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☆ Franklin Resources to Acquire Putnam Investments From Great-West Lifeco
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Justin Baer | Dean Seal | ) 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/franklin-templeton-to-acquire-putnam-investments-from-great-west-lifeco-6e4b7baa

Persons: Dow Jones, templeton Organizations: franklin, putnam

☆ Greg Fleming's Rockefeller strategic-advisory team defies dealmaking drought thanks to this rich family
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Hayley Cuccinello | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The wealth manager's CEO Greg Fleming has deep ties to the Desmarais family behind the insurer. In the midst of a dealmaking lull, Rockefeller Capital Management can add another billion-dollar advisory deal to its resume. Advised by the five-year-old firm, Canadian insurer Great-West Lifeco is selling asset management subsidiary Putnam Investments to Franklin Templeton, the firms announced today. Since Fleming launched Rockefeller, born out of the Standard Oil heirs' family office, Great-West Lifeco has consistently sought the firm's services. The Rockefeller family also increased its stake by an undisclosed amount.

Persons: Rockefeller, Franklin Templeton, Greg Fleming, Lifeco, Morgan Stanley, Merrill Lynch, Jim Ratigan, Stephen Valentino, Fleming, Paul Desmarais Jr Organizations: Rockefeller Capital Management, Putnam Investments, Pitchbook, Wall Street, Deutsche Bank . Rockefeller, Standard, Rockefeller, Power Corporation of Canada, Viking Global, Bank of America

☆ Investing in AI: how to avoid the hype
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-26 | by ( Naomi Rovnick | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

SummarySummary Companies AI boom brings fresh challenge for investorsAI-themed stocks highly valuedStick with big tech not AI stocks - investorsLONDON, May 26(Reuters) - Experienced tech investors are hunting for undervalued opportunities in an over-valued space. Investors are chasing exposure to generative AI, the technology run by ChatGPT that learns from analysing vast datasets to generate text, images and computer code. Businesses are trying to use generative AI to speed up video editing, recruitment and even legal work. GAM's Hawtin said he has also hunted out companies that provide the "picks and shovels," necessary for enabling new AI technology. Amazon's Bedrock service, for example, lets companies customise generative AI models rather than invest in developing them themselves.

☆ It’s Not Just the Debt Ceiling
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-26 | by ( Jeff Sommer | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

These include:The potential for economic drag from the more restrictive fiscal policy that House Republicans are demanding from President Biden as a prerequisite for an increase in the debt ceiling. Oddly, the debt ceiling crisis provided temporary relief for many of the nation’s banks, economists for Moody’s Investor Service found in a recent study. “The debt ceiling impasse has been a tailwind for the banks,” Jill Cetina, associate managing director for Moody’s, said in an interview. But once the debt ceiling is lifted and the Treasury begins to raise money by selling large quantities of bonds, those purchases by investors in the open market will drain money from banks. “This may not be what you would expect, but the resolution of the debt ceiling crisis will be a headwind for banks,” she said.

☆ These are the 6 best long-term investing opportunities right now, according to a global portfolio management head at Goldman Sachs
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( James Faris | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Investors should take a long-term view of the market, according to Luke Barrs of Goldman Sachs Asset Management. A long-term focus keeps Barrs level-headed when faced with a constant barrage of concerns that leads some to panic-sell. 6 places to put your money right nowAfter breaking down his investing philosophy, Barrs shared six investments he likes right now. Going forward, emerging markets stocks should benefit from a weaker US dollar, stronger earnings, and China's continued economic reopening, which is leading to a tourism boom. Within emerging markets, Barrs especially likes India.

☆ You can't replace the dollar, but here are 5 alternative assets that are chipping away at the greenback's supremacy
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The dollar isn't going away, but other assets classes are slowly chipping away at its dominance. The US dollar is the world's top reserve currency — by far. CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty ImagesThe US dollar has been the world's reserve currency since the second world war, playing a crucial role in the world's trade. In 1999, over 70% of the world's foreign exchange reserves were held in the US dollar. Even alternative currencies like the Swedish krona, the South Korean won, and the Australian and Canadian dollars have been chipping away at the greenback's share.

