Roundup: Berkshire raises Lennar stake to 11.2% as buying appears to slow

This roundup covers Berkshire Hathaway raising its Lennar stake to 11.2% this week, although its buying appears to be slowing. Berkshire disclosed purchases of $53.6 million of Lennar Class A shares and $329,000 of super-voting Class B shares on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Berkshire's position totals 26.6 million shares valued at $2.1 billion based on Friday's closing prices. Morgan Stanley began coverage Thursday with an underweight rating and a $65 price target, almost 19% below today's closing price. Forbes also reported that Warren Buffett regained tenth place among the world's richest billionaires, with an estimated fortune of $143 billion on Friday.

Analysis: US curbs on Chinese technology raise costs and risk slowing innovation

US restrictions on Chinese technology are raising costs and could hinder American companies' ability to compete with Chinese rivals. US officials cite protection of sensitive data and incentives for domestic manufacturing as reasons for the restrictions. Companies replacing Chinese components face limited alternative suppliers, higher prices and lengthy production transfers. Kopin chief executive Michael Murray estimates that making some micro display components in the US costs as much as 25% more. Ghost Robotics faces a January ban affecting magnets whose raw material comes from China. Gavin Kenneally of Ghost Robotics said the supply-chain problem is extremely difficult in the short term, but the bans have stimulated domestic production over the long term.

Nearly 1,400 lose jobs at Ohio truck factory days before Trump rally

Nearly 1,400 workers were laid off on Wednesday at the former Navistar truck factory in southwestern Ohio, three days before President Donald Trump's nearby rally. The layoffs were large enough to effectively erase an entire year of job growth in the greater Dayton area. Some laid-off workers are campaigning for Democrats ahead of the November election because of concerns about inflation and the economy. Workers expect Roshel, the armored-vehicle manufacturer buying the plant, to rehire them in six to 12 months. Roshel said it is working to protect the current workforce and more than double it over the coming years through a phased process. The White House said Trump's tax cuts and trade deals have helped Ohio.

UK investment bosses warn capital gains tax rise would deter equity investors

Chief executives of the UK's largest investment sites warned that increasing capital gains tax in the upcoming Budget could deter savers from investing in shares. The bosses said a rise could undermine the government's aim of encouraging more people to invest and support the UK's equity market. The main higher rate increased from 20% to 24% in the 2024 Budget. Quilter chief executive Steven Levin said investors could defer asset sales in response to a further increase. Higher capital gains tax could also encourage investors to buy gilts, which are exempt from the tax, instead of shares.

Opinion: US-China rivalry could last decades, with other powers shaping the outcome

Rana Foroohar argues that US-China strategic competition will last for generations, with no resolution in sight. Foroohar compares the rivalry to the century-long Great Game between Britain and Russia, rather than a conflict that ends with a decisive war. Foroohar argues that China's maritime infrastructure, industrial capacity and expanding technological influence challenge US financial and technology advantages. China owns 60% of Peru's Chancay port and has exclusive operational rights at the facility. Foroohar argues that stronger international institutions and the EU give other countries more bargaining power than their 19th-century counterparts had. Foroohar concludes that the choices of outside powers, not just US and Chinese ambitions, may decide the competition.

Opinion: Reducing FICO's dominance will do little to help US homeowners

The author argues that reducing FICO's dominance in mortgage credit scoring will do little to improve US housing affordability. Federal housing chief Bill Pulte has proposed more competition among consumer credit agencies. Under the plan, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will be able to accept VantageScore ratings on an equal footing with FICO. VantageScore's backers cite research identifying at least 5 million mortgage-ready borrowers that FICO would have missed. The author considers broader mortgage access at slightly lower rates plausible, but some asset managers worry about weaker underwriting standards. The author warns that investor concerns could lead to discounts on asset-backed bonds, undermining the government's housing strategy.

