Today's Finance Pulse
Updated 1h ago
Japan’s M&A surge drives record corporate bond sales
Yen‑denominated issuance jumped 94% year‑over‑year in March, and Daiwa projects total bond sales of ¥16.5 trillion (about $110 billion) for the fiscal year, up from ¥15.9 trillion last year. Outbound M&A deals hit a record ¥31 trillion ($207 billion) last year, fueling unprecedented funding demand.
Also developing:
By the numbers: TPG to acquire Learfield in roughly $2 billion deal
Event‑Driven Hedge Funds Hit by Forced‑Selling as Leverage Tops 3x and Beta Turns Negative
Event‑driven hedge funds endured a sharp March 2026 drawdown, with Asia‑focused funds down 7.3% and European peers down 6.3%. Record leverage above three times assets and a shift to negative beta forced broad equity sales, exposing systemic risk in the niche strategy.
Schwab Dividend ETF Posts 223% Decade Return, Beats Top Active Funds
The Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) generated a 223% total return over the past decade, turning a $10,000 investment into $32,300 and eclipsing the performance of several actively managed bond ETFs. Its 0.06% expense ratio and 3.4% dividend yield...
AI & Automation: A CFO’s Playbook For Finance Productivity
Artificial intelligence is reshaping finance, but CFOs face uneven adoption due to data, talent, and governance gaps. Experts outline a six‑step playbook: define the problem, build clean data, staff the initiative, set governance, target high‑impact workflows, and iterate from pilot...
Leverett Town OKs $8.48 M FY2027 Budget, Tax Rate Rises 5.5%
Leverett officials voted to adopt an $8.48 million budget for fiscal year 2027, increasing the town tax rate by 5.5% and adding roughly $310 to the median homeowner’s bill. The plan trims several department requests while preserving core services, and it...
US Treasury Yields Rise to 4.33% as Dollar Surges After US‑Iran Talks Collapse
The collapse of US‑Iran peace talks and President Trump's threat to blockade the Strait of Hormuz sent the dollar higher and triggered a safe‑haven rally in bonds. US 10‑year Treasury yields jumped 2 basis points to 4.33%, while European sovereign...
Telix, Regeneron Ink $40M 50/50 Deal to Co‑Develop Next‑Gen Radiopharmaceuticals
Telix Pharmaceuticals and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals have struck a 50/50 partnership, with Regeneron paying $40 million upfront for access to Telix’s radiopharmaceutical platform on four initial cancer programs. The deal includes options for four more programs, milestone payments up to $535 million per...
IonQ Stock Valuation Scrutinized as High‑Fidelity Qubit Strategy Faces Investor Skepticism
Investors and analysts are challenging IonQ's market valuation, citing a $29 share price, a 61‑times price‑to‑sales multiple and a $512 million loss in 2025, while the company touts a high‑fidelity qubit approach. The debate pits the firm's focus on fewer, higher‑quality...
EmPRO Reports Another Year of Strong Financial Results with Significant Growth in Net Income and Surplus During 2025
EmPRO Insurance Company posted a fourth straight year of solid results for 2025, with admitted assets climbing 17% to $668.5 million and surplus surging 46.7% to $154.7 million after fully repaying its surplus note. The carrier’s combined ratio improved dramatically to 77.4%...
NCUA Opens Fifth Deregulation Round for Credit Unions, Comments Due April 13
The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) has opened a comment period for its fifth round of deregulation proposals, targeting rules that regulators deem redundant or overly prescriptive. Stakeholders have until 11:59 p.m. ET on April 13, 2026, to submit feedback, a move that...
Former ARIA Exec Joins Oxford Science Enterprises
Oxford Science Enterprises (OSE) has hired Antonia Jenkinson, former chief finance and operating officer at the UK government‑backed Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA), as its new chief financial officer. Jenkinson previously oversaw the deployment of more than £450 million (about...
How PCS Integrates Contributor, Verisk, and Public Data to Define Industry Losses: White
Property Claim Services (PCS), Verisk’s specialist unit for industry loss estimates, detailed its methodology for designating and quantifying U.S. tropical cyclones, severe thunderstorms and winter storms. The process blends data from roughly 150 contributor insurers, Verisk’s own claims databases, and...
