Public Markets 24-Hour Briefing
×Last updated: October 22, 2026, 4:40 AM ET
Deals & Corporate Moves
London Stock Exchange Group agreed to buy credit-data specialist Octus from Permira for $3.5 billion. EQT reached a €9.6 billion deal to acquire molecular testing firm Qiagen, one of the largest take-private transactions in European history. CVC is exploring a bid for Verisure just one year after its IPO, with shares trading 30% below their flotation price. Abbott plans to spin off its nutrition business into an independent company, the unit at the center of baby formula lawsuits. Bridgepoint and Bain are among the bidders for UK wealth manager W1M.
Tech, AI & Musk Empire
Elon Musk says SpaceX and Tesla are exploring a merger, a move that would consolidate his holdings in rockets, cars and artificial intelligence. Tesla's profit slumped even as flat revenue and rising cash flow kept the company in focus. Meta will split its stock and create a new share class to fund AI spending, after reporting record third-quarter revenue of $64.6 billion. Meta was ordered to pay $25 billion over Cambridge Analytica privacy violations. SpaceX's strong results helped lift tech stocks out of their recent slump, while Mark Zuckerberg reportedly pushed Meta to shield him from California's proposed wealth tax. Nokia reported 17% growth in network infrastructure sales on AI and data-center demand. IBM posted a higher profit as delayed deals came through.
Markets & Rates
Treasuries climbed alongside the yen as AI-trade jitters fueled a haven bid. Stock futures dropped after megacap earnings failed to reassure investors, though U.S. stocks later rose on a SpaceX-driven relief rally. France's 10-year yield hit 5% for the first time since 2002 as public finance and political stability concerns mounted. The WSJ Dollar Index edged lower for a second straight session. Gold fell as higher oil fueled inflation fears ahead of the Fed meeting.
Asia & China Equities
China stocks are sinking into a bear market, with $2.4 trillion lost since a peak as policy hopes ebbed. Alibaba led a Hong Kong tech slide on a regulatory move, its steepest drop in two months. The Nikkei edged 0.3% higher as Wall Street gains offset Mideast worries. Jio's IPO drew overwhelming demand on day one even as the Nifty struggled, while India's margin-funded stock bets are heading for their first monthly drop since May. India's central bank has spent about $90bn defending the rupee. Indonesian stocks rebounded as the sovereign wealth fund showed support, even as Prabowo vowed not to be intimidated by MSCI. Nextdc recovered after a profit warning over protests at one of its sites.
Energy & Commodities
Oil rose on re-escalation fears in the Middle East, with deadly attacks in Saudi Arabia adding to supply worries. Middle East oil exports climbed back to prewar levels, defying Hormuz attacks. U.S. crude stockpiles fell more than expected. Natural gas futures extended their decline on lower heating demand. Copper fell with other industrial metals as AI-stock selling dulled risk appetite, while corn rose for a second day. Southwest cut its earnings outlook on rising fuel costs. China's petrochemical glut has turned into a crunch after months of war. The UK approved the Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea, though analysts say it is no drilling revival.
Politics & Geopolitics
The U.S. and Israel are drawing up plans for renewed strikes on Iran after Israeli elections. Washington ordered some personnel to leave Saudi Arabia after Houthi attacks. Russia released American Stephen Hubbard from prison. Afghanistan and Pakistan have entered open war, with both sides turning to proxy groups. Trump's approval hit a new low two weeks before the midterms, with likely voters favoring Democrats by 11 points. Macron accused Trump of distorting France's troubles.
Coming Up
Brazil's presidential runoff takes place on October 25, with Flávio Bolsonaro's Petrobras plans in focus. ASX will unveil more details of its strategy in 2027.