Equity

• New data highlight how structural racism, policy, and pricing continue to drive racial and ethnic disparities in U.S. healthcare access and outcomes. • Sickle cell disease (SCD), which primarily affects non-Hispanic Black or African American individuals, remains a critical focus as it can shorten life expectancy by approximately 20 years. • Treatment options have evolved from the 1994 approval of hydroxyurea to include newer medications like voxelotor and crizanlizumab, culminating in the 2023 approval of gene therapies.

• A recent health equity roundup highlights critical gaps in US healthcare, noting that nonmetropolitan areas have 44.4% fewer patient-facing workers per 10,000 residents than urban centers. • Data from the 2019-2023 American Community Survey reveals a stark imbalance: rural areas house 13.8% of the population but only 8.4% of the healthcare workforce. • Experts emphasize that meeting the WHO goal of reducing hepatitis B mortality by 65% requires increased investment in vaccinations, screenings, and stigma reduction.

Exclusive: Economists say falling house prices are largely in the more expensive parts of Sydney and Melbourne’s markets and are less likely to affect first-time property ownersFears that first-time buyers with tiny deposits will find their mortgages are worth more than their homes may be assuaged by new data showing falling prices are concentrated in the top end of the Sydney and Melbourne property markets.Climbing inflation, interest rates and worries about the economic fallout from the Middle East conflict have helped depress housing values in the country’s two biggest cities. Continue reading...

• On Wednesday, June 10, Indian benchmark equity indices erased most of their intraday gains due to dampened investor sentiment caused by renewed hostilities between the U.S. and Iran. • The BSE Sensex ended marginally higher, rising 64.42 points (0.09%) to close at 73,983.18, despite hitting an intraday high of 74,613.01. • In contrast, the NSE Nifty closed in the red, slipping 27.15 points (0.12%) to settle at 23,214.95.

• Deloitte released a new M&A Pulse Survey featuring insights from 500 corporate and private equity (PE) leaders regarding current market trends. • The findings reveal a sense of "cautious optimism" for deal activity leading into 2026, with leaders emphasizing a more disciplined approach to acquisitions. • Cross-border acquisitions are highlighted as a primary strategic path for growth as dealmakers seek new opportunities.

• Citi reports that U.S. equity positioning has become "cleaner" following a market selloff last week, reducing some of the previous overextension. • Despite the improvement, Citi warns that risks remain as exposures in several key areas stay elevated, potentially leaving the market vulnerable. • This shift matters because it indicates a partial reset in investor sentiment, though the lack of a full correction could lead to further volatility.

• Global private equity technology M&A transaction volume plummeted by 70% in the first quarter of this year due to widespread anxiety over AI disruption. • Software asset valuations are under significant pressure, and the profit growth threshold required to hit a 2.5x return target has surged from 5% to approximately 12%. • This shift has created a stark divide in the market, where high-quality assets remain viable while older, overpriced assets with uncertain AI prospects are nearly impossible to offload.