Key tech companies like Workday, Dell, and Autodesk report strong growth fueled by AI demand, while Nvidia faces competition from Google, and HP announces workforce reductions as part of its AI strategy; OpenAI requires massive funding to sustain its operations, and AI is increasingly integrated into consumer applications like shopping agents and travel booking.

• Workday Third-Quarter Profit, Sales Rise on AI Momentum — Wall Street Journal -
• Dell Technologies Raises Outlook as AI Server Shipments Increase — Wall Street Journal -
• Autodesk CEO Sees Long-Term Growth Due to Steady AI Demand — Wall Street Journal -

• Nvidia shares fall on signs Google gaining upper hand in AI — Financial Times -
• HP to Cut Up to 10% of Workforce as Part of AI Push — Wall Street Journal -
• Walmart Is Exploring Bringing Ads to Sparky, Its New AI Shopping Agent — Wall Street Journal -
• AI Startup Suno Inks Warner Music Deal, Settling Litigation — Wall Street Journal -
• Google is a near-$4tn monument to monopoly power — Financial Times -
• OpenAI needs to raise at least $207bn by 2030 so it can continue to lose money, HSBC estimates — Financial Times -
• Alibaba’s Profit Slumps but AI Business Shines — Wall Street Journal -
• Samsung’s chair meets Mukesh Ambani in billionaire charm offensive — Financial Times -
• What Is Agentic A.I., and Would You Trust It to Book a Flight? — The New York Times Business -
• A.I. Can Do More of Your Shopping This Holiday Season — The New York Times Business -

**Major retailers like Abercrombie & Fitch, Urban Outfitters, Best Buy, Burlington, Kohl's, and Dick's Sporting Goods show positive sales and increased outlooks, despite overall grim US retail sales data and lingering consumer confidence concerns, with new shopping platforms like TikTok Shop** also gaining traction.

• Abercrombie & Fitch’s Stock Jumps as Quarterly Sales Surprise Wall Street — Wall Street Journal -
• Urban Outfitters Sales Boosted by Namesake Brand’s Growth — Wall Street Journal -
• Grim retail sales data fuels concerns about health of US economy — Financial Times -

• Bath & Body Works Bets on Aspiration, Influencers and Train-Station Scent Diffusers — Wall Street Journal -
• Best Buy Raises Outlook as Consumers Spend on Tech Upgrades — Wall Street Journal -
• Burlington Stores Raises Outlook as Low-Income Shoppers Remain Resilient — Wall Street Journal -
• Kohl’s Shares Rocket Higher as Retailer Lifts Outlook — Wall Street Journal -
• Faux Jewels and Slimming Belts: Why Shopping on TikTok Is a Lot Like QVC — The New York Times Business -
• Dick’s Sporting Goods Boosts Outlook, Promises to Revive Foot Locker Brand — Wall Street Journal -
• J.M. Smucker Says Coffee Price Hike Not in Cards Amid Tariff Relief — Wall Street Journal -
• U.S. Retail Sales Rose 0.2% in September, Below Expectations — Wall Street Journal -
• Would You Like a New Car With That $8 USB Cable? Amazon Hopes So — Wall Street Journal -
• Kingfisher Raises Profit Outlook on Sales Growth, Cost-Saving Efforts — Wall Street Journal -
• This Sneaker Brand Keeps Raising Prices—and Consumers Don’t Seem to Care — Wall Street Journal -

Significant market volatility highlights global risks, as central banks like the Fed and ECB navigate interest rate decisions amidst dissent within the Federal Reserve; commodity markets see various movements across basic materials and energy, while discussions on the fracturing world economy and the strength of the US tech market against tariffs shape investor sentiment.

