Markets enter the first full week of November facing a concentrated mix of economic data, US midterm elections, central-bank decisions and major technology earnings. From Wall Street to European bond markets, the week’s developments could reshape expectations for economic growth, inflation and monetary policy. Three themes stand out: the resilience of the US economy, the
Large-cap stocks and AI stocks came under renewed pressure in the final week of October as investors reassessed technology valuations, capital expenditure and the potential returns from artificial intelligence. Small-cap and value stocks outperformed, while US government and investment-grade corporate bonds delivered positive weekly returns. The divergence highlights a changing market environment in which earnings
OpenAI’s reported interest in Google’s artificial intelligence chips highlights a growing shift in the economics of AI infrastructure. As demand for computing power accelerates, access to alternative processors could reshape relationships between leading AI developers, chip suppliers and cloud computing providers. ◉ Google’s chip business could gain momentum: A potential OpenAI purchase would signal demand
A potential two-decade period of economic disruption could reshape employment, productivity and social inequality as artificial intelligence moves from digital tools into physical work. Bill Gates argues that the transition may prove difficult even if the technology ultimately creates widespread prosperity. ◉ Two decades of disruption: The transition to AI-driven economies could take years, creating
Deutsche Bank is using artificial intelligence to accelerate corporate lending decisions, reducing the time required for some smaller business applications from weeks to minutes. The initiative highlights how established banks are integrating AI into core operations while maintaining oversight of credit risk, cybersecurity and accountability. ◉ Faster lending decisions: Some decisions for smaller corporate borrowers
SpaceX’s reported $40 billion debt financing for advanced AI chips highlights the enormous cost of expanding computing capacity, while raising new questions about credit access, capital intensity and the long-term economics of artificial intelligence. ◉ $40 billion for chips: Elon Musk says SpaceX has secured debt financing to purchase graphics processing units used in AI
Short description: Alphabet, Microsoft and Amazon enter a critical earnings week as investors demand clearer evidence that the artificial intelligence boom can generate sustainable profits. With global spending on data centres and computing infrastructure accelerating, the focus is shifting from AI adoption to revenue growth, operating margins and returns on capital. ◉ AI investment reaches
Short Description Artificial intelligence enters a decisive week as Microsoft, Alphabet and Amazon prepare to report earnings amid unprecedented investment in computing infrastructure. With data-centre spending rising, electricity demand increasing and investors questioning the financial returns from AI, the technology sector faces a critical test: can commercial growth keep pace with the cost of building
A new voice-AI model from Block is pushing conversational technology closer to the rhythm of human speech. Called Dessa, the research system can listen and respond directly through audio, handling interruptions and expressive vocal cues without relying on the conventional text-first pipeline. Its demonstrations point to new possibilities for digital assistants—and renewed questions about how
Robotics and physical artificial intelligence are emerging as major destinations for venture capital, as investors look beyond software and toward machines capable of performing work in the physical world. Robotics and physical AI startups attracted a reported $33.4 billion in funding during the first half of 2026. The acceleration reflects growing confidence that advances in
South Korea’s financial sector is moving beyond experimenting with artificial intelligence and into direct investment in the companies building it. JB Financial Group’s latest deal with Upstage illustrates how banks are seeking not only to adopt AI tools, but also to help shape the technology and business models that could transform financial services. A $30
South Korean AI infrastructure company Elice Group suffered a sharp stock-market debut on October 20, with shares falling as much as 32% below their initial public offering price. The sell-off came despite strong demand for the offering, which raised approximately $150 million, highlighting a growing divide between enthusiasm for artificial intelligence and investors’ willingness to
