French private-equity giant Ardian has closed a record $20 billion infrastructure fund — its largest to date — signalling resurgent investor confidence in energy, transport, and digital connectivity across Europe. 💠 Global Capital Meets European IndependenceWith geopolitical volatility reshaping alliances and supply chains, investors are flocking to tangible assets that underpin economic resilience.“Volatility is so...
U.S. consumer finance platform Upgrade has secured $165 million in fresh funding, marking its return to the capital markets nearly four years after its last external round at the height of the 2021 fintech boom. 💰 Key Highlights 📊 Market ContextThe move signals renewed investor confidence in consumer fintech, a segment that has lagged behind...
British pension funds are being urged to join forces on large-scale domestic projects, pooling capital to attract foreign investors and revitalise national infrastructure — a vision championed by Lord Mayor of London Alastair King. 💡 A Strategic Call for CollaborationSpeaking ahead of the launch of the “Sterling 20” initiative, King emphasised that greater cooperation among...
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has voiced doubts about approving the latest wave of highly leveraged ETF filings, including proposals for 3x and 5x single-stock ETFs, raising concerns about investor protection as volatility returns to global markets. 🔍 Regulatory ConcernsSEC Investment Management Director Brian Daly told Reuters that it remains “unclear whether these...
In a landmark move, the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has unveiled plans to let asset managers issue crypto-tokens representing fund shares on public blockchains like Ethereum — a major step toward modernising fund infrastructure and engaging younger investors. 💠 Why It MattersUntil now, tokenisation in the UK was restricted to private chains. Allowing public...
After trillions of dollars poured into artificial intelligence this year, global investors are increasingly divided over whether the world is witnessing a genuine industrial revolution — or inflating another speculative bubble. According to BofA Global Research, 54% of fund managers now believe AI stocks are in a bubble. Yet, 90% of those same investors remain...