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Oil surge and bond selloff jolt global markets as Iran standoff drags on

Crude spiked and sovereign yields climbed as the prolonged U.S.–Iran standoff around the Strait of Hormuz kept energy markets on edge and rekindled inflation worries. The move pressured risk assets and complicated the rate outlook, with higher oil threatening to slow disinflation while tighter financial conditions feed through to equities and credit.

Source: Seeking Alpha


U.S. federal debt tops 100% of GDP, spotlighting fiscal strain as rates stay high

Washington’s debt load has crossed 100% of GDP, underscoring mounting interest costs at a time of elevated Treasury yields and heavy issuance. The milestone raises fresh questions about the long-run path for deficits, term premia, and the crowding-out risk for private investment if borrowing needs keep rising.

Source: Seeking Alpha


FTC is said to probe Arm’s chip-licensing practices, raising antitrust pressure

Arm Holdings reportedly faces a U.S. FTC antitrust investigation into elements of its licensing model, adding regulatory uncertainty around the chip IP giant’s core business. Any changes to licensing terms or market conduct could ripple across semiconductor customers and ecosystems that depend on Arm designs.

Source: Seeking Alpha


NextEra nears record $66B bid for Dominion Energy in potential utility megamerger

NextEra Energy is reportedly close to a roughly $66 billion deal for Dominion Energy, a combination that would be among the largest ever in U.S. utilities. The tie-up would build scale across regulated networks and renewables, though it would invite rigorous regulatory review and potential asset divestitures.

Source: Seeking Alpha


Publicis to buy LiveRamp for $2.5B, accelerating ad-tech data consolidation

Publicis agreed to acquire LiveRamp in an all-cash deal, bolstering its first‑party data, identity, and measurement stack alongside Epsilon. The transaction underscores how privacy changes and the deprecation of third‑party identifiers are driving agency and platform consolidation around authenticated data and closed-loop attribution.

Source: Seeking Alpha


BNY extends crypto custody to Abu Dhabi, signaling deeper institutional push in MENA

BNY, the world’s largest custodian, is expanding digital‑asset custody into Abu Dhabi via partners Finstreet and ADI Foundation under ADGM oversight, starting with BTC and ETH. A roadmap for stablecoins and tokenized assets positions the bank to service regional demand as institutions seek regulated, integrated custody and market plumbing.

Source: FinanceFeeds


UK watchdogs warn finance on frontier AI cyber risks and operational resilience

The FCA, Bank of England and HM Treasury cautioned that frontier AI meaningfully elevates offensive cyber capabilities, urging firms to harden defenses, automate vulnerability management, and strengthen board‑level governance. With highly interconnected stacks and third‑party dependencies, regulators see AI‑driven attacks as a systemic operational resilience threat.

Source: FinanceFeeds


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Business — May 18, 2026 | Briefing24