Business

Health insurance costs to rise 9.5 percent this year

Companies are facing a projected increase of approximately 9.5% in health insurance costs this year, marking the largest surge in at least 15 years. This rise is prompting Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) to explore strategies to mitigate the financial impact on their organizations.

Goldman Sachs Raises Brent Oil Price Forecast to $100

Goldman Sachs has raised its average forecast for Brent crude oil prices to over $100 per barrel for March, citing ongoing disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz due to the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, which began on February 28. The bank also updated its fourth-quarter 2026 forecasts, now expecting Brent to average $71 per barrel and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) to average $67 per barrel, up from previous estimates of $66 and $62, respectively. The conflict has led to significant volatility in energy markets, with Brent prices surging more than 36% since the onset of the war.

Federal Reserve Expected to Cut Interest Rates in June

Economists predict that the U.S. Federal Reserve will cut interest rates for the first time this year in June, despite concerns about inflation risks linked to the ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran. The Consumer Price Index showed inflation steady at 2.4 percent in February, while energy prices surged due to the conflict, prompting fears of increased price pressures. Former President Donald Trump has called for quicker rate cuts, criticizing current Fed chair Jerome Powell, as investors remain cautious amid geopolitical tensions.

Deutsche Bank flags €26 billion private credit risk

Deutsche Bank has flagged a €26 billion exposure to private credit, describing it as a "key risk" in its annual report, amid rising investor scrutiny over the asset class. The bank's private credit portfolio grew to €25.9 billion, with significant exposure to the technology sector increasing to €15.8 billion. Concurrently, JPMorgan Chase & Co. has restricted some lending to private credit funds after marking down certain loans, indicating tighter conditions in the sector.

AirTrunk secures $1.2bn loan for Tokyo data center expansion

AirTrunk, an Australian data center operator, has secured a JP¥191.6bn (US$1.2bn) green loan to refinance and expand its TOK1 hyperscale data center campus in East Tokyo, marking the largest data center financing in Japan. This investment is part of AirTrunk's broader strategy to invest over $8 billion in Japan by 2030, addressing the country's growing demand for digital infrastructure to support artificial intelligence and cloud computing, with plans to increase capacity at TOK1 to more than 300 MW.