The U.S. Treasury Department is likely to hold the first in a series of meetings in the coming weeks with domestic and international insurance regulators to discuss recent volatility in private credit markets, Reuters reported, citing two sources familiar with the matter. According to the sources, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has been planning since January to initiate regular consultations wi...
The U.S. Treasury Department is likely to hold the first in a series of meetings in the coming weeks with domestic and international insurance regulators to discuss recent volatility in private credit markets, Reuters reported, citing two sources familiar with the matter. According to the sources, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has been planning since January to initiate regular consultations with insurance regulators beginning in the second quarter. The first meeting could be announced as early as Wednesday. Participants are expected to use the initial session to shape the scope and direction of future discussions, with a focus on strengthening fact-based and transparent oversight as private credit firms deepen ties with regulated financial institutions. While the Treasury does not have direct regulatory authority over insurers, Bessent aims to position the department as a central convening body for regulators across all 50 U.S. states. Officials are particularly interested in gathering feedback on the growing use of fund-level leverage, consistency in private credit ratings, offshore reinsurance practices, and liquidity conditions in private credit investments. Any policy action would follow a series of consultations, the sources said. Investor sentiment in the roughly $2T non-bank lending sector has been shaken in recent weeks amid concerns over liquidity, transparency and lending standards. During remarks to the Economic Club of Dallas in February, Bessent said that when assets move from private credit lenders into regulated financial institutions, such as pension funds, banks or captive insurance companies, "Treasury gets involved." "I am concerned with watching, how does this get to the regulated financial system," Bessent said. He added he wanted to ensure that private credit lenders have "been prudent in their loan portfolios." "We want to gauge, could it have any effects on the overall economy? Thus far, it's been very additive, but again, how does it aff...
Asian markets fell on Monday as the Middle East conflict continued for a fifth week , with US President Trump warning that the US could “take the oil in Iran,” including seizing Kharg Island. In addition, hostilities widened as Iran-aligned Houthi forces launched missiles toward Israel, heightening risks to energy supply routes. Gold prices reversed earlier losses to trade around $4,500 per ounce ...
Asian markets fell on Monday as the Middle East conflict continued for a fifth week , with US President Trump warning that the US could “take the oil in Iran,” including seizing Kharg Island. In addition, hostilities widened as Iran-aligned Houthi forces launched missiles toward Israel, heightening risks to energy supply routes. Gold prices reversed earlier losses to trade around $4,500 per ounce on Monday, remaining volatile as the Middle East conflict entered its fifth week. Japan ( NKY:IND ) fell 4.5% to below 50,600, its lowest point this year. The Japanese yen appreciated past 160 per dollar. The Bank of Japan kept its short-term rate unchanged at 0.75% in March 2026, indicating that further interest rate hikes are “appropriate” as it plans to reduce monetary support. China ( SHCOMP ) stock markets rose 0.04% to 3,883, while the Shenzhen Component dropped 1.3% to 13,573 on Monday, extending losses from the previous week . The offshore yuan edged higher to around 6.91 per dollar on Monday, trimming losses from the previous week. Hong Kong ( HSI ) fell 1.27% to around 24,589 on Monday, mirroring widespread losses. India ( SENSEX ) fell 1.42% to 72,775 on Monday, extending the previous session’s sharp sell-off and marking its lowest level since March 23. The Indian rupee strengthened to around 93.9 per dollar, rebounding sharply after hitting record lows as authorities stepped in to contain pressure on the currency. Australia ( AS51 ) fell 0.65% to close at 8,456 on Monday, marking a third straight decline amid broad-based losses, led by logistics, producer manufacturing, financials, and healthcare. The Australian dollar weakened further to around $0.685, down for a seventh straight session to hit its lowest since January. Adding pressure, LNG production stayed offline, and thousands were still without power in the northwest part of Australia, over a week after severe storms, Reuters reported. Traders now await upcoming releases, including RBA minutes, U.S. NFP da...
(RTTNews) - Skanska AB (SKA-B.ST, SKSBF, SKBSY), a Swedish construction and development company, on Monday said it has signed a contract with the Issaquah School District to build a new high school in Issaquah, Washington.
