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President Donald Trump has signed a voluntary accord with executives from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Meta, xAI and Nvidia committing companies to four layers of internal and external AI controls, including auditors and board oversight. The pact is non‑binding, leaves disclosure and enforcement to companies, and says the measures could later be codified into law.
Democrats are moving to block funding for Trump's planned memorial projects in memorial circles, using the appropriations process and new legislation to protect presidential memorials from demolition. Merkley and Murkowski will push bills next week, signaling a procedural fight that could constrain funding this year.
Prediction markets expect a strong September jobs figure, with around six-figure gains possible and a 60% chance of more than 90,000 payrolls. August’s rebound supports a higher bar, while the Fed weighs inflation in its policy path. Official data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics will set the verdict Friday at 8:30 a.m. ET.
Updates show fresh data on services activity, unemployment and consumer sentiment, with Fed minutes and ISM index shaping expectations for monetary policy as inflation remains stubbornly high.
Oil markets are adjusting amid renewed attacks near the Strait of Hormuz and coordinated fuel releases by the G7 and IEA. While some shipments resume, the risk to global supply remains elevated as tensions persist and sanctions pressure grows.
Skydance has closed its landmark merger, uniting Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery to form a media powerhouse. The deal brings HBO Max, Paramount+, CNN, CBS News, and iconic film titles under one umbrella, with Ellison and Kreiz leading the new group. The integration plan and pricing strategy remain uncertain as the company outlines its faster path to scale.
Officials have kept inflation elevated and progress toward a 2% target remains limited. The Fed has raised its key rate to about 3.9% in the latest meeting, marking its first hike in three years. Policymakers say they will monitor the economy before deciding on future moves, while markets expect a steady rate through the next meeting.
The United States has suspended several major IT services firms and a tech giant from an immigration program amid investigations into H-1B visa abuses. The moves mirror a broader crackdown by federal authorities, underscoring heightened scrutiny of outsourcing firms with sizable operations in India.
Global chip stocks have pulled back as investors weigh the cost of AI infrastructure against earnings and debt. SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics have fallen sharply in Korea, while SoftBank and Tokyo Electron face selling pressure in Japan amid broader tech declines tied to higher borrowing costs and inflation data.
The US Treasury has assessed $1.2bn in civil penalties against Bank of America for failing to timely report more than $5bn in suspicious transactions, including over $1bn that posed national-security and high-priority risks. The OCC added a $750m penalty; OFAC settled for $11.6m. BofA has said the charge will reduce third-quarter earnings by about 17 cents per share.
Global markets are volatile as AI-linked shares retreat amid funding risks. SK Hynix’s Solidigm reviews have been halted due to market conditions, while other AI infra players face investor scrutiny. The Kospi, Nasdaq, and European indices are all showing declines as inflation and rate expectations fuel selling.
Anthropic has announced a plan to dedicate 5% of its shares to a Public Benefit Fund, with potential to add more as the company’s value grows. The fund may support large nonprofit donations or distributions to specific populations, while excluding lobbying; governance details will follow ahead of an anticipated IPO.
Elon Musk has said special committees at Tesla and SpaceX are exploring a possible merger and that combining the firms "would be a good idea." He has recused himself from the committees. The proposal would require approval from at least 50% of Tesla shareholders and has sparked stock movement and renewed debate over control, AI and national-security implications.
Meta has told investors Muse, its AI personal assistant, is unprofitable now due to compute intensity but will become highly profitable as efficiency improves. The company plans to monetize Muse through transaction fees as it scales, with expectations of profitability next year while continuing to push Reality Labs losses toward reduction.
Anthropic introduces Claude Duet, an AI agent designed for professionals and small businesses. The tool provides daily briefs, monitors connected apps, builds dashboards, and can perform background tasks with user approval. It connects to thousands of apps via Claude Opus 5.5 and is accessible through Pro/Max subscriptions in the US. The feature is in a research preview.
Anthropic has guided investors toward a lower IPO valuation after a sharp post-election selloff in AI and big-tech stocks. Institutional buyers have pushed the company and bankers to reconsider targets that had ranged as high as $2 trillion, with new investor feedback clustering around roughly $1.4–$1.6 trillion as the company readies a roadshow.
Meta Platforms has announced a plan to raise capital to fund its AI expansion, including a potential combination of public offerings and an at-the-market stock program. The move accompanies continued heavy investment in data centers and AI products as the company faces investor scrutiny over financing its growth.
Tech giants are pouring billions into AI infrastructure as data-centre investments surge. Google, Microsoft, Amazon and Meta report rising capital outlays to power AI tools, while profits slip due to costs and debt. Anthropic prepares to go public amid a liquidity-fuelled AI race.
American Airlines and Citi will raise annual fees on two AAdvantage cards to $150 in 2027, starting with Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard and Citi/AAdvantage Business World Elite Mastercard. The fee jump, from $99, begins Jan. 24, 2027, with a 12‑month waiver for new cardholders. Perks include travel credits, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credits, and expanded mileage earnings, among others. The move follows similar fee increases by rivals and aligns with a broader push by airlines to monetize rewards programs.
OpenAI has trimmed its latest funding target to $20 billion, with a post-money valuation of about $1.25 trillion. The round is led by UAE investors, with participation from Coatue, Sequoia, and others; first close could be below $20B as allocations are reduced. Markets have responded to AI spending worries amid a tech stock sell-off.
Developers and executives have faced scrutiny after public statements about AI in daily life. The discourse spans dystopian fears and optimistic GDP gains, with critics urging tighter safeguards. The conversation is unfolding as policymakers weigh how to regulate AI risk.
Apple has warned that December-quarter gross margins will be 45%-46%, below the prior analyst expectation of 46.3%. The move signals higher memory costs and AI-related expenses as demand remains strong for iPhone and other products, though supply constraints persist.
World markets have seen heavy tech losses after US midterms shift political power, signaling a potential AI investment slowdown. Tech giants and chipmakers lead declines while some observers warn of broader economic implications. Investors are watching policy signals and next moves as futures react to the changing landscape.
Tesla has announced it is winding down Cybertruck production at its Texas factory to make room for its Cybercab robotaxi, signaling a pivot toward AI-driven mobility. The company says the Cybertruck fleet will remain for years, while Cybercab becomes its new core product in the robo-taxi push.