SEBI Not Actively Reviewing Ban on Stock Exchanges Listing Their Own Shares, Says Chairman
- SEBI Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey said the regulator is not actively reviewing its ban on stock exchanges listing their own shares, Business Standard reported.
- The issue resurfaced following the reported public listing of the National Stock Exchange (NSE). Pandey had previously said on September 17 that NSE cannot trade its own shares on its platform, according to IANS.
- Pandey explained that stock exchanges perform regulatory functions and allowing them to oversee trading in their own shares could create conflicts of interest.
- However, SEBI remains open to studying safeguards and regulatory models used in the United States and Europe.
- Separately, Pandey announced plans for a consultation paper on simplifying compliance requirements for foreign portfolio investors (FPIs), CNBC-TV18 reported.
Goldman Sachs Sees DRAM Price Rally Extending Into 2028; HBM Revenue Forecast to Surge Over 230% in 2027
- Goldman Sachs expects the memory-chip market to remain strong in 2027, with server demand and limited supply expansion supporting further price increases.
- TrendForce forecasts that DRAM prices could continue rising through the first half of 2028, even as consumer electronics demand remains weak.
- Long-term supply agreements could cover 60%–70% of the market, reflecting tight availability and growing demand for memory used in AI infrastructure.
- The report projects HBM average selling prices will rise 122% year-on-year to $3.70 per gigabit in 2027, with global HBM market revenue expected to grow more than 230% to above $200 billion.
- Goldman Sachs reiterated its Buy ratings on Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, setting 12-month price targets of ₩500,000 and ₩3.5 million, respectively.
- The brokerage maintained its ₩380,000 target price for Samsung Electronics preferred shares.
Spark Capital: India’s 13% Market Decline Is Not Yet a Buying Opportunity
- A senior executive at Spark Capital Advisors said India’s equity market correction may not yet be deep enough to attract investors back into the market.
- The Nifty 50 has fallen around 13% this year, putting it on track for its weakest annual performance in more than a decade, according to the report.
- Slowing economic growth, elevated crude oil prices and stretched valuations could limit the potential for a sustained market recovery.
- The correction follows a decade in which the Nifty 50 nearly doubled in value, highlighting the contrast between its previous strong performance and the current market downturn.
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SEBI to Seek Public Feedback on Simplifying FPI Rules; Beneficial Ownership Disclosures Under Review
- SEBI Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey said on Wednesday that the regulator will issue a consultation paper on simplifying foreign portfolio investor (FPI) compliance and onboarding, CNBC-TV18 reported.
- Pandey said FPI onboarding timelines have improved, but India’s compliance requirements remain more demanding than those in other markets.
- The proposed review follows earlier measures, including SWAGAT-FI, a single-window access mechanism for trusted foreign investors introduced in January, and digitally signed powers of attorney enabled in August.
- Separately, The Economic Times reported that SEBI is considering easing beneficial ownership disclosure requirements introduced after the Hindenburg controversy for certain concentrated FPIs.
- Potential changes could include exemptions for some public sector undertaking (PSU) holdings, although no final decision has been announced.
Wall Street Divided on US Treasury Outlook as Inflation, Fiscal Deficits and Fed Policy Pressure Yields
- UBS sees Treasury yields potentially nearing a cyclical peak and expects modest declines over the next 12 months. However, persistent inflation, geopolitical risks and fiscal deficits could keep long-term yields elevated.
- Standard Chartered said safe-haven demand following Middle East tensions and AI-related equity selling supported Treasuries after the October 22 move pushed the 10-year yield to 4.97%. It warned that rising oil prices and expectations of further Fed hikes could limit any recovery.
- Goldman Sachs expects upward pressure on long-term yields from higher energy prices, heavy government bond issuance and weak institutional demand. Inflation concerns could keep the term premium elevated as investors hesitate to lock in long-term rates.
- BlackRock upgraded short-dated Treasuries to overweight and downgraded long-dated securities to neutral. It sees attractive yields in shorter maturities and believes markets may be overstating near-term Fed hikes, while fiscal and inflation uncertainty warrant caution on longer bonds.
