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But the Fearless Fund is a tiny player in the approximately $200 billion global venture capital market. Less than 1% of venture capital funding goes to businesses owned by Black and Hispanic women, according to the nonprofit advocacy group Digitalundivided. The lawsuit against the Fearless Fund was filed by Edward Blum, the conservative activist who filed the affirmative action cases before the Supreme Court. Fearless Fund has invested more than $2 million in Thirteen Lune, founded by Nyako Griego. The combined share of venture capital funding received by Black and Latina founders briefly surpassed 1% in 2021 before dipping back below that threshold in 2022, according to Digitalundivided.

Persons: ”, Arian Simone, it's, Simone, ” Simone, Fearless, Edward Blum, Blum, ” Blum, Ben Crump, Marc Rosen, Thirteen, Sephora, Kohl's, Rosen, They’re, ” Rosen, Nyako Griego, George Floyd, Morgan Chase, Associated Press Retail Writers Anne D'Innocenzio, Haleluya Hadero Organizations: Fearless Fund, Black, Associated Press, Civil, American Alliance, Equal, AP, Fund, Court, Latina, Bank of America, Mastercard, Associated Press Retail Writers Locations: Atlanta, Texas, Florida, U.S, Lune

☆ Climate Change Hitting Fight Against AIDS, TB and Malaria
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-17 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Jennifer RigbyLONDON (Reuters) - Climate change and conflict are hitting efforts to tackle three of the world's deadliest infectious diseases, the head of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has warned. International initiatives to fight the diseases have largely recovered after being badly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Fund’s 2023 results report released on Monday. But the increasing challenges of climate change and conflict mean the world is likely to miss the target of putting an end to AIDS, TB and malaria by 2030 without “extraordinary steps”, said Peter Sands, executive director of the Global Fund. The Fund also helped put 24.5 million people on antiretroviral therapy for HIV, and distributed 220 million mosquito nets. For example, malaria is spreading to highland parts of Africa that were previously too cold for the mosquito carrying the disease-causing parasite.

Persons: Jennifer Rigby LONDON, Peter Sands, Sands, Jennifer Rigby, Jane Merriman Organizations: Global Fund, AIDS, Tuberculosis, Malaria, Fund, UN, Assembly Locations: Africa, Sudan, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Myanmar

LONDON, Sept 18 (Reuters) - Climate change and conflict are hitting efforts to tackle three of the world's deadliest infectious diseases, the head of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has warned. International initiatives to fight the diseases have largely recovered after being badly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Fund’s 2023 results report released on Monday. But the increasing challenges of climate change and conflict mean the world is likely to miss the target of putting an end to AIDS, TB and malaria by 2030 without “extraordinary steps”, said Peter Sands, executive director of the Global Fund. The Fund also helped put 24.5 million people on antiretroviral therapy for HIV, and distributed 220 million mosquito nets. For example, malaria is spreading to highland parts of Africa that were previously too cold for the mosquito carrying the disease-causing parasite.

Persons: Peter Sands, Sands, Jennifer Rigby, Jane Merriman Organizations: Global Fund, AIDS, Tuberculosis, Malaria, Fund, UN, Assembly, Thomson Locations: Africa, Sudan, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Myanmar

REUTERS/Magali Druscovich/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Sept 18 (Reuters) - Climate change and conflict are hitting efforts to tackle three of the world's deadliest infectious diseases, the head of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has warned. But the increasing challenges of climate change and conflict mean the world is likely to miss the target of putting an end to AIDS, TB and malaria by 2030 without “extraordinary steps”, said Peter Sands, executive director of the Global Fund. For example, malaria is spreading to highland parts of Africa that were previously too cold for the mosquito carrying the disease-causing parasite. For example, in 2022, 6.7 million people were treated for TB in the countries where the Global Fund invests, 1.4 million more people than in the previous year. For example, he said, many countries with the highest burden of TB are middle-income countries that have more capacity to fund health services domestically.

