Institutional

The US Senate passed the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act (H.R. 6644) on March 12, 2026, by a 89-10 vote, incorporating a temporary prohibition on the Federal Reserve issuing a central bank digital currency defined as a widely available US dollar-denominated digital asset. Section 901(b) bans large institutional investors from purchasing single-family homes, while Title III eliminates the permanent chassis requirement for manufactured homes to boost affordable housing production. The legislation combines House and Senate versions, reflecting Trump administration priorities, and now awaits House reconciliation amid opposition to Senate amendments. Provisions also increase FHA multifamily loan limits and expand appraiser training to address housing supply shortages.

The US Senate passed a broad bipartisan housing bill on March 12, 2026, aiming to increase construction and limit institutional ownership of single-family homes. The White House endorsed the measure on March 2, highlighting its potential to address affordability challenges. Its path in the House remains uncertain amid midterm pressures. Lawmakers from both parties cite high home prices as a top voter issue, with implementation depending on state and local policies.

Institutional investors and hedge funds executed defensive portfolio adjustments on Friday, March 13, 2026, reducing exposure ahead of the weekend due to escalating geopolitical risks in the Persian Gulf region and growing stress in the global private credit market. The Nasdaq declined 1.78% to 22,111 and the Dow dropped 1.56% to 46,777 as surging oil prices and Iran-related fears triggered broad risk-off sentiment across markets. Market observers noted that sophisticated investors remained in defensive positions pending clarity on the Strait of Hormuz, with key monitoring points including tanker traffic, Sunday night oil futures, and potential ceasefire negotiations. The S&P 500 has fallen approximately 3% for the month of March, placing the index in negative territory for the year.