From the Editor
Two bills came due this week. The first was for oil. Brent crude, the world benchmark, closed Friday at $116.72 a barrel, its highest finish since April, after Houthi attacks across Saudi Arabia and a report that the United States and Israel are planning new strikes on Iran after the November 3 elections. The Dow fell 653 points on Friday alone.
The second bill was for artificial intelligence. Meta reported record sales of $64.6 billion and still lost 7% in a day, because it is now spending more on AI data centers than its business brings in. On Thursday the Nasdaq had its worst day since June. Investors ran to the safety of U.S. government bonds, which pushed the 10-year Treasury yield below 5% for the first time in a month.
For our families, the week brought one piece of good news and one warning. The good news: Sudan TPS did not end on Monday. USCIS says protections and work permits continue until it makes a new announcement. The warning: starting with 2027 health plans, Marketplace subsidies will be limited mainly to green-card holders. If you buy your own insurance, read Section 11 before open enrollment begins on November 1.
Two anchors for the week: (1) The Federal Reserve decides on rates Wednesday. A hold is expected; what it says about December matters more. (2) Before you renew any health or drug plan, check what has changed for 2027.
— Abnet A. Tessema, CFEI, MBA · Editor, Maraki Finance
SECTION 1Weekly Market Overview
DOW JONES52,215▲ +0.4% week
S&P 5007,624▼ −0.5% week
NASDAQ25,955▼ −0.7% week
RUSSELL 20002,776▲ +2.0% week
WTI CRUDE$103.27▲ +2% week
BRENT CRUDE$116.72▲ +6% week
GOLD~$4,030▼ lowest since July
10-YR TREASURY~4.98%▼ from ~5.09%
GAS (AAA)$4.30+$1.23 vs. 2025
FED FUNDS3.75–4.00%decision Wed Oct 28
30-YR MORTGAGE7.32%▼ from 7.40%
USD → BIRR~162.7steady this week
Friday closes. Year to date: S&P 500 +11.4%, Dow +8.6%, Nasdaq +11.7%, Russell 2000 +11.8%. Gold and the 10-year are approximate Friday levels. Gas is AAA's Saturday national average. In the tiles, red means bad for household budgets and green means good.
What this week means — and doesn't mean
What it means: Money is still moving rather than leaving. Small companies (Russell 2000 +2%) and the Dow gained while big technology stocks fell. Inside the S&P 500, two of every three stocks rose on Thursday even as the index fell 1.2%, because a handful of giants weigh so heavily.
Caution: Oil is now close to its wartime peak of about $122. The Nasdaq is almost 6% below its October 6 record, and the S&P 500 and Nasdaq have now fallen two weeks in a row. The fear gauge (VIX) jumped 14% on Thursday.
What it does NOT mean: Two down weeks are not a bear market. The S&P 500 is still up more than 11% this year. A diversified retirement account does not need a new plan every time one sector has a bad week.
Really? Oil jumped 6% — and interest rates fell
Higher oil usually means higher inflation, and higher inflation usually pushes interest rates up. This week the 10-year Treasury yield fell anyway, from about 5.09% to under 5% on Thursday. When investors get scared, they sell stocks and buy U.S. government bonds, and buying bonds pushes their yields down. Fear beat inflation this week. That fear helped mortgage rates ease slightly, to 7.32%.
SECTION 2Top Story: Two Bills Come Due — Oil and AI
Last week the worry was companies borrowing to build AI. This week two new pressures arrived: an oil spike tied to the Iran war, and the biggest technology companies showing just how much they are spending to stay in the AI race.
