Jonathan Moules Published October 4 2026. Hello and welcome to the working week. The seasons are changing. This next one is going to be heavy on elections. This week is a prime example, both for national democracies and the Nobel Prize Committee, which votes on its prestigious awards.
While Brazilians start the week digesting their presidential election results, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham braces for another Westminster by-election. The Holborn and St Pancras seat, previously held by Sir Keir Starmer, is contested by Green Party leader Zack Polanski. Victory for Polanski would boost his movement after a summer of drift, but bookmakers say he is likely to lose to the Labour candidate. Quebecers elect a new government on Monday, potentially jeopardizing Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's leadership as the separatist Parti Québécois frontruns.
It's also Nobel Prize week. The literature prize will be announced Thursday, and the Peace Prize on Friday in Oslo. This year's recipient will not be Donald Trump, but he will indirectly influence judges as they avoid a repeat of last year's embarrassment. Paramount Skydance's $110bn merger with Warner Bros Discovery closes Tuesday, with Mattel CEO Ynon Kreiz named co-CEO of the merged group. Porsche hosts an investor day Wednesday. Interest rates are a theme as India's Monetary Policy Committee meets.
Source: Financial Times Companies · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing