exposure could replicate the 2008 crisis, as banks rely on implicit government bailouts to justify risky lending. He argues that regulatory gaps allow low‑quality private debt to infiltrate banks, while tiered risk assessments are...
SDG's Cheap Shares Demand
#SDG too cheap https://t.co/vPrlSyJp9i …but they really need to buy back & cancel shares rather than just buy a few & give them to themselves https://t.co/J6pURfWIHW