The week, day by day
| Day | What happened |
|---|
| Mon Oct 19 | Sudan and Ukraine TPS end dates passed. USCIS said protections continue until a new announcement (Section 6). Homebuilder confidence sat at a weak 29. |
| Tue Oct 20 | Netflix reported after the close. It beat on profit but cut its advertising-revenue forecast and announced about 1,000 job cuts. |
| Wed Oct 21 | Netflix fell more than 5%. After the close, Meta and Tesla reported. Meta announced a two-for-one split using new non-voting shares. Houthis attacked an airport in eastern Saudi Arabia. |
| Thu Oct 22 | The AI sell-off returned: Nasdaq −2.6%, its worst day since June. The chip index fell 6.7%; Meta −7%, CoreWeave −10%. Investors bought bonds, and the 10-year yield fell below 5%. The Dow finished flat. |
| Fri Oct 23 | A report of planned U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran after the midterms, and Saudi Aramco's evacuation of its headquarters, sent Brent up 3% to $116.72. The Dow fell 653 points (−1.2%). Cybersecurity stocks rallied. |
Why Meta fell after a record quarter
- Spending is running ahead of cash. Meta spent $34.9 billion on buildings and equipment in three months, more than the $32.8 billion its business generated. Its free cash flow was about −$2.1 billion.
- The plan keeps growing. Meta now expects $135–145 billion of spending this year. Reports put its future lease and contract commitments near $825 billion, up from about $700 billion in July.
- New shares, no vote. A two-for-one split paid as new non-voting Class C shares (effective January 2027) gives Meta a way to raise money by selling shares without diluting founder Mark Zuckerberg's control. He keeps about 61% of the votes while owning about 13% of the company.
- Contagion. Chip-equipment makers (Lam Research −11.8%, KLA −9.5%) and AI power companies (GE Vernova −10.6%, Vistra −9.8%) fell Thursday. Investors worry that if the biggest customers slow their spending, suppliers feel it first.
📖 Behind the Headlines: Mekdes and the Dividend Check
Mekdes runs a small tax-preparation office in Alexandria and keeps her retirement savings in two places: a total-market index fund and a handful of steady dividend payers. This week she watched the tech headlines with a cup of coffee rather than a sell button. "The index has Meta in it, but it also has Allegion, Blackstone and Lennar, and they were up 8 to 11% on Thursday," she said.
Her rule is simple: no single stock above 5% of her savings. "I don't have to guess which giant stumbles next. I just make sure no one of them can knock me over."
(Illustrative community example.)
The Maraki Lesson: Revenue is what a company sells. Free cash flow is what is left after it pays for everything, including its buildings and machines. A company can grow sales by 26% and still have less cash than before.
SECTION 3Oil, Gold & the Iran War — Month 8
The war that began on February 28 is in its eighth month. This week the danger shifted from the Strait of Hormuz to Saudi Arabia itself, and talk of renewed U.S. strikes returned.
| This week |
|---|
| Saudi Arabia | Iran-backed Houthis attacked King Fahd International Airport in eastern Saudi Arabia, killing two, and claimed strikes on an Aramco site in Yanbu. Saudi Aramco ordered the evacuation of its Dhahran headquarters. The U.S. State Department says it is working to cut off Houthi finances. |
| Washington | The New York Times reported that the U.S. and Israel are planning strikes on Iran after the November 3 midterms. President Trump said at a rally the U.S. "may do another little epic fury, or they'll agree." No new operation has been announced. |
| At sea | Iran's Revolutionary Guard claimed hits on several tankers; the UK maritime agency confirmed two attacks. The U.S. naval blockade of Iranian oil exports continues. Treasury Secretary Bessent said Gulf crude exports have recovered above pre-war levels. |
| Oil price | Brent settled at $116.72 on Friday (+$3.55 on the day, about +6% for the week), its highest close since April 29. U.S. crude settled at $103.27, about +2% for the week. |
Gold: the safe haven that didn't rally
Gold fell to about $4,030 an ounce on Friday, its lowest level since late July: down about 3.5% for the week and roughly 6–8% over the past month. Usually war headlines lift gold. This week investors chose Treasury bonds as their safe place instead. And with markets still expecting a December rate hike, an asset that pays no interest looks less attractive next to bonds and savings accounts paying 4–5%.
For our community: Gold has now gone from record highs to a three-month low within a year. That is why planners treat it as a small shock absorber, often 5–10% of savings, and not as the whole plan. Your situation may differ.
