🎯Today's Finance Pulse
Updated 28m agoWhat's happening: Atlassian taps LinkedIn CFO James Chuong as new finance chief
James Chuong, who has served nearly five years as LinkedIn’s chief financial officer, will become Atlassian’s CFO on March 30. His compensation package includes a $600,000 base salary, a 75% target bonus, a $22 million RSU grant and a $2 million signing bonus. The move follows the announced departure of long‑time Atlassian CFO Joe Binz this summer.
Also developing:
By the numbers: AlayaCare raises $50M growth capital facility
News•Feb 16, 2026
Insurance Broker M&A Stabilizes After Surge
Insurance brokerage M&A activity has settled into a lower‑than‑peak but sustainable level. Total reported transactions fell 12% in 2025 to 691, aligning with a ten‑year average of 686 when the 2021‑22 surge is excluded. Private‑equity‑backed (PE‑hybrid) firms continue to dominate, executing roughly 70% of deals and accounting for 73% of 2025 transactions. The market remains concentrated, with the top ten buyers responsible for about half of all acquisitions.
By Business Insurance
News•Feb 16, 2026
Suits Arise as Tariff Questions Raise D&O Risk
Securities class-action lawsuits are emerging as tariff uncertainty under the Trump administration creates new D&O exposure. Although overall federal securities filings fell 10.7% in 2025, four suits specifically cited tariff‑related misstatements, targeting companies such as Dow, CarMax and Tronox. Insurers...
By Business Insurance
News•Feb 16, 2026
BI, Litmus Partner on Composite Insurer Ratings
Business Insurance has partnered with Litmus Analysis to publish a composite rating table for North American commercial‑line insurers. Litmus uses its proprietary Litmus Composite Score (LCS) to blend A.M. Best, Fitch, Moody’s and S&P ratings into a single numerical outcome,...
By Business Insurance
Blog•Feb 16, 2026
Crypto-Derivatives Regulation Is Too Fragmented
A new comparative study finds crypto‑derivatives regulation is highly fragmented across major financial hubs, despite the products mirroring traditional derivatives in structure and risk. Regulators have forced crypto‑derivatives into existing regimes, leading to divergent rules based on settlement method, underlying...
By CLS Blue Sky Blog (Columbia Law School)
News•Feb 16, 2026
Koxa, Bottomline Announce ERP Embedded Banking Partnership
Koxa and Bottomline have formed a partnership to embed banking services directly within ERP systems, leveraging Koxa’s platform and Bottomline’s Commercial Digital Banking API framework. The joint solution lets banks offer integrated payments, approvals, reconciliation and statement access without building...
By Crowdfund Insider
Social•Feb 15, 2026
Start with Reg D, Then Reg CF, Then Reg A+
How to raise capital online: 1: Start with Reg D 506(c) 2: Move into a Reg Cf 3: Move into a Reg A+ This is ordered by the fastest, easiest and most cost effective way to raise online. Companies with...
By Darren Marble
Podcast•Feb 15, 2026•40 min
1163: The Discipline Behind Transformational AI | Sue Vestri, CFO, CRIO
In this episode, Sue Vestri, CFO of CRIO, shares her journey from learning the clinical‑trial lexicon at Greenphire to scaling multiple growth‑stage companies, emphasizing the importance of disciplined finance embedded in the business. She recounts how she helped Greenphire expand...
By CFO THOUGHT LEADER
Social•Feb 15, 2026
Simplify Systems, Not Competition, to Grow Small Business
Most small businesses fail from chaos, not competition. Growth starts with simple systems, clear checklists, and tools for scheduling, invoicing, and bookkeeping. Know your best customers, ask for feedback, and speak in their words. Build a small circle of mentors, track cash flow,...
By Ask Dr. Brown
Blog•Feb 15, 2026
Silver Paper's Problem
The episode examines the severe liquidity crunch in both physical and paper silver, highlighted by a sharp drop in COMEX open interest and widening spreads that deter speculators. It explains how banks and traders are constrained by the high value...
By McleodFinance (Alasdair Macleod)
Social•Feb 15, 2026
Strategists Misread CapEx, Overhype Free Cash Flow
I love how boomer strategists present the chart on free cash flows from the Mag 7 as rocket science. We learned on the first days at university that CapEx means less FCF in that year. Do these guys understand anything whatsoever...
By Andreas Steno Larsen
Social•Feb 15, 2026
Goldman Sachs Makes AI Core of Finance Operations
Goldman Sachs is embedding Anthropic’s Claude into accounting and compliance to automate high volume, rules based back office work. After six months of co building, executives were surprised that AI handled complex financial processes, not just coding tasks. The ambition is clear,...