Global Trading in INR Derivatives and the Indian OTC Derivatives Market
Global trading in Indian‑rupee (INR) derivatives has surged over the past decade, positioning the currency as a key hedge instrument. The Bank for International Settlements’ April 2025 survey ranks INR 11th in overall FX derivatives and 17th in interest‑rate derivatives. A...
Reinventing Supply Chains With Gabi Gantus, CFO Of Mytra
Gabi Gantus, CFO of Mytra, is leading a push to overhaul warehouse automation with bots that move inventory in any direction, including vertically, promising higher density and throughput. Drawing on a decade at Tesla, she applies FP&A rigor and a...
Top Considerations for Your E-Invoicing RFP Process
The article outlines how to craft an e‑invoicing RFP that unites tax, finance, and IT around a scalable compliance framework. It warns against treating the RFP as a short‑term procurement task and instead recommends starting with broader business problems, securing...
Sify Reports Consolidated Financial Results for FY 2025-26
Sify Technologies posted FY 2025‑26 results showing revenue of INR 44.9 bn (~$539 m), up 13% year‑over‑year, and EBITDA of INR 9.9 bn (~$119 m), a 31% increase. Despite top‑line growth, the company recorded a net loss of INR 1.37 bn (~$16 m) after tax. Data‑center services drove the strongest...
Elite Travel Group Urges Members to Plan for New Employment Costs
Elite Travel Group warned UK travel businesses that upcoming employment‑related tax and statutory changes will raise hiring costs. Using a £35,000 ($43,750) salary, the total employer cost rises from $49,500 to $50,425, an extra $925 per employee per year. The...
Samsung Supports Mobile Device, Electronic Repairs SMEs
Samsung South Africa, together with the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, has launched the 2026 Equity Equivalent Investment Programme (EEIP) targeting black‑owned small‑business service centres that repair mobile devices and consumer electronics. The initiative focuses on underserved provinces and...
Pershing Square Launches Road Show for Combined IPO
Today, we announced the launch of the road show for the combined IPO of Pershing Square USA and Pershing Square Inc. You can read the official announcement here: https://t.co/4ffeQZm9ZL. I wrote a letter to explain the combined offering in detail that can...
Stop Buying Supplies Blindly—Track Profitability First
Something I see creatives doing all the time is overspending on supplies without knowing if they're actually making money. They keep buying new stuff but never check if their product or service is profitable. That's not me judging because if I...
Massachusetts Will Bring $1 Billion GO Deal Competitively
Massachusetts is set to launch a $1.08 billion general‑obligation bond sale on April 22, divided into four series ranging from $185 million to $360 million. The competitive offering targets eight to ten banks per series and includes a refundable component that can be withdrawn...
Snap‑Perplexity Deal Valued at 7% of 2025 Sales
Curious indicator for the Snap / Perplexity deal. Perplexity’s $400MM payment to Snap (undisclosed mix of cash / equity) would have represented ~7% of Snap’s 2025 sales. Snap noted in Q4 earnings that the integration had been delayed due to...
Prediction Markets Boost Forecasting by Aggregating Collective Knowledge
Increasingly popular prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket may improve forecasting by aggregating knowledge https://t.co/sHKfq4qA12
Nigel Farage-Backed Stack BTC Adds $2.7M in Bitcoin to Treasury
Stack BTC, a publicly listed Bitcoin treasury firm chaired by former UK chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng, purchased 37 Bitcoin for roughly $2.7 million, bringing its holdings to 68.19 BTC. The buy follows Nigel Farage’s equity investment, making him the first sitting UK...
Hyperscalers' Capex to Consume Over 90% Cash
BofA: Hyperscalers’ capex as % of operating cash flow was 70% in 2025 and is expected to be >90% in 2026 https://t.co/GP7k2xG8rb
How to Operationalise CARF Reporting Effectively
The Crypto‑Asset Reporting Framework (CARF) marks the most significant extension of global tax transparency into digital assets, mirroring FATCA and CRS but adding crypto‑specific complexity. Firms must move beyond a simple reporting exercise to embed continuous data collection, validation, and...
