11 Investment Must Reads for This Week (Dec. 23, 2025)

Regulatory Developments - The U.S. administration is prioritizing broadening access to private markets for defined contribution plan participants in 2026, with regulatory bodies like the SEC and Department of Labor expected to be active [1] Economic Outlook - iCapital forecasts U.S. economic growth to be around 2% in 2026, driven by AI investment, wealth effects, and supportive monetary and fiscal policies, while highlighting potential 'blind spots' such as inflation and tariffs [2] Market Trends - The secondaries market is experiencing significant growth, with total deal volume reaching $160 billion by September 2023 and projected to exceed $200 billion by year-end, with some estimates suggesting up to $230 billion by 2025 [3] Alternative Investments - Pimco has established itself as a notable player in the alternative investment space, ranking among the top 10 institutional alts brands despite managing approximately $200 billion in alternative strategies [4] Private Credit Industry - Business Development Companies (BDCs) have seen their managed cash increase over threefold since 2020 to about $450 billion, but several BDCs are currently facing challenges [5] Fund Performance - Bluerock's Total Income + Real Estate Fund faced a rocky start, trading at over a 40% discount to its net asset value shortly after listing, raising concerns about liquidity and valuation risks in private asset-focused products [6] Commercial Real Estate - The U.S. commercial real estate market is witnessing a two-tier recovery, with high-value properties in major markets experiencing consistent price increases, while smaller assets in secondary markets are declining in value [11]