Apollo’s Jim Zelter Looks Ahead to 2026

The Bank of England (BoE) has announced plans to ease capital requirements for high street banks for the first time in a decade, reducing the reserve lenders must hold to stimulate lending to households and businesses. This decision comes amid ongoing discussions about the independence of the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) and the implications of budget leaks.

Apollo Global Management President Jim Zelter announced that mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity is projected to exceed $5 trillion in 2025, driven in part by a favorable stance from the Trump administration towards large industrial mergers.

The Bank of England has issued a warning regarding the potential risks associated with an artificial intelligence (AI) valuation bubble, noting that stock price valuations in the US are currently at their most stretched levels since the dotcom bubble burst. This alarming trend raises concerns about the sustainability of these inflated valuations.

Thousands of Starbucks baristas are currently on strike across the United States, marking what is anticipated to be the longest and largest industrial action in the company's history. This strike follows a significant unionization movement that began four years ago in New York, which saw numerous outlets unionize despite strong opposition from the coffee chain.

Sharon Bell, senior European equity strategist at Goldman Sachs, asserts that Europe continues to present good value compared to the US, despite a narrowing valuation gap. She notes that quality stocks on both sides of the Atlantic have underperformed this year and may face further challenges if the dollar continues to decline.

Crypto markets faced a significant downturn, with a reported $1 billion wiped out, coinciding with ongoing peace discussions regarding Ukraine. Bloomberg's Daybreak Europe provided insights into these developments, highlighting the impact on investor sentiment across markets in the US, Asia, and Europe.

Klook Technology Ltd. is reportedly postponing its planned listing in the US to early 2026 as the online travel platform awaits a more favorable market environment. This decision comes amidst ongoing fluctuations in the financial markets, which have affected many companies' initial public offerings.

The United States has announced its intention to leverage its G20 presidency to prioritize economic growth, signaling a renewed focus on global economic collaboration. This comes in the wake of a recent G20 summit in South Africa, where a declaration was adopted despite the US's absence due to a boycott initiated by former President Trump.