BlackRock's Brownback: See M&A Wave in 2026

Brandon Scott, the Mayor of Baltimore, offered advice to New York's mayor-elect Mamdani during an interview with Romaine Bostick, emphasizing the importance of leading with people and assembling a strong team to tackle housing affordability issues.

Andrew Kimball, President & CEO of the NYC Economic Development Corporation, praised the Mayor-elect's emphasis on affordability, noting its resonance with voters. He highlighted that affordability is a critical economic development issue essential for the city's future stability and growth.

The S&P 500 index reached a new record high, closing at an all-time peak, despite a decline in Oracle shares following disappointing earnings results. This market close was covered extensively on Bloomberg Television and other platforms, highlighting the contrasting performance of the index and Oracle's stock.

BlackRock is significantly increasing its investment in European bonds, with Rick Rieder describing the current market conditions as a 'nirvana for a bond manager' due to favorable currency hedges that enhance returns. This strategic move reflects a targeted approach to capitalize on the European debt market's potential.

Eric Rosengren, former President of the Boston Federal Reserve, asserted that Chair Jerome Powell is not a lame duck and will continue to influence monetary policy actively. He emphasized Powell's intention to ensure a stable economy before transitioning to a new Fed chair, who will face a more complex committee dynamic.

On December 10, 2025, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell announced a third consecutive interest-rate reduction during a special edition of Bloomberg Surveillance hosted by Lisa Abramowicz and Tom Keene. The discussion featured insights from various financial experts, including representatives from JPMorgan, Charles Schwab, and BlackRock, highlighting the implications of this monetary policy shift.

U.S. stocks rose following the Federal Reserve's decision to cut interest rates by 25 basis points, marking the third consecutive reduction aimed at addressing ongoing economic challenges. Analysts Romaine Bostick, Katie Greifeld, Carol Massar, and Tim Stenovec provided insights during Bloomberg's market close coverage, highlighting the positive market response to the Fed's actions.

BlackRock CEO Larry Fink has re-entered discussions regarding the reconstruction of Ukraine, collaborating with the Trump administration to explore financial strategies for rebuilding efforts. This marks a significant involvement of a major financial institution in a geopolitical crisis.