☆ Palantir dumps $50 million gold investment less than two years after buying precious metal
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Ari Levy | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

In August 2021, data analytics software vendor Palantir bought over $50 million worth of 100-ounce gold bars. Less than two years later, Palantir said goodbye to the precious metal. "During the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company sold all of its gold bars for total proceeds of $51.1 million," Palantir said in its first-quarter financial filing Tuesday. At the time of Palantir's investment in gold, the market was in a much different spot. Palantir shares soared 23% on Tuesday after the company reported earnings and revenue that topped analysts' estimates.

[1/9] Investors and guests arrive for the Berkshire Hathaway annual shareholders' meeting in Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. May 6, 2023. Speaking at Berkshire's annual shareholder meeting, Buffett criticized how politicians, regulators and the press have handled the recent failures of Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank and First Republic Bank, saying their "very poor" messaging has unnecessarily frightened depositors. At the meeting, Berkshire shareholders reelected all directors and rejected shareholder proposals concerning climate change, diversity and political activities. LIGHTED MATCHBuffett said regulators were right to guarantee depositors of Silicon Valley Bank, saying that not doing so "would have been catastrophic." He also said bank shareholders and executives should bear the risks of mismanagement, with Munger criticizing executives concerned more with getting rich than with customers.

Buffett spoke hours after Berkshire posted a $35.5 billion quarterly profit and said it bought back $4.4 billion of its own stock, a sign it considered the shares undervalued. The meeting features Buffett, 92, who is Berkshire's chairman and chief executive, and Charlie Munger, 99, a vice chairman, answering five hours of shareholder questions. Many recognized it could be one of their last chances to see Buffett and Munger, given their advanced ages. Yongsheng Zhao, who lives in Shanghai and is a researcher for an asset management firm, said he showed up at midnight to attend his eighth Berkshire meeting. "I am inspired by their passion and normalcy," he said, referring to Buffett and Munger.

OMAHA, Nebraska, May 6 (Reuters) - Warren Buffett on Saturday offered a vote of confidence in the United States, saying he could not imagine the government letting it default on its debt and risk letting the world's financial system "go into turmoil." Buffett, 92, who is Berkshire's chairman and chief executive, and Charlie Munger, 99, a vice chairman, are answering five hours of shareholder questions at the meeting. Many recognized it could be one of their last chances to see Buffett and Munger, given their advanced ages. Yongsheng Zhao, who lives in Shanghai and is a researcher for an asset management firm, said he showed up at midnight to attend his eighth Berkshire meeting. "I am inspired by their passion and normalcy," he said, referring to Buffett and Munger.

☆ Buffett's Berkshire posts $35.5 billion profit, buys back more stock
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

OMAHA, Nebraska, May 6 (Reuters) - Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc (BRKa.N) on Saturday said its first-quarter profit totaled $35.5 billion, reflecting gains from common stocks such as Apple Inc (AAPL.O), while higher income from investments bolstered operating profit. Net income equaled $24,377 per Class A share, and swelled from $5.58 billion, or $3,784 per share, a year earlier. Quarterly operating profit increased 13% to $8.07 billion, or about $5,561 per Class A share, from $7.16 billion. The Omaha, Nebraska-based company said it also repurchased $4.4 billion of its own stock in the quarter. Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in Omaha, Nebraska; Editing by Alexander SmithOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Berkshire posts $35.5 billion profit, sells over $13 billion in stocks
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Berkshire also sped up repurchases of its own stock, buying back $4.4 billion, while paring its investments in other stocks such as Chevron Corp CVX.N, which is still a major holding. MORE CASHNet income equaled $24,377 per Class A share and rose from $5.58 billion, or $3,784 per share, a year earlier. That in part reflected a 27% jump in Apple's AAPL.O stock price, leaving Berkshire with a $151 billion stake in the iPhone maker. Quarterly operating profit increased 13% to $8.07 billion, or about $5,561 per Class A share, from $7.16 billion. Berkshire's cash hoard grew $2 billion in the quarter to $130.6 billion, as the company sold $13.3 billion of stocks and bought just $2.9 billion.