- DBS expects continued pressure for the yield curve to steepen. Short-term yields already reflect multiple Fed hikes, while 10- to 30-year yields remain sensitive to term premiums, bond supply and long-term inflation risks.
- State Street reported that US two-year and 10-year Treasury yields rose approximately 57 basis points and 49 basis points, respectively, in September. Investment-grade credit spreads remained broadly stable, while high-yield spreads widened.
- PIMCO said rising Treasury yields have already tightened financial conditions, partly offsetting stimulus from equity-market gains and AI investment. A 25-basis-point Fed hike in December remains possible, but higher long-term rates could encourage policymakers to proceed more cautiously.
AI Investment Boom Fuels US Growth but Raises Inflation Risks and Complicates Fed Policy
- Asset managers and the San Francisco Federal Reserve warn that surging AI investment and wealth effects from rising equity markets are supporting US demand, potentially making inflation harder to control.
- PIMCO says AI-related capital spending is relatively insensitive to interest rates, meaning further Fed hikes could hit real estate and traditional industries harder before significantly slowing AI investment. It favours a more gradual tightening approach.
- The San Francisco Fed says AI infrastructure demand is pushing up technology-equipment demand and prices, although evidence of broader AI-driven inflation spillovers remains limited. Longer-term productivity gains could eventually help ease inflation.
- Goldman Sachs Asset Management estimates that approximately $1 trillion in AI capital expenditure, alongside government spending, has supported economic activity. Its tracked estimate puts US third-quarter GDP growth at around 3.4%.
- Goldman expects one more Fed rate hike this year but says further tightening into 2027 is uncertain if inflation moderates. It also warns that higher technology prices are contributing to goods inflation.
- Morgan Stanley highlights rising financing costs for data-centre projects. The US five-year Treasury yield has climbed more than 100 basis points since January, while wider credit spreads are adding to funding pressures.
- BlackRock warns that investors need to scrutinise AI project returns and financing sustainability, while growing demand for electricity and other resources could create supply bottlenecks and additional inflationary pressure.
- Citi Wealth Management and US Bank say AI investment is increasingly supporting the broader economy, corporate spending and consumption. However, persistent inflation, elevated interest rates and geopolitical risks remain concerns, while a sharp AI investment slowdown could amplify economic weakness.
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Merck and Moderna’s Personalised Cancer Vaccine Cuts Melanoma Recurrence Risk by 42% in Phase 3 Trial
- Merck and Moderna said their personalised mRNA cancer vaccine, combined with Keytruda, reduced the risk of melanoma recurrence or death by 42% in a Phase 3 clinical trial.
- The treatment is designed to work alongside Keytruda, Merck’s immunotherapy drug, to help the immune system fight cancer after surgery.
- Researchers told Science that the benefit may partly result from a broader immune-system boost rather than solely from the vaccine’s ability to target tumour-specific mutations.
- Experts raised concerns about the treatment’s potential cost and the approximately six-week manufacturing period required to produce personalised doses, which could affect accessibility and delivery.
- AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot reportedly told analysts that his company believes it can also make progress in the field, according to Quartz.
Nomura Initiates Coverage on Jio Platforms With Buy Rating, ₹1,340 Target; Prefers Bharti Airtel
- Nomura has initiated coverage of Jio Platforms with a Buy rating and a ₹1,340 price target, implying approximately 20% upside from its ₹1,119 IPO price.
- The brokerage cited potential telecom tariff hikes, broadband subscriber growth and stronger cash flow as key drivers of Jio’s outlook.
- Nomura expects Jio Platforms to become net debt-free by FY2029, supported by improving cash generation.
- The approximately ₹30,200-crore IPO is described in the report as India’s largest public offering, with trading scheduled to begin on Wednesday.
- Despite its positive view on Jio, Nomura named Bharti Airtel as its top telecom-sector pick, calling Airtel’s valuation discount to Jio “unjustified.”
- Motilal Oswal also recommends holding Jio Platforms for the long term.
