Articles by Daniel Marsh
Blackstone Enlists Top Golfer Fleetwood in Wealth Management Expansion
Blackstone has appointed professional golfer Tommy Fleetwood as its inaugural global brand ambassador, a strategic move to attract high-net-worth individual investors. The firm's private wealth unit now oversees $302 billion in assets as competition for affluent capital intensifies.
Indian Markets Begin Fiscal Year Under Pressure as Crude, Currency Weigh
Indian equities enter the new fiscal year under significant strain, with benchmarks recording their steepest annual declines since 2020. The rupee hit a historic low while Brent crude prices hovered near $115, exacerbating inflation and trade deficit concerns.
Shanghai Composite Tumbles 0.8%, Posts Steepest Monthly Drop Since Early 2022
The Shanghai Composite Index declined 0.8% to 3,891.86, marking its worst monthly performance since January 2022. Losses came despite an official manufacturing PMI reading that beat forecasts.
Shenzhen Market Plunges as Growth Stocks Retreat Despite Positive Factory Data
Shenzhen stocks declined sharply on Tuesday, with the ChiNext board dropping 2.7%, as investor concerns over energy prices and supply chain risks overshadowed positive manufacturing data.
Hong Kong Stocks Post Modest Gain Amid Mixed March Performance
Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index closed slightly higher on Tuesday, gaining 0.15% to 24,788.14, but recorded a 6.9% decline for March, marking its poorest monthly performance since January 2024.
SCHD ETF Boosts Healthcare in Rebalance as Dividend Fund Inflows Surge
The Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) increased its healthcare allocation to 18.5% during its yearly portfolio update, adding Abbott Laboratories and UnitedHealth Group. The fund gathered nearly $4 billion in the first quarter as investors poured a total of $24.1 billion into U.S. dividend-focused funds, marking the strongest quarterly start since 2022.
GE Vernova Shares Slip Despite Strong Gas Demand and $40B Nuclear Deal
GE Vernova shares declined 4% Monday, even as the company highlighted a significant jump in gas turbine orders and a potential $40 billion small modular reactor deal stemming from a U.S.-Japan energy pact.
Mortgage Rates Edge Lower Amid Market Volatility, Affordability Concerns Persist
The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate eased to 6.55% on March 30, offering minor relief. However, broader measures show rates remain elevated, with purchase applications down 5.4% and refinancing demand plunging 14.6%.
Markets Mixed as Geopolitical Tensions, Fed Stance Weigh on Sentiment
U.S. equities showed a split performance on Monday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average advancing 0.69% while the Nasdaq Composite slipped 0.13%. Investor sentiment remained fragile amid geopolitical risks and evolving Federal Reserve commentary.
Dow Surges on Diplomatic Hopes, Energy and Financials Lead Rebound
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rallied over 300 points Monday, recovering some of last week's steep losses, after President Trump said the U.S. was in talks to end the Iran conflict. Energy and financial stocks led the advance.
S&P 500 Stabilizes After Five-Week Slide, Nears Correction Threshold
U.S. equities attempted a modest recovery Monday following a five-week decline that has pushed the S&P 500 close to correction territory. The market remains under pressure from soaring crude prices and revised expectations for Federal Reserve policy.