Persons: Magali, Peter Sands, Sands, Jennifer Rigby, Jane Merriman, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: REUTERS, Global Fund, AIDS, Tuberculosis, Malaria, UN, Assembly, Global, Thomson Locations: Buenos Aires, Argentina, Africa, Sudan, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Myanmar

☆ A Quirky Auction to Support Crew Members Affected By the Writers Strike
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Jessica Roy | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A typical Hollywood charity auction, like the Baby2Baby Gala, might consist of beauty sessions with sought-after dermatologists, autographed books and set memorabilia, and the occasional five-minute photo op. The charity auction organized by the Union Solidarity Collective, a group of writers and directors who came together this year to help crew members affected by the Writers Guild strike, is trying something different: It offers dozens of quirky experiences, many featuring hidden talents of celebrities that have little to nothing to do with their current career paths. The strike, now in its fourth month, has left writers and crews without paychecks and health care coverage. charity auction will go to the Motion Picture & Television Fund’s crew health care fund. Qualifying crew members (those with less than $10,000 in assets) can enroll for a $350 grant, which — depending on their income — can help cover most if not all of their monthly insurance costs.

Persons: Oppenheimer, David Krumholtz, ”, Paul Scheer Organizations: Union Solidarity Collective, Writers Guild, Television

Some deal makers wonder whether tennis, which has already confirmed initial talks with Saudi Arabia, will be the fund’s next target. “Of all the important sports around the world, I think tennis is clearly the one with the greatest opportunity for financial growth and the most unrealized value,” Maria Sharapova, the retired tennis star, told DealBook. Despite the popularity of tennis, the sport brings in only 1.3 percent of earnings from global media sports rights. That’s partly because tennis is made up of myriad entities — including the Women’s Tennis Association; the U.S. Tennis Association; and independent tournaments. The independently operated organizations make scheduling tournaments difficult and diminish bargaining power for sponsorship and media deals.

Persons: Novak Djokovic, Coco Gauff, Aryna Sabalenka, ” Maria Sharapova, DealBook Organizations: U.S, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Women’s Tennis Association, U.S . Tennis Association Locations: Saudi Arabia, U.S

☆ Norges Bank: Norway's $1.4 trillion investment fund is shutting its China office
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The firm, which manages Norway’s $1.4 trillion government pension fund, is the world’s biggest single investor in the stock market. The decision to close its Shanghai office was driven by “operational considerations” and doesn’t affect the fund’s investments or its investment strategy in China, NBIM said in a statement on Thursday. There are currently eight people in the Shanghai office, the firm said. Norges Bank is the central bank of Norway. Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, one of the world’s largest pension funds, closed its Hong Kong-based China equity investment team earlier this year.

Persons: NBIM, Odin Jaeger Organizations: Hong Kong CNN — Norges Bank Investment Management, Norges Bank, Bloomberg, Getty, Ontario, CNN, Forrester Research, Consulting Locations: China, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Asia, Singapore, Oslo, Norway, Norwegian

☆ Investors’ China aversion is bad for everyone
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Una Galani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

FIERCE RESTRAINTAs a country on the cusp of high-income status, China ought to be a magnet for overseas investors. Companies in the MSCI China Index trade at 10 times their expected earnings for the next twelve months, half the level of the S&P 500 Index. However, assets following these mandates remain insignificant compared to the $1.3 trillion benchmarked to MSCI’s Emerging Markets Index. However, they have played a bigger role in the past decade funding Chinese companies through Hong Kong and U.S. listings. Chinese equities have a combined market value of $15 trillion, greater than Japanese, French, Indian and British stocks combined.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Goldman Sachs, Gavekal Dragonomics, Gavekal, Tesla, John Welling, Dow, Xi, Peter Thal Larsen, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, U.S . Federal, People’s Bank of, Treasury, HK, Companies, Apple, Microsoft, BlackRock, China, WHO, International, U.S, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Dow Jones, Global, Thomson Locations: MUMBAI, China, People’s Republic, People’s Bank of China, United States, Hong Kong, U.S, Gulf, Asia, North America, Shanghai, Shenzhen

