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:
Guidance: Good Practice Guide: TCFD Reporting
HM Treasury has released a Good Practice Guide for TCFD Reporting 2024‑25, a 32‑page PDF aimed at central government organisations preparing for mandatory climate disclosure requirements in 2025‑26. The guide offers practical examples across the four TCFD pillars—governance, strategy, risk management, and metrics & targets—while flagging common pitfalls and “comply or explain” nuances. It builds on the Treasury’s phased rollout that began in 2023‑24, providing clear, decision‑useful guidance for annual reports and accounts. The publication was made available on 5 March 2026.
TransUnion Unveils AI Agent to Accelerate Financial Analytics Workflows
TransUnion announced its AI Analytics Orchestrator Agent, an AI‑driven layer on the TruIQ platform that leverages Google Vertex AI and Gemini models to automate credit analytics. The agent translates natural‑language queries into governed workflows, generating models, studies, and recommendations in...
Affirm’s Full-Stack Ambition Is Bigger than Consumer Finance Alone
Affirm kicked off 2026 with a flurry of strategic announcements, including a rent‑payment partnership with Esusu, a bank‑charter filing, and a debit‑card‑embedded BNPL solution via Fiserv. The firm also secured default checkout status with Bolt and integrated its BNPL service...
CMC Markets Begins 24/7 Blockchain Settlements with J.P. Morgan’s Kinexys
CMC Markets has launched a 24/7 blockchain settlement platform in partnership with Kinexys Digital Payments, a JPMorgan unit. The solution uses JPMorgan’s JPMCoin on the public Base blockchain to move cash instantly across currencies and regions. Live testing confirmed near‑real‑time...
Abercrombie & Fitch Profit Drops Despite ‘Record’ Q4 Sales
Abercrombie & Fitch reported a 6% decline in operating income to £524 million for the year, even as net sales rose 6% to £3.95 billion. The fourth quarter delivered a record £1.25 billion in sales, up 5%, but operating income fell 8% to...
Policy Paper: Treasury Minutes – March 2026
The UK Treasury released its March 2026 minutes on 5 March, providing a formal response to the Public Accounts Committee’s reports 57‑61 covering the 2024‑26 session. The 40‑page PDF, sized at 2.13 MB, details departmental actions and financial oversight outcomes. The document is published...
Investor Skepticism Creates Opportunity
An asset manager’s bonds are priced 50‑75 basis points wider than those of its major peers. Rating agencies signal potential upgrades, while the bond market doubts the firm’s credit health. The company’s fourth‑quarter results revealed record fundraising, growing margins, and...
BrewDog Investors Have Lost Everything - Are There Better Ways to Back Small Firms?
BrewDog’s EquityPunk crowdfunding scheme raised £75 million from 200,000 investors before the brand entered administration and was taken over by Tilray, wiping out those investors entirely. The collapse underscores the liquidity constraints and limited transparency inherent in equity‑crowdfunding platforms compared with...
Korea Plans Mandatory Sustainability Reporting Beginning in 2028
South Korea’s Financial Services Commission unveiled a draft roadmap that will make sustainability reporting mandatory for large listed firms starting in 2028, using 2027 data. The new standards align closely with the IFRS Foundation’s ISSB IFRS S1 and S2 requirements, covering...
BNP Paribas AM Shuts Down €750m Sustainability Fund – Exclusive
BNP Paribas Asset Management is winding down its €750 million sustainability fund following the acquisition of AXA IM Alts. The purchase created overlapping equity strategies between the two managers, prompting a strategic consolidation. BNP Paribas cited redundancy elimination as the primary...
Reducing Waste Management Costs and Compliance Risk: A CFO’s Guide to Operational Oversight
UK waste disposal costs are surging due to higher landfill taxes, volatile fuel prices and tighter regulatory scrutiny, turning waste management into a financial risk for multi‑site organisations. CFOs are increasingly treating commercial waste as a strategic cost centre, employing...
OCC's GENIUS Implementation Draft Rule Keeps Yield on the Table
The OCC has issued a draft implementation rule for the GENIUS Act that establishes a rebuttable presumption that stablecoin issuers and their affiliates may not pay interest or yield on payment stablecoins. While the language appears to ban direct yield,...