☆ Why Warren Buffett is so keen on Japan's versions of Berkshire Hathaway
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Tim Hornyak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

But Warren Buffett added a spark in April when he visited Japan to announce that Berkshire Hathaway boosted its investment in Japanese trading houses to 7.4%. Buffett said the five — Itochu Corp., Marubeni Corp., Mitsubishi Corp., Mitsui, and Sumitomo Corp. — are comparable to Berkshire itself. Samurai roots for Buffett's Japanese stocks The five trading firms that Berkshire has invested in are the biggest of Japan's so-called sogo-shosha, or general trading companies. Today, Japan's trading companies derive most of their revenue from non-trade activities. Shosha: The Big Five Mitsubishi The largest of Japan's trading companies is Mitsubishi Corp. , set up in 1954.

☆ Apple’s balance sheet is golden and delicious
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Robert Cyran | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

But for Apple (AAPL.O), the sharp change in monetary conditions is golden and delicious. The iPhone maker said on Thursday that it ended the first quarter with cash and saleable investments $57 billion greater than its debts. That’s nearly enough to cover its newly-raised dividend for a year, and $90 billion buyback program, without touching the balance sheet. While the first two initiatives sit on Goldman’s balance sheet, the buy-now-pay-later product sits on Apple’s. Apple had $57 billion more in cash and saleable securities on its balance sheet than its debts at the end of the quarter.

[1/3] Writers Guild of America members and supporters picket outside Sunset Bronson Studios and Netflix Studios, after union negotiators called a strike for film and television writers, in Los Angeles, California, U.S., May 3, 2023. REUTERS/Mario AnzuoniLOS ANGELES, May 4 (Reuters) - The group representing Hollywood studios fired back on Thursday at claims from striking film and television workers that they have been forced into the "gig economy" because of changes brought by the streaming TV era. Roughly 11,500 members of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) went on strike on Tuesday, saying that studios had "created a gig economy inside a union workforce." Most TV writers, the group said, are employed on a weekly orepisodic basis, with a guarantee of a specified number of weeks or episodes. Writers say they are working more and making less as studios have shifted their focus to streaming over traditional TV and cable.

SAS has lost almost 60% of its value since it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last July, seeking to slash costs and debt after wage talks with pilots collapsed. Apollo will mainly work with aviation regulators in Sweden and Denmark to secure approval, the first source said. The move comes as the airline looks for large investors and seeks to raise equity as part of its Chapter 11 bankruptcy plan. Denmark's finance ministry told Reuters it was looking for one or more shareholders to take a majority stake in SAS. The company also became the largest shareholder in Mexican airline Aeromexico (GRPAF.PK) in 2020 following Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings.

☆ Guggenheim's Brian Smedley: Here's what to expect from the next Fed meeting
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailGuggenheim's Brian Smedley: Here's what to expect from the next Fed meetingBrian Smedley, chief economist and head of macroeconomic and investment research at Guggenheim Investments, joins 'Power Lunch' to discuss the Fed's upcoming rate decision, the Fed's quantitative tightening plan, and ongoing funding strain in regional banks.

Growth came mostly from exports, the result of a revival in global trade as China re-opened for business after the pandemic. But national data showed price growth remained stubbornly high, probably leaving the ECB with no choice but to keep raising interest rates. Friday's inflation data showed progress was slow. IMF CALLS FOR MORE RATE HIKESMoney markets currently price in another 70 basis points of ECB rate hikes by October, possibly followed by cuts as early as the start of next year. It also said European Union finance ministers should tighten fiscal policy in concerted action to bring down high inflation, which would probably depress consumption further.

☆ First Republic teeters on the edge — again
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Krystal Hur | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

New York CNN —First Republic Bank’s fate is looking grim. The bank’s stock has plummeted about 75% this week, after a disappointing first-quarter earnings report Monday revived Wall Street’s fears about a banking crisis and catalyzed an exodus out of First Republic stock. About two-thirds of First Republic’s deposits were uninsured with the FDIC when the banking turmoil took hold in March, lower than the 94% at Silicon Valley Bank. But at the end of 2022, First Republic had a whopping ratio of 111% for loans and long-term investments to deposits, according to S&P Global. Déjà vuFirst Republic’s fight for survival comes just over a month after Silicon Valley Bank’s collapse on March 10.

