In this quarter’s Markets Mindset, Mizuho experts Josh Weismer and Andy Laszlo explore the current state of Equity Capital Markets, their insights from Q3 and outlook for the remainder of 2023 and beyond. After a volatile 18 months, the IPO market is rebounding. Alignment between investor demand and seller valuation has led to increased activity spurred by deal making in the Technology, Media & Telecom sector. 

Since 2014, Drive Change has been committed to helping formerly incarcerated young adults develop the professional and personal skills to secure gainful employment and long term success in the hospitality industry and beyond. Drive Change offers a transformative fellowship program that focuses on immersing, preparing, and supporting its participants from the beginning by providing industry knowledge and skills, to equipping them with resources such as mentors and therapists, to pairing them with a local restaurant to gain experience beyond the entry-level. The Mizuho USA Foundation is proud to partner with the growing organization and support its workforce development programs making a significant impact on the local community.

Steven Ricchiuto, Chief Economist at Mizuho Americas, sat down with Eric Rosengren, Former President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, to discuss the U.S. macroeconomic outlook, what factors go into interest rate policymaking and what steps the Fed may take to achieve its targeted inflation rate.

The Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) is a national network that takes a holistic approach to improving communities. To date, the organization has advanced approximately $29.7 billion in investments, tailored to the specific needs of hundreds of urban and rural communities. Learn more about the organization’s effective business model and how Mizuho supports its important work.

The emergence of generative AI technologies has rapidly accelerated the rate of change within the software sector. With companies like Microsoft, Salesforce, and Service Now at the forefront, generative AI has the potential to drive economic growth, boost productivity, and help solve global issues. Watch Gregg Moskowitz, Senior Software Analyst, discuss the impact AI will have on business and the world.

Not only is shareholder activism expected to keep pace in 2023, activist campaigns are moving beyond the traditional playbook. And with activists often spending months formulating a plan before approaching corporations, it’s critical for companies to level the playing field by proactively assessing business vulnerabilities. Michal Katz, Head of Investment & Corporate Banking, discusses the key strategies and appropriate mechanisms for successfully mounting an activist response plan.

The Federal Reserve recently launched a new cashless transfer system that could disrupt the debit market and, in turn, the prospects for Fintech companies. But the impact of this new system will vary depending on how companies are positioned, says Dan Dolev, Senior Fintech Equity Research Analyst.

As AI continues to evolve, the semiconductor industry is one of many fields where investors are seeing immense opportunities and benefits from the technology. Senior Semiconductors and Automotive Technologies Analyst Vijay Rakesh examines the AI technology landscape and what this means for the industry.

When life circumstances create challenges for high school students, transfer schools and organizations like Comprehensive Youth Development (CYD) step in to offer alternatives, providing flexible classroom hours, manageable graduation time horizons, and additional support in the form of tutoring, mentoring, and social services. The Mizuho USA Foundation is proud to support CYD and its Preparation Meets Opportunity program, which provides workplace readiness training for students at a high-need public transfer school in Manhattan.