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:
Harvard Returns to Market with a $675 Million Bond Sale
Harvard University is pricing a $675 million tranche of unsecured general‑obligation revenue bonds, rated Aaa by Moody’s and AAA by S&P. The proceeds will fund campus construction, refinance 2016 bonds and repay commercial paper. The sale comes amid ongoing federal lawsuits, cash‑monitoring requirements, and heightened political pressure from the Trump administration. Harvard’s total outstanding bonds rise to about $8.3 billion, following $1.2 billion issued last year.
Jeffrey Sherman: Oil Price Causing Its Own Rate Hike | CNBC
Jeffrey Sherman of DoubleLine told CNBC that soaring oil prices are effectively creating a self‑inflicted rate hike, urging the Federal Reserve to look beyond commodity‑driven inflation and focus on labor‑market dynamics. He cautioned against aggressive cuts to the federal‑funds rate,...
The Broker Offers You Quick Pay and It Sounds Like Free Money. Read This Before You Take It.
Freight brokers offer quick‑pay programs that accelerate payment within 24‑72 hours for a fee of roughly 1.5%‑5% of the load value. In contrast, freight factoring sells unpaid invoices to a third‑party for a fee typically between 1%‑5%, often lower for...
Flush With Cash, Universal Music Announces Share Buyback Plan
Universal Music Group announced a €500 million (≈ $575 million) share‑buyback, its first ever, signaling confidence in its strategy and long‑term growth. The programme follows a strong Q4 performance, with revenues of €3.605 billion (≈ $4.19 billion) and adjusted EBITDA of €810 million (≈ $942 million). Shares jumped over...
Software Obsolescence Risk Menaces CLO Market
A looming debt maturity wall is hitting AI‑focused software firms, prompting borrowers to sell debt amid fears of product obsolescence. Bank of America warns that 2026‑2027 loan maturities could trigger self‑fulfilling defaults, pressuring CLO managers to shy away from refinancings....
CFPB Seeks Comment on Reinstating Mortgage Advertising and Land Sales Information Collections
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has opened a public comment period to reinstate two information collections: the Mortgage Acts and Practices—Advertising (Regulation N) and the Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act (Regulations J, K, and L). Regulation N requires lenders and advertisers to retain mortgage...
Abu Dhabi Power Play: L’Imad Emerges As $300 Billion Sovereign Force
Abu Dhabi has merged its state‑owned fund ADQ into the newly created sovereign wealth fund L Imad, boosting the latter’s assets to roughly $300 billion. The consolidation places the fund under the direct supervision of Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohammed bin...
MBTA Invites Public Comment on Proposed FY27-31CIP
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority released its FY27‑31 Capital Investment Plan, a five‑year roadmap that earmarks roughly $10 billion for more than 680 capital projects. The plan groups spending into three pillars: regular maintenance, future‑focused modernization, and service improvements such as...
Anti-Fraud Teams Struggling on AI, Tech
The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners’ 2026 Anti‑Fraud Technology Benchmarking Report surveyed over 700 anti‑fraud executives and found that 92% of teams still do not use AI, with only 8% feeling prepared for AI‑enhanced fraud attacks. Respondents cite data‑quality, governance,...
The OG of Private Credit: How We Got Here
Private credit, defined as tailored non‑bank loans, has grown from 1980s bank‑offloaded leveraged loans into a multi‑trillion‑dollar market. Specialized teams within banks and finance firms pioneered risk‑focused middle‑market lending, creating the foundation for today’s direct‑lending platforms. Recent coverage often paints...
Ray Dalio Says Cash Is the Worst Place to Hide Money in 'Risky Times'
Bridgewater founder Ray Dalio warned that cash could be the worst place to hide money as markets enter a period of heightened risk. His comment, made during a recent interview, is likely to reshape asset‑allocation strategies for wealth managers and...
Judge Blocks Nexstar's $6.2 Billion Tegna Deal, Halting TV‑Station Giant
A federal judge has issued a 14‑day temporary restraining order on Nexstar Media Group's $6.2 billion purchase of Tegna, stopping the creation of a broadcast entity that would control 260 stations and reach about 60% of U.S. households. The injunction follows...
Private‑Equity Firms Target Asia’s $5 Trillion Healthcare Market to Bridge Funding Gap
Private‑equity firms, anchored by Quadria Capital’s $4.2 billion under management, are pouring capital into Asia’s $5 trillion healthcare market to offset a chronic public‑spending shortfall. The surge creates fresh opportunities for consulting firms to advise on strategy, operations and market entry across...
Hyperliquid Rolls Out Options Platform, Adds $30 Million Share Buyback
Hyperliquid Strategies Inc. (NASDAQ: PURR) debuted options trading on its common shares on the Nasdaq Options Market, pairing the launch with a $30 million share repurchase program. The move is designed to deepen liquidity, broaden crypto exposure for institutional and retail...
BSP to Expand Credit Exposure Reporting
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) announced plans to broaden its Comprehensive Credit and Equity Exposures Report (COCREE) to cover non‑bank financial institutions, including savings‑loan associations, credit‑card firms, and government‑linked lenders. Reporting for the newly covered entities will begin for...