The SCOTUS Tariff Decision as a Subsequent Event
The Supreme Court’s ruling in Learning Resources v. Trump is being classified as a non‑recognized (Type 2) subsequent event under ASC 855 for firms that imported goods subject to IEEPA tariffs and have not yet issued financial statements as of February 20, 2026. The...
The Crypto Boom Quietly Building in the U.S. Right Now
The U.S. crypto market is entering a quiet boom driven by institutional infrastructure, advancing blockchain technology, and a more educated investor base. Large financial firms are rolling out custody solutions, settlement platforms, and tokenized products, creating a stable foundation for...
SMA-Share Price Rises: SMA Group Under Pressure in 2025 - Revenue Stable, EBITDA Heavily Impacted - Cautiously Optimistic Outlook for...
SMA Solar Technology AG released unaudited 2025 results showing a modest 0.9% revenue decline to €1.516 bn, while operating EBITDA before one‑offs was €106.6 m but fell to a negative €65.4 m after extraordinary items. One‑off charges—including €122.6 m inventory write‑downs and €35.8 m provisions—pushed...
Taylor Wimpey Launches £52m Share Buyback as Profits Plummet 54%
Taylor Wimpey announced a £52 million share‑buyback programme even as full‑year 2025 pre‑tax profit plunged 54.3% to £146.5 million, while revenue rose 13% to £3.84 billion. The profit decline was driven by a £222.2 million increase in cladding remediation costs and an £18 million CMA...
Active ETF Research Reveals Transatlantic Market Is Splitting in Two: Broadridge
Broadridge’s latest research shows the active‑ETF market is diverging sharply across the Atlantic. Global assets under management are nearing $1.8 trillion, growing over 50 % annually, yet U.S. funds exhibit roughly two percentage points higher tracking error and charge 70‑90 bps fees compared...
The EBA Sets Out Harmonised Reporting Standards to Enhance Oversight of Third‑country Branches
The European Banking Authority released its final report on draft Implementing Technical Standards for supervisory reporting of third‑country branches under CRD VI. The new framework standardises formats, definitions and reporting frequencies, introducing a core‑plus‑supplement approach that differentiates smaller and larger branches....
Can You Avoid the Incoming MTD Headache?
Making Tax Digital (MTD) for income tax launches on 6 April 2026, initially applying to businesses with £50,000 turnover. The threshold will subsequently fall to £30,000 and then £20,000, pulling a large swath of small landlords and part‑time self‑employers into the regime....
The Monzo Money Pulse: Research Finds Financial Admin Could Cost Irish SMEs €2.1 Billion a Year in Lost Productivity
Monzo’s second Money Pulse study of 500 Irish SMEs finds financial administration consumes nearly three hours per week, costing each business about €8,500 annually and the Irish economy €2.1 billion in lost productivity. Expense management, payment chasing and tax planning are...
Workshop Calls for Natural Capital to Anchor Vietnam S Economic Policy
The Finance for Nature workshop in Hanoi gathered policymakers, economists and finance leaders to push natural‑capital accounting into Vietnam’s macroeconomic framework. Organisers unveiled a report that applies the Integrated Economic‑Environmental Modelling (IEEM) and GTAP‑InVEST tools to embed ecosystem services in...
Derek Pilecki on Long/Short Financials Investing, Regional Banks, Non-Banks and Insurance | S08 E08
In this episode, Derek Pilecki of Gator Capital discusses why small‑cap and regional banks are deeply undervalued, trading well below historic 10‑14x PE ranges, and outlines his deep‑value, long/short strategy focused on financial services. He explains the lingering effects of...
1167: CFO Leadership at Venture Inflection Points | Intekhab Nazeer, CFO, Lineaje
In this episode, CFO Indikab Nazir discusses how finance leaders can become strategic partners by immersing themselves in go‑to‑market operations and pipeline dynamics, especially during venture‑backed inflection points. He shares lessons from early mentorship, interim CFO roles, and scaling companies...