Rising Price Risks Boost Case for Bond Ladder ETFs
Rising inflation risk, highlighted by February's CPI showing a 0.3% monthly and 2.4% annual increase, is prompting investors to seek more resilient income strategies. Bond ladder exchange‑traded funds, especially those that distribute principal, are positioned as a hedge against sticky...
Private Credit Is Actually Built to Survive the Ghosts of the Great Financial Crisis
Private‑credit funds have surged to over $1 trillion in assets, yet their architecture—high equity cushions (65‑80% of assets), 10‑year lock‑ups, and limited maturity transformation—makes them far less fragile than traditional banks. An MSCI dataset covering 1,200 funds shows losses are first...
Court Square Capital Hits $3.8bn for Oversubscribed Fund V, First Vehicle Since 2022 Succession Changes
Court Square Capital Partners closed its fifth flagship fund, Fund V, at $3.8 billion, surpassing its original target. The raise was oversubscribed, reflecting strong limited‑partner demand. It marks the first fund launched after the firm’s 2022 senior‑partner succession. The new capital...
GoCardless Sees Revenue Boost, Undertook 2025 Restructure
GoCardless reported a year‑on‑year revenue increase to £155.5 million (≈$194 million) for FY 2025, driven by new customers, renewals and the Nuapay acquisition. The fintech doubled its processed payments volume to £79.2 billion (≈$99 billion) and narrowed losses to £25.5 million (≈$31.9 million), posting its first adjusted...
Peer Group Governance
Peer groups, once a niche tool for executive‑pay benchmarking, now shape corporate governance across the S&P 1500. The new study shows 93% of these firms use peer lists, typically 14‑17 firms, and that governance reforms at peers strongly predict similar moves...
Shifting Sentiments Around Long-Vesting RSUs
Semler Brossy notes a growing debate over long‑vesting RSUs as an alternative to performance share units (PSUs) amid macro‑economic volatility. ISS’s 2026 guidelines now classify time‑based equity with at least three‑year vesting and a five‑year total horizon as performance‑based, opening...
Hansard Unveils Bitcoin ETF
Hansard has introduced the Hansard International iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF, a BlackRock‑backed, unit‑linked fund that offers 100% exposure to Bitcoin. The product is listed as a regulated ETF and is accessible through Hansard’s Ascend and Future Focus platforms. Unlike direct...
Safe-Haven Liquidation Paradox: Margin-Call Transmission Architecture
The article explains a recurring paradox where safe‑haven assets, especially gold, fall during peak risk periods because margin‑call liquidations prioritize the most liquid holdings. A case study on April 13 2026 shows that a Hormuz Strait blockade drove oil prices up 7%,...
IShares Core S&P 500 ETF $IVV Is Successful Portfolios LLC’s Largest Position
Successful Portfolios LLC boosted its iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) stake by 12.5% in Q4, adding 1,480 shares to hold 13,361 shares worth about $9.3 million, making IVV its largest holding at roughly 4.8% of the portfolio. Other hedge funds...
Iran War May Widen 10-Year Yield’s Market Premium Vs. Fair Value
The US 10‑year Treasury yield remains above the Capital Spectator’s fair‑value estimate of roughly 4.0%, closing at 4.34% after a brief rise to 4.50% in late March. A market premium that spiked over a percentage point during the 2022‑23 inflation...
AbbVie Bets on Chinese Biopharma’s Pain Pipeline in $745m Bid
AbbVie has struck a deal worth up to $745 million with Chinese biopharma Haisco, securing development, manufacturing and commercialization rights to several early‑stage pain‑relief compounds outside China, Hong Kong and Macau. The agreement includes a $30 million upfront payment and up to $715 million...
Called Early, Paid in Full
Eagle Point Income Company’s Series C term preferred was called on April 3, 2026, exactly on its first‑call date. Investors who bought at $25.09 earned seven monthly distributions totaling about $1.17 per share, offsetting the $0.09 price loss when the...
