Financials Up as Private-Credit Fears Subside - Financials Roundup

Shares of banks and other financial institutions rose as fears about private credit subsided somewhat.

Firms that manage these pools of corporate loans remained under pressure, with Blue Owl, Ares Management and Apollo Global Management among those struggling to quell concerns about their exposure to the software sector.

One strategist said the private-credit fears could subside before returning at a later date.

"The AI disruption risk is real, but it is not yet imminent," said Lorenzo Di Mattia, manager of hedge fund Sibilla Global Fund. "For the next big leg down, investors would need to see more evidence of actual fundamental deterioration or disruption, I think."

Italian lender UniCredit ratcheted up pressure to let it take over Commerzbank, offering to buy all its shares at a 24-billion euro valuation.

The German government, a 12% owner of Commerzbank, has resisted letting the bank come under foreign ownership.

Bank of America agreed to settle in principle a lawsuit that alleged the bank maintained a relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and failed to report suspicious activities until after the convicted sex offender's death.

Write to Rob Curran at rob.curran@dowjones.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

March 16, 2026 17:16 ET (21:16 GMT)