Analysis: Polymarket's Alpha traders make an estimated $40 million profit since 2024

Alpha, an invitation-only group of about 30 Polymarket traders, has collectively made an estimated $40 million in profits since 2024. Members share research, expertise and capital through a private Discord server to exploit mispriced event contracts. A Centre for Economic Policy Research study found that two-thirds of Polymarket users lost money, while 0.1% of profitable traders captured half the profits. Successful members describe substantial personal costs, including anxiety, damaged relationships and compulsive trading. Political science PhD student jep-g said he was attending gambling-addiction meetings in August and wanted to prioritise his dissertation and rebuild relationships.

SJP overhauls adviser loan scheme to reduce disruption to clients

St James's Place has overhauled its adviser loan scheme to help reduce disruption to clients when their adviser leaves the firm. SJP has launched a digital tool that gives advisers faster access to client data and provides instant business valuations. The scheme has faced criticism over clients receiving insufficient service after transfers to new advisers despite paying fees. Financial consumer advocate Robin Powell said the changes mainly benefit SJP by retaining assets and fees when advisers leave for rivals. SJP chief client officer Rob Sanders said clients can choose their adviser and whether to remain with SJP or go elsewhere.

More than 20 NHS trusts stop using Palantir waiting-list tools, analysis finds

More than 20 NHS trusts in England have stopped using Palantir's waiting-list tools, an analysis of freedom of information responses found. NHS England claims that more than 300,000 patients have been flagged for removal from waiting lists across 40 trusts benefiting from two care co-ordination tools. However, more than half of those trusts no longer used the tools. The Office for Statistics Regulation has opened a new investigation into NHS England's claims about the Federated Data Platform. The analysis also found flaws in NHS England's claim that 1.2 million patients had been removed from waiting lists using another platform tool. Palantir said the two co-ordination tools are typically used most heavily after installation to correct legacy data errors. NHS England said nearly 140 NHS organisations across England had reported benefits from the platform's range of tools.

Opinion: Hollywood's tech villain films obscure the industry's growing AI ties

The author argues that new films portraying Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk and Sam Altman as villains obscure Hollywood's growing ties to artificial intelligence. The films are The Social Reckoning, Musk and Artificial. The author argues that compelling actors can make even hostile portrayals attractive to audiences. Amazon dropped Artificial soon after agreeing to invest $50 billion in OpenAI, although unnamed sources attributed the decision to perceived poor quality. Netflix used AI in around 300 titles during the first half of 2026 alone. The author argues that growing control of Hollywood by Jeff Bezos and Larry Ellison could discourage future major films about flawed technology leaders.

FieldAI reportedly raises $700 million at $10 billion valuation

FieldAI reportedly raised $700 million at a $10 billion valuation, more than quadrupling its $2 billion valuation in just over a year. Business Insider reported on Friday that the venture capital firm leading the round was unclear. Business Insider cited a person familiar with the deal saying FieldAI added at least $35 million in revenue and customer contracts since June. The additions brought the total to more than $135 million, according to that person. FieldAI did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Citrini Research found that most humanoid robots remain in development, training or remotely operated demonstrations, with real-world deployments generally closer to pilots than clear return-on-investment cases.

Apple plans macOS alerts when AI agents seek access to user data

Apple plans to update macOS to notify users whenever AI agents attempt to access system data. Apple warned that some developers use the Full Disk Access permission in ways that could expose sensitive information without users' full knowledge and understanding. Apple plans new security controls requiring explicit user action to grant this level of access. Reuters reported that some users accused Meta Platforms' Muse AI agent of accessing private messages. Meta spokesperson Andy Stone denied those claims last week, saying Muse can access Apple's Messages app only if users explicitly opt in.

Taiwan foreign minister plans Arizona visit to deepen economic ties

Taiwan's foreign minister is set to visit Arizona for meetings with local officials and semiconductor companies. Taiwan seeks to deepen economic ties with the US amid sensitive US-China relations over Taiwan's status.

