What are today's top business/market headlines?
Here are today’s top business, market, and financial headlines for Thursday, October 29, 2026:
1. Macroeconomics & Policy: Fed Holds Rates Steady, Unveils Meeting Schedule Overhaul
The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) voted 10–2 to keep the benchmark federal funds rate unchanged at 3.75%–4.00%, matching Wall Street's expectations. However, the decision came with notable hawkish undercurrents:
2. M&A News: DoorDash Nears $17 Billion Acquisition of Instacart
DoorDash is reportedly in advanced discussions to acquire grocery-delivery rival Instacart (Maplebear Inc.) in a blockbuster deal valued at roughly $17 billion.
3. Corporate Earnings: Samsung Hits Historical Highs; Amazon, Starbucks & Coinbase Report After the Bell
A massive day of corporate earnings is shaking up the tech, food, and crypto sectors:
4. Tech & AI: OpenAI Seeks to Buy Google AI Chips Directly
In a move that signals an effort to reduce its reliance on Nvidia, OpenAI is reportedly planning to buy Google’s specialized Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) directly.
5. Trade & Regulation: Expanded U.S. Ban on Xinjiang Imports Takes Effect
Effective today, October 29, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is enforcing a rebuttable presumption that goods produced by three newly added companies are prohibited from entering the United States under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA). The blacklisted entities include Chinese genomics and biotechnology giant BGI Genomics and its subsidiaries, as part of an ongoing U.S. government crackdown on supply chains linked to forced labor.
Citations (26)
- bullionexchanges.com
Backs: “The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) voted 10–2 to keep the benchmark federal funds rate unchanged at 3.75%–4.00%, matching Wall Street's expectations. However, the decision came with notable hawkish undercurrents:”
statistic, article. Claim: FOMC voted 10–2 to hold the federal funds rate at 3.75%–4.00%, matching expectations.
- cnn.com
Backs: “Two Dissents: Fed Board Governor Lisa Cook and Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack dissented, pushing instead for an immediate 25-basis-point hike to counter stubborn inflation fueled by rising energy costs. Meetings Overhaul: Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh surprised the markets by announcing a reduction in rate-setting…”
evidence, article. Claim: Cook and Hammack dissented, favoring a 25-basis-point hike due to inflation from rising energy costs.
- tradingeconomics.com
Backs: “Meetings Overhaul: Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh surprised the markets by announcing a reduction in rate-setting meetings. Starting in 2027, the Fed will reduce voting meetings from eight to seven, and eventually down to six by 2028, converting the remaining sessions into strategic, non-voting discussions.”
evidence, data page. Claim: Fed Chairman Warsh announced a reduction in rate-setting meetings.
- cbsnews.com
Backs: “Starting in 2027, the Fed will reduce voting meetings from eight to seven, and eventually down to six by 2028, converting the remaining sessions into strategic, non-voting discussions. 2.”
evidence, article. Claim: From 2027 the Fed cuts voting meetings from eight to seven, then six by 2028, with the rest non-voting.
- pymnts.com
Backs: “DoorDash is reportedly in advanced discussions to acquire grocery-delivery rival Instacart (Maplebear Inc.) in a blockbuster deal valued at roughly $17 billion. Reports suggest the deal could be announced as early as this week, though no final agreement has been signed.”
statistic, article. Claim: DoorDash reportedly in talks to acquire Instacart in a deal valued at roughly $17 billion.
- ibj.com
Backs: “DoorDash is reportedly in advanced discussions to acquire grocery-delivery rival Instacart (Maplebear Inc.) in a blockbuster deal valued at roughly $17 billion. Reports suggest the deal could be announced as early as this week, though no final agreement has been signed.”
statistic, article. Claim: DoorDash reportedly in talks to acquire Instacart in a deal valued at roughly $17 billion.