☆ Disconnect between Fed and market pose risk to stocks, says Putnam’s Jackie Cavanaugh
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailDisconnect between Fed and market pose risk to stocks, says Putnam’s Jackie CavanaughJackie Cavanaugh, Putnam Investments portfolio manager, joins 'Squawk Box' to discuss earnings season, the Fed, and the market outlook for the rest of 2023.

☆ Bank of England tells insurers to moderate their push into pensions
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Huw Jones | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, April 27 (Reuters) - The Bank of England warned insurers on Thursday not over extend themselves in grabbing more business from pension schemes eager to offload risks. Charlotte Gerken, executive director for insurance supervision at the Bank, said that in the face of considerable temptation to capture business opportunities, insurers need to exercise caution. Bulk purchase annuities (BPA) are long-term policies from life insurers for company defined benefit, or final salary, pension schemes. UK life insurers could take on more than 500 billion pounds ($623.70 billion) of pension liabilities over the coming decade, she said. "Insurers therefore need to understand, as they take on these vast sums of assets and liabilities, how they may become greater sources or amplifiers of liquidity risk," Gerken said.

☆ Premarket stocks: Here's what we know about First Republic Bank
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

New York CNN —First Republic Bank has been teetering on the edge for weeks. The San Francisco-based lender could be next in the line to collapse, following in the footsteps of former competitors Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank. The FDIC, Federal Reserve, White House and First Republic did not respond to requests for comment about those reports. The stock’s trading was halted numerous times both days as its rapid decline triggered volatility-triggered timeouts by the New York Stock Exchange. “It’s becoming clearer each day” that First Republic is “toast,” said Don Bilson at Gordon Haskett, in a note Wednesday.

☆ The live volcano sitting below Santorini
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Elinda Labropoulou | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

CNN —Everywhere you look on Santorini, you’re reminded that you’re on a volcano. Few realize that beneath the hypnotic kaleidoscope of colors lies an active volcano. The East Mediterranean’s most active underwater, and potentially dangerous, volcano, Kolumbo, is five miles northeast of Santorini and part of the same volcanic system. They include a visit to the volcano of Nea Kameni: one of five islands that form the Santorini volcanic complex, and a national geological park in itself. A simmering volcanoTourists can take boat trips to Nea Kameni, home to an active volcano.

☆ Jeronimo Martins' first-quarter profit jumps 59%, margin narrows
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Patricia Vicente Rua | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LISBON, April 26 (Reuters) - Portugal's second-largest retailer Jeronimo Martins (JMT.LS) on Wednesday posted a 59% jump in first-quarter net income as higher prices to offset soaring inflation boosted sales, though its margins narrowed. The company booked a net profit of 140 million euros ($154.71 million) between January and March. Consolidated sales in the first three months of the year rose 23.4% to 6.8 billion euros, driven by its Biedronka chain in Poland, where sales increased 26% to 4.8 billion euros. Consolidated earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) grew 20.1% to 446 million euros in the quarter. The company plans to invest around 1 billion euros this year, 45% of which in Poland where it wants to open between 130-150 stores and remodel about 350 stores.

☆ First Republic may not survive, even after two multibillion-dollar bailouts
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

New York CNN —First Republic Bank is in a fight for its survival. “It’s becoming clearer each day” that First Republic is “toast,” said Don Bilson at Gordon Haskett, in a note Wednesday. First Republic said in its latest earnings call that is exploring its strategic options, Wall Street code for searching for a white knight. First Republic CEO Michael Roffler attempted to assure investors in an earnings call Monday that the bank had enough liquidity to do that. That’s what happened to Silicon Valley Bank on March 10 when the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation took possession of and closed Silicon Valley Bank and on March 12 Signature Bank was closed by the New York State Department of Financial Services.

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