Economy
Euro area current account surplus narrows to €265bn, ECB says
ECB data show the euro area current account surplus fell to €265bn (1.6% of GDP) in the year to Q2 2026, while net international investment assets rose to €1.94tn.
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Economy
IMF: Western Hemisphere Growth Resilient Despite Global Shocks
IMF regional outlook says strong US demand, commodity prices and remittances are sustaining growth, while high public debt and trade uncertainty weigh on prospects.
Business
Venmo Credit Card Adds 1% Bonus for Splitting Dining and Entertainment Purchases
Venmo announced a new split-to-earn feature for its credit card, offering up to 4% cash back on dining and entertainment when purchases are split with friends.
Energy
IRENA: 1.5°C pathway needs 38.2 TW renewable power by 2050
IRENA's 2026 outlook says electricity must reach over half of final energy use by 2050, requiring 38.2 TW of renewables and USD 256 trillion in investment.
Business
Spotify to expand audiobooks from 22 to over 180 markets by end of 2026
Spotify said it will expand audiobook access from 22 to more than 180 markets by the end of 2026, reaching over 750 million people with more than 350,000 titles.
Technology
IBM and Red Hat Fix Over 400 Unknown Open Source Bugs
IBM and Red Hat say Lightwell found and remediated more than 400 previously unknown Java library vulnerabilities and launched Lightwell Clearinghouse.
Markets
Bailey: Financial Resilience Cannot Be Taken for Granted
Andrew Bailey says the financial system has weathered repeated shocks, but weaker growth, supply disruptions, rising debt and AI exposures create risks that require credible policy.
Markets
Waller: Fed Focused on Inflation, More Hikes Possible
Fed Governor Waller says policy will focus on inflation for now and he anticipates additional rate hikes if data meet expectations, after September's quarter-point increase.
Markets
Bank of England group runs cloud outage crisis simulation with 38 major firms
CMORG completed SIMEX26, a biennial exercise simulating a global cloud services disruption. 38 major banks and market infrastructure operators took part.
World
UNCTAD and Qatar to host World Investment Forum 2026 in Doha
UNCTAD and Qatar will convene the World Investment Forum 2026 in Doha on 25–27 October under the theme Investing in the future, with AI and energy on the agenda.
Markets
Bank of England holds Bank Rate at 3.75% as energy prices lift inflation
The Bank of England kept Bank Rate at 3.75% as inflation reached 3.1%, warning that higher energy prices could push inflation up further and risk longer-term effects.
Technology
IBM and MeitY Startup Hub Sign MoU to Accelerate Deep-Tech Innovation and Startup Growth in India
IBM and MeitY Startup Hub sign MoU to accelerate India's deep-tech startup ecosystem, offering access to IBM technology, mentorship, and enterprise engagement.
Energy
IEA: Global Oil Demand to Fall 2.6 mb/d in 2026 on War Disruptions
The IEA forecasts global oil demand to drop 2.6 mb/d in 2026 as the Iran war restricts fuel supplies and raises prices, with diesel hit hardest.
Technology
NVIDIA Adds cuPotential to CUDA-X for AI-Defined Fab Push
NVIDIA introduced cuPotential, a CUDA-X library for AI agents that simulate atomic interactions, as partners including Lam, KLA and Synopsys adopt its tools.
Energy
IRENA Council reviews 2026 outlook on renewable electrification
IRENA's 32nd Council in Abu Dhabi reviews the World Energy Transition Outlook 2026, discussing renewables-based electrification and energy security.
Markets
Atlanta Fed Beige Book: Sixth District Growth Modest, Employment Flat
The Atlanta Fed's October 2026 Beige Book reports modest Sixth District growth, flat employment, moderate prices and rising transportation costs.
Markets
Kansas City Fed: Tenth District Activity Steady, Costs Squeeze Margins
The Kansas City Fed's October 2026 Beige Book says Tenth District activity held steady, with cost pressures and labor constraints squeezing margins.
Markets
New York Fed Beige Book: Slight Growth, Renewed Price Pressure
The New York Fed's October 2026 Beige Book reports slight Second District growth led by manufacturing, with selling prices rising and tariff costs persisting.
Markets
Cleveland Fed Beige Book: Fourth District Activity Up Modestly
The Cleveland Fed's October 2026 Beige Book reports modest Fourth District growth, flat consumer spending, robust nonlabor cost pressure and hiring constrained by talent shortages.
Technology
Samsung hosts Silicon Valley Future Wireless Summit 2026
Samsung gathered telecom partners in Mountain View for a summit on AI-native networks and 6G, with panels on AI-native 6G, satellite connectivity and sensing.
Technology
Adobe and NVIDIA Expand Partnership for AI Creative Tools
Adobe is optimizing Photoshop, Premiere, Substance 3D, Frame.io and Brand Concierge on NVIDIA technology, including RTX Spark and Nemotron open models.
World
WTO import licensing committee reviews notifications and trade concerns
WTO Import Licensing Committee reviewed notification practices, surveyed workshop participants on difficulties, and addressed 14 trade concerns at its 15 October meeting.
Markets
Fed Note: Bond Safe-Haven Role Shifts With Inflation Pressures
A Federal Reserve note finds government bonds' hedging property depends on inflation pressures and the type of economic shock, with post-2021 dynamics differing from the low-inflation era.
Technology
Microsoft Opens €1m STEM and AI Hub at Grange Castle Data Centre
Microsoft has opened a €1m Dream Space hub at its Grange Castle data centre campus to teach STEM and AI skills to students in Dublin and Kildare.