- wealthiertoday.com
Backs: “Reports suggest the deal could be announced as early as this week, though no final agreement has been signed. If finalized, the merger would create a delivery powerhouse, combining DoorDash’s absolute dominance in restaurant delivery with Instacart's deep-seated relationships in the grocery sector.”
evidence, article. Claim: Deal could be announced as early as this week, though no final agreement is signed.
- foxbusiness.com
Backs: “Following the initial reports, Instacart shares jumped while DoorDash shares slid on pricing caution. 3.”
evidence, article. Claim: Instacart shares jumped while DoorDash shares slid after initial reports.
- koreaherald.com
Backs: “Samsung’s Historic Quarter: Samsung Electronics confirmed a record-breaking Q3. Consolidated revenue hit KRW 195.3 trillion ($140.9 billion) and operating profit surged 783% year-over-year to KRW 107.4 trillion ($77.5 billion), making Samsung the first company globally to cross 100 trillion won in quarterly operating…”
evidence, article. Claim: Samsung confirmed a record-breaking Q3.
- samsung.com
Backs: “Consolidated revenue hit KRW 195.3 trillion ($140.9 billion) and operating profit surged 783% year-over-year to KRW 107.4 trillion ($77.5 billion), making Samsung the first company globally to cross 100 trillion won in quarterly operating profit. The boom was entirely driven by skyrocketing AI-related memory (HBM)…”
statistic, official document. Claim: Samsung revenue KRW 195.3 trillion, operating profit up 783% to KRW 107.4 trillion, driven by AI memory demand.
- marketbeat.com
Backs: “Amazon Earnings Preview: Amazon is scheduled to release its Q3 results after today’s close. Analysts are expecting earnings of $1.96 to $2.01 per share on sales of approximately $202 billion.”
statistic, article. Claim: Amazon reports Q3 results after today's close.
- tastylive.com
Backs: “Analysts are expecting earnings of $1.96 to $2.01 per share on sales of approximately $202 billion. All eyes will be on how AWS growth holds up and whether its massive $220 billion capital expenditure plan—much of which is being spent on AI data center infrastructure—is showing a strong return on investment.”
statistic, article. Claim: Analysts expect Amazon EPS of $1.96 to $2.01 on sales of about $202 billion.
- barchart.com
Backs: “All eyes will be on how AWS growth holds up and whether its massive $220 billion capital expenditure plan—much of which is being spent on AI data center infrastructure—is showing a strong return on investment. Starbucks’ Turnaround Test: Reporting after the close, Starbucks is projected to post Q4 EPS of $0.71 to…”
statistic, article. Claim: Amazon's $220 billion capex plan, largely AI data centers, is under investor scrutiny.
- morningstar.com
Backs: “All eyes will be on how AWS growth holds up and whether its massive $220 billion capital expenditure plan—much of which is being spent on AI data center infrastructure—is showing a strong return on investment. Starbucks’ Turnaround Test: Reporting after the close, Starbucks is projected to post Q4 EPS of $0.71 to…”
statistic, article. Claim: Amazon's $220 billion capex plan, largely AI data centers, is under investor scrutiny.
- barchart.com
Backs: “Starbucks’ Turnaround Test: Reporting after the close, Starbucks is projected to post Q4 EPS of $0.71 to $0.73 on $9.21 billion in revenue. Investors are eager to see if CEO Brian Niccol's "Back to Starbucks" operational turnaround is successfully reversing negative store traffic and expanding margins.”
statistic, article. Claim: Starbucks projected Q4 EPS of $0.71 to $0.73 on $9.21 billion revenue.
- alphastreet.com
Backs: “Starbucks’ Turnaround Test: Reporting after the close, Starbucks is projected to post Q4 EPS of $0.71 to $0.73 on $9.21 billion in revenue. Investors are eager to see if CEO Brian Niccol's "Back to Starbucks" operational turnaround is successfully reversing negative store traffic and expanding margins.”
statistic, article. Claim: Starbucks projected Q4 EPS of $0.71 to $0.73 on $9.21 billion revenue.
