Stock Market Today: Powell to Stay on Fed Board, Central Bank Holds Rates Steady
The Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged at what is likely Chair Jerome Powell's final meeting, while Powell announced he will remain on the Fed board beyond his May 15 term end. His decision follows a Justice Department criminal probe into cost overruns on two Fed building renovations, which the DOJ said it will close but could be reopened. Four of the twelve voting officials dissented – the most dissenters since 1992 – signaling internal division. Markets trimmed losses, bond yields rose, and oil prices surged on geopolitical news.
Trump’s Crypto Luncheon Draws ‘Superstars.’ But His Token Hovers Near Low.
President Donald Trump hosted a Mar‑a‑Lago luncheon honoring the biggest holders of his eponymous memecoin, while the broader cryptocurrency market continues to wrestle with a month‑long slump. In his address he referenced the ongoing Iran conflict, praised his administration’s crypto‑friendly...
Stock Market Today: Oil Rises as Hormuz Impasse Drags On
Oil prices extended gains for a fourth day, with Brent crude trading above $103 a barrel as the stalemate in the Strait of Hormuz fuels supply worries. Traders cite the lack of progress in U.S.-Iran diplomacy and near‑standstill traffic through...
No Peace Plan, No Problem: Why the Wartime Market Keeps Rising
The market continued to climb after the U.S. and Israel launched strikes against Iran, defying the expectation that a wartime oil shock would drag equities lower. Retail investors like Dallas‑based Anthony Reid ignored the fear factor, buying shares of platforms...
Warsh Pressed on Financial Disclosures, Fed Independence at Hearing
The Senate hearing wrapped up for Kevin Warsh, President Trump’s nominee to lead the Federal Reserve. Warsh stressed that Fed independence is paramount, while declining to comment on Trump’s effort to remove Governor Lisa Cook or the criminal probe into...
Justice Department Preps Antitrust Lawsuit Against Egg Producers
The U.S. Justice Department is preparing a civil antitrust suit against several leading egg producers accused of coordinating prices through an industry‑wide benchmarking service. The move follows record egg prices that topped $6 per dozen in the spring of 2024‑25...
Madison Dearborn’s Aevex Drone Play Takes Off in IPO
Aevex, the Madison Dearborn Partners‑backed drone manufacturer, launched an initial public offering on April 17, 2026 that valued the company at more than $2 billion. The Chicago firm bought Aevex in 2020 for $450 million, including debt, and still holds a controlling...
The Father-Daughter Showdown That Shook an $18 Trillion Investing Empire
In 2005 a Fidelity board trustee delivered a stark message that Abby Johnson was about to lose her senior role, sparking a power struggle with her father, Edward Johnson III. The episode marked one of the most turbulent periods in...
Stock Market Today: Dow Jumps, Oil Tumbles After Iran Declares Strait Open
The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped roughly 900 points after Iran’s foreign minister announced the Strait of Hormuz was fully open to commercial vessels. Oil markets reacted sharply, with Brent crude sliding 9% to about $90 a barrel and U.S....
Financial Services Roundup: Market Talk
JPMorgan and Wells Fargo reported a 15% sequential drop in mortgage‑banking volumes, outpacing industry forecasts, yet both banks saw stable or improving housing‑credit performance, with JPMorgan posting negative home‑lending charge‑offs. In Europe, alternative‑asset managers rallied, as stocks of CVC Capital, ICG PLC,...
Stock Market News, April 15, 2026: S&P Hits 7000, Closing at First Record Since January
The S&P 500 closed above the 7,000‑point mark for the first time since January, while the Nasdaq composite surged 1.6% to a new record, marking its 11th consecutive gain. The Dow Jones Industrial Average edged down 0.1%, tempering the broader rally....
Financial Services Roundup: Market Talk
Marsh announced that CFO Mark McGivney will also serve as executive vice president and chief operating officer, a move aimed at accelerating the firm’s cross‑business strategy. BlackRock CEO Larry Fink told CNBC that global capital markets are poised for significant...
Stock Market Today: Nasdaq Rises for 10th Day in a Row
The Nasdaq composite logged its 10th consecutive day of gains on April 14, buoyed by easing geopolitical tension after the U.S. and Iran signaled openness to further talks. Oil prices slipped below $96 a barrel, reflecting reduced war‑risk premiums. March...