By Spiros Margaris
Blog•Feb 15, 2026
Sellers Should Monitor How Shipping Costs Are Squeezing Their Margins
Ship.com warns that rising carrier surcharges will compress e‑commerce margins in 2026. It advises sellers to treat shipping expenses as part of COGS when evaluating product profitability. The firm highlights that base‑rate increases are less damaging than a growing web...
By EcommerceBytes
Social•Feb 15, 2026
Bet Big on Your Six Best Ideas
David Poppe on capital allocation "You will make more money from your six best ideas in life than from everything else you do. When you find that great idea, you want to buy it in size."
By Matt Harbaugh
Social•Feb 15, 2026
US‑China Gap Lies Beyond Financialization Share of GDP
Whatever the difference between the US and China may be and however you evaluate it, it isn’t in “financialization”, at least not as measured by the share of finance in GDP (h/t twitter account of devarbol for this graph). More...
By Adam Tooze
News•Feb 14, 2026
FFSM: Sensible SMID Strategy, Competitive Returns, Worth Shotlisting
Fidelity Fundamental Small‑Mid Cap ETF (FFSM) is an actively managed, non‑transparent fund that combines quantitative screening with fundamental research. Since its 2024 strategy shift, FFSM has outperformed the S&P 500 and several SMID peers such as IJH and SMMD, driven by...
By Seeking Alpha – ETFs & Funds
Social•Feb 15, 2026
S&P's Calm Mask Hiding Rising Dispersion and Volatility
The S&P 500 may appear calm on the surface, yet index-stock dispersion has increased dramatically and SPX has now slipped below the critical 6,900 level. With put skew rising and VIX expiration ahead, volatility risk is building. Read our latest...
By Brent Kochuba
Social•Feb 15, 2026
Volatility Rises, Liquidity Dips, US Premium Deflates
What's on tap for the week ahead? An increased frequency of volatility meets a holiday liquidity gap, while a run of event risk weighs in on the steadily deflating US premium. https://t.co/17IH2lFIn0 https://t.co/AlKhX25xxn
By John Kicklighter
News•Feb 14, 2026
Andhra Pradesh Budget 2026-27 Worth ₹3.32 Lakh Crore — What's in for Women, Govt Employees, Health, Agriculture
Andhra Pradesh unveiled its FY 2026‑27 budget at ₹3.32 lakh crore, marking a roughly 8% increase over the previous year. The plan earmarks substantial allocations for women‑focused initiatives, government employee welfare, health infrastructure, and agricultural support. Health spending is set to rise 15%,...
By Mint (India) – Economy
Social•Feb 15, 2026
FTSE250 Awaits Breakout Above 23,585 Amid Sideways Trend
#FTSE250 needs Breakout 23585. Doji going sideways. Support 22816, 22226. RSI 62 not high. 13/21 day EMAs Bullish. Small Up Candle on Weekly and Sideways. Top Bollinger Band 23547. Midpoint Line 23330. Bottom Band 23118.
By WheelieDealer
Social•Feb 15, 2026
DAX Poised for Breakout as MACD Bull Cross Nears
#DAX doji Candle and Sideways. Resistance ATH 25508. Support 24272, 23924. On verge MACD Bull Cross. RSI 53 near Neutral. 13/21 day EMAs Bullish. Doji on Weekly and Sideways. Top Bollinger Band 25113. Midpoint Line 24800. Bottom Band 24500.
By WheelieDealer
News•Feb 14, 2026
UTF Vs. ASGI: Why A 6% Discount And Rate Cut Cycle Make UTF The Obvious Choice
Cohen & Steers Infrastructure Fund (UTF) received a Buy rating, while abrdn Global Infrastructure Income Fund (ASGI) was placed on Hold due to its premium valuation. UTF trades at a 6 % discount to NAV and carries 29.7 % leverage, positioning it to...
By Seeking Alpha – ETFs & Funds
Social•Feb 15, 2026
Warner Bros Eyes Paramount Deal Despite Netflix Matching Right
New: Warner Bros. is considering re-engaging with Paramount following its latest offer + pressure from some shareholders. WB still has a binding deal with Netflix, which would have the right to match any offer. Scoop with @MichelleF_Davis https://t.co/WLdpdeS0gc
By Lucas Shaw
Social•Feb 15, 2026
CFOs Embrace Agentic AI for Strategy, Shy From Treasury Risks
How Agentic AI Went From Zero to CFO Test Runs in 90 Days survey by @pymnts https://t.co/6MXgAdb3Fx Enterprise CFOs in the US are interested in using agentic AI for strategic planning, but cautious about using it for treasury, risk and compliance. https://t.co/2NioUOuMrE
By Efi Pylarinou
News•Feb 13, 2026
Edward Shugrue III and the Emerging Playbook Redefining Distressed Office Tower Ownership
Edward L. Shugrue III of RiverPark Funds outlines a new playbook for distressed office towers, highlighting how mezzanine lenders are moving from passive financing to ownership control. He cites the Worldwide Plaza case, where a $1.7 billion asset is now valued around $350 million, illustrating...
