The October 17, 2026 link roundup gathers headlines from various outlets on economics, geopolitics and society. China's draft AI export controls warn that technologies such as AI-generated autonomous malware could threaten national security, and Beijing is curbing stock selling and backing buybacks to prop up markets. On the Middle East, the US says Iran is barred from maritime trade, while a social media post citing Iranian journalist Morteza Ghoroghi of IRIB says war could begin within 24 hours. The roundup also highlights 6.3% PPI inflation, the worst since 2022, along with stories on Europe, Ukraine, Russia and US policy.
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- Croatian PM meets Chinese FM , voices willingness to expand bilateral cooperation - Xinhua
Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Zagreb on October 17 and expressed Croatia's willingness to expand cooperation with China. Plenkovic praised the role of Chinese firms in infrastructure projects such as the Peljesac Bridge and welcomed their participation in tourism, photovoltaics and wind power, as well as the launch of direct flights. Wang said relations between the two countries are healthy and steady, and that China would work with Croatia through the China-CEEC framework and the Belt and Road Initiative, using the 15th anniversary of the mechanism next year to revive cooperation. On trade, Plenkovic voiced EU concerns about trade imbalances, while Wang called the EU a partner rather than a rival and said there is no so-called overcapacity problem in Chinese goods.
- Global Physical Artificial Intelligence (AI) Market Report 2026-2040 | Market to Reach $3.26 Trillion as Robotics, Autonomous Systems, and Wearables Scale
The global Physical AI market is forecast to grow from about $383 billion in 2026 to $3.26 trillion by 2040, driven by autonomous robots, self-driving vehicles, humanoid systems, industrial automation and wearables. Unlike digital AI, where US model makers and NVIDIA-based infrastructure lead, the physical AI race remains open: the US leads in foundation models, China in manufacturing scale and cost, Europe in industrial deployment and certified trustworthiness, and Japan in operational data from high robot density. The report says 2026-2032 will be a critical window for building infrastructure, securing semiconductor supply chains and setting regulatory standards. It frames adoption in three waves, from structured industrial settings to consumer and national deployment, and covers ten sectors including wearables, healthcare and defence.
- Accenture weighs $1 . 5 billion sale of Greater China operations amid AI shift , hires JPMorgan for review : Report
Accenture is reportedly considering selling its Greater China business, which covers mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, in a deal that could value it at up to $1.5 billion, according to the Financial Times. The potential divestment is part of a push to sharpen strategic focus amid uncertainty over how AI will reshape consulting. The company has hired JPMorgan to explore options after receiving unsolicited interest over the past year, with private equity firms and select strategic buyers expected to evaluate a deal, and it may keep a significant minority stake, though the review may not lead to a transaction. Operations in China have grown more complex due to regulatory hurdles and tighter data security rules, while a sale could free capital for AI acquisitions, client pricing and shareholder returns. Accenture reported global revenue of $74.2 billion for the financial year ended in August, and its shares have risen 85% from their June low.
- OpenAI, Anthropic's AI Lead Is 'Very Perishable,' IMD Professor Says: 'You Don't Need to Drive a Ferrari to Go to Walmart'
IMD professor Howard Yu says OpenAI and Anthropic may stay ahead of Chinese rivals, but a lead of roughly four to six months is 'very perishable' because most use cases don't need top-tier capability. He notes many companies use AI for simple tasks and weigh token spending against hiring, while cheaper Chinese open-source models can run inside a company's own data centers, a demand especially strong in Europe. Yu believes OpenAI and Anthropic will not be easily displaced in Western consumer markets thanks to easy access and clean interfaces, though enterprise buyers are more sophisticated. Polymarket traders still see U.S. labs leading, with Anthropic at about 43%, Alphabet at 42%, OpenAI near 8%, and Chinese labs around 1% or less to have the best AI model at end-2026.
- China's CXMT sees shares drop over 6% as investors look past chipmaker's profit turnaround
Shares of ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) fell 6.5% on Monday, even after the company forecast a sharp swing to profitability for January–September 2026. It expects net profit attributable to shareholders of 131 billion to 132.5 billion yuan ($19.58 billion), versus a net loss of 5.28 billion yuan a year earlier, on revenue of 265 billion to 270 billion yuan. The company attributed the improvement to surging AI computing demand that has boosted the global DRAM market, causing supply shortages and sharp price increases. CXMT now accounts for 10% of global DRAM revenue in Q3 2026, up from 5% a year earlier, according to Counterpoint Research.
