About this content About Oliver Haill Oliver has been writing about companies and markets since the early 2000s, cutting his teeth as a financial journalist at Growth Company Investor with a focusing on AIM companies and small caps, before a few years later becoming a section editor and then head of research. He joined Proactive after a couple of years freelancing, where he worked for the Financial Times Group, ITV, Press Association, Reuters sports desk, the London Olympic News Service, Rugby World Cup ...

Market Overview - The Dow experienced significant volatility, moving 2500 points within the first hour, ultimately closing down -349 points (-0.91%) [1] - The S&P 500 decreased by -11 points (-0.23%), while the Nasdaq managed a slight gain of +15 points (+0.10%) [1] - The small-cap Russell index fell by -16 points (-0.92%) [1] Tariff Negotiations - Some countries are open to negotiating trade levels with the U.S., but President Trump remains firm on his tariff policies, threatening an additional +50% tariff on China if they do not remove their retaliatory +34% tariff [2] Economic Outlook - Goldman Sachs issued a note titled "Countdown to Recession," predicting a U.S. recession if current tariff policies persist [3] - BlackRock's CEO Larry Fink suggested looking for buying opportunities but warned that the Federal Reserve may not cut interest rates this year, with many believing a recession is already underway [3] Inflation and Bond Yields - Concerns about tariffs leading to higher prices and potential stagflation were raised, with bond yields increasing approximately 20 basis points, bringing the 10-year yield above +4.2% and the 2-year yield around +3.92% [4] Upcoming Economic Data - The NFIB optimism index for March is expected to be released, with the previous month showing a reading of 100.7, although a dip below 100 is anticipated [4] - Q1 earnings season is set to begin, with Delta reporting on Wednesday and major banks like JPMorgan releasing results on Friday [5] - CalMaine Foods, a significant supplier of shell eggs, is scheduled to report earnings after the market closes, currently holding a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) [5]

BlackRock CEO Larry Fink said that the stock market could see declines deepen by another 20% amid uncertainty over President Donald Trump's tariffs and that CEOs are telling him they think the U.S. economy is likely already in a recession. "Most CEOs I talk to would say we are probably in a recession right now," Fink told the Economic Club of New York on Monday. Tariffs are expected to make a wide variety of products more expensive, exacerbating inflationary pressures that have been persistent in recent mon ...

The CEO of the world's largest asset manager was asked if he thinks a recession is coming. Larry Fink's response: We're in it. Most CEOs Fink has been talking to "would say we are probably in a recession right now," he said in an interview at the Economic Club of New York on Monday."One CEO specifically said the airline industry is a "proverbial bird in a coal mine — canary in the coal mine — and I was told that the canary is sick already," he said, adding that travel demand has declined. Last week, Presi ...

After a turbulent week in which the S&P 500 contracted -9.33% due to the announcement of reciprocal tariffs and China's reaction, which generated a trade war, BlackRock (NYSE: BLK ), the largest public asset manager in the world, is setHey there! My focus here is to provide you with insightful rating analysis on the world's leading financial firms to help you navigate and comprehend the latest investment opportunities while identifying potential pitfalls. My favorite picks are those that are tilted toward b ...

Larry Fink, chief executive officer of BlackRock Inc., speaks during the 2025 National Retirement Summit in Washington, DC, US, on Wednesday, March 12, 2025.BlackRock CEO Larry Fink said Monday that many business leaders believe the United States economy is already in a significant downturn."Most CEOs I talk to would say we are probably in a recession right now," Fink said at an event for the Economic Club of New York."One CEO specifically said the airline industry is a proverbial bird in a coal mine — cana ...

BlackRock CEO Larry Fink's annual letter to investors continued the firm's shift away from politically controversial topics like diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) as well as environment, social and governance (ESG) policies. Fink released his annual chairman's letter to investors on Monday, and the 2025 edition of the letter omitted potentially controversial references to DEI, ESG and climate change. This comes after BlackRock in February announced a shift away from internal DEI policies and dropped suc ...

The managed models enable financial advisers to provide alternative investment options to clients who previously had limited exposure to private markets. Magyera stated, "For years, advisers have been looking for access to private markets. Being able to bring access to private markets lower down the wealth spectrum — which traditionally has been family office, ultra, ultra- high-net-worth — is the goal." Private markets would contribute roughly 15% to the total investments in the portfolios on average, whic ...

Still, it's rare for any company to pivot away from what has been its bread-and-butter profit engine, much less the industry leader. BlackRock's business lines in public markets, from its overwhelming iShares ETF line to its fixed-income mutual fund products, manage trillions of dollars, produce billions in revenue each year, and have fundamentally changed the way markets and investors behave. But Fink wrote that he is eyeing something bigger with BlackRock's next phase: the "$68 billion investment boom" co ...

Group 1 - BlackRock sold the Shanghai Zhonggang Huida Building for 900 million RMB, a 30% discount from its 1.4 billion RMB purchase price in 2017, indicating a significant loss of 500 million RMB [2][3] - The building, once a core asset for BlackRock, has a total area of 27,000 square meters and was seen as a symbol of confidence in the Shanghai market [3] - BlackRock's sale reflects a broader structural dilemma in the Shanghai office market, where rental yields are insufficient to cover loan interest, leading to a strategic retreat [4][5] Group 2 - The average vacancy rate in Shanghai's office market has risen to 23.5%, with some areas exceeding 35%, indicating a significant oversupply of office space [5][7] - Rental rates in core business districts have halved since their peak in 2017, dropping from 7-9 RMB per square meter per day to 3.2-5.8 RMB, making it difficult for property owners to avoid losses [5][6] - The supply of new office space has outpaced demand, with 1.18 million square meters of new supply in 2023 against only 930,000 square meters of new leases, extending the market absorption period to 42 months [7] Group 3 - The shift in office space demand is attributed to the rise of remote work and a preference for flexible, smaller office spaces, as companies redefine their office needs post-pandemic [6] - BlackRock's decision to sell at a loss is part of a larger trend where international capital is reassessing its investment strategies in emerging markets, particularly in light of rising interest rates and tightening global liquidity [12][15] - Domestic capital is seizing the opportunity to acquire quality assets at lower prices as foreign investors retreat, indicating a potential shift in the investment landscape [13][17] Group 4 - The contrasting strategies of BlackRock and Li Ka-shing highlight differing approaches to market uncertainty, with BlackRock opting for rapid divestment while Li maintains his port assets [9][10] - The political implications of these transactions are significant, as Li's actions have drawn criticism for excluding domestic firms, while BlackRock's decisions are viewed through a purely commercial lens [10][11] - The ongoing adjustments in the commercial real estate sector are seen as a necessary correction, paving the way for a new cycle of growth and opportunity for domestic investors [17][18]