Track the evolution of major financial and economic events
On May 19, Armada raised $230 million in an oversubscribed Series B funding round. Following this funding round, Armada's valuation increased to $2 billion.
The UK unemployment rate rose to 5.0% in May 2023, with further increases expected in the coming months due to geopolitical tensions and the ongoing war in Iran. New data showed a decline in payrolls by 100,000 in April, reflecting weakened consumer demand. Additionally, petrol prices have hit their highest level since 2022, raising consumer concerns about future inflation.
AI Financial warned in an SEC filing that it may not survive the year due to liquidity and operational concerns. The company marked its 7.28 billion WLFI tokens at $706 million, down from a cost basis of approximately $1.46 billion. Additionally, the company disclosed that its token holdings remain locked amid ongoing liquidity concerns.
On May 18, a U.S. jury found Takeda Pharmaceutical liable for approximately $885 million in damages for delaying a generic version of its drug Amitiza. This ruling is part of an antitrust case focusing on Takeda's market practices.
On May 18, Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC issued a notice to investors regarding the lead plaintiff deadline for class action lawsuits against Super Micro Computer, Inc. The lawsuits allege a scheme to divert servers containing U.S. AI technology to China, violating export control laws between February 2024 and March 2026.
On May 18, the FCC approved EchoStar's $40 billion sale of wireless spectrum to AT&T and SpaceX. This sale is seen as a strategic move to enhance the communication capabilities of both companies. The agreement is expected to improve wireless communication services in the United States.
On May 18, Parabilis Medicines announced a collaboration with Regeneron to develop therapies using the Helicon peptide platform. The agreement includes a $50 million upfront payment and a $75 million equity commitment from Regeneron. Potential milestone payments could reach up to $2.2 billion plus tiered royalties.
On May 18, Sachem Capital and IRG announced a definitive merger agreement to combine 98 industrial assets to form IRG Realty Trust. The transaction values Sachem common shares at $2.00 per share, representing a 90% premium to the 30-day VWAP. IRG will own approximately 94.1% of the combined company, while existing Sachem shareholders will own approximately 5.9%. The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2026, subject to shareholder approval. The deal aims to provide significant growth opportunities through industrial rent growth, acquisitions, and lending activities.
On May 18, Anglo American agreed to sell its Australian steelmaking coal business to Dhilmar Ltd for up to $3.875 billion. The deal includes a $2.3 billion upfront cash payment and a price-linked earnout worth up to $1.575 billion over five years. This sale is part of the company's plan to simplify its portfolio ahead of its planned merger with Canada's Teck.
Ryanair's profits surged by 40% to €2.3 billion for the fiscal year ending in March. The company has hedged 80% of its summer fuel needs and does not anticipate any cancellations. However, the CFO warned that weaker European carriers may not survive the fuel crunch. Meanwhile, Berkshire Hathaway made a $2.6 billion investment in Delta, and a lawyer for Spirit Airlines apologized to Americans priced out of air travel after the budget carrier's sudden shutdown.
Yields on 10-year and 30-year Japanese Government Bonds (JGBs) have surged to their highest levels since the 1990s. The Bank of Japan is expected to tighten monetary policy for the fifth time since the start of 2024, posing a threat to the stability of US Treasury bonds.
On May 17, Hims & Hers Health raised its 2026 revenue guidance to $3 billion, exceeding market expectations. The company maintains a long-term target of at least 20% EBITDA margins by 2030. However, it faces short-term margin pressures from branded GLP-1 drugs and international scaling.
On May 17, Juniper Capital Advisors completed a transformative investment and asset acquisition in PEDEVCO. Following this investment, PEDEVCO's production surged from 1,000 BOED to over 6,000 BOED. The company received a critical cash injection, shifting its strategy towards growth and bolt-on acquisitions.
On May 16, the S&P 500 reached all-time highs driven by CY26 EPS growth estimates and Fed balance sheet liquidity. However, hot CPI/PPI prints and rising energy prices triggered a sharp increase in long-term bond yields.
NextEra Energy is nearing a deal to acquire rival utility company Dominion Energy. An agreement could be announced as soon as Monday, provided that negotiations do not collapse. An agreement has been reached to acquire Dominion Energy in an all-stock transaction valued at $66.8 billion. The merger will create the world's largest regulated electric utility, with an enterprise value exceeding $400 billion including debt.
DHT Holdings reported Q1 2026 revenue of $186.48 million and net income of $164.53 million. Earnings per share (EPS) reached $1.02, driven by a robust spot market and fleet renewal. Management expressed caution regarding further fleet expansion, prioritizing earnings strength instead.
US 30-year Treasury yields surged by 18 basis points this week, reaching 5.12%, the highest level since July 2007. Meanwhile, UK government debt has expanded to 150% of GDP, up from 85% in 2019.
On May 16, Glucotrack received a Nasdaq delisting notice for failing to maintain a minimum bid price of $1.00 and the $2.5 million stockholders' equity requirement. The company intends to request a hearing by May 18, 2026, which would temporarily stay the delisting process.
On May 16, President Trump stated that he discussed Nvidia's H200 chips with Chinese President Xi Jinping during talks in Beijing. On the same day, Figma reported earnings results that defied fears of AI disrupting the design software stack.
POET shares fell 22.36% to $15.97 following a $400 million registered direct offering and weaker-than-expected Q1 earnings. Claritev Corporation led market losses with a 40.90% drop, bringing the CTEV stock price to $13.87. RXT stock decreased by 20.16% to $5.82 despite the company confirming its financial outlook for the year. On May 19, Rackspace Technology was listed among the 8 best rising tech stocks according to hedge funds.
On May 15, Sherritt International Corporation announced the suspension of its direct participation in joint venture activities in Cuba. This decision follows a U.S. executive order issued on May 1, 2026, which expanded sanctions against Cuba.
Cerebras Systems stock surged 68% on its first trading day, closing at $311.07. The stock opened at $185.00 on May 14, 2026, reflecting significant investor interest amid the AI mania.
On May 15, THORChain paused trading after security researchers flagged a suspected exploit spanning Bitcoin, Ethereum, BNB Smart Chain, and Base. The exploit resulted in an estimated loss of $11 million, causing RUNE to tumble by 13%.
On May 15, Stellantis signed a $1.17 billion deal with Chinese state-owned Dongfeng. The agreement aims to expand the production of Peugeot and Jeep vehicles in China, reflecting Stellantis' commitment to strengthening its presence in the Chinese market.