- tipranks.com
Backs: “Investors are eager to see if CEO Brian Niccol's "Back to Starbucks" operational turnaround is successfully reversing negative store traffic and expanding margins. Coinbase Braces for Weaker Volume: Coinbase reports its Q3 earnings today under falling estimates.”
evidence, article. Claim: Investors watch whether Niccol's 'Back to Starbucks' turnaround is reversing negative traffic and expanding margins.
- seekingalpha.com
Backs: “Coinbase Braces for Weaker Volume: Coinbase reports its Q3 earnings today under falling estimates. Wall Street expects a small GAAP loss (ranging from -$0.12 to -$0.26) on revenue of $1.20 billion.”
evidence, article. Claim: Coinbase reports Q3 earnings today under falling estimates.
- coindcx.com
Backs: “Wall Street expects a small GAAP loss (ranging from -$0.12 to -$0.26) on revenue of $1.20 billion. The report will serve as a crucial indicator of whether stablecoin growth (USDC) and cost-cutting can protect the company's bottom line from a recent dip in overall crypto trading volumes.”
statistic, article. Claim: Wall Street expects Coinbase GAAP loss of -$0.12 to -$0.26 on $1.20 billion revenue.
- marketbeat.com
Backs: “Wall Street expects a small GAAP loss (ranging from -$0.12 to -$0.26) on revenue of $1.20 billion. The report will serve as a crucial indicator of whether stablecoin growth (USDC) and cost-cutting can protect the company's bottom line from a recent dip in overall crypto trading volumes.”
statistic, article. Claim: Wall Street expects Coinbase GAAP loss of -$0.12 to -$0.26 on $1.20 billion revenue.
- tikr.com
Backs: “The report will serve as a crucial indicator of whether stablecoin growth (USDC) and cost-cutting can protect the company's bottom line from a recent dip in overall crypto trading volumes. 4. Tech & AI: OpenAI Seeks to Buy Google AI Chips Directly”
evidence, article. Claim: Coinbase report is an indicator of whether stablecoin growth and cost-cutting offset lower crypto trading volumes.
- coinpaper.com
Backs: “In a move that signals an effort to reduce its reliance on Nvidia, OpenAI is reportedly planning to buy Google’s specialized Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) directly. OpenAI has historically rented Google’s TPUs via cloud servers, but buying the hardware outright would give the ChatGPT creator more direct control over…”
evidence, article. Claim: OpenAI reportedly plans to buy Google TPUs directly to reduce reliance on Nvidia.
- androidheadlines.com
Backs: “In a move that signals an effort to reduce its reliance on Nvidia, OpenAI is reportedly planning to buy Google’s specialized Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) directly. OpenAI has historically rented Google’s TPUs via cloud servers, but buying the hardware outright would give the ChatGPT creator more direct control over…”
evidence, article. Claim: OpenAI reportedly plans to buy Google TPUs directly to reduce reliance on Nvidia.
- fool.com
Backs: “OpenAI has historically rented Google’s TPUs via cloud servers, but buying the hardware outright would give the ChatGPT creator more direct control over its own infrastructure. The news highlights a complicated relationship, as OpenAI and Google remain fierce competitors in the consumer AI search space, even as tech…”
evidence, article. Claim: OpenAI has rented Google TPUs via cloud; buying outright gives more infrastructure control.
- mexicobusiness.news
Backs: “The news highlights a complicated relationship, as OpenAI and Google remain fierce competitors in the consumer AI search space, even as tech hyperscalers collectively head toward an estimated $600 billion in AI capital expenditures this year. 5. Trade & Regulation: Expanded U.S.”
statistic, article. Claim: OpenAI and Google compete in AI search; hyperscalers head toward about $600 billion AI capex this year.
- dhs.gov
Backs: “Effective today, October 29, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is enforcing a rebuttable presumption that goods produced by three newly added companies are prohibited from entering the United States under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA). The blacklisted entities include Chinese genomics and…”
evidence, official document. Claim: DHS enforces UFLPA rebuttable presumption on three newly added companies including BGI Genomics, effective October 29.