SECTION 4U.S. Economy — Gloomy Shoppers, Steady Jobs
| Report | Result | What it means for you |
|---|
| Consumer sentiment (Oct, final) | 48.0 · early read 46.3 | Near the lowest levels on record. People feel worse about money than the job numbers alone would suggest. |
| Inflation expectations | 4.7% next year · 3.5% long run | Both rose. When people expect higher prices, they ask for higher pay, which is exactly what the Fed fears. |
| Jobless claims | 194,000 | Still very low. Layoffs are rare; hiring is slow. |
| Leading index (Sept) | Unchanged at 99.6 | No sign of an imminent recession, but no momentum either. |
| Homebuilder confidence (Oct) | 29 | Builders are gloomy. Mortgage rates above 7% keep buyers away. |
| 30-year mortgage (Freddie Mac) | 7.32% | Slightly lower than last week's 7.40% as bond yields eased. |
| Inflation (CPI, Sept) | 3.7% yearly | Last week's report; the Fed's preferred measure (PCE) arrives Thursday. |
| Fed funds rate | 3.75–4.00% | Decision Wednesday. Markets see about a 90% chance of no change, and roughly 70–78% odds of a hike in December. |
💵 The kitchen-table math
Gas: The national average is $4.30, down about a penny from last week but $1.23 above a year ago ($3.07). A 15-gallon weekly fill-up costs about $18 more than last year, or close to $960 a year. Diesel is $6.34, up $2.70 a gallon from a year ago, which shows up in delivery and grocery prices.
Mortgage: On a $350,000 loan, the drop from 7.40% to 7.32% saves about $19 a month. That's small, but it is a reminder to keep an eye on rates if you are shopping or thinking about refinancing.
Savings: With the Fed at 3.75–4.00%, cash in a high-yield savings account or a short CD earns real interest. Money in a checking account at 0.01% is losing to 3.7% inflation every month.
📖 Behind the Numbers: Yonas Reads the Mood
Yonas drives a box truck for a Baltimore produce wholesaler. Diesel at $6.34 means his company added a fuel surcharge to every delivery, and the restaurants he serves are ordering smaller amounts more often. "Nobody is laying off yet," he said, "but everyone is nervous."
He decided to act on the nervousness rather than just feel it: he moved two months of expenses into a separate savings account and stopped using his credit card for gas. "If the job is fine, I lose nothing. If it isn't, I'm ready."
(Illustrative community example.)
SECTION 5Company Spotlight — Winners & Losers
Winners
| Company / sector | Move | Why it moved |
|---|
| Allegion (ALLE) | +11.0% Thu · ≈ +13% week | The maker of locks and door security was the S&P 500's top gainer on Thursday as money moved into steady industrial companies. |
| Roper Technologies (ROP) | +9.7% Thu · ≈ +14% week | A steady software and industrial company that investors bought as a refuge from AI stocks. |
| Blackstone (BX) | +8.4% Thu | Gave an upbeat outlook for selling its investments, even though third-quarter results were weaker. |
| Lennar / General Mills | +8.7% / +8.0% Thu | Beaten-down homebuilder and food stocks bounced as bond yields fell. |
| Cybersecurity (SailPoint, Cloudflare, Palo Alto) | +7% or more Fri | The standout group on Friday. Digital security spending holds up whatever happens to AI budgets. |
| Small companies (Russell 2000) | +2.0% week | Smaller, U.S.-focused companies outperformed the tech giants for a second straight week. |
Losers
| Company | Move | Why it moved |
|---|
| Meta (META) | −7.0% Thu to $648.85 | Record sales, but spending bigger than its cash flow, plus a plan for non-voting shares (Section 2). |
| Moderna (MRNA) | −17.6% Thu | The S&P 500's worst performer Thursday after reports on data from its cancer-vaccine program unsettled investors. |
| Lam Research / KLA | −11.8% / −9.5% Thu | Chip-equipment makers fell on fears that Big Tech's AI spending could slow. |
| CoreWeave (CRWV) | −10.1% Thu | Debt-heavy AI cloud company, already down 25% the week before. |
| GE Vernova / Vistra | −10.6% / −9.8% Thu | Power companies whose stocks soared on AI data-center demand fell with the AI trade. |
| Netflix (NFLX) | −5%+ Wed | Cut its ad-revenue forecast to $2.7 billion from $3 billion; weak fourth-quarter guidance; about 1,000 job cuts. |
| Tesla (TSLA) | −3.1% Thu to $374.58 | Beat profit expectations, but plans heavier spending in 2027–28. Tesla and SpaceX have reportedly formed committees to explore a merger. |
| Airlines (United, Delta, American) | Lower Fri | Jet fuel follows oil, and fuel is an airline's second-biggest cost. |
🧠 Behavioral finance: anchoring on "they beat"
Headlines love the word "beat": the company beat estimates. But Meta, Netflix and Tesla all beat on something and all fell. Investors who anchor on the headline number feel betrayed when the stock drops. The market is not grading last quarter; it is pricing the next three years.