Robot Manufacturer Agrointelli Files for Bankruptcy
Danish robot maker Agrointelli, creator of the Robotti field robot, has filed for bankruptcy in a Danish court due to insufficient cash flow. The company announced the filing on LinkedIn and is now seeking a buyer, with a deadline of...
The “Entrepreneurs On Fire” Cash Machine
In this episode the host rebrands the show as “Cash Machines” and dives into a deep financial analysis of John Lee Dumas’s “Entrepreneurs on Fire” podcast. He outlines the business’s revenue and profit trajectory—peaking at $4 M revenue and $3 M profit...
Lee Orders Swift Execution of 100 Tln-Won Financial Package Amid Middle East Crisis
South Korean President Lee Jae‑Myung ordered an immediate rollout of a 100 trillion‑won (US $68.3 billion) financial package to stabilise capital markets amid the escalating Middle East conflict. The plan targets volatility in stocks and exchange rates while explicitly avoiding direct government share...
Profitability Doesn't Mean Cash Flow Health
Ever feel “profitable” but still broke? This is one of the biggest traps in business. ⸻ A precision engineering SME had strong margins. But paid for machines upfront. Waited 90 days to get paid. Every big order felt like a risk instead of a...
Implats Doubles up on Interim Payout as Cash Surges
Implats announced a R3.7bn interim payout of R4.10 per share, double its stated dividend policy and backed by R12.1bn free cash flow for the six months to December. Despite the generous payout, Johannesburg‑listed shares fell 8% as analysts flagged the...
The Pros and Cons of IPOs and SPAC Mergers
The article examines whether fast‑growing firms should go public via a traditional IPO or a SPAC merger, emphasizing the role of forward‑looking statements. SPAC deals historically allow more detailed projections, which can attract both sophisticated and unsophisticated investors. The SEC’s...
China to Inject 300 Billion Yuan Into State Banks, Deepen Reform of State Financial Firms
China announced a 300 billion yuan capital injection into state‑owned banks via a special treasury bond, coupled with deeper reforms of state financial firms. The move targets major lenders such as ICBC and Agricultural Bank of China to shore up capital...
The Iconic Lifts Annual Earnings by over 70 per Cent
The Iconic posted a 71% jump in adjusted EBITDA to $45.7 million for FY25, while its net merchandise value rose 6% to $893 million. Gross margin expanded by two points to 49%, reflecting stronger marketplace and platform services. Active customers increased 4%...
Sumitomo Mitsui Trust to Ally with US Firm Raymond James
Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group announced a strategic alliance with U.S. brokerage Raymond James, aiming to combine expertise in finance, M&A, real‑estate and asset management. The partnership gives SM Trust access to Raymond James' $1.8 trillion in client assets and its network...
Greenwave Raises Revenue but Loses Money in Q2 2025
Greenwave Technology Solutions reported a 39% quarter‑on‑quarter revenue increase in Q2 2025, yet posted a $4.9 million loss attributable to shareholders, slightly better than the $7.3 million loss a year earlier. Payroll and depreciation expenses surged by roughly 50% and 40% respectively, while...
Corporates Pivot to Banks as Primary Funding Source Amid Bond Market Volatility
Corporate bond issuance in India fell more than 20% year‑on‑year in February 2026, marking the weakest three‑year level. Meanwhile, banks reclaimed dominance, with their share of total commercial‑sector funding rising to about 63% in FY26, up from 51% a year...
Sony Divests Whisper Stake
Sony Pictures Television is selling its 30% share in The Whisper Group after five years of partnership. The divestiture returns Whisper to private ownership, with external financing to fund its strategy and an employee equity plan. During Sony’s tenure, Whisper’s...
Turn Distressed Assets Into Home Runs with Yield‑based Underwriting
How do I underwrite deals to ensure that (if I get my offer price) the deal ends up being a home-run? This is how. This is a real deal I submitted an offer on a while ago. 56 units, priced at...
