* Norway's defence spending to reach 3.5% of GDP by 2035. * Vast procurement including submarines, frigates, and artillery. By Gwladys Fouche. OSLO, March 27 - Norway is to raise defence spending by another 115 billion crowns by 2036, the government said on Friday, as it also delayed committing to long-range defence systems while it learns lessons from the Ukraine war.
Guessing what may happen as Congress pounds away on a surface transportation reauthorization bill has not rattled credit ratings so far, but a key deadline could slip.
Philadelphia Federal Reserve President Anna Paulson warned on Friday that the extended period of above-target inflation in the U.S. creates risks that the commodity shocks triggered by the Iran war may become a bigger problem, rather than a one-off adverse event.
* Dollar on track for strongest monthly gain in almost a year. * US consumer sentiment hits three-month low. * War fears linger as Trump extends Iran energy strike pause. By Laura Matthews and Amanda Cooper.
* Stocks continue to slide as Trump fails to calm markets. * US Treasury yields hit highest since July as bonds fall. * Analyst: 'Words alone aren't cutting it right now' By Chibuike Oguh and Harry Robertson.
HSBC (HSBC) said Friday that it issued $130 million of 5.48% fixed rate senior unsecured notes due 2036 under its debt issuance program. The company will submit an application to list the senior notes on the Official List of the Financial Conduct Authority and to trade them on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange, according to its filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.
The U.S. war with Iran and the rapid roll-out of artificial intelligence technologies have again clouded the outlook for the Federal Reserve, and make it appropriate to keep interest rates on hold for now, Richmond Fed President Thomas Barkin said on Friday.
AM Best has downgraded the Financial Strength Rating to B++ from A- and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating to ?bbb+? from ?a-? of Bell United Insurance Company. The Credit Ratings reflect Bell United?s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its marginal operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.
U.S. consumer sentiment fell more than expected in March, touching a three-month low, as war in the Middle East stoked inflation worries and cast a shadow over the economic outlook.
The University of Michigan consumer sentiment index was revised downward Friday to a reading of 53.3 for March from the 55.5 print in the preliminary estimate, compared with expectations for a smaller downward revision to 54.0 in a survey compiled by Bloomberg. That was lower than the final reading of 56.6 in February.
U.S. consumer sentiment eased to a three-month low in March as war in the Middle East boosted oil prices and unleashed volatility on financial markets, raising concerns about the economy's prospects, a survey showed on Friday.
AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A+ and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings of ?aa? of The Canada Life Assurance Company and its affiliates. The ratings reflect Canada Life?s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its strong operating performance, very favorable business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.
A new policy initiative from the Federal Reserve, through one of its governors, Stephen Miran, is bringing bank loan ETFs back in focus. ??Invesco Senior Loan ETF (BKLN) stock is taking a breather. Some of the most popular bank loan ETFs could face challenges to their core investment thesis: All these ETFs have benefited from rising rates, as they have floating coupons.
Brazil's current account deficit totaled $5.6 billion in February, central bank data showed on Friday, slightly wider than the $5.4 billion shortfall expected by economists in a Reuters poll. * The shortfall was sharply narrower than the $10.2 billion recorded a year earlier, mainly reflecting an improved trade balance, with the goods surplus rising by $4.6 billion.
* French 10-year and 30-year yields hit their highest since 2009. * UBS now forecasts ECB rate hikes in June and September. * The Italian-German yield spread widens up to 100 basis points. By Stefano Rebaudo.
The US dollar rose against its major trading partners early Friday, except for a decline versus the Canadian dollar, ahead of the release of the final University of Michigan consumer sentiment reading for March at 10:00 am ET, followed by the Kansas City Federal Reserve's services index for March at 11:00 am ET, at the same time as an appearance by Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin.
Brazil's current account deficit reached $5.6 billion in February, central bank data showed on Friday, while economists in a Reuters poll had expected it to come in at $5.4 billion. Foreign direct investment for the month stood at $6.8 billion, below the $7.6 billion forecast by economists.
Ontario is projecting a budget deficit of $13.8 billion in the upcoming 2026/27 fiscal year, up slightly from the revised $12.3 billion estimate for fiscal 2025/26, said CIBC. While that's still a fairly "modest" 1% of gross domestic product, the deficit now projected for the upcoming fiscal year is almost double what was expected in Budget 2025, noted the bank.
Euro zone benchmark Bund yields climbed to their highest in 15 years, above 3%, as money markets fully priced in three European Central Bank rate hikes, despite Donald Trump extending a deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Mexico's central bank cut the policy rate by 25bps to 6.75% as we expected on Thursday, acknowledging soft activity and downside risks tied to the Middle East conflict, said BBVA Research. The decision came alongside a modest upward revision to its inflation forecasts, but Banxico doesn't appear overly concerned about the outlook, noted BBVA Research.
* EM stocks down 0.8%, FX off 0.3% * Pentagon weighs diverting Ukraine military aid to Middle East, report says. By Pranav Kashyap. Most emerging market equities extended their decline for a second session on Friday and were headed for a fourth weekly loss, as central banks in the developing world sounded inflation warnings that prompted markets to price in a more hawkish policy outlook.
Yields on benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasuries rose to their highest level since July on Friday as markets grappled with the fallout of the Iran war, after U.S. President Donald Trump's extension of a key deadline failed to soothe energy prices. The yield on 10-year Treasury notes rose to 4.464%, up 4 basis points, after jumping 9 bps the previous day.
* Stocks continue to slide as Trump fails to calm markets. * US president extended key deadline but oil prices rise again. * US Treasury yields hit highest since July as bonds fall. By Harry Robertson and Stella Qiu.
