China’s Petrochemical Producers Idle Capacity as Margins Crumble

Apr 14, 2026 | Markets

China’s petrochemical producers, which supply textile and plastics factories, have cut operations to their lowest seasonal level in three years as rising feedstock costs and soft export demand squeezes margins. Several major makers of purified terephthalic acid —...

Banks Tally $100 Billion of Private-Credit Loans as Calm Urged

Apr 14, 2026 | Markets, Private Credit

Wall Street banks reported at least $100 billion of exposure to private-credit firms, offering a glimpse at what has become a closely watched industry with many investors on edge over credit quality and the growing impact of artificial intelligence. Wells Fargo &...

Investors Brace for Economic Growth Shock, BofA Survey Shows

Apr 14, 2026 | Markets

Global investors grappling with the fallout from the Iran war have slashed their expectations for economic growth by the most in four years, according to the latest Bank of America Corp. survey of fund managers. Expectations for inflation, meanwhile are at an almost...

BlackRock’s Asia Private Credit Fund Sees China Borrower Default

Apr 13, 2026 | Markets, Private Credit

A BlackRock Inc. private credit fund in Asia has suffered the first default by a borrower in its portfolio after a Chinese company failed to repay a loan, according to people familiar with the matter. The delinquency occurred on April 1, after Metcold Holdings Ltd., a...

Ukraine Says It Hit Fertilizer Plant in Northwestern Russia

Apr 13, 2026 | Markets

Ukraine said it hit a fertilizer plant in northwestern Russia, as the military steps up strikes on industrial facilities to curb revenue for commodity exporters. The Apatit JSC plant, situated in Russia’s Vologda region, was attacked as it produces raw materials for...

Goldman CEO Sees Noise Persisting on Retail Private-Credit Funds

Apr 13, 2026 | Markets, Private Credit

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. Chief Executive Officer David Solomon said that while retail investors have been worried about private credit — and the sector will continue to cause some concern — his bank has few issues in the space and continues to see it as attractive....