US War Costs Against Iran Top $47 Billion as Ammunition Stockpiles Come Under Pressure
- A Refinitiv review of Pentagon data estimates that the US military has spent more than $47 billion on operations against Iran, exceeding the Pentagon’s July estimate by over 25%.
- More than $29 billion has gone toward replenishing expended ammunition, while over $6 billion has been spent replacing military equipment. The estimate does not include repairs to US bases damaged by Iranian missile and drone strikes.
- According to The New York Times, the conflict has depleted supplies of key weapons, including Patriot air-defence interceptors, and prompted the diversion of military equipment from US commands in Asia and Europe.
- More than 50,000 US military personnel have reportedly been assigned to the operation, according to US Central Command figures cited by the newspaper.
- The reported service-level costs include $7.6 billion for the Air Force, $1.5 billion for the Navy’s deployment of more than 20 warships, and $2.1 billion for the Army’s regional troop deployment.
- Despite President Donald Trump’s suspension of renewed large-scale military operations, the Pentagon reportedly incurred approximately $3.5 billion in additional costs over six weeks following its previous estimate to lawmakers.
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OpenAI Reportedly Plans to Buy Google’s AI Chips to Reduce Reliance on Nvidia
- OpenAI is reportedly planning to purchase Google’s Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) as it seeks to diversify its AI computing infrastructure and reduce dependence on Nvidia, The Information reported.
- The potential deal would represent a significant win for Google’s AI chip business, which competes with Nvidia’s GPUs in the market for AI computing.
- OpenAI is recruiting an engineer to lead the optimisation of its frontier AI models for TPUs, suggesting that the work may still be at an early stage.
- The financial terms, purchase volume and implementation timeline have not been disclosed.
- The Information previously reported that OpenAI had begun using Google TPUs last year, prompting renewed attention to competition in AI chips and reportedly preceding a new Nvidia–OpenAI agreement.
- An OpenAI spokesperson said the company had “currently no plans to use TPUs exclusively,” indicating that any potential adoption would not necessarily replace Nvidia hardware entirely.
Major Banks Expect Fed to Hold Rates in October, With December Hike Widely Forecast; BofA Dissents
- Most major banks expect the Federal Reserve to hold interest rates steady at its October FOMC meeting and deliver a 25-basis-point hike in December.
- Goldman Sachs, Citigroup, Crédit Agricole, Nomura, TD Securities, Huatai Securities, Morgan Stanley and BNY Mellon broadly support the October pause followed by December tightening.
- TD Securities and Morgan Stanley expect two additional 25-basis-point hikes—in December and March, while BNY Mellon sees the peak policy rate moving slightly above 4.5%.
- Further tightening remains conditional on inflation. Several forecasters expect the Fed’s next moves to depend on incoming economic data and price pressures.
- Citigroup warned that a sustained equity-market decline that sharply tightens financial conditions could increase the likelihood of the Fed shifting toward rate cuts.
- Moody’s also argues against an October hike, citing rising economic risks and bond-market signals that suggest less need for immediate tightening.
- Bank of America is the notable outlier, arguing that an October rate hike would preserve flexibility for December and help address persistent inflation risks.
Oil Prices Rise as Houthis Claim Missile Strike on Saudi Arabia’s Largest Refinery
- Brent crude rose 1.00% to $110.85 per barrel, while US WTI crude gained 0.90% to $100.43, as renewed Middle East tensions lifted supply-risk concerns.
- Houthi rebels claimed they had fired missiles at Saudi Arabia’s largest refinery. Saudi authorities have not confirmed the attack or reported any damage or operational disruption.
- The price increase reflects a renewed geopolitical risk premium, despite expectations of a modest rise in US crude inventories.
- Traders are also monitoring speculation that Israel could resume strikes on Iran, alongside developments ahead of Sunday’s OPEC+ meeting and this week’s US inventory data.
- The key uncertainty is whether the reported attack caused lasting damage to refining capacity. Until damage or disruption is confirmed, the market reaction remains driven primarily by geopolitical headlines rather than verified supply losses.
