U.S. equities ripped higher as investors interpreted fresh signals of a potential wind-down of the Iran conflict, with the Nasdaq up sharply and crude retreating from recent peaks. Month-end flows also aided gains, while Brent and WTI pulled back as President Trump suggested a withdrawal could come within weeks, easing inflation fears tied to energy. The risk-on turn lifted cyclicals and tech after a choppy March.
Source: Seeking Alpha
Eurozone inflation ticks up to 2.5%, complicating ECB’s path
Euro Area headline inflation rose to 2.5% in March, edging closer to the ECB’s target but reinforcing the challenge of balancing price stability with soft growth. The print, alongside a modest rise in unemployment to 6.2%, keeps policymakers cautious as energy volatility lingers and services inflation remains sticky.
Source: Seeking Alpha
Congress turns up heat on private credit: Blackstone, Ares under scrutiny
U.S. lawmakers have opened a probe into major private credit firms including Blackstone and Ares, escalating oversight of a fast-growing corner of finance that has increasingly supplanted traditional bank lending. The inquiry zeroes in on underwriting standards, disclosures, and potential systemic risks as the asset class balloons in size.
Source: Seeking Alpha
OpenAI raises a record $122B, valuation nears $852B as AI arms race intensifies
OpenAI secured $122 billion in new funding, the largest private tech raise on record, pushing its valuation to roughly $852 billion. Proceeds will scale data centers, secure cutting-edge compute, and accelerate model R&D, underscoring the capital intensity—and investor conviction—behind enterprise AI adoption despite profit timing questions.
Source: FinanceFeeds
DOJ indicts 10 executives in crypto wash-trading crackdown
The U.S. Department of Justice charged ten executives and staff at four crypto market-making firms with conspiracy and wire fraud tied to alleged wash trading and artificial inflation of token prices. Undercover operations documented tactics to simulate volume and momentum, signaling tougher enforcement as authorities target market integrity in digital assets.
Source: FinanceFeeds
Interactive Brokers brings crypto trading to EEA clients
Interactive Brokers launched cryptocurrency trading for eligible retail investors across the European Economic Area via its Irish unit, integrating 11 digital assets alongside stocks, options, futures, FX and bonds on one platform. The move, powered by Zero Hash, highlights growing demand for regulated, multi-asset access under a unified risk and capital framework.
Source: FinanceFeeds
New Hampshire advances $100M Bitcoin‑backed muni bond
New Hampshire is moving forward with a $100 million municipal bond collateralized by Bitcoin, using overcollateralization and regulated custody to mitigate volatility and ring-fence taxpayer exposure. The conduit structure could become a template for crypto‑collateralized financing if investor appetite proves durable.
Source: FinanceFeeds
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