Three questions before reacting to an earnings headline: (1) What did the company say about the future? (2) Is it spending more than it earns? (3) Would this change why I own it in the first place?
SECTION 6TPS & Immigration
✅ Update — Sudan TPS did not end on October 19
Last week we reported that Sudan TPS was valid only through Monday, October 19. USCIS updated its guidance that day: no extension or termination has been announced yet, and until DHS makes one, Sudanese (and Ukrainian) TPS holders keep their protection, including work authorization. USCIS has not published a new automatic work-permit extension date, so employers may ask questions. Show them the USCIS Sudan TPS page and keep a printed copy.
This can change with little notice. Check uscis.gov/tps weekly and speak with a licensed attorney or DOJ-accredited representative about any other options you may have.
| Country | Status (as of Oct 23, 2026) |
|---|
| Ethiopia | TPS ended August 18, 2026. Work permits (EAD categories A12/C19) based on Ethiopia TPS are no longer valid. The class-action lawsuit (African Communities Together v. Noem) continues but does not currently restore status. No change this week. |
| Sudan | Protection and work authorization continue pending a DHS announcement (see above). |
| Ukraine | Same as Sudan: protection continues pending a DHS announcement. |
| Somalia | Ended August 14, 2026. |
| Burma, South Sudan, Yemen | Ended in July–August 2026. |
⚠️ New for 2027: health-insurance subsidies
Starting with 2027 coverage, premium subsidies on HealthCare.gov and state Marketplaces will be limited to lawful permanent residents (green-card holders), Cuban-Haitian entrants and certain Compact of Free Association migrants. Many people with TPS, pending asylum or other lawful statuses who receive help today may lose it. Open enrollment starts November 1; details and options are in Section 11.
What former Ethiopian TPS holders should do now
- Do not work on an expired TPS-based EAD. If you have another valid work permit (pending asylum, adjustment of status, etc.), make sure your employer has it on file.
- Get an individual consultation. Many people have options they don't know about. Free and low-cost help: CLINIC's affiliate directory, local legal-aid groups and community organizations.
- If you buy Marketplace insurance, ask a navigator what your 2027 premium will be without a subsidy before you renew.
- Keep your documents organized and copied digitally: I-94, all EADs, approval notices and USCIS receipts.
🚨 Scam alert
When rules change, fake consultants appear. No one can buy you TPS, speed up a case for cash, or "fix" an expired EAD. All USCIS forms are free at uscis.gov/forms. Only licensed attorneys and DOJ-accredited representatives may give immigration legal advice. The same goes for health insurance: free, licensed help is available at HealthCare.gov and through state navigators.
📖 Behind the TPS Numbers: Hiba's Monday
Hiba, a pharmacy technician in Silver Spring originally from Khartoum, spent the weekend before October 19 preparing to tell her manager she would have to stop working. On Monday morning a friend sent her the USCIS update. "I went from planning for the worst to having more time," she said. "But more time is not the same as safety."
She is using that time: she booked a consultation with a DOJ-accredited representative at her mosque's legal clinic and set aside three months of rent.