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China’s CSI 300 Hits 14-Month Low as $6.8 Billion State Buying Fails to Revive Sentiment
- China’s CSI 300 index fell to a 14-month low on Tuesday as technology stocks resumed their decline following a brief rebound, The New York Times reported.
- The index entered a bear market on October 22, the same day state-backed investors reportedly injected $6.8 billion into the market.
- The purchases marked the largest state-fund buying in more than a year, but failed to restore investor confidence or reverse the broader sell-off.
- Morgan Stanley warned that Chinese stocks could fall another 10%–15%, while UBS said a sustained recovery in market sentiment was unlikely in the near term.
SK Hynix Posts Record Quarterly Results as AI Boom Fuels Chip Shortages Through 2030
- SK Hynix reported record quarterly operating profit of KRW 83.3 trillion and revenue of KRW 104.6 trillion, exceeding consensus estimates of KRW 76.7 trillion and KRW 98.3 trillion, respectively.
- Quarterly operating profit increased more than sevenfold year-on-year, reflecting strong demand for memory chips used in AI infrastructure.
- The company expects memory-chip supply shortages to persist through 2030, citing rising manufacturing complexity at advanced process nodes and lengthy timelines for building new fabrication facilities.
- SK Hynix said its DRAM and high-bandwidth memory (HBM) capacity through 2029 is fully sold out, while server DDR5 DRAM shipments increased more than 40% quarter-on-quarter.
- The company expects enterprise and consumer AI adoption to drive near-term demand, with autonomous vehicles and robotics supporting longer-term growth.
- SK Hynix announced an additional KRW 100 trillion shareholder-return programme for 2026. Separate market reports also said the company plans to cancel recently repurchased shares.
- South Korea’s KOSPI climbed as much as 5% intraday, with Samsung Electronics rising 7% and SK Hynix gaining 5.8%, amid optimism over AI-related semiconductor demand.
- The company plans to return at least ₩90 trillion to shareholders in 2026 through dividends and share buybacks, alongside a special dividend linked to Kioxia.
- The Nvidia supplier expects memory demand to outstrip supply through 2030, with long-term agreements already covering more than 50% of its production capacity for 2027–28.
WSJ: US Warns Gulf States of Possible Intense Strike on Iran After Midterm Elections
- The United States has reportedly asked several Gulf Arab states to prepare for a possible short but intense military operation against Iran after the US midterm elections, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
- Washington and Israel are reportedly preparing for potential new strikes intended to weaken Tehran and pressure Iran into negotiations, raising the risk of a wider regional escalation.
- The US military is reportedly deploying a Patriot air-defence system from Texas, repositioning troops away from vulnerable bases and replenishing ammunition supplies.
- Bombers and fighter jets are reportedly preparing for potential operations, while another aircraft carrier strike group and a Marine expeditionary unit are expected to join US forces in the Middle East next month.
- The report said roughly 20 warships are already operating in the region, although some could be rotated out as additional forces arrive.
- President Donald Trump has not made a final decision, according to the report. Sources said he favours a possible large-scale operation after the elections, potentially targeting Iranian infrastructure and nuclear facilities.
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US Durable Goods Orders Rise 1.8% as Treasury Yields Climb Ahead of Fed Decision
- US durable goods orders rose 1.8% in September, slightly exceeding expectations, with transportation equipment leading the increase.
- Treasury yields moved higher ahead of the Federal Reserve’s policy decision, with the 10-year yield reaching 4.997% versus 4.987% on Monday and the 2-year yield rising to 4.731% from 4.712%.
- Markets expect the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) to hold rates steady at its upcoming decision, while market expectations point to a possible resumption of rate hikes in December.
- At the October 27 five-year Treasury auction, the stop-out yield fell to 4.845% from 5.03%, while the bid-to-cover ratio improved to 2.33 from 2.21. The US Treasury’s buyback of 20- to 30-year securities reached its $6 billion cap.
- The six-week Treasury bill auction recorded a 3.95% high rate, down from 3.98%, while its bid-to-cover ratio rose to 2.83 from 2.74. The one-year Treasury auction stop-out yield declined to 4.29% from 4.40%.
