Microsoft is offering voluntary buyouts to around 60,000 employees as it tries to balance a rapid AI infrastructure build-out with capital efficiency. The offer comes as the company continues pouring billions into data centers to support its artificial intelligence ambitions.

Anthropic, the company behind the Claude chatbot, told US regulators in its initial public offering filing that its own technology carries a 'catastrophic risk' to humanity. The disclosure makes Anthropic the first dedicated AI developer to pursue a US stock listing, with Alphabet and Amazon both named as existing investors.

Crude oil fell more than 2% as traders balanced the threat of further strikes on Saudi Arabian energy infrastructure against worries that high prices are starting to erode fuel demand. Both Brent and WTI benchmarks slipped in early trading.

Private equity firms poured $4 billion into defense technology startups in the first nine months of 2026, up from $500 million in 2024. Investors and analysts are now warning the sector shows signs of overheating.

Elon Musk claimed Ukraine's military violated Starlink's terms of service during drone operations against Russian forces. Kyiv rejected the accusation, saying it has used the satellite system within the bounds of its agreement with SpaceX.

Elon Musk said SpaceX has raised $40 billion in debt financing to fund graphics-processor purchases for its expanding AI and satellite operations. Musk predicted a coming shakeout among 'neocloud' firms that rent out AI computing capacity.

Creditors to JetBlue are working with restructuring adviser PJT Partners as the airline weighs its financial options. A surge in jet fuel costs tied to the Iran war has squeezed margins despite steady travel demand.

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has returned to Caracas after months in exile, according to fellow opposition figure Edmundo Gonzalez. Her return comes amid deepening doubts about the country's democratic process.

Canadian convenience-store operator Alimentation Couche-Tard has proposed an offer worth up to $8 billion for Cumberland Farms, The Times reported. The Massachusetts-based fuel and convenience chain would add hundreds of stores to Couche-Tard's North American network if the deal goes through.

Alaska Senate candidate Mary Peltola and a voters' rights group have sued to stop the Trump administration from blocking certification of the state's Senate race. The suits argue the administration has no legal basis to delay confirming results that preliminary counts show favor a Democratic win.

Amgen says a drug added to AstraZeneca's immunotherapy cuts the risk of death by 58% in patients with an aggressive form of lung cancer. The combination could give patients significantly more time to live.

Audi plans a new US assembly plant in Georgia expected to produce 200,000 SUVs a year, a government official said. President Trump is set to announce the deal personally.

Berkshire Hathaway shares have climbed to an all-time high, erasing all the ground lost after Warren Buffett's surprise 2025 announcement that he would step down as chief executive. The recovery took almost 18 months and marks the stock's strongest run since the leadership transition began.

Nvidia's expanding role as a financier of artificial-intelligence infrastructure is drawing fresh scrutiny after shares of several 'neocloud' companies that rent out its chips fell sharply this week. Analysts said the slide has raised questions about whether the AI data-center boom can generate enough revenue to cover its debt-fueled growth.

Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg has reached an arrangement with the company to help cover the cost of a proposed California wealth tax targeting billionaires. Zuckerberg had previously said he would consider leaving the state if the levy took effect.

Apple shares are trading near record highs and closing in on Nvidia's market capitalization, putting the iPhone maker on track to reclaim the title of world's most valuable company. Upcoming quarterly earnings could be the catalyst that pushes Apple's valuation past its AI-chip rival.

Qatar has struck a deal to purchase liquefied natural gas from US exporters, the latest sign of how the Iran war is reshaping global energy markets. Security concerns around the Strait of Hormuz are pushing buyers toward alternative supply routes, benefiting American LNG producers.

The White House will ease tariffs on a range of Canadian goods, including certain machinery, from October 30, while raising duties on others such as carpets. The adjustment comes as trade friction between Washington and Ottawa continues ahead of November's midterm elections.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 500 points on Friday as tensions in the Middle East intensified. Selling broadened beyond technology stocks into a wider market decline.

The U.S. Justice Department has sued to block Alaska from certifying its Senate race if the Republican candidate narrowly loses. The contest is one of several nationwide that could decide whether Republicans keep their slim Senate majority.