☆ Artificial Intelligence Steps In to Lower Carbon Footprint of Buildings
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Dieter Holger | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +5 min

Artificial intelligence is starting to help buildings go greener. Developers and construction companies have pursued more-efficient energy use in buildings over the past couple of decades. “We want to make every building out there as smart as it can be,” said Ramya Ravichandar, JLL Technologies’s vice president, technology platforms—smart and sustainable buildings. For instance, software and hardware that automatically manages lights, heating and cooling can help buildings cut 20% or more of their yearly energy use. “The main message overall is we’re not going to save the planet with software, and AI is software,” Smithies said.

Persons: JLL, “, ”, Ramya Ravichandar, ” Ravichandar, Thomas Kiessling, ” Kiessling, Greg Smithies, ” Smithies, Dieter Holger Organizations: International Energy Agency, Energy, Environmental, Envio Systems, Royal London Asset Management, JLL, London Asset Management, Siemens Smart Infrastructure, Siemens, Sustainable Business, Venture, Fifth, dieter.holger Locations: Turntide, Sunnyvale, Calif, Berlin, Birmingham, England

A record 38 QDII funds had been launched this year until August 17, outpacing the 31 funds launched in 2022, Morningstar data shows. Tianhong, which is planning new QDII products, obtained a $120 million fresh QDII quota in July, less than it had hoped for. Rather than foreign capital selling China equities, this time it's Chinese investors’ outbound investment,” Liu said. HUGE DEMANDThe QDII program, launched in 2006, remains a key outbound investment channel for mainland Chinese investors, alongside the Qualified Domestic Limited Partnership (QDLP) programme. Tracy Liu, an individual investor working in the information technology industry, invested in an India-focused QDII fund in March.

Persons: Aly, Ivan Shi, Liu Dong, Becky Liu, Liu, ” Liu, Desiree Wang, Tracy Liu, Summer Zhen, Samuel Shen, Jason Xue, Vidya Ranganathan Organizations: REUTERS, Morningstar, Domestic Institutional, Nasdaq, Ben Advisors, Connect, Bond, U.S, Dow Jones, State Administration of Foreign Exchange, Tianhong, Management, Ant Financial, Standard Chartered Bank, Reuters, Qualified Domestic Limited, Asset Management Association of China, Guangfa NASDAQ, Technology, Morgan Asset Management, Morgan Asset Management China, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, Shenzhen, China, U.S, HONG KONG, SHANGHAI, Hong Kong, Vietnam, India, outflows, Japan, Russia

CNN —Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Tuesday unexpectedly skipped a business forum of the BRICS economic group in South Africa, sending his commerce minister instead to deliver a fiery speech in his name that decried US hegemony. Xi, who arrived in Johannesburg on Monday for the annual BRICS summit of major emerging economies, was scheduled to deliver a speech at its business forum on Tuesday afternoon alongside leaders from India, Brazil and South Africa. Xi was the only BRICS leader who did not attend the business forum. At a regular news briefing Wednesday, Wang Wenbin, another spokesperson for the ministry, sidestepped a question about Xi’s absence at the BRICS business forum. “The (Chinese Communist Party) feels no obligation to provide explanations about why its foreign minister was replaced or its top leader was a no show at the BRICS Business Forum.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Xi, –, Wang Wentao, Vladimir Putin, ”, Bonnie Glaser, Marshall Fund’s, Brian Hart, Cyril Ramaphosa, ” Hart, Wang, Hua Chunying, Wang Wenbin, sidestepped, Xi’s, “ I’ve, Glaser, Qin, Wang Yi, Hart Organizations: CNN, Chinese Commerce, China Power, Center for Strategic, International Studies, South, Ramaphosa, Xinhua, Chinese Foreign Ministry, Communist Party, German Marshall Fund, CSIS Locations: South Africa, Johannesburg, India, Brazil, Beijing, United States, Ukraine, China, ”