Roundhouse Capital Settles £251m Loans, Pays Moshiri £67m
Everton new parent company Roundhouse Capital publishes accounts. It paid Farhad Moshiri £25m up front with a further £42m due at future dates, as well as paying off £251m of existing loans. https://t.co/pS7qY8I1Wl
Radiology Partners Reportedly Eyeing International Expansion
Radiology Partners, the United States' largest radiology group, is reportedly pursuing an acquisition of Australia’s I‑MED Radiology Network, which operates over 240 clinics and generated roughly AU$176 million (about US$116 million) in adjusted earnings last year. The move follows RP’s earlier bid...
How AI Can Help You Become A Growth-Oriented CFO
CFOs are urged to replace manual record‑keeping with AI‑native platforms that can forecast, reason and act in real time. While 92% of finance leaders want AI‑driven redesign, only 48% have integrated systems, leaving data silos that slow month‑end closes. AI...
Unscrupulous Trading Platforms Probed Amid Rising Investor Losses
The Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) has launched more than ten investigations into South African online trading platforms after a surge in retail investor losses. The market, worth about $115.9 million in 2025, is projected to grow to $201.3 million by 2033...
Prologis and Singapore’s GIC Commit $1.6 Billion to Build New U.S. Logistics Centers
Prologis and Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund GIC have formed a $1.6 billion joint venture to develop new logistics centers in the United States. The partnership aims to expand the supply of high‑quality industrial space amid surging e‑commerce demand, positioning both firms...
Atomos to Acquire Flanders Scientific for $2.4 M and Shares, Expanding Pro Monitor Lineup
Melbourne‑based Atomos (ASX:AMS) signed a binding agreement to buy U.S. monitor specialist Flanders Scientific for $2.4 million in cash and over 5.6 million Atomos shares, with a performance‑based earn‑out. The deal is funded through a new CBA Finance Facility and is expected...
MicroStrategy Adds 4,871 Bitcoin, Boosting Corporate Treasury to 766,970 BTC
MicroStrategy bought 4,871 Bitcoin in the first week of April, lifting its corporate treasury to 766,970 BTC, roughly 76% of all Bitcoin held by listed firms. The move, funded by new equity and convertible debt, intensifies the debate over shareholder...
Costco Hikes Annual Membership Fee to $130, First Increase in Seven Years
Costco Wholesale raised its premium club membership fee to $130 a year, up from $120, marking the first increase in seven years. The move added $2.68 billion in fee revenue in the first 24 weeks of fiscal 2026 and helped lift...
The Financial Case for Hiring an Amazon Marketing Agency Vs. Building In-House
CFOs facing Amazon advertising budgets in the six‑ to eight‑figure range must decide whether to build an in‑house team or hire an Amazon marketing agency. The article breaks down fully loaded costs for specialists—including salaries, benefits, software and turnover risk—and...
Coutts Raises Minimum Account Opening Balance to $3 Million, Shaking Up Ultra‑Wealthy Banking
Coutts, the historic private bank serving the British royal family, announced it will increase the minimum amount required to open a new account from £1 million to £3 million. The move targets ultra‑high‑net‑worth individuals and could accelerate consolidation in the private‑banking sector....
Bill Ackman's Pershing Square Launches Takeover Bid for Universal Music Group
Bill Ackman's Pershing Square has filed a takeover bid for Universal Music Group, planning to take the music giant private and later list it on a U.S. exchange. The move builds on Pershing Square’s existing sizable stake and follows the...
Bloomingdale's CEO Exercises 13,146 Options, Sells 7,228 Macy's Shares for $130K
Olivier Bron, chief executive of Bloomingdale's, exercised 13,146 Macy's options and immediately sold 7,228 shares for a weighted average of $17.92 per share, reducing his direct holding by about 25%. The transaction, disclosed in an SEC Form 4 on April 6, 2026, coincided...
Oracle Sets $0.50 Dividend per Share for April 2026, Yielding 1.45% Amid 29% Stock Drop
Oracle (ORCL) confirmed a $0.50 per‑share dividend for April 24, 2026, keeping its annual yield at 1.45% even as the stock has slid 29% this year. The payout translates to $50 for every 100 shares, and co‑founder Larry Ellison stands...
