Jennifer Lopez escaped the ongoing rumors she will soon divorce husband Ben Affleck as she jetted to Italy this week for a break with friends – without the Oscar-winner, 51.

The actress, 54, flashed her toned abs and enviable legs as she donned a pastel yellow crop-top paired with matching shorts for a relaxing yacht break in Sorrento.

J-Lo wore her tresses sleek and straight – paired with chic shades and a sleek palette of make-up as she whiled away the afternoon.

She boosted her petite frame with heels as she chatted with her companions

The star looked in great spirits as she chilled – thousands of miles away from Ben, 50.

This comes as the couple listed their Bel Air, California mega mansion three weeks ago for $65M, but it still has not sold, even though the price is fair, according to TMZ.

The site spoke with real estate agents that have insisted the price is on target and should not be an issue.

That $65M price tag is $4M more than they paid for it; it has often been reported that the property cost the couple $60M, but they actually snapped it up for $60.850M.

The Atlas actress, 54, and 51-year-old Oscar winner have yet to announce they are divorcing but sources tell DailyMail.com that they will likely drop the bad news on the Friday before 4th of July.

Neither Jen nor Ben wanted to keep the dwelling for different reasons: she felt it was too big and he thought it was too far from his kids in Brentwood.

‘Ben never liked the house. It’s too far away from his kids,’ an insider close to Lopez told People.

The Gone Girl star co-parents his three children Samuel, 12, Fin, 15 and Violet, 18, with his ex-wife Jennifer Garner, who lives in the Pacific Palisades.

Meanwhile, the singer, who shares 16-year-old twins Emme and Max from prior marriage to Marc Anthony, feels the 12-bedroom house is simply ‘way too big for her.’

The pair, who are rumored to have been ‘living apart’ for weeks, famously toured  more than 80 properties together to find the perfect place to live with their blended family.

Affleck and Lopez hired realtor Santiago Arana, from The Agency, to sell the property.

Amid rumors that ‘divorce is imminent’ for the pair, a source told TMZ that their realtor has been ‘showing the house for around 2 weeks’ but has not secured a buyer yet.

The insider reported that ‘they’re asking around $65 million for the house.’

With the ‘significant money’ the duo put into improvements, the outlet said they would be taking a ‘loss of millions of dollars.’

TMZ also reported that Lopez is ‘already looking for a new house’ as Affleck stays at a 100K-per-month rental in Brentwood, near Garner.

DailyMail.com reported that photographs of their marital home’s lavish interior have popped up on realtor websites after being removed following the property’s sale to the couple last May.

DailyMail.com determined that these new photos were uploaded to real estate site Zillow.com on June 1 and June 5. The house is still listed as sold.

The couple bought the home and paid for it with cash after a two-year-search for their dream home in what was supposedly a fairytale ending to their decade’s long love story.

Over a week ago, fifty images including an exterior shot of the palatial property lit up and glowing against the Los Angeles sky are visible across multiple real estate sites where once there were none.

A description of the property has also been uploaded describing the Wallingford estate, on which the property sits, as an exclusive 6-acre promontory. The lot includes not only the main building but an adjacent additional house providing 10,000 square feet of guest accommodation along with a caretaker house.

There are garages for 15 cars and parking for 80 and an outdoor sports complex with basketball, pickleball, gym and boxing ring and bar as well as a 150 degrees zero edge pool.

The move has sparked speculation that the 17-bedroom, 43,000square foot property is set to be put quietly back on the market.

A representative for J-Lo pointed out that the images themselves are not new.

It is just the latest indicator that all is not well with the A-listers who eloped to Las Vegas in July 2022 before celebrating their union across several days – and several gowns – in Georgia the following month.

Last week DailyMail.com reported that Jennifer is ‘over’ trying to make her marriage with Affleck work.

Amid rumors about the status of the couple’s marriage, an industry insider has now claimed that the pop star has reached her wit’s end and no longer feels that she can do any ‘more’ to save the relationship.

‘Jenny has had enough and she really tried but she can do no more, it’s not getting any better, it’s worse,’ a music industry source told DailyMail.com.

The insider add that the main reason JLo left her husband was because he was always ‘grumpy and negative’ like Oscar The Grouch from Sesame Street.

Jennifer is sad about the end of her nuptials but ‘is trying to make the best of it by working out, spending time with her twins Max and Emme and making new plans for 2025,’ they went on.

One of those new plans is resuming her This Is Me… Live tour for the summer of 2025 when she turns 56. She canceled the 2024 tour that was scheduled to kick off in July in order to ‘recollect herself.’

‘She is excited about going on tour next year when her personal life is on calmer ground and she can connect with her fans. She will take her tribe with her and make the most of it,’ said the source.

Lopez is also said to be ‘shocked’ by the bad press she has been getting, which she believes is not fair.