Saudi Arabia reportedly plans Houthi offensive to secure Red Sea route

Reuters reported Friday that Saudi Arabia is considering an offensive against Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen to secure the Red Sea route around Bab el-Mandeb. The offensive could involve more than 100,000 Yemeni troops, depending on its scale. The options range from a limited coastal attack to a broader campaign across several fronts, according to Reuters. The operation's timing remains uncertain, with estimates ranging from within a week to after the U.S. midterm elections in early November. Washington is providing intelligence support but no direct combat role, according to Reuters. The Saudi government and U.S. military did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Analysis: Citadel Securities expects retail stock buyers to return in Q4

Citadel Securities expects retail investors to return to US stocks in the fourth quarter after trading activity weakened in September. Bloomberg said retail share trading fell to 0.94 times its one-year average in September, the lowest level of 2026. Most companies cannot repurchase shares before earnings, and those buyback windows reopen October 15. Analysts expect S&P 500 earnings per share to rise 27% this quarter. However, US employers added just 29,000 jobs in September against forecasts of 84,000, and most S&P 500 stocks fell despite the index rising. Citadel Securities earns money executing trades, including the retail orders the firm expects to return.

China launches anti-dumping investigation into p-nitrotoluene from EU

China's Commerce Ministry said on Saturday that it had launched an anti-dumping investigation into imports of p-nitrotoluene from the European Union. The ministry said the investigation followed a complaint from China's domestic industry. The ministry said preliminary evidence showed EU import prices fell nearly 60% cumulatively between 2022 and 2025. P-nitrotoluene is used to produce dyes, pharmaceuticals and pesticides.

Expert says high US diesel prices stem from distribution, not supply

Phillip Bruner of the University of Washington says costly transportation prevents the U.S. diesel surplus from reaching higher-priced coastal markets affordably. AAA put Friday's average diesel price at $6.3726 per gallon, below the September 22 high of $6.5276. President Donald Trump is reportedly considering a diesel export ban. Bruner warned that a ban would do little to lower coastal prices and could raise grocery, gasoline and jet fuel prices. French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Friday that the G7 agreed to release up to 100 million barrels of emergency oil and diesel stocks over four months. However, the Trump administration has not formally ruled out future export restrictions.

Japan shifts messaging to counter reflationary policy view, Katayama says

Japan's government has begun adjusting its messaging to reassure markets that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is not pursuing reflationary policies, Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama said. Katayama said US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent considers Takaichi's policies suited to current economic conditions but has questioned the government's communication to investors. Katayama said the government concluded around late August that it needed to communicate that message more clearly to financial markets.

Vietnam's economy grows 9.95% in third quarter, fastest pace in four years

Government data showed on Saturday that Vietnam's economy grew 9.95% in the third quarter from a year earlier, the fastest pace in four years. Growth accelerated from a revised 8.81% expansion in the second quarter. The National Statistics Office said September exports rose 39.1% from a year earlier. The office said annual inflation reached 5.08% in September.

Vietnam nears 10% growth and posts trade surplus

Vietnam's gross domestic product rose 9.95% in July-September from a year earlier. Rising foreign investment and factory output supported growth, putting Vietnam within reach of the government's double-digit growth goal for the year. Vietnam also posted a trade surplus.

Fuji Electric says data centre cooling system can cut energy use by 85%

Fuji Electric has adapted vending machine refrigeration technology into a data centre cooling system that the company claims can cut energy consumption by 85%. Fuji Electric makes 80% of Japan's vending machines. The company aims to sell more than ¥10 billion ($61 million) worth of ejector systems to data centres by 2030. Dell'Oro research director Alex Cordovil called the technology promising but said rival absorption chillers had an advantage for data centre adoption. Goldman Sachs analyst Ryo Harada questioned whether Fuji Electric could access the large US market, given hyperscalers' existing architecture commitments.

IMF approves $1.9 billion Bolivia program to support Paz's economic reforms

The International Monetary Fund approved a $1.9 billion financing program for Bolivia. The program includes an immediate $214 million disbursement. The package is designed to help President Rodrigo Paz reverse a sharp economic slump.

Nvidia hits record high near $237.83 as Wall Street sees up to 99% upside

Nvidia shares reached an all-time intraday high of about $237.83 on October 2, overtaking the previous May record. Morgan Stanley analyst Joseph Moore restored Nvidia as the firm's top semiconductor pick after meetings with CEO Jensen Huang and CFO Colette Kress. Morgan Stanley maintained its Overweight rating and $300 price target. Across 61 analysts tracked by S&P Global, Nvidia's average target is $327.70, implying roughly 40% upside from Friday's close. However, Goldman Sachs has previously warned that expectations around Nvidia are elevated.