(Illustrative community example.)
SECTION 7International & Country News
Ethiopia & Eritrea — Tigray after the fighting
We report this section with care, knowing that readers have family across Tigray, Amhara, Afar and Eritrea. Our focus is what families need to know.
| What has been reported |
|---|
| Mekelle | Federal forces and allied fighters retook Mekelle on October 4. Al Jazeera reports shops are reopening and banks are gradually resuming services, but many households have little savings left after years of conflict. |
| New administration | On October 16, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced a six-month caretaker administration for Tigray to restore services, help displaced people return and prepare for elections. The TPLF opposes the federal advance. |
| Ethiopia–Eritrea | The standoff continues. Ethiopia has accused Eritrea of sending troops up to 60 km into Tigray; Eritrea denies it and calls the accusations a declaration of war. Reuters reported Ethiopian forces advanced into the border town of Zalambessa. |
| Daily life | Public salaries have been delayed for months, making food, rent and school fees hard to cover. University students are seeking transfers to other regions; over 5,000 had applied by mid-September. |
For families
With banks reopening in Mekelle, transfers may become possible again, but expect delays and limits. Confirm with the recipient that the branch or mobile-money service is working before you send. Verify any urgent request for money by calling back on a number you already know (Section 8).
Around the world
- Middle East: Israel holds a national election on Tuesday, October 27. In Jordan, gunmen attacked a Christian funeral in Karak, killing six. The Iran war continues to drive energy prices (Section 3).
- Europe: France's 10-year borrowing cost closed at 5.08% on Thursday, the highest since 2002, on budget and political worries. The eurozone's business activity index slipped to 51.9, still growing.
- Asia: Japan's inflation rose to 2.7% in September. Central banks in Canada, New Zealand, Europe and Japan all meet next week.
- United States: The midterm elections are on Tuesday, November 3, ten days away.
SECTION 8Diaspora Financial Focus
| Currency | Rate (approx., Oct 23) | Trend | $500 sends about |
|---|
| Ethiopian Birr (ETB) | 1 USD ≈ 162.7 ETB | Steady (≈ 161.8–163.3 this month) | ≈ 81,300 birr |
Mid-market reference rate. Your actual rate depends on the provider and its fees; always compare the final amount received, not the advertised rate.
Ethiopia's economy this month
- Inflation is 14.9% (September), down slightly from 15.1% in August. Sugar (+39.8%), meat (+22%) and cooking oil (+18%) rose fastest; bread and injera rose 8.6%.
- Interest rates are high. The National Bank of Ethiopia raised its policy rate to 16% in July, blaming the oil shock from the Middle East war, and expects inflation to stay in double digits.
- Dollars are being auctioned. The central bank plans six foreign-currency auctions of $140 million each through December, part of the IMF-backed reforms that floated the birr.
💡 What 15% inflation means for the money you send
- A family that needed 10,000 birr a month last October needs about 11,500 now for the same basket. If the birr stays near 163, the dollar amount you send has to rise about 15% just to keep pace.
- Consider sending for specific goods, such as school fees, rent or medicine, rather than a fixed dollar amount, and agree on priorities with the family.
- Compare the total cost: fee plus exchange-rate markup. A "no-fee" service can still cost more.
- Keep every receipt and transfer number in case a payment is delayed.
- Never send money based only on a text or voice message asking for urgent help. Call back on a number you already know.
SECTION 9Technology Story
- Big Tech's AI spending meets its first real test. Meta's spending outran its cash for the first time since it went public. Next week Alphabet and Microsoft (Wednesday) and Amazon (Thursday) report. Investors will ask each one the same question: when does this spending start paying for itself?
- Owning shares without a vote. Meta's plan for non-voting shares follows Alphabet, which split its stock the same way in 2014. For ordinary investors, a share still gives you a slice of profits. It just doesn't give you a say.
- Security is the steady spend. Cybersecurity stocks jumped on Friday. Whatever companies cut, they rarely cut protection against hacking and fraud, which is why security jobs and certifications stay in demand.
