Wealth Management

Oil prices surged as much as 14% in their biggest intraday jump since 2022 after Israeli airstrikes hit Iranian military and nuclear targets, rattling global energy markets. Though prices later pulled back, Brent and WTI crude still ended up nearly 6% on the day, reflecting heightened investor anxiety over potential disruptions in Middle East supply. 

 

The attacks avoided Iran’s vital oil infrastructure—like Kharg Island and key pipelines—tempering fears of immediate output losses, but analysts warn that any escalation could still threaten flows through the Strait of Hormuz. 

 

About 20% of global oil transits that narrow waterway, making it a critical choke point vulnerable to retaliation or blockade. While Iran vowed a strong response, energy analysts say an all-out disruption would hurt Tehran too, particularly as it relies heavily on oil exports to China. 


Finsum: For now, traders are eyeing whether the conflict expands into an “energy-for-energy” tit-for-tat, which could turn market jitters into a full-blown supply crisis.

Interval funds, which offer limited liquidity and access to private markets, are gaining traction as investors seek alternatives to traditional ETFs and mutual funds. Asset managers like TCW, Blackstone, and Vanguard have launched new interval funds this year, bringing the total to 139 with about $100 billion in assets. 

 

These funds, which allow redemptions only at set intervals (typically quarterly), enable investments in less liquid assets like private credit. For example, TCW’s new fund focuses 80% on private asset-backed credit, illustrating the shift toward alternative income strategies. 

 

Meanwhile, attempts to bring private asset exposure to ETFs, such as the PRIV ETF, have struggled due to regulatory concerns over liquidity and naming.


Finsum: Advisors are increasingly allocating client portfolios to interval funds, favoring their higher yields despite reduced liquidity and higher fees.

Private equity firms began the year with strong momentum and over $1.6 trillion in dry powder, eager to deploy capital amid improving deal activity. However, rising trade tensions and macroeconomic uncertainty are making investors more cautious, with many GPs expecting tariffs to slow deployment over the coming months. 

Despite this, Q1 saw a surge in deals—volume rose over 45% and value more than doubled year-over-year—driven by large transactions like Sycamore Partners’ take-private of Walgreens. Market volatility has paradoxically raised firms’ risk appetite, with nearly three-quarters indicating they’re more willing to act on mispriced opportunities across sectors such as defense, middle-market manufacturing, and distressed assets. 

Amid these trends, firms such as CNL Strategic Capital are shifting focus to value creation within their portfolio of companies seeking long-term growth


Finsum: Private Markets are a great way to sidestep current volatility

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