• Market Volatility Underscores Epic Buildup of Global Risk — The New York Times Business -
• Basic Materials Roundup: Market Talk — Wall Street Journal -
• Energy & Utilities Roundup: Market Talk — Wall Street Journal -

• Auto & Transport Roundup: Market Talk — Wall Street Journal -
• Risks to ECB’s ‘good place’ are growing more balanced — Financial Times -
• The fracturing of the world economy — Financial Times -
• Currency traders bet against sterling ahead of Budget — Financial Times -
• Brussels warns Eurozone capitals over rise in spending — Financial Times -
• The ‘homoploutic’ elephant, with Branko Milanović — Financial Times -
• The Fed and Big Tech Re-Raise Investors’ Spirits — The New York Times Business -
• Dissent is rising at the Fed — Financial Times -
• Schroders chief warns against calling ‘death’ of London equity market — Financial Times -
• US solar stocks rebound from Trump’s clean energy rollback — Financial Times -
• FirstFT: Deutsche Bank questioned over so-called netting practices — Financial Times -
• Federal Reserve to cut again in December — Financial Times -
• Tech trumps tariffs: why US exceptionalism will last — Financial Times -

Chancellor Rachel Reeves faces a critical Budget, with debates on minimum wage increases, VAT on energy bills, and the two-child benefit cap, amid growing fiscal strains on the welfare state and retailer exasperation over the Budget's timing; local tourism taxes are being considered, and concerns persist over Heathrow costs and the shifting UK labor market.

• Ministers plan to scrap jury trials in England and Wales except for most serious cases — Financial Times -
• Reeves increases minimum wage by 4.1% ahead of tax-raising Budget — Financial Times -
• The four audiences Reeves’ ‘high-wire’ Budget must satisfy — Financial Times -

• Kingfisher gives a pre-Budget vibe check for the UK economy — Financial Times -
• UK halts use of Ajax armoured vehicles after soldiers report hearing problems — Financial Times -
• English cities to be allowed to impose tourism taxes — Financial Times -
• Airlines and regulator warn over rising Heathrow costs after runway approval — Financial Times -
• Rachel Reeves decides against cutting VAT on energy bills in Budget — Financial Times -
• The politics of scrapping the two-child benefit cap — Financial Times -
• UK sugar tax to be extended to more soft drinks and milkshakes — Financial Times -
• Budget Will Be a Big Test for the UK’s Most Unpopular Chancellor in Decades — The New York Times Business -
• London congestion charge on EVs to make petrol cheaper option for many private hire drivers — Financial Times -
• Nigel Farage rejects allegations of teenage racist abuse — Financial Times -
• Trade-offs of a higher minimum wage — Financial Times -
• The minimum wage is not a cure all — we’re asking too much of business — Financial Times -
• Britain’s Budget woes illustrate the threat to Europe’s social contract — Financial Times -
• Top Advent private equity executive quits UK for Luxembourg — Financial Times -
• UK retailers ‘exasperated’ as Budget disrupts Christmas shopping season — Financial Times -
• South Kensington property: down but not out in the Paris of London — Financial Times -
• Visa squeeze dents UK business schools’ appeal — Financial Times -
• UK’s shifting labour market threatens millions of low-skilled jobs — Financial Times -

Jair Bolsonaro's 27-year sentence for a coup plot marks a major political event in Brazil, while US-China-Japan relations remain tense with President Trump engaging directly with Xi on Taiwan; international peace talks for Russia-Ukraine continue in Abu Dhabi, and Canada scrutinizes major mining deals, alongside global efforts to secure rare earth supplies outside China.

• Jair Bolsonaro to start 27-year sentence for Brazil coup plot — Financial Times -
• Trump’s Trade War Has Canadians ‘Elbows Up’ for Homegrown Wine — The New York Times Business -
• Canada Says Anglo American’s Pledges to Secure Teck Resources Deal Not Enough — Wall Street Journal -

