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The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) on Friday closed down -0.11%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($DOWI) (DIA) closed down -0.56%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) closed up +0.14%.  June E-mini S&P futures (ESM26) fell -0.12%, and June E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQM26) rose +0.12%.Stock indexes gave up an early advance on Friday and settled mixed, with the Nasdaq 100 posting a 6-week high.  Easing inflation concerns were bullish for stocks on Friday after US consumer prices rose less than expected last month.  Also, hopes that this weekend’s negotiations between the US and Iran will lead to a diplomatic solution to the war…

U.S. headline inflation accelerated sharply in March, driven by a surge in energy prices, further complicating the Federal Reserve’s policy path.  Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed consumer prices rose 0.9% month over month, up from 0.3% in February, with energy costs jumping nearly 11% during the period. On a year-over-year basis, headline inflation increased 3.3%.  Core inflation, which excludes food and energy, remained more contained, rising 0.2% for the month and 2.6% annually. Over the past year, the energy index climbed 12.5%, while food prices increased 2.7%, highlighting the outsized role of energy in the latest inflation spike.  The data comes as the Federal…

The United States government must pass the CLARITY Act, which aims to provide the crypto industry with clearer regulatory oversight, soon, or risk waiting almost another four years to move the industry forward, according to US Senator Cynthia Lummis.“This is our last chance to pass the Clarity Act until at least 2030,” Lummis, a well-known crypto advocate, said in an X post on Friday.“We can’t afford to surrender America’s financial future,” she added. The comments come as crypto industry participants begin to worry that the bill’s chances of passing this year are narrowing, with US midterm elections in November potentially…

The non-listed business development company (BDC) market has surpassed $200 billion in aggregate net asset value, even as redemption activity intensifies across both public and private segments.  According to Robert A. Stanger & Company, Inc., the market reached $203.9 billion in Q4 2025, with private placement BDCs now accounting for 35.7% of total assets. At the same time, private placement REITs expanded their share to 25.1% of the $120.5 billion non-listed REIT market, highlighting continued growth in semi-liquid alternative structures.  New data on private placement BDCs suggests redemption trends are closely tracking those seen in publicly registered NAV BDCs. Among 19 private…

The dollar index (DXY00) on Friday fell by -0.15%. Friday’s reports that showed a smaller-than-expected increase in US March consumer prices and a plunge in the University of Michigan’s US Apr consumer sentiment index to a record low weighed on the dollar. Also, hopes that this weekend’s negotiations in Pakistan between the US and Iran will lead to peace are reducing safe-haven demand for the dollar.The dollar recovered some of its losses Friday when Iran said there must be an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon and all Iranian blocked assets must be released “before any negotiations begin.”  Also, the New York…

Shipping firms that turn to cryptocurrency to pay potential transit fees to Iran could face significant sanctions exposure, according to Kaitlin Martin, senior intelligence analyst at Chainalysis.Martin told Cointelegraph that under the current sanctions framework, any payments made to the Iranian regime, including those tied to passage through key waterways, could be interpreted as “material support,” putting companies at risk of violating US and international restrictions.“Doing so could carry significant sanctions violation risk, as the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps is sanctioned by multiple jurisdictions and Iran is subject to comprehensive sanctions by the United States,” she said.The warning comes amid…

Financial advisors Jeff Flamm and Kevin Smith have joined the independent channel of Ameriprise Financial. The duo has joined Ameriprise’s Beyond Wealth Advisors, which is led by financial advisor Joshua Lake. Prior to joining Ameriprise, Flamm and Smith were previously affiliated with Key Investment Services, where they managed $140M in client assets. Beyond Wealth Advisors includes 11 financial advisors and 11 support staff who manage more than $1.1B in combined client assets. The practice is supported locally by Ameriprise franchise field VP Matthew Curtis and Ameriprise regional VP Trish Moll. Flamm and Smith joined Ameriprise because they were “seeking more ownership in their business.”  Rory Shusted has been tapped as chief people officer at Perigon…

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) on Thursday closed up +0.62%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($DOWI) (DIA) closed up +0.58%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) closed up +0.72%.  June E-mini S&P futures (ESM26) rose +0.58%, and June E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQM26) rose +0.68%.Stock indexes recovered from early losses on Thursday and settled higher, with the S&P 500 posting a 1-month high, the Dow Jones Industrial Average posting a 5-week high, and the Nasdaq 100 posting a 4-week high.  Stocks rebounded on Thursday in hopes that the US-Iran ceasefire will hold after Israel agreed to direct talks with Lebanon. Axios reported that direct…

Decentralized finance (DeFi) platform World Liberty Financial said Friday it plans to put forward next week a governance proposal that would set a phased unlock schedule for WLFI tokens held by early retail purchasers.The Trump family-linked DeFi platform said the proposal will be opened for community input before proceeding to a formal vote. According to the project, the vote will not cover a full, immediate unlock, but instead a structured, long-term vesting plan designed to release tokens in stages. WLFI tokens remain largely locked for early buyers, with transferability tied to governance-approved unlocks. Tokenomist data shows that about 24.67% of WLFI’s…

Soybeans are trading 3 to 4 cents higher on Thursday morning. Futures closed the Wednesday session with contracts steady to 3 ¾ cents in the green, getting support from meal. Open interest was down 18,217 contracts in May as the Goldman roll kicks off, with July rising 19,402 contracts. The cmdtyView national average Cash Bean price was up 4 cents at $10.93 1/4. Soymeal futures were up $2.30 to $5.20 on the day, with Soy Oil futures down 150 to 230 points on the day. Crude oil was down $16.45 on the day following a 2-week ceasefire between Iran and the US that includes…