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/business/deals/softbank-buys-vision-funds-stake-in-arm-at-64-billion-valuation-52a8b41

Persons: Dow Jones

☆ This Hedge Fund’s Two Feuding Founders Are Under Pressure to Make Peace
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Gregory Zuckerman | Juliet Chung | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/articles/this-hedge-funds-two-feuding-founders-are-under-pressure-to-make-peace-6e9dad93

Persons: Dow Jones, 6e9dad93

☆ Saudi’s swelling fund has scope for foreign binge
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Aug 7 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Saudi Arabia’s big sovereign wealth fund is getting bigger. The Public Investment Fund’s assets under management swelled to 2.23 trillion riyals ($603 billion) in 2022 from 1.98 trillion riyals the year before. PIF’s international assets, which range from UK soccer club Newcastle United to struggling carmaker Lucid (LCID.O), shrank from 576 to 512 billion riyals. Still, PIF has big ambitions: it hopes to boost its total assets to a whopping 4 trillion riyals by 2025, of which 24% will be international. If so, its foreign assets could yet double to 960 billion riyals, according to Breakingviews calculations, making it a key player in global finance.

Persons: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, PIF, Neil Unmack, headwinds, Lisa Jucca, Pranav Kiran Organizations: Reuters, Investment, Saudi, Saudi Crown, Newcastle United, Twitter, Adidas, InBev, Thomson Locations: Saudi, Riyadh, Saudi Aramco, Neom

☆ China is erasing mention of Qin Gang's time as foreign minister, but it still hasn't said why
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Hong Kong CNN —Five weeks ago, the world watched as China’s Foreign Minister Qin Gang met US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Beijing for high stakes talks between the two powers. Qin’s whereabouts, the reason for his removal, and his ultimate fate as a member of China’s Communist Party all remain unknown. Unanswered questions about official decision-making are standard in China, where the political system is notoriously opaque and has only become more so under Chinese leader Xi Jinping. But it also suggests that the cause must be grave for (Qin) to be removed,” she added. ‘Safe hands’The Foreign Ministry shake-up comes at a particularly sensitive time in China’s international relations.

Persons: Qin Gang, Antony Blinken, –, Qin, Wang Yi, Wang, Xi Jinping ., they’ve, Xi, ”, Yun Sun, …, Neil Thomas, Bonnie Glaser, Marshall Fund’s, hashtags, Li Mingjiang, Blinken, “ I’ve, I’ve, ” Blinken, “, ” Wang, China’s, Vladimir Putin, Asia Society’s Thomas, Victor Shih Organizations: Hong Kong CNN —, China’s Foreign Ministry, China’s Communist Party, Xi Jinping . Senior, China Program, Communist Party, Politics, Asia Society, Center for, Foreign, Weibo, Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University, University of California San, Century China Center Locations: Hong Kong, Beijing, China, Washington, Center for China, United States, Europe, Russia, Ukraine, Jakarta, Moscow, Asia, University of California San Diego’s

☆ IMF urges BOJ to move away from yield control, prepare for future tightening
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Leika Kihara | Andrea Shalal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

TOKYO/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Bank of Japan should start preparing for future monetary tightening by moving away from its yield control policy, the International Monetary Fund’s chief economist Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas said on Tuesday. FILE PHOTO: A Japanese flag flutters on the Bank of Japan building in Tokyo, Japan, March 15, 2016. They have also said the BOJ was mindful of the cost of YCC such as market distortions caused by its heavy bond buying. Widening the allowance band around its 10-year yield target, a step it took last December, could be among options to mitigate the side-effects of YCC, analysts say. Growth in the world’s third-largest economy is expected to slow to 1.0% in 2024 as the effect of past stimulus measures dissipate, the IMF said.