‘If people could see what she has really gone through they would be easier on her,’ said the source.

‘Ben is a great guy but he can be grumpy and a downer. I think the world saw that in photos like when they were at the Grammys last year; he wouldn’t smile. If they saw how it really was, they would not attack her,’ said the friend of Jennifer.

‘He chain smokes and cusses and seems irritated a lot of the time. Great director and actor, but not a lot of laughs with him, you know?’ said the source. ‘He is a wonderful father though.’

Lopez plans on pushing on.

‘She is really not used to this kind of bad feedback, but she will get over it. She will march on,’ said the pal.

‘Jennifer is a very smart and strong woman and she will bounce back, she always does!’

These days she has been leaning on her close friends.

One is stylist Shawn Barton, whose nickname is Beezy. Another is vocal coach Stevie Mackey.

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Source: New York Post

Capital Markets: An Overview

Capital markets are financial markets where long-term debt or equity-backed securities are bought and sold. They provide a platform for raising capital, facilitating investment, and enabling the transfer of funds between savers and borrowers. The efficiency and stability of capital markets are crucial for the overall health of an economy.

Components of Capital Markets

Primary Market:

In the primary market, new securities are issued and sold to investors directly by the issuer. This is where companies raise fresh capital by issuing stocks (equity) or bonds (debt).

Key activities include Initial Public Offerings (IPOs), where companies go public by offering shares for the first time, and debt issuances, such as corporate or government bonds.

Secondary Market:

The secondary market is where existing securities are traded among investors. This includes stock exchanges like the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and NASDAQ.

Provides liquidity, allowing investors to buy and sell securities easily.

Types of Securities in Capital Markets

Equities (Stocks):

Represent ownership in a company.

Common stocks offer voting rights and potential dividends, while preferred stocks offer fixed dividends and priority over common stocks in asset liquidation.

Debt Securities (Bonds):

Loans made by investors to issuers (corporations, municipalities, or governments).

Pay periodic interest and return the principal at maturity.

Types include corporate bonds, government bonds, and municipal bonds.

Hybrid Securities:

Combine elements of both debt and equity, such as convertible bonds (which can be converted into a specified number of shares).

Key Functions of Capital Markets

Capital Formation:

Enable businesses to raise funds for expansion, innovation, and operations.

Investors provide capital in exchange for potential returns through dividends or interest.

Liquidity Provision:

Secondary markets offer liquidity, allowing investors to easily buy and sell securities.

Facilitates the efficient allocation of resources.

Price Discovery:

Markets determine the fair value of securities based on supply and demand dynamics.

Prices reflect the collective assessment of a company’s future prospects and overall economic conditions.

Risk Management:

Investors can diversify their portfolios by investing in a variety of securities.

Derivative instruments (options, futures) are available for hedging against price fluctuations.

Participants in Capital Markets

Issuers:

Corporations, governments, and municipalities that raise capital by issuing securities.

Investors:

Individuals, institutional investors (pension funds, mutual funds, insurance companies), and foreign investors seeking returns on their investments.

Intermediaries:

Investment banks, brokerage firms, and financial advisors that facilitate the issuance and trading of securities.

Regulators:

Government agencies (e.g., Securities and Exchange Commission in the U.S.) that oversee market activities to ensure transparency, fairness, and investor protection.

Regulatory Framework

Regulation in capital markets aims to protect investors, ensure fair trading, and maintain market integrity. Key regulations and standards include:

Disclosure Requirements: Companies must provide accurate and timely information to investors.

Insider Trading Laws: Prohibit trading based on non-public, material information.

Market Surveillance: Monitor trading activities to prevent market manipulation and fraud.

Impact on the Economy

Capital markets play a vital role in economic growth by:

Facilitating Investment: Mobilizing savings into productive investments, driving business expansion and innovation.

Promoting Economic Stability: Providing mechanisms for risk management and capital allocation.

Enhancing Financial Inclusion: Allowing a broader range of participants to invest and raise capital.

Current Trends and Challenges

Technological Advancements:

The rise of fintech, algorithmic trading, and blockchain technology is transforming capital markets by enhancing efficiency and transparency.

Globalization:

Increased cross-border capital flows and integration of global markets present opportunities and risks.

Regulatory Changes:

Evolving regulatory landscapes in response to financial crises and market innovations impact market operations.

Sustainability:

Growing emphasis on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria in investment decisions reflects the shift towards sustainable and responsible investing.

Conclusion

Capital markets are the backbone of a functioning financial system, providing the necessary infrastructure for capital formation, investment, and economic growth. Understanding their mechanisms, participants, and regulatory frameworks is essential for navigating and leveraging these markets effectively. As markets evolve with technological advancements and global integration, staying informed about trends and challenges remains crucial for all stakeholders.