President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order to allow 401(k) plans to invest in private market assets such as private equity, credit and real estate. The move is expected to benefit private equity firms such as Apollo Global Management, KKR, Carlyle Group and Blackstone. "It will take time, but I do think there is a potentially significant opportunity here," Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman said during the company's earnings call in July.

The newly enacted tax-and-spending law "has permanently solidified" Opportunity Zones within the US tax code, but "investors should not overlook the advantages of acting now under the current" Opportunity Zone structure, writes Louis Rogers, founder and co-CEO of Capital Square. Rogers outlines four reasons to invest under the current regime, including the certainty offered by existing OZs and the tax advantage of fair market valuation through the end of 2026.

Data center vacancy rates were sitting at just 2.3% at the end of the second quarter, despite inventory increasing to 15.5 GW, according to JLL's North America data center report. The market is absorbing demand from AI as well as cloud providers and tech companies. Looking ahead, power needs and other factors could affect development decisions.

Richmond, Va., has become the fastest-growing US market for data centers, adding about 700 megawatts of capacity this year, according to Avison Young. Projects in the region have benefited from available land and grid access, although power needs and other factors could emerge as headwinds. Still, secondary and tertiary markets are expected to drive growth in the months ahead, according to Avison Young's Howard Berry.

Apollo Global Management is reportedly in early discussions to revive a $2 billion debt sale that had stalled due to market volatility triggered by US tariffs in April. The new talks involve private credit firms such as HPS Investment Partners, marking a potential move away from traditional syndicated bank markets and suggesting Apollo may retain a portion of the debt itself, sources say.

BlackRock is preparing to launch a fund that will purchase discounted venture capital stakes from other investors, marking its first foray into the venture secondaries market. The fund, managed by Jarid Colucci, Derek Krouner and Lisa Sun, aims to capitalize on the growing secondary market for private fund stakes, which has seen significant growth amid a boom in private markets.

The Trump administration has asked the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals for another extension on a pause in a consolidated lawsuit against the Labor Department's fiduciary rule. The latest filing asks for a third 60-day pause, which would extend through Oct. 14.

When Congress returns next month, it will be considering several bills that could significantly alter the financial landscape, including the CLARITY Act and the Unleashing AI Innovation in Financial Services Act. The GENIUS Act, which regulates stablecoins, has already been signed into law. If the CLARITY Act becomes law, it would require the Securities and Exchange Commission to make certain regulatory moves related to digital assets.

Traders are increasingly positioning for a half-point rate cut by the Federal Reserve at its September meeting. The most notable position, at roughly $10 million, could yield $100 million if the Fed delivers a 50 basis-point reduction. "As the market readies for Powell's speech at Jackson Hole, we'll argue that the biggest risk for Treasuries is if the Fed Chief chooses to throw cold water on the widely anticipated September rate cut," Ian Lyngen, head of US rates strategy at BMO Capital Markets, said.

The Institute for Portfolio Alternatives has released its 2026 Sponsorship Opportunities, which span IPA's flagship events, digital platforms and year-round initiatives. View the 2026 sponsorship brochure.

IPA has also announced its 2026 conference slate, with events that will convene industry leaders for dialogue, education and connection at key moments throughout the year. Learn more.