By CEOWORLD magazine
Social•Feb 15, 2026
AI-Powered Accounting Firm Launches Real-Time, Audit-Ready Service
.@Balance1189951 is an AI accounting firm for SMBs delivering real-time, audit-ready bookkeeping and accounting - run by AI, signed off by real accountants. Their agents pull in your financial context and automate your entire back-office finance. Congrats on the launch @mathiaslovring, @EmilMunkD,...
By YCombinator
Social•Feb 15, 2026
AI, Demographics, Trust Will Redefine Wealth Management by 2035
🇺🇸US #WealthManagement in 2035: Over the next decade, the convergence of #AI, demographic change, and evolving client trust will challenge wealth managers to reinvent how they compete and serve clients. @McKinsey. #WealthTech https://t.co/LYecpUeK0S
By Urs Bolt
News•Feb 13, 2026
Badger Meter Declares Regular Quarterly Dividend and Expands Share Repurchase Authorization
Badger Meter’s board approved a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.40 per share, payable on March 13, 2026. It also increased its share‑repurchase authorization by $75 million, bringing the total program to $150 million through November 30, 2028. In the first quarter of...
By Business Wire — Executive Appointments
Social•Feb 14, 2026
More Analysis, Fewer Dashboards: Solve the Real Problem
I've worked as a Sr. Director of BI and Analytics and I had to learn something the hard way. Despite what business stakeholders say, another dashboard is rarely the right answer to their needs. Why? Because what's behind the ask is a misconception...
By David Langer (Dave on Data)
Social•Feb 14, 2026
Gift High‑basis Assets Now, Transfer Low‑basis at Death
I can think of half a dozen reasons why it is NOT a mistake to gift a house to a child before passing. Why? Because these decisions are fact and portfolio dependent, and always/never advice is rarely reliable when it...
By Prof. Victoria J. Haneman
News•Feb 13, 2026
Figures on Automotive Securitization Tapes: Definitions Report - February 2026
The Fixed‑Asset Securitization Tracker (FAST) released its February 2026 Definitions report, detailing the data fields used in automotive securitization tapes. The document supplies precise definitions, code tables, and cross‑references to related transaction disclosures. By standardizing terminology, the report aims to simplify...
By DBRS Morningstar – Research/News
Social•Feb 14, 2026
REITs Hit Decade‑Low Valuations: Rare Investor Opportunity
REITs are currently trading at their lowest valuations in decades. The vast majority of investors are not positioned to take advantage of this historic opportunity. 🧵Here's a 'Mini Masterclass' on how to take advantage:
By Dividendology
Social•Feb 14, 2026
Buy Manappuram on Pullbacks Amid RBI
Macro: PE flows target Indian NBFCs. RBI cleared Bain's up to 41.7% in Manappuram; ₹43.85bn injected. Risk: regulatory scrutiny. Trading insight: buy Manappuram on pullbacks. — Viktor Kopylov, PhD, CFA More insights: t.me/si14Kopylov
By Viktor Kopylov, PhD, CFA
Social•Feb 14, 2026
Value Tilt Gains as Momentum Spread Widens 16%
Classic monotonic pattern. When you see this pattern you know with a higher degree of certainty that it is one of THE drivers of how investors are positioning their portfolios. We’ve been recommending a value tilt since last fall, as...
By Michael Kantro
Social•Feb 14, 2026
Energy Leads US Sector Gains; Financials Fall
🇺🇸 US Sector Performance in 2026 📈 $XLE Energy up 22% $XLB Basic Materials up 18% $XLP Consumer Defensive up 16% $XLI industrials up 12.8% $XLU Utilities up 9% $XLRE Real Estate up 8% $XLV Healthcare up 2% $XLY Consumer Retail -2% $XLK Technology -2.5% $XLF Financials -5%
By Peter Sin Guili
Social•Feb 14, 2026
Turn Excel Into a Text Mining Powerhouse
Each week I send out a free analytics tutorial to 39,009 professionals. This week is Part 3 in a series on mining free-form text data using Python in Excel. Think about this for a second. Production quality, reproducible text mining inside an Excel...
