Investment management company BlackRock reported a 15% increase in assets under management (AUM) in the third quarter, reaching $15.49 trillion, compared with $13.46 trillion in the same period last year. Net client inflows totaled $205 billion, of which $134.5 billion went into iShares exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Rising stock prices in the US equity market also contributed to the increase in assets under management.
The company’s quarterly revenue reached $7.8 billion, exceeding analysts’ forecasts of $7.5 billion. Adjusted earnings per share rose by 38% to $15.93, compared with analysts’ expectations of $14.13. Following the release of the financial results, BlackRock shares rose by 5% during trading.
According to BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, computing capacity could become a new class of investment assets that could serve as the underlying basis for issuing securities.
Over the past 12 months, BlackRock raised $68 billion for private market investments, including $25 billion for private credit.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the global diesel supply shortage is expected to persist until the first half of 2027. The main reasons are disruptions to diesel supplies from the Middle East and Russia. In September, the combined decline in diesel exports from these regions reached 1.3 million barrels per day, equivalent to 4.5% of global demand.
The reduction in supplies led to declining global diesel inventories and rising prices. In September, global diesel prices exceeded $200 per barrel. Although prices subsequently declined, they remained twice as high as pre-crisis levels. Diesel refining margins reached $95 per barrel. According to the IEA, high prices increase transportation and production costs, intensify inflationary pressures, and slow economic growth.
The IEA estimates that the recovery of refinery operations will be insufficient to offset the accumulated supply deficit. IEA member countries agreed to release 426 million barrels of oil from strategic reserves. According to the agency’s forecasts, global oil supplies will decline by 5.8 million barrels per day in 2026, before increasing by 7.7 million barrels per day in 2027.
According to Reuters, in 2025, China’s five major solar panel manufacturers — Longi, Trina Solar, Jinko Solar, JA Solar, and Tongwei — reduced their workforce by 21%, or 40,600 employees. In 2024, the corresponding reduction was 31%.
The main reason for the layoffs was excess manufacturing capacity, which was twice the level of global demand for solar panels. Intense competition led to falling prices and financial losses for manufacturers. The average price of solar modules declined from $350 per kW in 2019 to $130 per kW in 2025, while the operating profit margin fell to minus 13%.
In 2026, declining demand further complicated the situation. According to Jefferies forecasts, newly installed solar power capacity in China is expected to reach 150–200 GW, compared with 315 GW in 2025. Meanwhile, China’s solar panel exports declined by 10% during January–August.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, annual inflation increased from 3.4% in August to 3.7% in September 2026, rising by 0.3 percentage points.
Core inflation, which excludes food and energy prices, increased from 2.4% to 2.6%. Meanwhile, monthly consumer price growth accelerated from 0.4% in August to 0.6% in September.
The acceleration in inflation was primarily driven by rising energy prices. Over the month, gasoline prices increased by 9.1%, while overall energy prices rose by 5.2%. On an annual basis, the corresponding increases were 34.2% and 20.4%, respectively. Higher gasoline prices accounted for more than half of the monthly increase in the overall Consumer Price Index (CPI).
Accelerating inflation could influence the US Federal Reserve’s interest rate decisions. Persistently high interest rates increase borrowing costs for companies and banks, with particularly significant implications for financing long-term investment and infrastructure projects.
CERR Public Relations Sector
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