White House Fields Warnings About Iran War’s Economic Hit
President Trump and senior advisers have been briefing White House officials on the economic fallout of a protracted war with Iran. Cabinet members, political allies, and corporate leaders warned that an extended conflict could depress U.S. GDP, spike oil prices,...
Energy & Utilities Roundup: Market Talk
Crude futures fell on Tuesday as investors weighed the impact of upcoming U.S.-Iran talks on the Strait of Hormuz. WTI settled at $96.57 a barrel, down 1.3% and 13% for the week, while Brent slipped to $95.20, a 0.8% decline...
Health Care Roundup: Market Talk
AstraZeneca's Q1 outlook hints at higher spending to launch camizestrant for breast cancer and baxdrostat for hypertension, while Farxiga inventory reductions could pressure sales as generics enter the U.S. market. Analysts also expect strong contributions from oncology staples Imfinzi, Tagrisso...
Stocks Waver With Shaky Cease-Fire in Focus
Investors await the March CPI report, which economists expect to show a 0.9% monthly rise and a 3.3% year‑over‑year increase—the steepest annual gain since May 2024. Brent crude has climbed nearly 2% to above $97 a barrel, keeping inflation pressures high....
Vance to Take the Lead on Iran Talks
Vice President JD Vance has been appointed to lead the United States delegation in direct talks with Iran, scheduled for Saturday in Pakistan. The discussions follow a newly announced cease‑fire, which Vance praised as a "good first step" but warned...
A-Street Collects $675 Million From Walton Family, Lego Foundation
A‑Street Fund II has closed on $675 million of commitments, led by the Walton family and the Lego Foundation. The multistage fund, launched in 2021 by Marc Sternberg and Tom Kuo, focuses on investments that improve PreK‑12 education outcomes. Co‑founder Sternberg, a...
Stock Market Today: Dow Futures Soar After U.S., Iran Walk Back From the Brink
President Trump announced a conditional cease‑fire with Iran, contingent on the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. The news triggered a sharp plunge in Brent crude and diesel futures, while U.S. stock futures, led by the Dow, surged. Treasury...
Tech, Media & Telecom Roundup: Market Talk
Morgan Stanley projects a 73% year‑over‑year rise in modernization spending within the Trump administration’s $1.5 trillion defense budget request, which is expected to benefit the major defense primes and their supply chains. The request funds the Golden Dome initiative, expands U.S....
He Turned Down Ken Griffin to Run His Own Fund. That Was $20 Billion Ago.
Hamza Lemssouguer, a 35‑year‑old London‑based manager, declined a multi‑billion‑dollar offer from Citadel founder Ken Griffin in 2020. He subsequently founded Arini Capital, launching with $1.3 billion in seed capital. Within two years the firm grew to manage roughly $20 billion, making it...
Financial Services Roundup: Market Talk
Malaysian equities may experience a two‑quarter dip as geopolitical tensions, a weakening ringgit and delayed Federal Reserve rate cuts compress interest‑rate spreads, according to Hong Leong Investment Bank analysts. Despite this, earnings for the Kuala Lumpur Composite Index (KLCI) remain largely...
Private-Equity Fundraising Falls to Slowest Pace in a Decade
Private‑equity fundraising in Q1 2026 totaled $86 billion, marking the slowest pace in a decade. The figure trails the already weak $423.4 billion raised across 2025, suggesting a continued contraction. Market turbulence in private‑credit and software sectors, coupled with heightened geopolitical risk...
OceanSound Collects $3.4 Billion for Government and Enterprise Technology Bets
OceanSound Partners announced the closing of its third flagship fund, raising approximately $3.4 billion, roughly twice the size of its prior vehicle. The New York‑based firm, led by founder and CEO Joe Benavides, will deploy the capital into technology companies serving...
Treasury Yields Slip as Trump Talks About Peace, Ahead of Labor Data
Treasury yields slipped as President Trump hinted at progress in peace talks and investors turned to upcoming labor data. The 10‑year yield fell to about 4.37% and the two‑year to 3.86% early, later adjusting to roughly 4.40% and 3.89% per...
Financial Services Roundup: Market Talk
Mastercard says stablecoins won’t threaten its core consumer payments, emphasizing its dispute‑resolution and fraud protection layers as non‑replicable. The firm sees the biggest growth potential in B2B cross‑border payments, remittances and the gig economy where card penetration is low. American Express...