Netflix CFO: Non-WBD Acquisition Was Always About Price, Not Politics
Netflix CFO Spencer Neumann told investors that the company walked away from the Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) acquisition solely because the price was unacceptable, not due to political pressure or antitrust concerns. Netflix had an $82.7 billion offer on the table...
PROPTECH-X : Gap Between How Sellers Value Their Businesses and How Buyers Assess Risk Widens
A leading UK construction investor warns that reliance on EBITDA for valuations is causing deal failures as buyers shift focus to net profit before tax and cash flow. Bradley Lay of Peak Capital notes the valuation gap has widened over...
Clients Panic, Flood Me with “Sell?” After Market Crash
The morning markets crashed on Liberation Day, my phone didn't stop. By 9am, I'd received 14 messages from clients. Every single one asked the same question: 'Should I sell?'
Delayed Coverage of $20 Million Loan Write‑down Emerges
Not sure why the write-down of a $20 million loan that was disclosed nearly two months ago is news but here we are https://t.co/lfuuXrqdYg
CorMedix Inc (CRMD) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
CONMED reported Q4 2025 revenue of $373.2 million, a 7.9% year‑over‑year increase, and full‑year sales of $1.375 billion, up 5.2%. Orthopedic sales jumped 12.1% in the quarter, while international sales surged 15.4%, offsetting modest U.S. growth. Adjusted EPS rose 6.7% to $1.43,...
Five Unexpected Companies That Could Acquire PayPal
Who Should Acquire PayPal? 5 Potential Acquirers Nobody’s Talking About PayPal is now considered to be a prime acquisition target. Who besides Stripe would be a good acquirer? Here are 5 potential candidates. Try to keep an open mind. https://t.co/rrD4BdDrG8
SpaceX's $1.75T IPO Dream Defies $20B Revenue Reality
SpaceX provably has revenues of less than $20bn and loses money after the merger with xAI, but is targeting a $1.75 TRILLION IPO. So FTAV explored how Musk might try to pull off what could be the biggest bagholder operation...
Olaplex Holdings Inc (OLPX) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Olaplex reported Q4 2025 net sales of $114.6 million, a 3.8% year‑over‑year decline, while adjusted EBITDA rose to $30.8 million, delivering a 26.9% margin. The professional channel grew 5.3% and the new hair‑mask launch generated mid‑teens sell‑through lifts, offsetting weakness in specialty...
USPS Hires Advisers to Tackle Mounting Financial Woes
The U.S. Postal Service is hiring restructuring advisers to help address its increasing financial troubles, Postmaster General David Steiner told Reuters in an interview. https://t.co/5x45UAESKf
AI‑driven Layoffs Demand Generous Severance Packages
If there is a layoff then what will your severance package be? If you are at a large company then it might look something like the below, which is pretty generous. And if AI is used as the layoff excuse….they better be...
Entravision Communications Corp (EVC) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Evercore reported record 2025 results, posting $3.9 billion in adjusted net revenue, a 29% increase year‑over‑year, and a record $1.3 billion in Q4 alone. Adjusted operating income rose 50% to $839 million, while adjusted EPS jumped 55% to $14.56. Non‑M&A businesses contributed roughly...
Pollen-Street-Facilitates-€100m-ABF-Deal-with-Irish-Lender
Pollen Street has arranged a €100 million asset‑backed finance (ABF) transaction for an Irish lender, packaging SME loans and leasing contracts into a securitised security. The advisory handled structuring, due‑diligence and investor placement, showcasing its expertise in specialty finance. The capital...
AerSale Corp (ASLE) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
AerCap Holdings reported a record 2025 with $8.5 billion revenue, $3.8 billion GAAP net income and $2.7 billion adjusted net income, boosted by $1.5 billion in Ukraine‑related insurance recoveries. Operating cash flow reached $5.4 billion and the company returned $2.6 billion to shareholders through buybacks and...
Victory-Park-misses-target-for-US$2.5bn-ABF-fund
Victory Park announced that its asset‑backed finance (ABF) fund fell short of its $2.5 billion target, closing at roughly $1 billion. The shortfall reflects a tougher fundraising climate for specialty finance vehicles. The firm cited investor caution and tighter credit markets as...