EQT reported strong first-half 2026 results, exceeding analyst forecasts and causing its shares to surge by 13%. The Swedish buyout group's fee-paying assets under management reached €155 billion, and adjusted earnings before interest, depreciation, and amortisation surpassed expectations. CEO Per Franzén highlighted "very strong fundraising momentum" in the second quarter, with the group investing €19 billion in the first half, more than double the amount from the prior year. EQT aims to raise €55 billion for the current cycle, representing a 40% increase over the previous cycle. Global private equity fundraising exceeded $260 billion in the first half of 2026, putting it on track for a 17% increase over last year's total of $447 billion. Citigroup analyst Nicholas Herman described EQT's results as "strong" but noted they represented "quantity over quality" headlinesbriefing.com.
Separately, Citigroup's simplification strategy is yielding positive results. The bank completed sales in Poland and reduced its Mexico operations, which contributed to an increase in non-interest revenue. These divestitures also helped improve Federal Reserve stress test results, leading the Fed to lower the bank's required rainy-day cash buffer. CEO Jane Fraser announced a 12% dividend increase headlinesbriefing.com.
Credit card spending saw an acceleration in Q2, indicating stable consumer trends, according to TD Cowen analysts. JPMorgan's consumer spend volumes grew by 10%, accounting for more than 35% of tracked large-bank spending, which is a positive sign for payment networks and merchant acquirers. However, analysts caution that future outcomes will depend on company-specific execution and potential spending moderation due to Middle East volatility headlinesbriefing.com.