- Standard Chartered strategists said rising US equities alongside higher Treasury yields can support risk-sensitive currencies such as the Canadian dollar, Australian dollar, Norwegian krone, Mexican peso and New Zealand dollar—provided rising yields reflect stronger growth rather than inflation fears or a higher term premium.
US Core Capital Goods Shipments Jump 1.2% in September, Signalling Strong Business Investment
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Trump Says US to Receive 1 Million Barrels of Venezuelan Oil, Signals Much Larger Supplies
- US President Donald Trump said the United States will receive an initial shipment of 1 million barrels of Venezuelan crude oil, with further supplies potentially reaching billions of barrels.
- Trump described the shipment as part of an expanded US-Venezuela relationship and claimed the oil would come at no cost to American taxpayers.
- He said the initial delivery could be followed by what he called the largest oil deal in history, although specific volumes, timelines and contractual terms were not disclosed in the statement.
- Trump linked the move to his administration’s energy policy, saying it would strengthen US energy dominance across the Western Hemisphere.
- He also predicted that gasoline and diesel prices would fall, but provided no timeline or supporting price projections.
Russian Crude Oil Exports to Fall in November as Refinery Processing Rebounds 25%
- Russian crude oil exports from Baltic and Black Sea ports are expected to decline by 100,000–200,000 barrels per day in November compared with October, Reuters reported, citing traders.
- The anticipated decline is attributed to refineries ending maintenance, increasing crude processing and raising diesel production to meet demand under a reported US-Russia diesel supply agreement.
- Russian refinery crude processing rebounded to approximately 5 million barrels per day in the second half of October, up around 25% from the beginning of the month, according to Reuters sources.
- Daily diesel production increased by at least 50,000 tonnes in October to 225,000 tonnes, with approximately 80,000 tonnes per day available for export.
- Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian refineries had previously disrupted production, contributed to domestic fuel shortages and prompted temporary restrictions on exports of refined petroleum products.
- Export plans remain uncertain because of continuing risks to Russian energy infrastructure, loading delays at the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk and declining Russian crude oil production.
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Boeing Shares Plunge 9.5% as 737 MAX Production Ramp Slips and 2027 Cash Flow Misses Estimates
- Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg said the company will not reach a steady production rate of 47 737 MAX jets per month until early 2027, putting its target of delivering 500 aircraft at risk, Reuters reported.
- Changes to the wing production process failed to deliver the expected efficiency gains. Boeing now targets increasing production to 52 jets per month in the second half of 2027.
- Boeing forecast approximately $3 billion in free cash flow for 2027, below analyst expectations, triggering a sharp share-price decline of around 9.5% to an 18-month low.
- Supplier shortages and factory disruptions are expected to continue into 2027, creating additional production costs. Third-quarter disruptions affected the KC-46A tanker and 777 freighter programmes.
- Boeing’s regulatory filings indicate that the 777-8 is not expected to make its first delivery before 2030.
Boeing Posts Bigger-Than-Expected Q3 Loss as Commercial Aircraft Costs Rise; Backlog Hits Record $745 Billion
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Japan to Urge Households to Stockpile Emergency Supplies From November 2 Amid Megaquake Risks
- Japan is preparing to issue a nationwide emergency request on November 2, 2026, urging households to stockpile essential supplies, according to statements attributed to the country’s Disaster Management Minister.
- The announcement is planned to coincide with the launch of Japan’s new National Disaster Management Agency, which will coordinate disaster preparedness, emergency response, recovery and reconstruction.
- The initiative focuses on natural disaster readiness, including risks from a potential megaquake along the Nankai Trough, an earthquake beneath the Tokyo metropolitan area and a possible eruption of Mount Fuji.
- Authorities warn that major disasters could overwhelm regional emergency services and disrupt transport networks, supply chains and deliveries to shops.
- Households are being urged to maintain supplies for at least three days, with a one-week stockpile recommended wherever possible.