- Musk's empire may merge. Tesla and SpaceX have reportedly formed special committees to explore combining. Nothing has been agreed.
Community discussion
Small businesses are prime targets for scams: fake invoices, hacked email and payment fraud. What basic protections does your business or workplace use? Two-factor login, a callback rule before any payment change, and staff training cost little. Entry-level cybersecurity certificates (such as CompTIA Security+) are a recognized path into a field that is still hiring.
SECTION 10Special Feature — Fed Week: Five Numbers to Watch
Next week brings the Federal Reserve's decision (Wednesday), the first estimate of third-quarter economic growth and the Fed's favorite inflation measure (both Thursday). Here is what each number means for your wallet.
1 · The rate decision (Wed)Expected: no change at 3.75–4.00%. A surprise hike would push credit-card and loan rates up quickly.
2 · The December signalMarkets put roughly 70–78% odds on a December hike. Listen to Chair Warsh's press conference for hints.
3 · GDP, Q3 (Thu)Forecast about 3.0% growth (the Atlanta Fed estimates 3.5%). Strong growth plus high inflation gives the Fed more reason to hike.
4 · PCE inflation, Sept (Thu)Forecast about 3.6% a year. A hotter number would revive talk of higher rates.
5 · The 10-year yieldUnder 5% now. It steers mortgage rates; back above 5.13% would erase this week's relief.
Your householdPay down variable-rate debt, and lock in today's savings and CD rates while they last.
Why a "hold" can still move markets
Markets have already priced in a hold, so a hold by itself changes little. What moves prices is the surprise: a hint that December is certain, or that the Fed is done. Also watch for dissents. Several Fed officials disagreed at the last meeting, and more disagreement would signal a divided committee.
The Maraki Principle: You can't control the Fed, but you can control your exposure to it. The less variable-rate debt you carry, the less any Fed meeting can hurt you.
SECTION 11Health Corner
ACA open enrollment starts November 1 — and 2027 is different
If you buy your own health insurance through HealthCare.gov or a state Marketplace (Maryland Health Connection, Virginia's Marketplace, DC Health Link), this year's renewal needs more attention than usual.
| What's changing | Details |
|---|
| Premiums | Insurers proposed a median increase of about 15% for 2027. Subsidies grow with prices, but people without subsidies pay the full increase. |
| Who gets subsidies | From 2027, mainly green-card holders, Cuban-Haitian entrants and certain COFA migrants. Many other lawfully present immigrants may lose help. |
| Insurers leaving | Insurers are exiting Marketplaces in more than 20 states, ending hundreds of thousands of plans. Don't count on automatic renewal. |
| Out-of-pocket limit | Rises to $12,000 for an individual (from $10,600). |
| HSA limits | $4,500 for self-only and $9,000 for family coverage. |
| Virginia | A new Virginia Premium Savings program begins November 1 for residents with incomes of 138–250% of the poverty level. |
- Read your renewal notice the day it arrives, and compare plans on price and deductible, not just the monthly premium.
- If you may lose a subsidy, ask about employer coverage, Medicaid eligibility for children, community health centers and state programs.
- Use free certified navigators. Never pay someone to "sign you up."
Medicare reminder
Medicare open enrollment continues through December 7. Compare drug plans at medicare.gov/plan-compare or call 1-800-MEDICARE. Free counseling is available through your state's SHIP program.
If the news from home is weighing on you, you are not alone. Call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) any time. In an emergency, call 911.
SECTION 12Maraki Economic Ladder™
Work · Earn & Protect
Layoffs are rare (194,000 claims) but sentiment is near record lows. Build a two-month cash cushion now, while your job is secure.
Check your 2027 health-plan cost before November 1 so a premium jump doesn't surprise your budget.
Career · Grow & Position
Cybersecurity held up when tech fell. Entry-level certificates can open doors in a field that keeps hiring.
Insurance navigation and benefits counseling are in demand during enrollment season; many organizations hire seasonal help.
Mission · Build & Multiply
Meta's lesson applies to any business: growth is not the same as cash. Track cash flow monthly, not just sales.