Persons: Pierre, Olivier Gourinchas, Toru Hanai, ” Gourinchas, Gourinchas, Kazuo Ueda Organizations: Bank of Japan, Monetary Fund’s, REUTERS, Reuters Locations: TOKYO, WASHINGTON, Tokyo, Japan

☆ What Is an Expense Ratio?
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( E. Napoletano | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +8 min

The easiest way to think of the expense ratio is the fee you pay to the portfolio manager of your mutual fund. When you invest in an ETF or mutual fund, the fund’s prospectus will state its expense ratio. How expense ratios impact investment returnsBefore you can look at how expense ratios impact your investment returns, it helps to understand what an average expense ratio looks like. While the average active stock fund’s expense ratio was 0.66% in 2022, the average bond fund charged just 0.44%, according to ICI. Remember: It should be easy to find the fund’s expense ratio.

Persons: it’s, Chloe Wohlforth, Russell, Warren Buffett, Peter Lynch —, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, Justin McCurdy, “, ”, you’re, McCurdy Organizations: Investment Company Institute, ICI, BuySide, SEC, Morningstar Locations: —, New York, U.S, Angeles

☆ UBS hit with $387 million in fines for ‘misconduct’ by Credit Suisse in Archegos dealings
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —UBS is being fined for missteps by Credit Suisse less than two months after UBS completed an emergency takeover of its former rival. On Monday, the Federal Reserve said it would fine UBS for “misconduct” by Credit Suisse in its risk management of Archegos Capital Management, an investment fund that collapsed in 2021. All told, the fines levied against UBS announced Monday total $387 million – including fines from the Swiss government and the Bank of England. In its announcement of the fine, the Federal Reserve Board said that Credit Suisse practiced “unsafe and unsound” credit risk management practices in its dealings with Archegos. UBS and Credit Suisse have also been ordered to submit a plan to strengthen oversight of their US operations and senior management in the next 120 days.

Organizations: CNN, UBS, missteps, Credit Suisse, Federal Reserve, Archegos Capital Management, Bank of England, Warner Brothers Discovery, Federal Reserve Board, Archegos, “ Credit Suisse, ”, Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank, Swiss Locations: Swiss, “, Wall, Switzerland

☆ BlackRock to expand proxy voting choice to retail ETF investors
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( Ross Kerber | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

FILE PHOTO: The BlackRock logo is pictured outside their headquarters in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., May 25, 2021. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri/File Photo(Reuters) - The world’s top asset manager BlackRock said it will offer proxy voting choices to U.S. retail investors of its biggest exchange-traded fund, expanding a strategy that could blunt criticism of how the firm considers environmental, social and governance (ESG) matters. Investors will not be able to specify votes in specific company elections. While many clients will rely on the votes BlackRock will continue to cast, “consistent with our fiduciary duty as an investment manager, others want the choice to participate in proxy voting more directly,” said Joud Abdel Majeid, Global Head of BlackRock Investment Stewardship, in a statement. Rivals including State Street and Vanguard have their own programs to devolve proxy voting rights.

Persons: Carlo Allegri, BlackRock, Glass, ”, Joud Abdel Majeid Organizations: REUTERS, BlackRock, New, Services, Glass Lewis, managements, Investment, Rivals, State, Vanguard, Republican Locations: BlackRock, Manhattan, New York City , New York, U.S, New York, Republican U.S

☆ Explainer-Why is the U.S. SEC reforming money market funds?
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Michelle Price | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WHAT ARE MONEY MARKET FUNDS? All the major asset managers and bank groups, including BlackRock, Vanguard, Fidelity and Goldman Sachs offer money market funds. The panic was reminiscent of 2008 when a run on money market funds threatened to freeze up global markets and prompted the government to backstop the sector. The agency has made changes to primarily address concerns about “prime” and tax-exempt money market funds, which are particularly susceptible to runs in times of stress. In addition, some money market funds would be required to impose a discretionary liquidity fee if the fund’s board deems it’s necessary.

