Author: starbpo

Carlyle, a private equity giant with $426 billion in assets under management, has strategically onboarded Jeff Currie, the former head of commodities research at Goldman Sachs. Known for his accurate predictions, including foreseeing the commodity price boom in the 2000s, Currie will spearhead energy transition analysis as Carlyle’s Chief Strategy Officer of Energy Pathways. In this role, he will lead the evaluation of commodity market trends and assess new investment opportunities across energy markets and the commodity supply chain. Reporting directly to Marcel van Poecke, chairman of energy at Carlyle, Currie’s expertise is expected to navigate the complexities of global…

DWS, the German asset manager’s U.S. division, has unveiled its inaugural active exchange-traded fund (ETF), marking a significant addition to the U.S. ETF landscape. The Xtrackers RREEF Global Natural Resources ETF diversifies investment across global commodity producers, encompassing industries from metals mining to paper products. With this launch, DWS expands its U.S. ETF lineup to a total of nine offerings. Unlike many existing broadly-based ETFs that follow passive strategies tied to specific indices or commodity futures contracts, the new Xtrackers ETF stands out with its active management approach. The fund aims to navigate commodity price cycles and analyze business fundamentals…

In a draft of the G-20’s closing statement at the ongoing meeting in Brazil, finance chiefs express optimism about the global economy, indicating an increasing likelihood of a soft landing. The draft, dated Feb. 23, cites faster-than-expected disinflation as one of the positive risk factors contributing to a more balanced outlook. While recognizing challenges such as conflicts in various regions and geoeconomic tensions, the statement reflects a relatively upbeat view of the world economy, overcoming pandemic impacts, soaring inflation, and a surge in interest rates. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, in a press conference in Sao Paulo, emphasized the role of…

Swedish investment juggernaut EQT has achieved an extraordinary milestone, surpassing its initial €20 billion target for the EQT X fund. The groundbreaking total, approximately 40% larger than its predecessor, solidifies EQT’s position as a dominant force in the investment landscape. The triumph comes as the firm sought a six-month fundraising extension from its initially planned August 2023 close, allowing limited partners more time in a challenging liquidity environment. Suzanne Donohoe, Chief Commercial Officer at EQT, revealed in an interview, “People knew that our fundraise was going very well at that point,” emphasizing the fund’s robust momentum. The extension aimed to…

^GSPC(-0.38%) European and U.S. equity futures faced a slight downturn as investors prepared for a slew of economic data and comments from Federal Reserve speakers. This comes as Japan’s two-year bond yields reached the highest point in over a decade. Futures contracts hinted at potential equity declines following the S&P 500’s slip, marking the first decrease in four days on Monday. Market participants await key data, including the Fed’s favored inflation gauge scheduled for Thursday. Asian shares displayed mixed performance, with Chinese shares, particularly in the tech sector, showing strength. Japan’s two-year bond yield surged to levels unseen since 2011…

In a stark warning reminiscent of history, allies of Russian President Vladimir Putin cautioned French President Emmanuel Macron against sending troops to Ukraine, drawing parallels to the ill-fated fate of Napoleon Bonaparte’s Grande Armee. The Kremlin, signaling the potential for a direct clash between NATO and Russia, emphasized the risks of Macron’s proposal and hinted at the echoes of Napoleon’s tragic invasion. Vyacheslav Volodin, Chairman of the State Duma, issued a direct warning to Macron, comparing him to Napoleon and cautioning against igniting a third world war. “Before making such statements, it would be right for Macron to remember how…

Macy’s, the iconic department store chain, announces a bold transformation plan, opting to shutter nearly a third of its namesake U.S. stores, totaling 150 closures. This strategic move aims to counter the recent buyout overtures from activist firms while reshaping its retail landscape. The decision, part of an expansive real estate strategy, anticipates a freeing up of assets ranging between $600 million and $750 million through 2026. In the face of a $5.8 billion buyout offer from Arkhouse Management Co. and Brigade Capital Management, Macy’s resisted the proposal but confronts activist persistence. As a countermeasure, the company foresees the addition…

Early Friday saw most cryptocurrencies trade sideways, including Bitcoin and XRP, as markets were tense due to President Donald Trump’s new tariff threats, which caused gold prices to reach a record high. According to CoinDesk data, the price of Bitcoin, the biggest cryptocurrency in the world (BTCUSD -2.39%), has been relatively stable over the last day at $104,974. Earlier this week, it fell below $100,000 as investors became alarmed about a competitive and inexpensive artificial intelligence model coming from China. Investors were concerned that expenditure on the technology might decrease after learning about DeepSeek’s AI, which caused a tech selloff…

Since Donald Trump took the oath of office as the 47th president of the United States, the stock market has seen a wild two weeks. Although Trump bookended a turbulent week that started with worries that Chinese startup DeepSeek could challenge American companies’ dominance in the AI race with his long-awaited plans for applying tariffs, Wall Street had its best first nine trading days of a presidential term in more than ten years, much to the surprise of many. Early this week, the AI advancements sparked a vicious slaughter of tech companies, with Nvidia Corp. (NVDA) losing more than $590…

Starting Tuesday, the United States will impose new 25% tariffs on goods imported from Canada and Mexico in addition to an additional 10% duty on goods from China, creating new fronts in a trade war that may soon include many of the country’s trading partners, both allies and adversaries. To reduce the impact on American consumers, Canadian energy products—such as gas, oil, and electricity—will be subject to a reduced 10% tax rate. According to the Associated Press and other media, Canada swiftly retaliated by imposing similar 25% tariffs on up to $155 billion in U.S. goods, including fruit and wine.…