Core Viewpoint - Apollo Global Management's CEO Marc Rowan denies any business or personal relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, amidst ongoing scrutiny related to Epstein's past activities and correspondence with Apollo executives [1]. Company Statements - Apollo stated that neither Marc Rowan nor any other employee, except for Leon Black, had a relationship with Epstein [1]. - The company emphasized that the recent documents do not accuse Apollo or its executives of engaging in or being aware of Epstein's illicit activities [1]. - Apollo's response was prompted by teachers' unions requesting an SEC investigation into what they believe are misleading statements made by Apollo to its investors [1]. Historical Context - Leon Black, a co-founder of Apollo, left the company in early 2021 following a review of his ties to Epstein, which cleared him of wrongdoing [1]. - The review indicated that while Black attempted to introduce Epstein to his co-founders, no one else at Apollo seriously considered hiring Epstein [1]. Recent Developments - New documents reveal correspondence between Rowan's office and Epstein's office regarding at least five scheduled meetings, although it remains unverified if these meetings occurred [1]. - Apollo clarified that in certain instances, Rowan and other employees provided information to Epstein related to tax work for Black [1]. - Apollo stated that Epstein's attempts to work with the co-founders were declined consistently [1]. Broader Implications - The release of Epstein-related documents has led to increased scrutiny of Apollo's top officials, particularly in light of Epstein's past convictions and the ongoing fallout from his death [1]. - The American Federation of Teachers and the American Association of University Professors have expressed concerns regarding the implications of these documents for Apollo's leadership [1].

Are we in the midst of a new bull market in earnings cycle, especially for many of the lagging areas of the index. That was your call in mid-November. Is that a call you still stick to.Yeah. Well, good afternoon. First of all, I would say yes.I mean, you know, the story we actually started writing about in May of last year, which their mid-year update was exactly that. I think, you know, I think our view still remains out of consensus around this idea that Liberation Day marked the end of what we call a rol ...

LCNB Corp. Announces 2026 First-Quarter DividendFeb 18, 2026 4:48 PM Eastern Standard Time# LCNB Corp. Announces 2026 First-Quarter DividendShare---LEBANON, Ohio--([BUSINESS WIRE])--LCNB Corp. (Nasdaq: LCNB) today announced that the Company's Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.22 per common share. The common stock cash dividend will have a record date of March 2, 2026, and is payable to shareholders on March 16, 2026.About LCNB Corp.LCNB Corp. is a financial holding company headquartered in L ...

World Liberty Financial (CRYPTO: WLFI) surged 17% as Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) CEO David Solomon and NYSE President Lynn Martin spoke at the inaugural World Liberty Forum at Mar-a-Lago, signaling Wall Street’s embrace of tokenization.The Goldman RevelationSolomon revealed he owns “very little, but some” Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) , describing himself as an observer still trying to understand how it moves. However, he dismissed the idea that traditional banks and crypto are locked in a zero-sum fight.“It’s one syst ...

Core Insights - UBS raised its 2026 US investment grade issuance forecast to $1.8 trillion, citing increased hyperscaler capital expenditure [1] - The bank's US investment grade technology supply estimate increased to $360 billion, reflecting a significant rise in capital spending from major tech companies [1][2] - UBS maintained its forecasts for US high yield, European investment grade, and European high yield, while reducing its US leveraged loan projection [1][3] Investment Grade Issuance - The forecast for US investment grade issuance was increased due to stronger technology issuance and a rise in mergers and acquisitions, indicating a year-on-year growth of 22% [3] - Year-to-date US investment-grade issuance reached $296 billion, which is 31% higher than the previous year, with technology issuance more than doubling as a share of total supply [4] Hyperscaler Capital Expenditure - Aggregate hyperscaler capital expenditure guidance for 2026 rose by approximately $145 billion, leading to an expected public debt issuance increase of $40 billion to $50 billion [2] - Major companies like Amazon, Meta, and Google significantly raised their capital expenditure guidance, driving total projected hyperscaler capex to around $770 billion, which is about 23% higher than previous estimates [2] Leveraged Loans and Defaults - UBS reduced its leveraged loan forecast to $360 billion, citing concerns over artificial intelligence disruption risks being underpriced in loan and private credit markets [3] - The bank anticipates a marginal rise in leveraged loan defaults by roughly 2% and a spread widening to 610 basis points by the end of 2026, which may dampen refinancing and leveraged buyout activity [4] Reverse Yankee Issuance - UBS expects an increase in reverse yankee issuance, where US technology companies issue bonds in currencies like sterling and Swiss francs to diversify funding sources [5] - Despite hedged yields indicating that US dollar funding remains cheaper, particularly for longer maturities, this strategy is seen as a way to access different investor bases [5] Market Absorption and Positioning - The investment-grade market is believed to be able to absorb the additional supply, supported by muted sovereign and emerging market issuance and relatively tight spreads in structured credit [6] - UBS maintains a short position on US investment-grade technology versus the broader index, cautioning that spreads could widen despite strong demand [6]

Renowned economist Mohamed El-Erian has signaled a major structural shift in global finance as China's share of the U.S. Treasury market plummeted to a 15-year low, raising concerns over future demand for American debt. Great Retreat Data shared by El-Erian reveals that China's holdings of U.S. Treasuries now represent just 7% of the total market share—a staggering drop from the 28% peak recorded 15 years ago. The total holdings have fallen to approximately $682.6 billion, the lowest level since 2008. “A ...

The Federal Reserve cut its key interest rate by a quarter point (25 basis points) at the December FOMC meeting, placing the overnight borrowing rate in the 3.5%-3.75% range. GOBankingRates consulted experts to gather their predictions about what will happen to mortgage rates in the coming year. While many believe that interest rate decisions are the only thing responsible for mortgage rates, that’s not the case. When predicting mortgage rates, it’s important to consider current market conditions, includi ...

Andrew Wishart, from Berenberg, said: “Parts of the inflation basket most sensitive to labour costs remain a little too high for comfort. As a result, March may prove too soon for the next rate reduction.”Despite market expectations of a rate cut in March rising, several economists have said the Bank of England will hold off on lowering borrowing costs until April.The FTSE 100 rose 1.1pc to 10,671.72, powered higher by gains in mining stocks.London-listed stocks have continued to climb higher, as slowing in ...

Key TakeawaysSoftBank Group (SFTBY) is leading a massive $33.3 billion consortium including Goldman Sachs (GS) and Panasonic (PCRFY) to develop gas-fired power plants in the U.S. to support AI data centers.The ECB's Piero Cipollone confirmed the Digital Euro will feature transaction fees designed to undercut international card giants like Visa and Mastercard, though costs may remain higher than some domestic schemes.Geopolitical tensions spiked as the U.S. alleged China conducted a secret nuclear test in 20 ...

Core Viewpoint - Western Digital is set to sell a stake worth $3.17 billion in Sandisk, indicating a strategic move in the flash memory market [1]. Group 1: Transaction Details - Western Digital will sell over 5.8 million shares of Sandisk at a price of $545 each [1]. - The offering price represents a discount of approximately 7.7% compared to Sandisk's last closing price of $590.59 [1].