(RTTNews) - Skanska AB (SKA-B.ST, SKSBF, SKBSY), a Swedish construction and development company, on Monday said it has signed a contract with the Issaquah School District to build a new high school in Issaquah, Washington.
Donny DBM/iStock via Getty Images Fund Performance Review The fund finished the fourth quarter slightly ahead of the 2.19% advance of the Russell 2000® Index. Securities lending income, corporate action activity and security misweights due to certain benchmark securities that the Fund is restricted from buying all aided results this period. Efficient trading and implementation strategies also help...
Donny DBM/iStock via Getty Images Fund Performance Review The fund finished the fourth quarter slightly ahead of the 2.19% advance of the Russell 2000® Index. Securities lending income, corporate action activity and security misweights due to certain benchmark securities that the Fund is restricted from buying all aided results this period. Efficient trading and implementation strategies also helped limit fund transaction costs while replicating the exposures and characteristics of the index. U.S. small-cap stocks posted a gain in the fourth quarter, according to the Russell index, extending a historically fast rebound that began in early April, but at a slower pace. The advance has been supported by strong corporate fundamentals, a resilient economy, an ongoing boom in spending on artificial intelligence and the Federal Reserve's first interest-rate reductions since December 2024. Amid this favorable backdrop for higher-risk assets, the index closed the year just shy of its all-time high. Stocks entered October on an uptrend, but with the federal government in a shutdown that would last until November 12. On October 29, the central bank lowered its benchmark federal funds rate by 0.25 percentage points at its second consecutive meeting. The index gained 1.81% for the month, with the Fed pushing back against market expectations for a further rate cut in 2025. Momentum faded a bit in November (+0.96%), despite the continued shutdown and a brief mid-month sell-off that mostly reflected concern about an AI bubble. Meanwhile, the Fed cut rates by another quarter point on December 10. The index returned -0.58% for the month, a 12.81% gain for the year and a 42.37% increase since the low on April 8. In the fourth quarter, the index's narrow advance was driven by the defensive-oriented health care sector (+19%), which particularly shined in November. Materials (+5%) also delivered a solid gain. The growth-oriented communication services sector advanced 4%, led by telecommu...
(RTTNews) - Rio Tinto (RIO, RIO.L, RIO1.DE, RIO.AX) said its iron ore port operations have resumed after Tropical Cyclone Narelle passed over Western Australia's Pilbara region. Port closures at four Pilbara iron ore port terminals commenced on 24 March 2026. Ship loading at East
(RTTNews) - Rio Tinto (RIO, RIO.L, RIO1.DE, RIO.AX) said its iron ore port operations have resumed after Tropical Cyclone Narelle passed over Western Australia's Pilbara region. Port closures at four Pilbara iron ore port terminals commenced on 24 March 2026. Ship loading at East
A Thai undertaker’s extreme mission to prove he was not hoarding fuel went viral over the weekend after he brought a coffin containing a body to a petrol station to convince attendants the extra fuel he needed was for cremation, not black market resale. Thais have been pressed into energy-saving mode by the US-Israel war on Iran, which has throttled oil and gas supplies to much of Asia. Thailand’s...
A Thai undertaker’s extreme mission to prove he was not hoarding fuel went viral over the weekend after he brought a coffin containing a body to a petrol station to convince attendants the extra fuel he needed was for cremation, not black market resale. Thais have been pressed into energy-saving mode by the US-Israel war on Iran, which has throttled oil and gas supplies to much of Asia. Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul insists there is enough fuel for over three months, while the...
Four masked men entered Magnani Rocca Foundation villa, near Parma in northern Italy, and made off with artworks Thieves stole paintings by Renoir, Cézanne and Matisse from a museum in Italy a week ago, police have said. Four masked men entered the villa of the Magnani Rocca Foundation, near Parma in northern Italy, and made off with the artworks on the night of 22 March, a police spokesperson sai...
Four masked men entered Magnani Rocca Foundation villa, near Parma in northern Italy, and made off with artworks Thieves stole paintings by Renoir, Cézanne and Matisse from a museum in Italy a week ago, police have said. Four masked men entered the villa of the Magnani Rocca Foundation, near Parma in northern Italy, and made off with the artworks on the night of 22 March, a police spokesperson said, confirming a report on the Rai television network. Continue reading...