finance4.195 min read
UBS Sees AI Shock Could Drive Private Credit Defaults to 15%
13 hours ago•Source: SWI swissinfo.ch
Finance News
The latest finance stories, summarized by AI
Featured Finance Stories
View original source
1.895 min•1 day ago
Stablecoins Reignite Pressure on Card-Network Stocks
Card-network stocks, including Mastercard, Visa and American Express, fell after a Sunday research report revived fears that stablecoin-based technology could bypass traditional payment networks, with Mastercard slipping about 0.4% in early trading as concerns about AI-driven disruption resurfaced.
More Top Stories
2
Mortgage Rates Reach Four-Year Lows as Fed Holds Rates Steady
Yahoo Finance•2 days ago
3
AI model flags slim chance XRP could slip to $0.50 amid market pullback
Finbold•2 days ago
More Finance Stories
Calm markets hide a wave of AI-driven disruption reshaping business models
The S&P 500 hovers near a record high as markets churn beneath the surface, with AI prompting investors to rethink every business model amid ongoing disruption and geopolitical drama that hasn’t yet moved the index.
Nvidia Leads AI Upside, Alphabet Plays the Steady Cloud Engine
Nvidia still dominates AI compute with GPUs and faster growth, while Alphabet offers a niche TPU alternative and steadier, diversified cash flows from Google Cloud and other non‑AI businesses. Nvidia appears cheaper on forward earnings with higher upside, but Alphabet provides resilience and a balance of AI exposure; both are solid AI plays, with Nvidia carrying AI spending risk and Alphabet offering steadiness.
Liquidity Play: Saba and Cox Plan Tender Offers for Blue Owl BDCs
Saba Capital Management and Cox Capital Partners disclosed their intent to commence cash tender offers to purchase a portion of outstanding shares of Blue Owl Capital Corporation II (OBDC II), Blue Owl Technology Income Corp. (OTIC), and Blue Owl Credit Income Corp. (OCIC). They notified the issuers on Feb 17, 2026, and plan to announce the tender offers after the 10-business-day notice period. The offers aim to provide direct liquidity amid rising redemption requests and limited liquidity for these non-traded BDCs; pricing is expected to be 20-35% below the most recent NAV/DRIP price, with terms to be detailed in tender offer documents. The Purchasers are not affiliated with the BDCs or their advisor. SEC filings (Schedule TO and 14D-9) will follow if and when offers commence; the materials will contain important information for investors and are not investment advice.
Blue Owl sells $1.4B loan portfolio to pensions and its insurer
Blue Owl Capital reportedly sold a $1.4 billion portfolio of loans at about par (99.7%) to major pension funds and its own insurer to raise cash for private-credit redemptions.
AI’s data-centre boom seeds a new finance frontier
Five US tech giants are set to spend about $700 billion on data-centre capex to power AI, a figure larger than last year’s oil-and-gas investment, signaling the early onset of AI financialisation as investors back the infrastructure and anticipate a new wave of AI-linked securities, hedges and collateral.
Lorwyn Eclipsed Sparks Treefolk Price Surge
Lorwyn Eclipsed has ignited demand for Treebeard, Gracious Host (a Treefolk engine used in Commander), pushing prices up from a budget $0.57 to around $6–$7 for near‑mint copies, with market prices hitting higher highs due to dwindling supply. The surge reflects its rising role in Lorwyn Eclipsed‑themed builds (notably Doran and Food/lifegain shells) and broader Treefolk play, though volatility remains as more sets release and demand shifts.
Mortgage Rates Edge Toward Three-Year Lows on Softer CPI
Mortgage rates remain near three-year lows after early-January MBS purchases by Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae spurred a drop; a softer-than-expected January CPI helped push yields a bit lower, keeping rates in a tight range around those long-term lows.
Mortgage Rates Stall in Narrow Range Near Peak
Mortgage rates held steady around 6.17% for the 30-year fixed, staying in a tight 6.15%–6.20% range after a two-week high; traders weighed two economic reports and a Treasury borrowing outlook that hinted at higher issuance (which could push yields up), but a tame services-sector release helped bonds stabilize and keep rates from moving much today.
Warsh Navigates a Split Fed as Trump Pushes for Rate Cuts
President Trump’s pick of Kevin Warsh to chair the Federal Reserve comes as the central bank is more divided than at any point in decades. While Warsh’s appointment could sway policy, the FOMC shows hesitancy to cut rates amid stubborn inflation, with hawkish members and new appointees challenging any rapid shift. The nomination faces political and economic headwinds, including the long-standing tension between the White House and Powell’s leadership, making a swift move to lower borrowing costs uncertain.
Santander to Acquire Webster Financial in $12.3 Billion Cash-and-Stock Deal
Banco Santander agreed to acquire Webster Financial in a $12.3 billion cash-and-stock deal, paying Webster shareholders $48.75 in cash and 2.0548 Santander American Depositary Shares per Webster share; Webster would become a wholly owned unit of Santander Bank NA, with Webster CEO John Ciulla joining Santander leadership, and the deal is expected to close in the second half of the year.