• John Kerry ‘shocked’ at how many US chief executives are scared of Trump — Financial Times -
• Trump Administration Is Taking Billions in Stakes in Firms Like Intel — The New York Times Business -
• Colombia probes claim top officials shared intelligence with guerrillas — Financial Times -
• China and Japan, With Trump in the Middle, Are in a Showdown — The New York Times Business -
• US to fund delivery drones for Africa under new aid strategy — Financial Times -
• US holds Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Abu Dhabi — Financial Times -
• Ukraine debate on peace plan raises EU pressure to agree frozen assets loan — Financial Times -
• Xi Presses Trump on Taiwan as They Agree to Meet in China in April — The New York Times Business -
• Europeans scramble to protect their own security after jolt of Ukraine plan — Financial Times -
• Far-right Alternative for Germany faces splits over Russia policy — Financial Times -
• Argentina dabbles with spoiler status at international negotiations — Financial Times -
• Iranian nuclear scientists sell products with Croydon-made parts — Financial Times -
• How Ireland became the weak spot in Europe’s defences — Financial Times -
• Japan’s Takaichi says Trump called after speaking with Xi — Financial Times -
• Mining billionaire backs Australia rare earth project in race to boost west’s supplies — Financial Times -

Volkswagen aims to halve EV development costs with China-made cars, while Chinese automaker BYD continues to expand European sales, and NIO's net loss narrows on strong performance; the Senate plans to challenge auto-safety mandates over affordability, and the quest for rare-earth-free motors persists due to geopolitical concerns.

• FirstFT: VW says it can halve EV development costs with China-made car — Financial Times -
• Senate Committee to Challenge Auto-Safety Mandates That Hurt ‘Affordability’ — Wall Street Journal -
• An Auto Holy Grail: Motors That Don’t Rely on Chinese Rare Earths — The New York Times Business -

• NIO Net Loss Narrows on Strong Sales, Margin — Wall Street Journal -
• VW says it can halve EV development costs with ‘Made in China’ car — Financial Times -
• Chinese Automaker BYD’s European Sales Continue to Rise — Wall Street Journal -

Binance faces a lawsuit over alleged terrorism financing, while Altice USA accuses creditors of an 'illegal cartel', and Spotify announces upcoming US price increases; Boeing focuses on a 'War on Defects' for quality, and EasyJet reports higher profits, alongside news of the sale of a luxury Hyatt Hotel and the passing of Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots inventor, Burt Meyer.

• Binance Is Sued by Oct. 7 Victims’ Families, Accused of Aiding Terrorism — The New York Times Business -
• Altice USA accuses creditors of forming ‘illegal cartel’ — Financial Times -
• Spotify to raise US prices in first quarter of next year — Financial Times -

• Burt Meyer, Inventor of Rock ’Em Sock ’Em Robots and Other Hit Toys, Dies at 99 — Wall Street Journal -
• Boeing Tackles Quality With a ‘War on Defects’ — The New York Times Business -
• EasyJet Posts Higher Profit on Growth Across Businesses — Wall Street Journal -
• KKR Consortium Sold Luxury Hyatt Hotel in Tokyo for Over $800 Million, Sources Say — Wall Street Journal -

The US affordability crisis continues to squeeze Americans, becoming a political liability for the Trump administration, and a study warns of lower living standards due to ageing populations; manufacturers are phasing out 'forever chemicals', GLP-1 drugs show no benefit for Alzheimer's, and cybercrime rings are hijacking trucks, while Atlanta opens its first government-funded supermarket.

• Manufacturers start to phase out production of ‘forever chemicals’ — Financial Times -
• How the US affordability crisis became a political liability for Trump — Financial Times -
• GLP-1 Drug Fails to Quell Alzheimer’s in Novo Nordisk Trials — The New York Times Business -

• Crime Rings Enlist Hackers to Hijack Trucks — Wall Street Journal -
• Inside Atlanta’s First Government-Funded Supermarket — Wall Street Journal -
• Ageing populations will lead to lower living standards, warns study — Financial Times -
• ‘Scraping for crumbs’: Americans squeezed by affordability crisis — Financial Times -
• Indonesia probes exports of radioactive shrimp and shoes — Financial Times -

Opinions clash over TV regulation and the "News Distortion" rule, highlighting ongoing debates about media policy; the Trump administration maintains a conflicting approach to Associated Press journalists, welcoming photographers but restricting reporters.

• Opinion | Chris Ruddy’s Paean to TV Regulation — Wall Street Journal -
• Opinion | Put the ‘News Distortion’ Rule in the Dustbin — Wall Street Journal -
• Trump Welcomes A.P.’s Photographers. Its Reporters? Not So Much. — The New York Times Business -