As the Federal Reserve continues to keep interest rates at historically low levels, private equity firms in the middle market have an opportunity to take advantage of those low rates and make capital investments that will pay off in the future. … READ MORE >
Coronavirus
Initial jobless claims: Only cold comfort for those out of work
Seasonal distortions caused a larger-than-expected decline in first-time jobless claims to 730,000 for the week ending Feb. 20, which significantly understates the true pace of first-time firings across the economy. … READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: New home sales continue to rise
Sales of new homes in January increased by 4.3% month over month, exceeding expectations and climbing to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 923,000, the Commerce Department reported on Wednesday. … READ MORE >
Pandemic highlights the need for better use of data among health care providers
As health care providers prepare for an influx of patients with the easing of the pandemic, a better use of data analytics can help them manage the process. … READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: Leading indicator points toward economic reflation
The Conference Board’s leading economic indicator continues to point toward a reflation of the economy from the shock of the pandemic, rising at a monthly rate of 0.5%. … READ MORE >
5 things to know in life sciences: Week of Feb. 15
In this week’s roundup we look at promising results in a clinical trial leveraging an existing diabetes drug to treat obesity, a new and less invasive treatment for sleep apnea, the impact of the pandemic on oncology trials and more. … READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: State disparity in mental health preparedness
We may be dealing with the mental health after-effects of the pandemic long after we’ve reached herd immunity. … READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: The 10-year Treasury yield goes its own way
Fixed-income investors are clearly pricing in a general reflation of the economy this year that will produce growth rates not observed since the late 1990’s. … READ MORE >
Hanging on: Five ways that hotels can survive the pandemic economy
Stung by the pandemic, hotel owners and operators have focused on finding savings in reducing staff and providing alternative services. While that has been a prudent first step, they need to go beyond those measures. RSM has identified five ways hotels can survive the pandemic. … READ MORE >
5 things to know in life sciences: Week of Feb. 8
Recent industry news includes the impact of new COVID-19 variants on existing vaccines for the disease, the outlook for drug pricing reforms under the Biden administration, and the promise of 3D-printed hearts. … READ MORE >