Best Practices in 2026 for Workers’ Comp: A Smarter Playbook for New York Restaurants
The Friedlander Group promotes a New York Workers’ Compensation Safety Group for restaurants, bars and nightclubs that can slash premiums by as much as 57% through group discounts and dividend payouts. Since 1993 members have saved $244 million, with recent dividends...
Separate Business Account to Preserve Tax Deductions
Mixing business and personal money is how deductions disappear. When everything is in one account: • You miss expenses • You underreport deductions • You create audit risk Open a business account. This one move alone changes everything. Follow for Day 16 of the 60 Tax...
Venu Holding Corp. Adds Sarah Rothschild As SVP, Strategic Finance and Investor Relations
VENU Holding Corp. has appointed Sarah Rothschild as Senior Vice President of Strategic Finance and Investor Relations. Rothschild, a capital‑markets veteran from Madison Square Garden Entertainment, Sphere Entertainment and PwC, will oversee investor relations, treasury, capital formation and financial communications....
Legal & General: A Veteran FTSE Stock with Life in It Yet
Legal & General, a century‑old FTSE 100 insurer, is shedding its legacy bulk‑annuity and life‑insurance focus in favour of an asset‑light, higher‑margin model. Its investment arm now manages about $1.5 trillion in assets, with private‑market holdings swelling to $95 bn and fee margins...
Sumsub and Approvely Unite on Identity and Payments
Sumsub, a global verification and anti‑fraud platform, has partnered with Approvely to embed its KYC and AML screening directly into Approvely’s payments and risk‑management stack. The integration gives gaming merchants a single, compliant path from identity verification to transaction processing...
Chart of the Week: Leverage Takeover
The latest LSEG LPC chart shows a decisive shift in middle‑market leveraged‑buyout financing. In 2014 banks supplied roughly 70 % of the capital, but by 2025 their share fell below 30 %, while direct lenders now fund over 60 % of deals. This...
Trump to Take First Steps in Opening Retirement Funds to Private Markets
The Trump administration announced its first steps toward allowing retirement accounts such as 401(k)s and IRAs to invest in private‑market assets, including private equity and venture capital. The proposal would amend Department of Labor fiduciary rules, aiming to broaden investment...
Investor Intentions: Boston Retirement Systems Issues RFP for Private Debt Manager
The Boston Retirement System (BRS) has issued a request for proposal for a $115 million private‑debt mandate. The pension fund is seeking an external manager to allocate capital in senior‑secured loans and ESG‑aligned credit. This RFP reflects BRS’s strategy to diversify...
Powell: Fed Monitors Private Credit, Won’t Eliminate Risk
On private credit, Powell said it was a "relatively small part of a very large asset pool" that the Fed was watching "super carefully" About financial regulation more broadly, Powell said the Fed "shouldn't be trying to regulate risk out of...
16% of EasyPost Slated for Auction Amid Merger
16% of EasyPost going up for auction on April 22 according to a LI post from Ben Emmrich of Tusk Logistics. EasyPost is part of Auctane which was acquired by Thoma Romo and now in process of combining it with...
Deposit GromaCoin (GRO), Borrow USDC
Groma, Birch Hill Holdings and Yearn are launching a GromaCoin lending vault that lets investors deposit GromaCoin and borrow USDC. The vault combines a compliance layer with permissionless protocols like Morpho and Yearn to create tailored yield products, scalable rent‑vesting...
Finance Should Be Frictionless, Not App‑driven
The neobank era taught us one thing: People don't want to think about money Agentic finance takes that to its logical conclusion Zero cognitive load Zero manual intervention Zero friction We're not building better apps We're building systems that make apps obsolete
Invest Blindly? JOJO Watches Utilities, Spreads, Macro Risks
You wouldn't drive with your eyes closed. Why invest in credit without watching the signals? $JOJO keeps its eyes on utilities, spreads, and macro risk. Always. https://t.co/Ap3Tk7ZcGZ
Ani Tech Launches Free AI Cash Flow App for Advisors
Ani Tech has introduced a free AI‑driven cash‑flow modelling app for UK financial advisers, allowing them to build and compare complex scenarios using natural‑language commands. The tool, powered by an agentic AI called ‘Flo’, automates data entry and provides real‑time...
No Risk Premium? Switch to Long Treasuries
When spreads offer no compensation for risk, you're not being paid to hold credit. Period. $JOJO shifts to long-duration Treasuries when the signal confirms it. https://t.co/GLMuxK8o97
CFOs Emphasize Efficiency, Reaching 2020 Highs
The year of efficiency is back Chief financial officers at large U.S. companies mentioned “efficiency” at least once on 307 conference calls in the latest quarter as of March 26, up from 219 a year earlier and the highest level...
Credit Crunch: GSAM’s McClain on High Yield Risks, Resilience
In this episode of Credit Crunch, Goldman Sachs’ global co‑head of high yield and bank loans, John McClain, discusses the current state of the below‑investment‑grade market, noting that high‑yield spreads have stabilized in the low‑300 bps range and that double‑B issuers are...
