Surging interest rates, recession threats and weaker stock valuations bogged down merger-and-acquisition activity last year. The 98 announced deals fell short of even 2020, when the pandemic briefly brought the economy to a standstill.

The Senate on Wednesday fell short of the two-thirds majority needed to override President Biden's veto in December of a Republican-led resolution to gut the small-business data collection rule using the Congressional Review Act.

For the past week, the benchmark 10-year Treasury closed above 4%, as the markets priced in an increase in the consumer price index.

John Williams, who also serves as vice chair of the Federal Open Market Committee, does not expect the Federal Reserve to slow its balance sheet runoff anytime soon.

The deal by the $11.8 billion-asset Global (formerly AlaskaUSA) to acquire First Financial Northwest Bank is one of the largest bank deals ever struck by a credit union.

The software company's latest product, a private debt marketplace, is designed to connect startups with trusted, pre-vetted lenders.