Japanese government bond yields rose across the curve on Friday, as recent hawkish central bank signals and the Middle East war heightened inflation concerns and prompted investors to reprice the path of rate hikes. The two-year yield, the tenor most sensitive to Bank of Japan policy rates, rose 4.5 basis points to 1.38%, the highest since May 1995.
By Satoshi Sugiyama. Japanese government bond yields rose on Friday, with five-year yields hitting a record high, as the Middle East conflict and recent central bank signals heightened inflation concerns and led investors to reprice the path of rate hikes. The five-year yield rose 6 basis points to 1.800%, while the benchmark 10-year JGB yield climbed 8 basis points to 2.350%, a two-month high.
* Before Iran war, BOJ likely planned to hike in March or April. * April quarterly report to warn of huge risks to inflation. * BOJ likely won't decide on rates in April until last minute. * BOJ expected to focus on long-term inflation outlook, 2027 wages. By Leika Kihara and Takahiko Wada.
Zenas BioPharma, Inc. (ZBIO), a clinical-stage global biopharmaceutical company committed to being a leader in the development and commercialization of transformative therapies for patients living with autoimmune diseases, today announced the pricing of its underwritten public offering of $200.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 2.50% convertible senior notes due 2032 and its underwritten publ...
Gold prices held steady on Friday,
but were on track for a fourth straight weekly decline, as
surging energy prices from the Middle East conflict fuelled
inflation concerns and bolstered bets on ...
The yield on five-year Japanese government bonds climbed to a new record high on Friday, as the escalating U.S.-Israeli war on Iran fuelled inflation concerns and strengthened expectations of faster interest rate hikes by major central banks. The five-year yield rose 3 basis points to 1.770%, while the benchmark 10-year JGB yield rose 3 bps to 2.300%. Yields move inversely to bond prices.
A price shock from higher oil prices could trigger rising inflation expectations that the U.S. Federal Reserve needs to guard against, Fed Governor Michael Barr said on Thursday, a further reason the Fed should take time to assess the economy before any further reduction in interest rates.
A price shock from higher oil prices could trigger rising inflation expectations that the U.S. Federal Reserve needs to guard against, Fed Governor Michael Barr said on Thursday, a further reason the Fed should take time to assess the economy before any further reduction in interest rates.
The Federal Reserve's Treasury bill buying is likely to slow notably next month, as planned, the official responsible for implementing monetary policy at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York said on Thursday. "An adjustment to our monthly purchase pace is likely to happen soon," said Roberto Perli, manager of the System Open Market Account.
Federal Reserve Vice Chair Philip Jefferson on Thursday said he is keeping a watchful eye on higher energy prices, which, if sustained, could worsen inflation but also slow consumer and business spending, creating a challenging situation for a central bank tasked with price stability and full employment.
Federal Reserve Governor Stephen Miran on Thursday said reducing the financial system's demand for high levels of liquidity could allow the central bank to substantially cut the size of its still large balance sheet and facilitate an easier stance of monetary policy than would otherwise be the case.
Maxine Waters, who would likely take the House Financial Services Committee gavel again if Democrats win the House, sent a letter to the Kansas City Fed.
Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook said on Thursday the war in Iran has shifted the balance of risks for the central bank's dual mandate of price stability and full employment more toward inflation.
Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook said on Thursday the war in Iran has shifted the balance of risks for the central bank's dual mandate of price stability and full employment more toward inflation.
The Toronto Stock Exchange closed lower on Thursday as the options market was seen signaling rising risk of oil prices rise to US$150 per barrel with the Strait of Hormuz still shut, while one Macquarie strategist is raising the full year 2026 oil price forecast as the global economic outlook is driven by military developments in the Middle East, and another says recent preliminary PMIs suggest...
Fannie Mae is stepping into crypto-backed housing finance through a new partnership that lets borrowers use digital assets to help fund their next home purchase. Better Home & Finance Holding Co. (BETR) and Coinbase Global Inc. (COIN) are at the center of the rollout.
US equity indexes slumped on Thursday as divergent and confusing messaging about the state of discussions between Washington and Tehran to end the war lifted crude oil futures and government bond yields. The Nasdaq Composite sank 2.4% to 21,408.08, with the S&P 500 down 1.7% to 6,477.16, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average 1% lower at 45,960.11. All but two sectors, energy and utilities, fell.
The Toronto Stock Exchange closed lower on Thursday as the options market was seen signaling rising risk of oil prices rise to US$150 per barrel with the Strait of Hormuz still shut, while one Macquarie strategist says recent preliminary PMIs suggest the global economy is in the "foothills of stagflation."
* Dollar strengthens on waning Middle East ceasefire hopes. * Iran says diplomacy not over, but Trump unsure he is willing to make a deal. * Oil prices above $100/barrel underpin dollar. * U.S. jobless claims rise slightly, supporting Fed hold despite inflation risk. By Laura Matthews.
WASHINGTON, March 26, 2026 Fannie Mae's?February 2026 Monthly Summary is now available. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fannie-mae-releases-february-2026-monthly-summary-302724442.html. SOURCE Fannie Mae.
In general the bond market is volatile, and fixed income securities carry interest rate risk. (As interest rates rise, bond prices usually fall, and vice versa. This effect is usually more pronounced for longer-term securities.) Fixed income securities also carry inflation risk and credit and default risks for both issuers and counterparties. Unlike individual bonds, most bond funds do not have a maturity date, so avoiding losses caused by price volatility by holding them until maturity is not possible.
Lower-quality debt securities generally offer higher yields, but also involve greater risk of default or price changes due to potential changes in the credit quality of the issuer. Any fixed income security sold or redeemed prior to maturity may be subject to loss.
Before investing, consider the funds' investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses. Contact Fidelity for a prospectus or, if available, a summary prospectus containing this information. Read it carefully.
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