Over the past few weeks, an array of near real-time economic data implies that the economic free fall of the coronavirus has come to an end. While there will be some troubling data ahead – including employment, wages and bankruptcies -- we do expect that the data for May and June will show that the ... READ MORE >
coronavirus
As private equity firms hold onto investments, investors get restless
The coronavirus pandemic hasn’t slowed interest by private equity firms putting their cash to work in distressed firms. Although deal activity was down from March to April, general partners in private equity firms are still searching for value wherever they can find it. And they have the means to ... READ MORE >
Modeling the spread of the coronavirus: A difference in approach among states, and outcome
All states may have begun their reopening process, but there is a notable difference between the six states that have already experienced the worst of the coronavirus pandemic and those states where the pandemic might just be beginning. It is clear that there are problems in the South and Midwest ... READ MORE >
Five states surpass 2 million initial jobless claims since the onset of the coronavirus
There are now five states -- California, New York, Florida, Texas and Georgia – that have processed more than 2 million initial claims for unemployment benefits since the outbreak of the coronavirus in March. Six states have registered 1 million or more newly unemployed people and 13 have added at least a ... READ MORE >
Initial jobless claims: Mass unemployment continues to rise
First-time jobless claims for the week ending May 16 increased by 2.438 million to bring the total number of Americans who have filed for unemployment benefits to 38.9 million during the past nine weeks. To put that in perspective, it is parallel to the entire population of California, which is the ... READ MORE >
The future of work: Five predictions for private equity firms
As businesses around the world consider how they return to work amid the coronavirus pandemic, private equity professionals are already making plans for widespread changes to their workforce. Like other businesses, private equity firms have limited non-essential travel, closed offices and imposed ... READ MORE >
Home construction collapses under coronavirus lockdown
Housing starts plummeted 30.5% to an annualized rate of 891,000 in April as the full weight of the coronavirus lockdowns hit the sector, the Commerce Department reported on Tuesday. The plunge extended to permits to build, which dropped to an annualized rate of 1,074,000, representing a 20.8% ... READ MORE >
Main Street Lending Program should be attractive to eligible family offices
(This was originally published May 19 but was updated June 15 when the Federal Reserve announced the immediate launch of the Main Street Lending Program and on June 8 when the Fed announced expanded program terms.) In the last few weeks, family offices in the United States have gone through a number ... READ MORE >
As demand for commercial loans rises, so do underwriting standards
The growing uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus pandemic has created a surge in demand for financing from commercial firms, according to the latest Federal Reserve Senior Loan Officer Survey and to proprietary research recently released by RSM. The Fed's survey showed that demand for loans from ... READ MORE >
Is brick and mortar dead? This time, we’re talking about office buildings.
As the human toll of the coronavirus pandemic has mounted, companies have limited non-essential business travel and told employees to work from home. The effect on cities has been profound, and unsettling, with a cityscape characterized by empty office buildings, quiet streets and shuttered ... READ MORE >