- Rather than relying solely on emergency rations, residents are encouraged to build reserves by regularly buying extra quantities of everyday essentials and rotating them into normal household use.
Oracle Expands Nvidia Partnership, Adds Google, Cerebras and SambaNova AI Chips
- Oracle (ORCL) is expanding its collaboration with Nvidia (NVDA), planning to deploy cloud AI servers powered by Nvidia’s next-generation Vera Rubin chips at gigawatt scale.
- The company will diversify its computing infrastructure by introducing Google’s Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) and AI inference chips from Cerebras Systems and SambaNova Systems.
- Oracle also plans to use its own Acceleron networking chips in some Nvidia-powered servers, replacing certain Nvidia networking products.
- Oracle said different AI workloads require different levels of computing power, making a diversified chip supply important for balancing performance, throughput and cost.
- Cerebras CEO Andrew Feldman said the Oracle partnership would significantly expand the company’s customer base and strengthen its presence in third-party data centres.
- Oracle has not disclosed how the expanded chip procurement will be financed. Last month, it said customers were increasingly bearing chip procurement costs and maintained its FY2027 capital expenditure target of approximately $90 billion–$95 billion.
Nitin Gadkari Calls E20 Petrol Backlash a “Paid Campaign”; Centre Allows Flex-Fuel Vehicles to Run on E100
- Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said public anger over E20 petrol was a “paid campaign” that has now subsided, speaking at a CII event on Tuesday.
- Gadkari claimed more than 20 crore two-wheelers have used E20 petrol blends for three years, with no verified evidence of widespread engine failures.
- Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri reportedly described the criticism as a “contrived narrative” and ruled out increasing ethanol blending beyond 20% for now, according to The Telegraph.
- The remarks came a day after the Centre notified rules allowing flex-fuel vehicles to operate on petrol blends containing up to 100% ethanol (E100).
Reuters Poll Cuts India’s FY27 GDP Growth Forecast to 7.1% as Iran War Fuels Global Inflation Risks
- A Reuters poll published on October 27 forecasts India’s GDP growth at 7.1% in FY2026-27, down from an earlier estimate of 7.7%, as higher energy costs linked to the Iran conflict weigh on the outlook.
- Economists expect Indian inflation to remain above the RBI’s 4% target through 2027, with two additional repo rate increases anticipated by March, according to the poll.
- The RBI’s reported rate increase to 5.5% on October 7 marks a shift toward tighter monetary policy amid inflationary pressures.
- Pantheon Macroeconomics economist Miguel Chanco described growth of around 7% as “probably just average” for India, while economists warn that strong headline growth may not translate into sufficient youth employment.
- The wider Reuters poll found economists raised their 2027 inflation forecasts for 31 of 50 economies, including 15 of 21 developed economies.
- Oil prices have remained above $100 per barrel since October 7, amid the US-Israeli war with Iran, while AI investment continues to support some growth forecasts.
- HSBC Chief Economist Janet Henry warned that inflation could prove more persistent, with economists anticipating potential rate increases by the US Federal Reserve and Bank of England by December.
Iran Says Tanker Hit Sea Mines Near Strait of Hormuz and Caught Fire; Claim Remains Unverified
- Iran’s navy said on Tuesday that an unidentified tanker caught fire after striking sea mines east of the Strait of Hormuz, AFP reported.
- Iranian authorities claimed the vessel had switched off its tracking system before attempting to pass through the area.
- Tehran warned that the strait remains closed to ships that do not coordinate their passage with Iranian authorities.
- The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global energy route, carrying approximately one-fifth of the world’s oil supply.
- Separately, an analyst told The Maritime Executive that a ship fire off Iraq marked the 10th suspected Iranian strike on a vessel in October.
- The tanker incident and Iran’s account have not been independently confirmed.
Boeing Posts Bigger-Than-Expected Q3 Loss as Commercial Aircraft Costs Rise; Backlog Hits Record $745 Billion
- Boeing reported a third-quarter core loss of 34 cents per share, wider than analysts’ expectations of a 21-cent loss, Reuters reported.
