Morning Edition · Saturday, October 31, 2026
Markets
Intel's 29% Collapse and OpenAI's Smaller Fundraising Push the AI Sell-Off Into Credit-Dependent Tech
The Nasdaq Composite fell 2.86% on Friday, and OpenAI now seeks $20 billion at a $1.25 trillion valuation instead of $30 billion at $1.4 trillion, while futures markets price a Federal Reserve rate increase in December.
Markets
Brent Ends October Up 13.6% at $117.64 as Iran Says Four Tankers Struck Mines in Hormuz
The US military says the main shipping lanes are clear of mines, and an Iranian assessment reported by Globes expects US strikes to resume after the November 3 midterm elections.
Markets
Gold Falls to a One-Year Low Below $3,900 and Silver Breaks $50 as Markets Price a Fed Rate Increase
Silver lost nearly 9% this week and bitcoin traded near $77,000, so all three assets fell together as investors sold holdings to raise cash.
Crypto
Binance Loses $6.3 Billion in Half an Hour After Hackers Linked to North Korea Compromise an Engineer's Laptop
Tether and Circle froze billions in stolen stablecoins within hours, and legal experts question whether smaller victims would get the same protection.
Macro
Brazil's Real Posts Its Worst Week Since 2008 After Lula's Re-election Raises Fiscal Doubts
The dollar closed Friday at R$5.446, its highest close of 2026, after gaining more than 9% in a week, and the Ibovespa fell to 167,900 points.
World
Poland's Government Suspends the Constitutional Tribunal's President, and President Nawrocki Calls It a Forcible Seizure
Police deployed at the court in Warsaw as protesters gathered, and the president cut short a trip to Senegal.
Macro
Bank of Japan Holds at 1.25% and More Than Doubles the Pace of Its ETF Sales
The central bank will sell ¥860 billion a year at book value from January 2027, which would cut the time needed to empty its equity holdings from about 112 years to 43.
Macro
France's Economy Shrinks 0.1% in the Third Quarter as Inflation Rises to 3.4%
Investment fell 0.6%, the economy has now contracted in two of the last three quarters, and energy costs are pushing Europe to reconsider the planned closure of refineries.
Geopolitics
Washington Hosts Lavrov at the G20 in Atlanta and Cancels the Group Photo After European Objections
Lavrov said Europe had lost its chance to mediate in Ukraine, and a report says US officials asked NATO allies to moderate their warnings about Russia.
Geopolitics
US Approves a Sale of 500 Patriot Missiles to Ukraine as a Russian Strike Cuts Power and Water in Kyiv
Zelensky called the decision strong but warned that deliveries could take years, and Canada pledged €500 million toward a loan to cover Ukraine's 2027 budget gap.
World
Final Count Leaves Netanyahu's Bloc at 53 Seats, Eight Short of a Knesset Majority
Arab parties hold 19 seats, the result is due to be certified on November 4, and the dollar rose above 3.14 shekels this week.
Geopolitics
Canada and the EU Launch an "Alliance for the Future" Open to Other Countries
Prime Minister Mark Carney welcomed an offer of EU associate membership at the Montreal summit and said Canada's Parliament would vote on the final structure.