Neils ChristensenNeils Christensen has a diploma in journalism from Lethbridge College and has more than a decade of reporting experience working for news organizations throughout Canada. His experiences include covering territorial and federal politics in Nunavut, Canada. He has worked exclusively within the financial sector since 2007, when he started with the Canadian Economic Press. Neils can be contacted at: 1 866 925 4826 ext. 1526 nchristensen at kitco.com @Neils_cShareDisclaimer: The views expressed ...

BlackRock Inc. (BLK) is considering opening an office in Kuwait to deepen its presence in the Middle Eastern region. This was reported by Bloomberg, citing people familiar with the matter.BLK is in discussions with regulators and could finalize a decision later this month.Rationale Behind BLK’s MoveAbu Dhabi and Riyadh have been competing with Dubai to establish themselves as the primary business hub of the Middle East. While global firms like Citigroup Inc. (C) and Morgan Stanley (MS) have increased their ...

TORONTO, Feb. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited (“BlackRock Canada”), an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of BlackRock, Inc. (“BlackRock”) (NYSE: BLK), is pleased to announce that at a special meeting of the iShares Premium Money Market ETF (the “iShares Fund”) held today, unitholders approved the proposal to change the investment objective of the iShares Fund to permit investments in asset-backed commercial paper (the “Proposal”). Following the implementation of the Pr ...

Now that Bitcoin (BTC -4.14%) has crossed the $100,000 mark, it's only natural to ask: Just how much higher can it really go? After all, Bitcoin is up more than 30,000% over the past decade, and is now a $2 trillion asset. Long-term investors may find it hard to envision Bitcoin replicating its past decade's performance.The good news is that Bitcoin is likely nowhere close to hitting its true ceiling. According to Larry Fink, CEO of asset management giant BlackRock, Bitcoin could eventually soar as high as ...

Core Viewpoint - BlackRock is implementing changes to its high-yielding funds, particularly focusing on the tech-oriented BlackRock Innovation and Growth Term Trust (BIGZ), which currently yields 13% [1][2][3] Fund Overview - BIGZ is a closed-end fund (CEF) with nearly $2 billion in assets under management, making it significant within the CEF space [2] - The fund's recent performance has lagged behind other BlackRock tech CEFs, prompting a response from BlackRock [11][12] Comparison with Other Funds - BlackRock's other tech CEFs, such as the BlackRock Science and Technology Trust (BST) and the BlackRock Science and Technology Term Trust (BSTZ), have shown strong gains and lower volatility, with BSTZ focusing on private tech firms and fast-growing public companies [4][5][6] - BST has a more diversified portfolio with major holdings in established tech firms, resulting in less volatility compared to BIGZ [6][10] Recent Developments - Activist actions have led to a shake-up in BIGZ, including a new management team and a tighter focus on tech investments [12] - A significant share buyback program is being introduced, allowing shareholders to tender shares for 99.5% of the fund's NAV, which is expected to support BIGZ's market price [12][13] Investment Opportunity - BIGZ is currently trading at a 9.1% discount to NAV, presenting an opportunity for investors to purchase shares at a lower price and potentially realize a gain when redeeming shares [13]

Group 1 - BlackRock Canada announces that the iShares Convertible Bond Index ETF is expected to experience higher than normal portfolio turnover due to changes in the FTSE Canada Convertible Bond Index composition [1] - The rebalance of the Index is scheduled for January 31, 2025, which may lead to increased transaction costs for the iShares ETF [1] - The iShares ETF is not expected to realize any net capital gains as a result of the upcoming rebalance [1] Group 2 - FTSE Global Debt Capital Markets Inc. announced changes to the sector classification schema for the Index, which will now follow the Refinitiv Business Classification [2] - The Index will also adhere to the holiday calendar published by the Toronto Stock Exchange [2] - FTSE published the official Index proforma on January 24, 2025, confirming the impact of these changes [2] Group 3 - iShares has over 20 years of experience and manages more than 1500 exchange-traded funds with US$4.2 trillion in assets under management as of December 31, 2024 [5] - iShares funds are managed by BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited, leveraging BlackRock's portfolio and risk management expertise [5]

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of dividend investing as a pathway to financial freedom, highlighting its accessibility and potential for steady income [1] Group 1: Investment Philosophy - The company combines financial expertise with value investing principles to create a strong financial foundation through dividend investing [1] - Dividend investing is presented as a straightforward method for individuals to work towards long-term wealth accumulation [1] Group 2: Professional Background - The company has extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and business valuation, having evaluated numerous businesses and facilitated buy-side and sell-side transactions [1] - Daily activities include financial modeling, conducting due diligence, negotiating deal terms, and engaging in numerous meetings [1] Group 3: Sector Focus - The company focuses on various sectors including technology, real estate, software, finance, and consumer staples, which are also the core of its investment portfolio [1]

Group 1 - Proactive provides fast, accessible, informative, and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience [2][3] - The news team covers a wide range of sectors including biotech, pharma, mining, natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto, and emerging technologies [3] - Proactive has a presence in key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios located in major cities such as London, New York, and Sydney [2] Group 2 - The company emphasizes the use of technology to enhance workflows and improve content production [4] - Proactive employs automation and software tools, including generative AI, while ensuring that all content is edited and authored by humans [5]

Core Viewpoint - BlackRock CEO Larry Fink expressed concerns that President Trump's initiatives to stimulate private sector capital could inadvertently harm the stock market due to potential inflationary pressures [1][2]. Group 1: Economic Outlook - Fink is cautiously optimistic about the potential for significant growth if private capital is effectively utilized, but warns of inflation risks that may not be fully considered by the markets [2]. - The success of capital deployment in the private sector is crucial, with notable investments such as the Stargate joint venture, which involves a $100 billion immediate investment for AI infrastructure, potentially leading to a total of $500 billion [2]. Group 2: Inflation and Interest Rates - Fink highlighted the presence of substantial inflationary pressures that could lead to elevated interest rates, negatively impacting the equity market [3]. - There is a possibility that the 10-year Treasury yield could approach 5% or even 5.5% if inflation accelerates, which would significantly shock the equity market [3]. - The current benchmark 10-year note yield is at 4.62% [4].

Core Viewpoint - BlackRock and the state of Tennessee have reached a settlement regarding a lawsuit that claimed the firm downplayed the influence of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) proposals in its investment processes, marking a significant win for states opposing ESG initiatives [1][4]. Group 1: Settlement Details - The settlement requires BlackRock to enhance transparency, undergo regular audits, provide compliance training, cooperate with the attorney general, improve investor communications, and commit to prioritizing financial interests [3]. - Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti stated that the settlement ensures that retirement funds for Tennesseans will not support ideologies they oppose [2]. - BlackRock expressed satisfaction with the resolution, emphasizing its commitment to acting in the best interests of clients and increasing transparency about its practices [5]. Group 2: Legal Context and Implications - The lawsuit, filed in 2023, accused BlackRock of making misleading statements regarding the extent to which ESG proposals influenced its investments, a claim that BlackRock has dismissed as inaccurate [3][9]. - The settlement does not involve any penalties, fines, or admissions of wrongdoing by BlackRock [5]. - This settlement may set a precedent for other ongoing legal challenges against ESG investing, particularly in the context of a coalition of states that have accused major asset managers of colluding to influence coal production negatively [8].