Share this edition with five people, especially anyone who buys their own health insurance.
📖 Behind the Money: Samuel's Two Accounts
Samuel runs a two-van moving company in Silver Spring. Last year his sales grew 30% and he still struggled to make payroll, because he had bought a second van and new equipment on credit in the same quarter. "I was busy and broke at the same time," he said.
His accountant had him open a second business account and move 10% of every payment into it for taxes and repairs. "Sales tell me how hard we worked. That second account tells me if we can survive a slow month."
(Illustrative community example.)
💼 Business Corner — idea of the week: small-business cybersecurity setup
Restaurants, clinics, daycares and tax offices often have no one in charge of security. A local service can set up two-factor logins, backups, secure Wi-Fi and simple staff training, then charge a monthly fee for checkups. Start-up cost is low: a laptop, training and a certification. The recurring fee builds steady income, and the work can't be done from overseas as easily as many tech jobs.
📘 Maraki Concept: free cash flow
Free cash flow = cash from operations − capital spending. It is the money left after a business pays its bills and buys the buildings, vehicles and machines it needs. Meta: $32.8 billion from operations − $34.9 billion of spending = about −$2.1 billion. Your household has a free cash flow too: take-home pay minus bills minus big purchases. If it is negative month after month, you are borrowing your way forward.
SECTION 13Week Ahead — October 26–30, 2026
| Day | Events to watch |
|---|
| Mon Oct 26 | China's Communist Party plenum begins (through Oct 29). Germany Ifo business survey. |
| Tue Oct 27 | Fed meeting begins. U.S. durable goods orders (Sept). Israel's national election. Earnings: Visa (after close). |
| Wed Oct 28 | ⭐ Fed rate decision and press conference. Bank of Canada decision; UK budget. Earnings: Alphabet, Microsoft (after close). |
| Thu Oct 29 | ⭐ Q3 GDP (first estimate) and September PCE inflation. Weekly jobless claims. European Central Bank decision. Earnings: Mastercard, Eli Lilly, Amazon, Intel. |
| Fri Oct 30 | Bank of Japan decision; eurozone growth figures. Earnings: Exxon Mobil, Chevron, AbbVie. |
| Sun Nov 1 | ACA open enrollment begins. Clocks fall back one hour. |
| Tue Nov 3 | U.S. midterm elections. |
Scenarios for the week
- If Microsoft, Alphabet and Amazon show AI spending turning into profit: tech could recover after two down weeks.
- If oil breaks above its wartime high of about $122: inflation fears return, and December hike odds rise.
- If PCE inflation comes in cooler than 3.6%: bond yields and mortgage rates could ease further, which would bring relief for borrowers.
Quick reference
| Indicator | Level | Indicator | Level |
|---|
| Dow Jones | 52,215.16 (+0.4% wk) | WTI crude | $103.27 |
| S&P 500 | 7,623.68 (−0.5% wk) | Brent crude | $116.72 |
| Nasdaq | 25,955.34 (−0.7% wk) | Gold | ≈ $4,030/oz |
| Russell 2000 | 2,775.90 (+2.0% wk) | Gas (AAA national) | $4.30 |
| 10-yr Treasury | ≈ 4.98% | Diesel (AAA) | $6.34 |
| Fed funds | 3.75–4.00% | CPI (Sept) | 3.7% |
| 30-yr mortgage | 7.32% | Jobless claims | 194,000 |
| Consumer sentiment | 48.0 | 1-yr inflation expectations | 4.7% |
| Ethiopia inflation | 14.9% | USD → ETB | ≈ 162.7 |
Disclaimer: This publication is for general information and financial education only and is not investment, tax, legal, medical, insurance or immigration advice. Market figures are drawn from public reporting for the week of October 19–23, 2026, are approximate, and may be revised. Conflict, health-insurance and immigration rules change quickly; rely on official sources (uscis.gov, healthcare.gov) and consult a licensed attorney or DOJ-accredited representative about your own case. Human-interest stories are illustrative composites.