Domain Capital Raises $768 Million Fund to Tap Surging Entertainment Demand
Domain Capital Group announced the closing of its Domain Entertainment Fund II, raising $768 million from institutional investors. The amount slightly exceeds the $700 million raised for its inaugural entertainment fund in 2022 and will target assets benefiting from streaming growth and smart‑device...
Health Care Roundup: Market Talk
Novartis shares rose 1.1% to 116.84 Swiss francs (≈ $127) after Bank of America lifted its target price to 140 francs (≈ $153) from 130 francs (≈ $141). The Swiss drugmaker’s strong year‑to‑date performance has heightened scrutiny of its late‑stage trials, especially remibrutinib...
Blue Pool Capital Raises $1 Billion for First Private-Equity Fund
Hong Kong‑based Blue Pool Capital announced it has closed a $1 billion first private‑equity fund, a notable achievement given the sector’s recent fundraising headwinds. The firm, which manages the family office of Alibaba co‑founder Joe Tsai, leverages a decade of private‑equity experience...
Stock Market Today: Oil Soars Past $115, Dow Futures Inch Lower
Oil prices jumped to roughly $115 a barrel after fresh attacks on Middle Eastern energy infrastructure, while European natural‑gas futures surged more than 20% following reports of extensive damage at Qatar’s Ras Laffan LNG plant. The price spikes triggered broad equity...
Orion Raises $2.2 Billion for Bets on Mining Critical Minerals
Orion Resource Partners closed its Orion Mine Finance Fund IV with about $2.2 billion in commitments, making it the firm’s largest vehicle and one of the biggest private‑equity funds ever raised for mining. The capital will finance construction and acquisitions of projects...
Stock Market Today: Dow Jumps, Brent Crude Pulls Back From $105
U.S. equities rallied on Tuesday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbing 388 points (0.8%) and all 11 S&P 500 sectors posting gains, lifting the broader index 1% and the Nasdaq 1.2%. Oil markets softened as Brent crude slipped back to...
Financial Services Roundup: Market Talk
European bank credit default swap (CDS) spreads rose as risk‑off sentiment intensified amid the ongoing Middle East war, according to Swissquote analyst Ipek Ozkardeskaya. The iTraxx Europe Senior Financial index climbed 2 basis points to 69 bps, while the sub‑financials index...
Financial Services Roundup: Market Talk
European asset managers recorded net inflows equal to 0.8% of assets in February, driven primarily by passive funds while active equity also posted modest gains. Citi analysts warn that escalating Middle East tensions could reverse the trend, prompting outflows in...
Dollar Falls After Weak U.S. Jobs Data
U.S. non‑farm payrolls unexpectedly dropped 92,000 in February, pushing the unemployment rate up to 4.4% and prompting analysts to anticipate further Federal Reserve rate cuts. The dollar index (DXY) slipped to 99.063 from 99.308 as markets digested the weaker labor...
Financial Services Roundup: Market Talk
Malaysia’s banking sector is poised for further gains despite a recent rally, according to AmInvestment Bank analyst Paul Yap. He cites continued buying from local and foreign investors and relatively attractive valuations versus Singapore peers as key drivers. The note...
Elizabeth Warren Has Questions About the Shake-Up Inside the Fed’s Banking Regulator
Senator Elizabeth Warren wrote to Federal Reserve Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman demanding details on recent internal changes within the Fed’s banking‑supervision division, including reported job cuts and the sidelining of senior examiners. The request also asks for a...
Tech, Media & Telecom Roundup: Market Talk
Bitcoin rose 1.4% to $67,202 after reports Nvidia will supply Meta with large‑quantity processors, lifting tech and semiconductor stocks. Jefferies highlighted Chinese AI startup MiniMax’s strong model performance and cost‑effective architecture, initiating coverage with a buy rating and a HK$1,118...
Stock Market Today: Dow Slips; Oil Prices Hit Highest Since Summer
The Dow Jones slipped Thursday as investors weighed fresh earnings reports and a sharp rally in oil prices. Brent crude surged up to $72 a barrel, its highest level since the summer, driven by heightened geopolitical tension surrounding U.S. naval...
JGB Prices Mixed Amid Divergent Signals
Japanese government bond prices were mixed in Tokyo amid divergent signals.
Forget the ‘Sell America’ Trade. Here Comes ‘Hedge America.’
U.S. equities have posted a strong rally this year, buoyed by solid earnings and a more accommodative Federal Reserve. At the same time, the dollar has slipped about 5% against major currencies, and foreign investors are buying fewer Treasury securities....