By David Langer (Dave on Data)
Social•Feb 14, 2026
AI Threat Looms Over $3.5T Credit Market
Credit markets could be the next AI casualty. A UBS analyst flags the $3.5T leveraged loan and private credit space as vulnerable, with AI disruption moving faster than expected. Up to $120B in fresh defaults this year would turn the AI boom...
By Spiros Margaris
Social•Feb 14, 2026
Malaysia Beats Forecast, Yet MSMEs Face Headwinds
Malaysia’s Economic Outlook & Risks Full-year performance exceeds government’s upper ceiling based on 4Q 2025 data Outperformance —► Hawkish BNM bias. Chatter of tougher operating conditions on the ground, especially for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) including F&B sector are leading many...
By David Chuah
Social•Feb 14, 2026
Unrealized Gains Tax Threatens New Investments Globally
Unrealized gains tax is a mega-drag on new investments. The same reason why the California Asset Seizure Tax by SEIU-UHW is going to destroy startups is happening in the Netherlands. https://t.co/jMgP3ieI2G
By Garry Tan
Social•Feb 14, 2026
Burn Rate Equals Risk; VC Burn Rates at Historic Highs
Burn rate = risk. So of course, this is true. These are the highest burn rates in history of VC. Simple fact. https://t.co/IrsIBd0qDC
By Bill Gurley
Social•Feb 14, 2026
Key Signals Founders Need Before Raising Next Round
$40M raised. Series A ready. Episode 232 dives into the real signals founders should look for before raising more capital 👇 https://t.co/0CcjGEIVb9 #SaaS #AI https://t.co/S1vxKwuxiB
By Ben Murray
Social•Feb 14, 2026
Stocks Are only Cheap During Economic or Business Crises
There are really only two times when stocks become "cheap": collectively, - usually when the health of the economy is in question, - and, more narrowly, when the viability of a business or its industry is in question. You...
By Lawrence Hamtil
Social•Feb 14, 2026
Provincial Revenues Forecast 2‑3% Growth, Lagging Economy
1/4 SCMP: "Major provinces are budgeting for 2 to 3 per cent growth this year in general public operating revenue, broadly in line with last year but below broader economic growth targets, Fitch Ratings said in a research note." https://t.co/HwyAPw042O
By Michael Pettis
Social•Feb 14, 2026
China Cracks Down on Hidden Corporate IOU Market
1/3 Very interesting Caixin article on attempts by Chinese regulators to get their arms around "the opaque market for corporate IOUs that has allowed big-name companies to defer payments to suppliers on a massive scale." https://t.co/FIJywKAtIX
By Michael Pettis
Social•Feb 14, 2026
China's January Financing Jumps 2.4% Year‑over‑year, Beating Forecasts
1/5 According to Caixin, China’s aggregate financing grew slightly faster than expected in January, rising by RMB 7.22 trillion. This was 2.4% more than in January 2025 and 10.4% more than in January 2024. It is equal to 5.1% of annual...
By Michael Pettis
Social•Feb 14, 2026
Tech Stocks' Valuations Soar, Yet Margins Remain Stretched
Biggest strength for Tech Stocks. and their biggest weakness? (stretched valuations are underpinned by stretched profit margins) https://t.co/JyYGvhtRlC
By Callum Thomas
Social•Feb 13, 2026
Top 10 SaaS Cloud Multiples at Market Close
This week in enterprise software: Top 10 #SaaS #Cloud multiples as of today's market close
By Jamin Ball
Social•Feb 13, 2026
Early-Stage Startups Don’t Need Costly Big‑4 Audits
Startups ($25M ARR? Get bids from multiple firms. You do NOT need a Big 4 audit. It does not me you are a legit company before the Big 4 did the audit. No one cares. 2nd tier firm is fine 3...
By OnlyCFO
Social•Feb 13, 2026
Biggest Stocks Push S&P 500 Margin to Record 12.6%
"The exceptional profitability of the largest stocks boosted the aggregate S&P 500 profit margin to a new record high of 12.6% in 4Q" - Goldman https://t.co/5fnYCaoDhm
By Gunjan Banerji
Social•Feb 13, 2026
Visa's TSR Mirrors Earnings Growth, P/E Stays Flat
Visa total return the last decade or so basically all earnings growth; P/E unchanged while change in EPS estimates roughly equal TSR https://t.co/wYh3Mkz7Aq
By Lawrence Hamtil
Social•Feb 13, 2026
Ford Faces $900M Tariff Blow, Highlighting US Corporate Pain
Ford just disclosed an additional $900M tariff hit in its Q4 results. TARIFFS = BAD NEWS FOR AMERICAN CORPORATIONS. https://t.co/kau61WOizz
By Steve Hanke