Last week's large bank earnings were strong, but questions remain about whether that strength extends to broader credit conditions. Here are three things to watch for this week: FOMC Meeting With no policy change expected, the April FOMC meeting will be watched for how officials frame the mix of sticky inflation, energy-price risk, and softer sentiment. The key question is whether Powell’s communication reinforces the current expectation that rates remain on hold for now, or whether the press conference shifts attention...

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The global capital markets will enter May with a sense of transition rather than resolution. Neither the Federal Reserve, nor the European Central Bank or the Bank of Japan meet in the month ahead. The market is inclined to see the third consecutive hike by the Reserve Bank of Australia but the other G10 central banks that meet in May, Norway's Norges Bank and Sweden's Riksbank are mostly likely to stand pat.  The aggressive tightening cycle that investors had penciled...

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EIB Group Boards approve €2 billion to reinforce Europe’s energy autonomy. Focus on renewables, energy savings and grid upgrades. European Investment Fund unlocks more financing for Europe’s tech leadership and competitiveness. The Boards of the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group approved a total of €10 billion in financing, including almost €2 billion for initiatives to expand Europe’s clean energy investments, ensure affordability and bolster competitiveness. The Board of the EIB endorsed loans to support the production of offshore wind power...

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Economic substance doctrine affirmed; integrated M&A plans face heightened risk. What the Tenth Circuit’s Liberty Global decision means for M&A tax planning On April 21, 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit affirmed the government’s economic substance win in Liberty Global, Inc. v. United States, No. 23-1410. The court held that section 7701(o) applies even when a transaction mechanically complies with the Internal Revenue Code (Code), and that common mergers and acquisitions (M&A) building blocks (i.e., section 351...

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The consumer goods industry is running out of room to hide behind price. By late 2025, category volumes were slipping into decline even as retail sales stayed positive—a clear sign that topline gains are still all price, not product. With inflation pressures intensifying again from rising energy and shipping costs, pricing alone won’t cut it. The next wave of growth will have to come from something harder: winning back consumers through innovation, sharper portfolios, and flawless execution. Why pricing is...

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