EconomyFinancePolicy

Major Asset Managers Alter Fund Benchmarks to Maintain French Bond Positions

Leading asset management firms are reportedly adjusting their fund benchmarks to circumvent mandatory sales of French sovereign debt. The strategic moves come as credit rating changes threaten to push France below strict investment thresholds. Industry sources indicate these changes allow continued exposure to French bonds despite downgrade pressures.

Fund Giants Adjust Investment Parameters

Global asset management leaders BlackRock and State Street have reportedly modified benchmark indexes for certain European bond funds, according to sources familiar with the matter. The changes appear designed to prevent automatic divestment of French government debt following recent credit rating adjustments that pushed France below double-A thresholds.

Hardware

YouTuber’s Bargain Intel i9-13900K Purchase Plagued by Immediate Stability Failures

A popular tech experiment went awry when a YouTuber purchased a discounted Intel Raptor Lake processor, only to encounter immediate system failures. The €240 Core i9-13900K demonstrated persistent instability despite multiple troubleshooting attempts, reigniting concerns about Intel’s 13th and 14th generation reliability issues that have affected users worldwide.

Bargain Intel Processor Fails Immediately in Real-World Test

A technology content creator’s attempt to score a deal on a used Raptor Lake processor has demonstrated the potential risks of purchasing older generation Intel CPUs, according to reports. The YouTuber known as Iceberg Tech purchased a second-hand Core i9-13900K for €240 from British retailer CeX, only to encounter immediate stability problems that persisted despite extensive troubleshooting efforts.

Startups

Spanish Drone Innovator Fuvex Secures €1.7M to Expand European Infrastructure Inspection Services

Fuvex, a Spanish drone developer specializing in long-range autonomous aerial systems, has reportedly secured €1.7 million in its first external funding round. The company aims to expand its infrastructure inspection services across Europe and Latin America while entering new verticals including gas pipelines and security applications.

Spanish Drone Developer Fuvex Raises €1.7 Million for European Expansion

Spanish drone startup Fuvex has reportedly secured €1.7 million in the initial phase of its Series A funding round, according to recent announcements. The Navarra-based company, which specializes in long-range autonomous aerial systems for infrastructure inspection, plans to use the capital to expand into new markets across Europe and Latin America while diversifying into additional industry verticals.

AcquisitionsBusiness

Kering Strikes €4 Billion Beauty Division Sale to L’Oréal in Major Portfolio Shift

French luxury group Kering has reportedly reached a €4 billion agreement to divest its beauty division to cosmetics giant L’Oréal. The deal includes perfumer House of Creed and long-term licenses for Gucci, Bottega Veneta, and Balenciaga beauty products, marking a significant strategic shift for the struggling luxury conglomerate.

Major Beauty Business Transaction

French luxury conglomerate Kering has reportedly agreed to a €4 billion sale of its beauty division to global cosmetics leader L’Oréal, according to recent announcements. Sources indicate this represents a strategic reversal for Kering, which had previously pursued internal growth for its beauty operations.