News & Insights

Resilient growth meets higher-for-longer rates

Equities reached record highs on strong labor data, pushing yields higher and delaying rate cut expectations. As inflation lingers and consumer sentiment weakens, focus turns to CPI, retail sales, and global risks, including U.S.-China talks and energy market tensions.

Markets rally as ceasefire hopes strengthen

Stocks hit highs on AI momentum, but rising oil, persistent inflation, and a cautious Fed highlight uneven growth as markets turn to labor data for direction.

Jackie Bowie on Bloomberg: Rising inflation risks as growth weakens

Rising energy prices and slowing growth are creating a more unbalanced macro environment, keeping inflation elevated and narrowing the path for central banks, as Jackie Bowie shared on Bloomberg Daybreak Europe.

Request your Q1 2026 business plan assumption

Chatham sets out its business plan assumptions for Q1 2026. Our latest market update highlights how Q1 market movements, inflation trends, and evolving rate expectations are shaping key business plan assumptions for social housing providers.

Jackie Bowie on BBC Business Today: Rate uncertainty rises

Jackie Bowie joined BBC Business Today to discuss rising rate uncertainty as central banks weigh inflation risks against weak growth.

BoE and ECB hold rates, signal readiness to act on inflation

The Bank of England’s (BoE) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted 8-1 to keep interest rates at 3.75% today. The tone of the meeting was cautiously hawkish, with policymakers highlighting upside risks to inflation, particularly from rising energy prices linked to ongoing geopolitical tensions. With the situation in the Middle East unresolved, the chances appear to favour a policy response. However, in a statement following the meeting, BoE governor Andrew Bailey said holding rates at 3.75% was a “reasonable place given the situation of the economy and the unpredictability of events in the Middle East.” The European Central Bank (ECB) also left its three key policy rates unchanged but left the door open to rate hikes as it warned that the risks to inflation and growth had “intensified.” Like other central banks, the ECB highlighted the sharp increase in energy prices due to the war in the Middle East, which is driving up inflation and weighing on economic sentiment. The governing council noted that “the implications of the war for medium-term inflation and economic activity will depend on the intensity and duration of the energy price shock and the scale of its indirect and second-round effects.”

Fed holds steady in Powell’s final meeting as chair

On Wednesday, April 29, 2026, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) voted to keep the federal funds rate unchanged at a target range of 3.50% to 3.75% in an 8–4 split decision, marking the highest number of dissents since 1992. Eight members supported maintaining the current range, while Governor Miran preferred a 25 basis point (bp) cut, and three others supported holding rates but opposed retaining the easing bias in the statement. The Committee maintained a slightly dovish tone, while emphasizing a data-dependent approach going forward. Economic activity was described as expanding at a solid pace, though job gains have remained subdued, and the unemployment rate has stayed largely unchanged. Inflation remains elevated, partly reflecting a recent increase in global energy prices. Chair Powell highlighted ongoing uncertainty tied to geopolitical developments in the Middle East, as well as near-term inflation pressures from higher energy costs. The meeting also marked Powell’s last one as Chair, with a transition in leadership forthcoming.

Markets turn to the Fed for clarity

Markets enter a pivotal week, with the Federal Reserve at the center as investors look for signals on inflation and growth. Recent data shows slowing momentum alongside persistent price pressures, while upcoming releases will test whether headline strength holds.

PERE covers Chatham Financial’s agreement to acquire Hodes Weill & Associates

Chatham Financial’s agreement to acquire Hodes Weill & Associates is featured in Private Equity Real Estate (PERE), highlighting the strategic rationale behind bringing together two leading firms across capital markets solutions for real estate and infrastructure firms.

Chatham Financial to acquire Hodes Weill & Associates

AI won’t fix your organization. It will expose it.

As AI increases speed and scale, it exposes misalignment, reinforces the need to focus on outcomes over processes, and makes it critical to distinguish between differentiated work and everything else. Leaders who succeed will align faster, define their true value more precisely, and concentrate their efforts on the few areas where they create meaningful advantage. AI is not a technology story. It is a human story.

Are you using AI to fail faster? Daniel Pink weighs in

Judgment, decision quality, and trusted advice. For centuries, these have been uniquely human qualities and skill sets. Is that still true in the age of AI? To explore this question, I reached out to Daniel Pink, author of seven New York Times best-sellers. He was up for the discussion. Over the course of an hour, Dan and I tackle 16 big questions about AI, work, leadership, and the forces making human connection more valuable than ever.