Sanders introduces bill to ban federal government use of Flock

Senator Bernie Sanders introduced the Ban Flock Act on Friday to prohibit federal agencies from using automatic license plate readers or accessing other operators' data. The bill covers all such systems, not just Flock, and allows exceptions only for toll collection and uses approved through future legislation. Future legislation approving uses would have to limit data retention to no longer than 48 hours. State and local governments would lose grants from five federal departments unless those governments ban the technology, starting the first fiscal year after enactment. Americans could sue the federal government over violations, and state attorneys general could enforce the law. The bill faces long odds of becoming law.

Minneapolis councilman mocked after claiming self-driving cars are killing cats

Minneapolis City Council member Jason Chavez drew widespread social media mockery after claiming autonomous vehicles, including Waymo cars, were killing cats. An ordinance requiring a human operator in autonomous vehicles narrowly passed on Thursday. Mayor Jacob Frey plans to veto the ordinance, calling it a "backdoor ban". Supporters of autonomous vehicles argue the requirement would effectively ban autonomous taxi services and raise fares, while opponents cite safety risks and job losses.

Analysis: Los Angeles fire exposes risks at cold-storage warehouses

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed two bills on September 27 after a Los Angeles cold-storage warehouse fire left millions of pounds of food to spoil. The June 17 fire at Lineage's Boyle Heights warehouse burned for eight days, and odors and pests disrupted nearby communities for months. Senate Bill 716 allows fines of up to $50,000 per violation for certain health and safety violations that lead to a declared emergency. Assembly Bill 817 requires qualifying cold-storage facilities seeking building permits to have emergency funds, bonds or insurance coverage available to help affected communities. The Global Cold Chain Alliance opposed the bills, arguing that the measures would raise costs without sufficiently improving emergency preparedness. Cold-storage fires can be difficult to control because insulation and stored materials can burn, densely packed goods can obstruct firefighting, and ammonia refrigerant can pose additional hazards.

Analysis: Netflix loses nearly half its value as investors question growth

Netflix stock trades near $68, roughly half its June 2025 record of $134. Co-CEO Ted Sarandos said on Thursday that Netflix is growing more slowly than he wants, largely blaming Netflix's spending choices. However, investor Stock Market Nerd argues that competition from Apple, Amazon and Alphabet poses a bigger problem. Netflix's next-quarter revenue growth forecasts slipped from 15% to 13% to 12% across 2026, according to Fool. The stock faces resistance near $89.10, while a sustained break below $61 could send the price toward $41.

UKMTO says crude oil tanker reportedly struck by unknown projectile off Oman

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said early on Saturday that a crude oil tanker's master reported a strike by an unknown projectile. The reported strike occurred 4 nautical miles east of Oman. UKMTO said all crew were reported safe and no environmental impact was currently reported.

Fed's Hammack says there is still time to weigh next monetary policy move

Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland President Beth Hammack said on Friday that there is still time to decide the next monetary policy move. Hammack said September's employment report fits recent hiring trends, despite a seemingly weak gain of 29,000 jobs and an unemployment rate increase to 4.2%. Hammack said average monthly job creation of 41,000 over the past 12 months largely matches her estimate of the break-even level. The Fed last month raised its interest rate target by a quarter percentage point to between 3.75% and 4%. Officials' comments this week indicated that no rate action is likely at the October 27-28 Federal Open Market Committee meeting.

Saudi Arabia plans major offensive against Houthis, but US will not join for now

Saudi Arabia plans a major offensive against the Houthis, but the United States will not join direct combat for now. The operation will include ground forces loyal to Yemen's internationally recognized government with Saudi air cover. The United States rejected Saudi requests to join the operation and conduct airstrikes for the second time in recent weeks. US officials say that position could change if the operation encounters problems. US officials say the US military is helping Saudi Arabia with everything short of direct combat, mainly intelligence and targeting data.