- Revenue increased 4% to $24.2 billion, but rising production and supply-chain costs continued to weigh on the business.
- The Commercial Airplanes division recorded a $697 million loss, while the 737 production rate has yet to reach 47 aircraft per month.
- Defense revenue rose 15%, supported by improved performance in the segment.
- Boeing’s total order backlog reached a record $745 billion, highlighting strong demand across its businesses.
- CEO Kelly Ortberg said, “we are not done,” ahead of the company’s analyst call on Tuesday.
US CENTCOM Rejects Iran’s Claim of US Withdrawal From Strait of Hormuz, Says Forces Remain on Alert
- US Central Command (CENTCOM) rejected claims by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy that American forces had withdrawn from the Strait of Hormuz and retreated hundreds of kilometres.
- CENTCOM said US forces deployed across the Middle East remain present and on alert in the strait and surrounding waters.
- The command cited the activities of its commander over the weekend as evidence of the continued US military presence in the region.
- CENTCOM asserted that the international waterway is controlled by the US military and its regional partners, rejecting Iran’s claim.
UN Warns Middle East Conflict Threatens Global Economic Stability as West Asia Investment Falls 52%
- UN officials at the World Investment Forum 2026 in Doha warned that supply-chain disruptions and rising energy costs linked to the Middle East conflict pose serious risks to global economic stability.
- UNCTAD’s latest Global Investment Trends Monitor found that greenfield investment project announcements in West Asia fell 52% in the first half of 2026.
- Soaring energy, freight and insurance costs are increasing the financial burden on businesses and disrupting international trade.
- A Deloitte analysis estimated that more than 10 million barrels per day of Gulf oil supply remained offline in August, contributing to inflationary pressures.
- Higher energy costs have also complicated central banks’ efforts to control inflation, increasing pressure on monetary policy.
Trump Calls Iran Ceasefire a “Waste of Time” as US Reportedly Weighs Strikes Within 96 Hours
- US President Donald Trump described the earlier ceasefire with Iran as “sort of a waste of time” at a rally in Mississippi on Monday and claimed Iran started the war.
- US officials told CNN that American forces could launch major strikes against Iranian energy, military and nuclear targets within 96 hours if an order is given. Trump has not made a final decision, according to the report.
- Trump also touted the US naval blockade as pressure on Tehran.
- Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned of a “harsher and more devastating” response to further attacks, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency.
- Tehran has accused Washington of lacking seriousness in diplomatic negotiations, raising doubts about the prospects for a renewed agreement.
Anthropic Warns AI Disasters Could Overwhelm Insurance Industry in Nasdaq IPO Filing
- Anthropic, the developer of Claude AI, warned in its IPO filing that a catastrophic AI incident could generate losses beyond the capacity of the entire insurance industry, Fortune reported.
- The company’s S-1 registration document, filed Monday for a proposed Nasdaq listing, highlights the limited availability of insurance specifically designed to cover AI-related risks.
- According to Insurance Business, insurance did not fully cover Anthropic’s reported $1.5 billion copyright settlement involving Bartz, while some of the company’s contracts include uncapped indemnity obligations.
- The filing’s risk factors section spans more than 90 pages and warns that advanced AI systems could pose existential risks.
- Axios reported that Anthropic also disclosed concerns about models exhibiting blackmail-like behaviour, underscoring potential risks from increasingly capable AI systems.
Qatar Pushes US-Iran Deal as Gulf Envoys Seek De-Escalation and Reopening of Strait of Hormuz
- Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said Iran must stop threatening Gulf states and reopen the Strait of Hormuz for diplomatic mediation to succeed, according to Al Arabiya.
- Senior officials from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday and agreed to continue talks, according to reports.
- The three countries are members of the Mecca defence pact, and their meeting marked a renewed diplomatic effort to ease regional tensions.
- The New York Times reported that Qatar is proposing a five-day US-Iran exchange of concessions, involving the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz in return for lifting the US naval blockade.
- US President Donald Trump has threatened another strike, adding urgency to efforts to prevent further escalation.