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Markets, companies and the economy, with the date and primary source attached.
Grab CEO Anthony Tan Buys $29.9M of Stock After Atome-Driven Selloff
Tan scooped up 10.35 million shares on the open market September 21; President Alex Hungate added $867,000. The buying landed with Grab shares roughly 17% below early-September levels.
Stifel Upgrades Microsoft to Buy: Wall Street's $575 Verdict on the AI Buildout
Brad Reback raised his Microsoft target to $575, implying about 15% upside, on Azure efficiency and Copilot momentum — the latest in a week of Wall Street re-rating the AI infrastructure bet.
The OECD Says AI Is Holding the World Economy Together. It Doesn't Expect That to Last.
The OECD's September outlook lifts 2026 global growth to 2.9% on AI-driven investment — then warns the buffers that absorbed the Middle East energy shock are depleting, trimming 2027 to 3.0% with inflation running hotter.
Microsoft's $10B Middle East Bet Is Built for a War Zone
Microsoft’s $10B framework spans Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE through 2030 — but the money is only half the story. It’s selling resilience: infrastructure built to survive conflict.
Senators push fast-track vote on permanent Chinese-vehicle ban as Xi visits Washington
Slotkin and Moreno want unanimous Senate approval this week for a bill that would lock the Chinese-auto ban into law — and strip the White House of waiver power.
CFOs plan 5.3% price hikes — and now fear the Fed more than inflation
A quarterly Federal Reserve survey of about 500 finance chiefs shows expected price increases jumping to 5.3% for 2026, up from 3.6% at the start of the year. 'Monetary policy' just became their top-cited concern.
KB Home beats Q3 estimates but cuts margin guidance as housing demand weakens
The homebuilder earned $1.05 a share on $1.30 billion of revenue, topping Wall Street's expectations — then guided fourth-quarter housing gross margins well below consensus. Shares fell about 3% Wednesday.
Trump's diesel-export ban talk sends European gasoil up 7% — then the White House walks it back
ICE gasoil futures spiked as much as 7% Wednesday morning on a report of a 90-day US export ban — which the White House called 'fake news' — before easing after Energy Secretary Wright said a ban 'definitely doesn't work.'
SoftBank's $10 billion-plus junk-bond sale draws $20 billion of early demand ahead of Thursday pricing
Dollar-tranche yields are being discussed at 8.75% to 9.875% — which would be SoftBank's highest at those maturities. The proceeds fund the third $10 billion OpenAI tranche due October 1.
The 10-Year Tops 5% as a Booming Economy Meets a Hawkish Fed
September's flash PMI data came in red-hot, Fed Governor Michael Barr warned more rate hikes are likely needed, and the 10-year Treasury yield climbed to its highest since 2007 — squeezing stocks, bonds, and would-be homebuyers all at once.
Treasury's $70 billion 5-year auction stumbles at 5.033% — the first 5% print since 2007
A 3.1-basis-point tail, the weakest bid-to-cover since 2018, and the smallest indirect-bidder take since 2020 made Wednesday's sale a demand warning — and deepened the bond rout.
Bio-Techne shareholders approve $11.3 billion Merck KGaA acquisition
Shareholders cleared the $73-per-share all-cash deal at Wednesday's special meeting; with the HSR waiting period already expired, the companies expect to close by late 2026 or early 2027, pending remaining regulatory approvals.
IQVIA closes $2.0B of 6.375% senior notes due 2034 for near-term refinancing
IQVIA (NYSE:IQV) completes $2.0B of 6.375% senior notes due 2034; Item 1.01 says net proceeds will redeem Senior 5.000% Notes due 2026 in full, repay part of the revolver, and cover fees (Form 8-K AccNo 0001193125-26-399616).
FMC closes Tessenderlo’s ~20% stake for $403.2M; Luc Tack nominated to board
FMC (NYSE:FMC) closes Tessenderlo Group’s purchase of 30,319,166 shares at $13.30 ($403,244,907.80); ~20% ownership; 36-month lock-up; Luc Tack nominated (Form 8-K AccNo 0000950103-26-014390).
Alcoa closes $2.6B of 6.625%/6.875% notes due 2034/2036 for South32 cash
Alcoa (NYSE:AA) closes $1.5B of 6.625% notes due 2034 and $1.1B of 6.875% notes due 2036; bridge terminated; ~$3.1B South32 cash still Acquisition-conditional (Form 8-K AccNo 0001193125-26-399499).
Cracker Barrel FY26: $849M Q4; FY27 non-GAAP outlook
Cracker Barrel (Nasdaq:CBRL) posts Q4 FY26 revenue $849.3M (−2.2%) with non-GAAP Adj EBITDA $62.1M and FY27 outlook for revenue $3.325B–$3.4B and non-GAAP Adj EBITDA $180–$200M (Form 8-K AccNo 0001104659-26-109812).
Willdan to Buy Mantis Innovation for $285 Million in Cash
Willdan Group is buying the Houston-based energy-services firm for $285 million in cash, funded mostly by a new $250 million term loan, with closing expected in the fourth quarter.
Cognex to buy RealSense for ~$500M cash
Cognex (Nasdaq:CGNX) enters definitive agreement to acquire RealSense for approximately $500 million all-cash; expected close Q4 2026 subject to customary conditions (Form 8-K AccNo 0000851205-26-000071; agreement≠close).
Paychex Q1: $1.63B revenue; raises PEO outlook
Paychex (Nasdaq:PAYX) Q1 FY27: $1.63B revenue (+6%), adj. diluted EPS $1.34 (+10%); raised PEO growth and client-funds interest outlooks; total-revenue and adj. EPS growth bands unchanged (Form 8-K AccNo 0000723531-26-000004).
Cintas Q1 revenue $3.01B; raises FY27 guidance
Cintas (Nasdaq:CTAS) reported FY27 Q1 revenue of $3.01 billion (+10.9%; organic +8.9%) and raised full-year revenue and adjusted EPS guidance while UniFirst remains FTC-pending (Form 8-K AccNo 0000723254-26-000044).
McDonald's sets NEXT strategy with 2030 growth targets
McDonald's (NYSE:MCD) detailed McDonald's > NEXT and 2030 targets — +1.5pp chicken/beverage share, low-to-mid-50% operating margin, ~250 bps restaurant efficiency — plus ~$8.5B partnering through 2036 (Form 8-K AccNo 0000063908-26-000076).
General Mills Q1 sales $4.4B; reaffirms FY27 outlook
General Mills (NYSE:GIS) posted FY27 Q1 net sales of $4.4 billion (−3%) with organic sales flat, adjusted operating profit down 11% in constant currency, and reaffirmed full-year outlook (Form 8-K AccNo 0001628280-26-063141).
Royal Caribbean agrees to $3B Sandals 50% joint venture
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE:RCL) enters definitive agreements for a 50% equity interest in Sandals and Beaches Resorts for approximately $3.0 billion cash (Form 8-K AccNo 0001104659-26-109755); close targeted early 2027.
Blackstone flags >$350M realization revenue through Sep 22
Blackstone (NYSE:BX) preliminarily expects >$350M of Realized Performance Revenues plus Realized Principal Investment Income for Jul 1–Sep 22, 2026 (~90% performance revenues); estimate≠full Q3 close (Form 8-K AccNo 0001193125-26-398100).
Cable One draws $700 million on $1.25 billion revolver
Cable One (NYSE:CABO) borrowed $700.0 million under its $1.25 billion revolving credit facility on September 17–18, 2026, to raise cash and preserve flexibility (Form 8-K AccNo 0000950157-26-001036).
