AI Startup Led by 21-Year-Old Thiel Fellow Lands $2 Billion Valuation

Feb 20, 2025 | Markets

Mercor uses AI to help with hiring for employers and workers Felicis, General Catalyst and Menlo backed $100 million deal Artificial intelligence-powered hiring startup Mercor has notched a valuation of $2 billion in a new funding round — a massive markup for the...

Fund Giant BlackRock Is Out to Unite Public and Private Markets

Feb 20, 2025 | Markets, Private Markets, Recommended

Larry Fink built the world’s biggest asset manager by making access to stocks and bonds easy. Can the same be done with more opaque assets?  Asset management has two great kingdoms. The purveyors of mutual funds and exchange-traded funds dominate the first and...

Trump Floats Giving DOGE Savings to Public, Defending Cost Cuts

Feb 19, 2025 | Markets

President suggests 20% returned, 20% going to cut deficit Musk, Trump push to slash government faces legal challenges President Donald Trump suggested that some savings from his federal cost-cutting effort, overseen by billionaire Elon Musk, could be sent back to US...

Palantir Drops 10% on Report of Pentagon Slashing Budget

Feb 19, 2025 | Markets

Spending shift would affect 8% of US defense spending AI-focused Palantir has become major government contractor Palantir Technologies Inc. shares fell 10% on Wednesday, and continued to slide in after-hours trading, following a report that US Defense Secretary Pete...

UK Consumer Confidence Sinks to Lowest Since Labour Came to Power

Feb 19, 2025 | Markets

BRC says half of consumers expect worsening in economy Household morale has been weakened by Labour’s tax hikes Confidence among UK households slipped to a new low under the Labour government, as consumers brace for higher prices and businesses warn of a hiring hit...