AI startup Anthropic is in talks with Nvidia to bring the chipmaker in as an anchor investor for what could become the largest IPO in history, Reuters reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Anthropic is seeking to raise as much as $100 billion, valuing the company at around $2 trillion, while Nvidia is weighing an investment of up to $10 billion. Anthropic has already committed to buy $30 billion of Microsoft Azure computing capacity powered by Nvidia chips, and in April said it would commit more than $100 billion over a decade to Amazon’s AWS while using more than 1 million of Amazon’s Trainium2 chips.

A pickup in U.S. inflation in August has reinforced market expectations that the Federal Reserve will raise rates by 25 basis points on Wednesday. Inflation has remained above the Fed’s 2% target, following a jobs report that also surprised to the upside. Rising U.S.-Iran tensions have also helped push oil prices above US$100 a barrel, adding another layer of uncertainty for investors weighing the market outlook.

The dollar strengthened slightly against the euro and Swiss franc after U.S. consumer prices rose 0.4% in August, lifting expectations the Federal Reserve could raise interest rates next week. Gains were limited as escalating tensions in the Middle East kept oil above $100 per barrel and added to inflation concerns. The yen firmed on speculation the Bank of Japan may hike rates, underscoring persistent uncertainty around inflation and geopolitical risks.

U.S. stocks finished higher on Friday after an acceleration in consumer prices reinforced expectations that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates at its policy meeting on Wednesday. The Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq all advanced, while Dell jumped to a record high. Rate futures imply a nearly 90% chance of a hike, according to the CME FedWatch tool. Oil prices fell on the day but were still up around 9% for the week amid concerns about Middle East supply disruptions.

BlackBerry shares rose more than 150% from their 52-week low at points in 2026, even after a recent pullback. The company expects to generate about US$100 million in operating cash flow in fiscal 2027. In the latest quarter, first-quarter revenue increased 26% year over year to US$152.9 million, while QNX revenue rose about 26% to US$72.3 million and adjusted EBITDA jumped 144% to US$36.3 million. A recent analyst estimate put fair value at $7.40 per share.

The Canadian dollar fell to a nine-day low of 1.3862 per U.S. dollar, leaving it down 0.2% on the week. U.S. inflation data reinforced expectations the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates next week. Markets are pricing a 57% chance the Bank of Canada hikes at its Oct. 28 decision. A softer oil price also added pressure, with more than 70% of Canadian exports shipped to the United States.

The International Energy Agency sharply lowered its forecast for global oil demand this year, citing an escalation of the war in the Middle East and surging energy prices. The agency said Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries have also pushed fuel prices higher, with U.S. diesel prices topping $200/bbl, up 94%, and Europe and Asia close behind. The IEA now expects 2026 consumption to fall by 2.5 million barrels per day, far more than its previous estimate.

After a $286 million hack, a crypto exchange’s recovery rules are creating sharply different outcomes for NES token holders, leaving some users better off and others worse off. The platform has not disclosed a detailed compensation plan, but the rules have already drawn attention within the community. The episode highlights concerns about how centralized exchanges allocate losses and make users whole during crises, which could affect confidence in both the venue and its associated token.