Capex Growing Faster Than Revenue Drives Returns
It’s not “unhappy returns”; it’s “capex is growing faster than revenue”. How it ends, depends. https://t.co/TtHGrcIFW8
US Treasury Yields Slip, 10‑year Hits 4.334%
Tplex: UST Yields moving lower today.... Dimes +24/32's 110-29 10 Yr Notes 4.334% (-10.6 bp's)
Zeidler Advises on UCITS Eligibility for Structured Notes
Zeidler Group has highlighted the regulatory hurdles UCITS funds face when seeking exposure to structured debt securities, noting that eligibility must align with Article 50(1) of the UCITS Directive and the Eligible Assets Directive. The firm recently guided a Luxembourg‑based...
Perplexity and Fiscal AI Unite for Real‑Time Financial Data
I'm pleased to announce we've expanded our partnership between @Perplexity_ai and @Fiscal_ai. Fiscal AI's Data API now gives investors on Perplexity and Perplexity Computer accurate, source-backed financial data when performing research or vibing customized dashboards. https://t.co/UC5B9n9GmN
M&A Spreads Surge, PRTH Hits 29% without News
M&A spreads are just blowing up! $PRTH is spread now at 29%, with no news whatsoever beyond the general market sell-off.
Credit Crunch: GSAM’s McClain on High Yield Risks, Resilience
Goldman Sachs Asset Management’s high‑yield co‑head John McClain says the post‑COVID high‑yield market remains robust, with scarce new issuance, minimal downgrades and strong investor demand anchored by elevated base rates. Credit spreads are holding at reasonable levels, reflecting solid underlying...
Unify Finance Data for Real‑time, Stress‑free Insights
Running a business shouldn't be a guessing game. SAP Business One brings financial data into one view. Real-time insights, zero stress. Schedule a meeting with me: https://t.co/ZsEwnG4p2n #SAPBusinessOne #QuickBooks #ERP $SAP https://t.co/CfOUUzMcFN
IRS IRIS System: What Filers Must Do Before 2027
The IRS will retire the legacy FIRE system on December 31 2026, making the newer Information Returns Intake System (IRIS) mandatory for all 1099 and 1042‑S filings. IRIS, live since 2023, offers real‑time validation and multiple submission routes, from a web portal...
Sysco Moves Into Cash‑and‑carry with Restaurant Depot Acquisition
Big news as @Sysco announces the acquisition of Restaurant Depot. While broadline has done well, cash-n-carry distribution continues to do well & this gets Sysco into a segment that it has historically avoided. This is from last year but growth is...
AWL Agri Business Looking to Scale up Acquired Brand Tops Rapidly
AWL Agri Business is accelerating growth of its newly acquired GD Foods brand, Tops, which posted roughly $60 million in revenue after an 80% stake purchase last year. The company plans to double Tops’ topline to about $120 million and eventually push...
US Treasury to Consult with Insurance Regulators on Private Credit: Sources
The U.S. Treasury will hold its first meeting with domestic and international insurance regulators to address concerns in the $2 trillion private‑credit market. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent plans regular consultations starting in the second quarter, focusing on liquidity, transparency, fund‑level leverage,...
John Textor’s Eagle Empire at Risk of Breakup
Administrators have been appointed to John Textor’s Eagle Football Holdings Bidco, signalling the start of a formal insolvency process. The move puts the multi‑club empire – which includes RCD Mallorca, Botafogo and other assets – at risk of being broken...
$JOJO: CE-Credit Webinar on Credit Regimes and Allocation Discipline
The CE‑Credit approved webinar on March 31, 2026, will dissect credit market regimes and their impact on allocation discipline. Hosted by Michael A. Gayed, CFA, the session outlines how spread phases create distinct risk environments and why static exposure can...
Private Credit Risks Grow as DOL Targets 401(k)s
Concerns around private credit are mounting just as the Trump admin is expanding access to it Investors, lobbyists and lawmakers are now awaiting the rollout of a Dept of Labor proposal that would include alternative assets in 401ks https://t.co/2j9Bg67jIU @arappeport @nytimes https://t.co/jLIP238LNF
Fund Managers Ditch Hedges, Lowest in Eight Years
International fund managers have become so relaxed that many are no longer hedging against stock market declines. The percentage of managers who are currently hedging has fallen to its lowest level in eight years. https://t.co/P9FEnZ6gYs
Next Steps on a Much Improved Basel III Endgame
The revised Basel III endgame proposal released this month marks a major step toward finalizing U.S. capital reforms. It introduces a suite of improvements, including the removal of the output floor for internal market‑risk models, enhanced cross‑product netting under SA‑CCR,...
Junk Credit Spreads Widening, Still Early In Trend
Junk credit spreads are certainly widening, but if this is going to become a meaningful move, we are not even out of the first inning. https://t.co/KwASCn8uAh
US Policy Follows Bonds, Not Oil, Amid QE
U.S. policy is governed by the bond markets, not oil prices. We will be doing QE and pumping asset prices like crazy in order to crash land the Treasury markets after this mess. cc: @LynAldenContact @lukegromen are over the target.