Good Afternoon. On this day in 1960, the USS Enterprise, the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, launched. 65 years later, investors are navigating their own choppy waters, with government stakes sending stocks flying while Powell works to keep valuations from going nuclear. Let’s get into it.

—Rosie, Wyatt, Evan & Conor

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1. Markets Ease After Powell’s “High-Valuation” Comments

The News: U.S. stocks pulled back Wednesday, snapping their record streak as traders digested Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s caution that asset prices look “fairly highly valued.” The Dow slipped, S&P 500 dropped, and Nasdaq fell, with Apple and Nvidia down over 1%. Not all signals pointed south: new-home sales unexpectedly rose 20.5% in August on the back of builder discounts, raising questions about how much room the Fed has to keep cutting rates. Energy stocks gained on higher crude, while Chinese ADRs rallied, led by Alibaba (+8.9%) on an Nvidia partnership. Lithium Americas nearly doubled after reports Trump’s administration may take a 10% stake in its Nevada mine.

Why It Matters: The Fed is threading the needle, cut too much and risk fueling bubbles, cut too little and risk a slowdown that harms everyday Americans. Investors are hanging on every data release ahead of Friday’s inflation gauge. What to watch: Core PCE (the Fed’s favorite inflation metric) later this week. A hot print could slam the brakes on hopes for another cut.
Source: reuters.com

2. Lithium Americas Doubles as Trump Admin Seeks Equity Stake

The News: Lithium Americas stock surged more than 100% Wednesday after reports that the White House is pushing for a direct equity stake in the Canadian miner while it renegotiates a $2.2 billion loan for its Nevada Thacker Pass project. The mine, majority-owned by Lithium Americas with GM holding 38%, is set to become one of the largest lithium sources in North America when it begins production in 2027. The move would mark Washington’s first equity stake in a Canadian company tied to critical minerals, following July’s 15% U.S. government investment in rare-earth producer MP Materials.

Why It Matters: Lithium is the backbone of EV batteries, and securing supply is now a national priority amid competition with China. A U.S. government stake not only underscores the strategic value but could also embolden more direct interventions in the supply chain. What to watch: Whether Canadian regulators approve U.S. ownership and if this becomes the new model for de-risking strategic resource projects. For now, Wall Street is all charged up on the news.
Source: cnbc.com

3. Defense Stocks Jump as Trump Reverses Course on Ukraine

The News: Defense shares surged across Europe and Asia after President Trump said Ukraine could “fight and WIN” back all occupied territory, a sharp pivot from his earlier calls for concessions. He also urged NATO allies to shoot down Russian aircraft that violate airspace, adding fuel to already rising defense budgets. European giants like Saab (+5%), Rheinmetall (+2%), and BAE (+1.4%) all rallied, while Japan’s IHI soared nearly 10%. In the U.S., drone-maker Redwire gained after another Ukraine delivery. The MSCI Global Aerospace & Defense Index is up 51% in 2025, outpacing the broader market’s 17% rise.

Why It Matters: Trump’s U-turn bolsters Ukraine’s prospects and reinforces expectations of heavy NATO rearmament, keeping order books for defense firms full. Investors read it as confirmation that geopolitical risk isn’t going anywhere. What to watch: If Trump sustains this harder line, defense stocks may stay one of the few “sure bets” in a jittery market.
Source: finance.yahoo.com

4. Eli Lilly to Build $6.5B Houston Plant for Weight-Loss Pill

The News: Eli Lilly is making its biggest-ever investment, putting $6.5B into a new Houston facility that will manufacture orforglipron, its experimental oral weight-loss pill, along with other small-molecule drugs. The plant, part of a $27B U.S. expansion, will create 615 permanent jobs and 4,000 construction roles. The pill could be a game-changer in obesity care, offering patients a simple daily alternative to injections. Trial data show average weight loss of 12%+ over 72 weeks, and Wall Street sees potential peak sales of $25B a year if approved.

Why It Matters: Weight-loss drugs have become one of pharma’s hottest markets, and Lilly is betting big that a pill format will dramatically expand adoption. The Houston site also signals how tariffs and supply-chain security are pushing Big Pharma to bring manufacturing back onshore. What to watch: Lilly aims to file for FDA approval in late 2025. Approval could mean a win for patients and for Houston, a bet that health tech is the new oil.
Source: wsj.com

5. Ford recalls 115K trucks over steering defect

The News: Ford is recalling over 115,000 F-250, F-350, and F-450 trucks from 2020–2021 after U.S. regulators warned a faulty steering shaft could detach, risking total loss of control. Dealers will fix the issue for free, with repairs expected to begin in December.

Why It Matters: Safety recalls are fairly common, but this one hits Ford’s best-selling heavy-duty lineup just as the company faces multiple global recalls this year. For truck buyers, it’s a reminder that even the most rugged rides can have fragile parts. For investors, if Ford can’t get a handle on these quality issues, expect truck sales to take a hit and the stock to follow.
Source: foxbusiness.com

1. Australia Hits 78.6% Renewables, Sets New Grid Record

The News: Australia’s main grid smashed its renewable record again this week, hitting an instantaneous 78.6% share of clean power on Sept. 22, the third new peak in 72 hours. More significantly, the rolling seven-day average topped 50% for the first time, showing renewables aren’t just peaking at midday but carrying sustained load. Rooftop solar led the surge, covering nearly half of demand, while wind and utility-scale solar pushed coal to historic lows. South Australia stole the spotlight with an eye-popping 155% renewable share, exporting excess power via batteries and transmission links. But the achievement wasn’t seamless: more than 12% of potential renewable generation was curtailed due to negative pricing and grid limits.

Why It Matters: Australia is transitioning faster than almost any advanced economy, with record-breaking clean energy investments and battery projects. What to watch: If storage and transmission buildouts can keep pace with solar and wind growth, the next milestone may be 90%+ renewables without forced curtailments. For now, Australia’s energy record books are filling up faster than a springtime rooftop panel order.
Source: reneweconomy.com.au

2. Germany courts Indian tech talent after U.S. visa shock

The News: Germany is opening its doors to Indian professionals after President Trump slapped a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applications, sparking panic in India’s software industry. Berlin pledged 90,000 new visas for Indians in 2025, more than quadrupling prior caps, while easing requirements around salaries, experience, and language.

Why It Matters: The U.S. just made it costlier to import tech talent, while Germany is seizing the moment to attract the same workers, potentially shifting innovation capacity away from Silicon Valley. For investors, expect ripple effects on IT outsourcing giants like Infosys and Wipro, as well as U.S. firms that rely on Indian engineers to power growth. Germany might not have the Silicon Valley weather, but it does have beer gardens and stable visas.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

3. EU’s new border system launches this fall

The News: Starting October 12, the EU will begin rolling out its long-delayed Entry/Exit System (EES), a digital border control that replaces passport stamps with biometric scans and automated kiosks. The system will apply to all non-EU travelers, including Brits heading to France, Spain, Italy, and beyond. Full deployment across 29 Schengen countries is set for April 2026.

Why It Matters: The shift promises tighter security and faster travel in the long run, but the short term could bring bottlenecks, especially at crowded hubs like Dover and St. Pancras. For UK travelers, the new reality is fingerprints, photos, and a short questionnaire before boarding. The real test? Whether EES smooths European travel or just adds one more layer to the holiday stress test.
Source: bbc.com

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