Persons: Andrew Kelly, Goldman Sachs, It’s Organizations: WASHINGTON, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, SEC, Washington , D.C, REUTERS, U.S, Vanguard, Fidelity, U.S . Treasury, Treasury, Federal Reserve, redemptions Locations: Washington ,, BlackRock

☆ US SEC scraps contentious pricing proposal in final money market fund reforms
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( John Mccrank | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Money market funds saw massive outflows in March 2020 at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting the U.S. government to intervene to stabilize them. The panic was reminiscent of 2008 when a run on money market funds threatened to freeze up global markets and prompted the government to backstop the sector. Critics have said money market funds, which are a key source of short-term corporate and municipal funding, now enjoy an implicit government guarantee. In December 2021, the SEC proposed new liquidity requirements for money market funds, as well as scrapping redemption fees and restrictions. "I believe that liquidity fees, compared with swing pricing, offer many of the same benefits and fewer of the operational burdens."

Persons: Gary Gensler, John McCrank, Douglas Gillison, Michelle Price, Nick Zieminski, Emelia Organizations: YORK, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, SEC, BlackRock, Vanguard, Fidelity, U.S, Securities Industry, Financial Markets Association, Investment Company Institute, U.S . Chamber of Commerce, Thomson

☆ Pakistan: IMF approves $3 billion bailout for cash-starved country
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Islamabad Reuters —The International Monetary Fund’s board approved a $3 billion bailout program for Pakistan which will immediately disburse about $1.2 billion to help stabilize the South Asian ailing economy, the lender said on Wednesday. Pakistan and the fund reached a staff level agreement last month, securing a short-term pact, which got more than expected funding for the country of 230 million people. The country has faced an acute balance of payments crisis with only enough central bank reserves to cover barely a month of controlled imports. Longtime allies Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates have deposited $3 billion in Pakistan’s central bank in the last two days. Sharif said China had rolled over $5 billion in loans in the last three months to save his country from default.

Persons: “, Shehbaz Sharif, ”, Sharif, Fitch Organizations: Islamabad Reuters, Monetary, IMF, “, Longtime, United, CCC Locations: Islamabad, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, China

☆ Explainer: Why is the U.S. SEC reforming money market funds?
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Michelle Price | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Persons: Goldman Sachs, It's, Michelle Price Organizations: U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, SEC, U.S, Vanguard, Fidelity, U.S . Treasury, Treasury, Federal Reserve, redemptions, Thomson Locations: BlackRock

☆ Republicans question BlackRock fund governance, revisiting old concerns
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( Ross Kerber | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

July 7 (Reuters) - A group of 15 Republican state attorneys general have questioned whether directors of BlackRock mutual funds are sufficiently independent of the world's largest asset manager. The letter was addressed to ten individuals listed in a BlackRock filing as nominees to a board that oversees BlackRock closed-end mutual funds. Among other things, they said BlackRock fund trustees who serve as directors of companies where BlackRock owns more than 5% of shares could lead to independence concerns. They also cite how BlackRock fund directors are responsible for dozens of funds - exceeding BlackRock's own "overboarding" guideline for public company boards. Critics have raised similar issues in the past about whether well-paid mutual fund directors are positioned to speak up.

Persons: Austin Knudsen, Ross Kerber, Diane Craft Organizations: Republican, Reuters, Montana Attorney, BlackRock, AGs, Thomson Locations: Montana, BlackRock

☆ Opinion | Can Social Security Be Fixed Forever?
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( Peter Coy | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

In 1983, the main Social Security trust fund came within months of being exhausted. Max Richtman, the president and chief executive of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, told me he thinks it’s too long. He wrote in a recent Substack post that even 75 years isn’t long enough to look ahead. That’s three times the size of the gap in today’s dollars when projecting ahead 75 years. Making Social Security safe for only 75 years effectively assumes that all beneficiaries will “conveniently expire” at the end of the 75th year and so won’t need checks, he said.

Persons: Alan Greenspan, Max Richtman, it’s, ”, “, he’d, Laurence Kotlikoff, I’ve, there’s, Steve Laffey, Kotlikoff, aren’t, ” Laffey Organizations: Social Security, National Committee, Preserve Social Security, Boston University Locations: Cranston, R.I

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