- The Best Growth Stock to Invest $10,000 in Right Now
Sandisk shares have surged 827% over the past year but dropped 44% from their June 22 52-week high, with fears over NAND flash demand, AI infrastructure spending and competition from China's CXMT. The author argues these fears are overblown, since CXMT doesn't make NAND flash and its DRAM technology reportedly trails Micron and SK Hynix. Enterprise SSD demand is booming on the back of the AI boom, with contract prices reportedly up 3x year over year, and McKinsey and IDC forecast annual growth of 35% and over 40% through 2030, respectively. Sandisk posted $20 billion in fiscal 2026 revenue with an 11% NAND market share, and its TAM is seen reaching $500 billion next year. The company targets mid-to-high teens annual revenue growth in fiscal 2028 to 2030 and a non-GAAP operating margin of 75% by fiscal 2030, versus 63% in fiscal 2026.
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- Iran warns US and Israel
Iran's Armed Forces Chief of Staff, Major General Ali Abdollahi, warned on October 18 that the US and Israel would face a far harsher response if they continue actions Tehran considers provocative. He said Tehran is awaiting their next moves and that Iran's armed forces remain ready for any scenario. Tehran accuses Washington and Tel Aviv of trying to weaken its government, and tensions have risen since earlier conflicts, including a 12-day war. Iran says it will not back down under external pressure.
- Is TC Energy (TRP) a Good or Bad Investment at Today's Multiple?
TC Energy trades at 21.19 times next year's expected earnings, closing at $61.74 on October 16 after a 1.5% return over 6 months, versus 10.5% for the Insider Monkey Billionaire Index and 9.3% for the State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust. The company operates natural gas transmission pipelines across Canada, the United States and Mexico, plus power generation, with a 44.25% operating margin, and latest-quarter earnings rose 18.00% on revenue up 5.70%. The article flags risks including debt at 170.37% of equity, the loss of crude oil pipelines to South Bow in 2024, and volumes that depend on North American gas demand from power and LNG exports. A 4.01% yield is cited as income while the market decides whether the stable business justifies the multiple relative to its growth.
- Should You Buy This Trump AI Stock Ahead of Earnings?
Microsoft (MSFT) reports quarterly results on October 28 and ranks eighth in Trump's latest stock portfolio, after Trump bought the stock five times in August. Bulls point to Azure growth of 43% last quarter, with management expecting about 45% in the current quarter, and to demand that exceeds available computing capacity. Bears cite rising capital spending that Deutsche Bank says could push free cash flow close to breakeven in fiscal 2027, about two-thirds of spending going to short-lived equipment such as chips, and OpenAI making up about 45% of the commercial backlog in the December quarter. The stock trades at 26.75 times forward earnings, a 27% premium to the sector median of 21.01 but 12% below its own five-year average of 30.47, with a PEG ratio of 1.70 versus a sector median of 1.14. The article concludes that investors pay more than for the average tech stock but less than they usually pay for Microsoft.
- What Is Williams' (WMB) Economic Moat, and Is It Steel or Permits?
Williams (WMB) closed at $71.28 on October 16, with a 0.5% return over 6 months, compared with 10.5% for the Insider Monkey Billionaire Index and 9.3% for the State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust. The article argues its main advantage is the Transco pipeline, which runs from the Gulf Coast up the eastern seaboard, where several attempts to build new pipe have been abandoned after failing to win approvals. A 39.54% operating margin and 21.50% return on equity are cited as evidence of this advantage, although revenue rose only 7.80% last quarter. Limits noted include debt at 200.37% of equity, rules that also restrict Williams' own growth, and a price of 26.81 times expected next-year earnings. The dividend yields 2.95%.
- Marvell Jumps 6% as GF Securities Says Google Chip Delay Won’t Dent Its Position; Broadcom Rises 3%
Marvell shares rose 6% to $241.27 in afternoon trading after a reported delay in Google's next TPU chip, while Broadcom gained 3%. GF Securities analyst Jeff Pu said the delay does not change Marvell's medium- to long-term position in Google's chip supply chain. Marvell reported Q2 FY2027 revenue of $2.74 billion, up 36.5% YoY, with its Data Center segment at $2.17 billion, or 79% of revenue. Google can acquire up to 7% of Marvell shares under a warrant tied to revenue targets, and management expects its custom business to more than double in fiscal 2028. Q3 revenue guidance is $3.15 billion, plus or minus 5%, with non-GAAP gross margin of 57.5% to 58.5%, and the article notes Marvell still needs to convert its Google programs into reported revenue.
- Is ONEOK (OKE) Cheap at 14 Times Next Year’s Earnings?
ONEOK (NYSE:OKE) closed at $93.31 on October 16 and returned 11.4% over six months, versus 10.5% for the Insider Monkey Billionaire Index. The stock trades at 14.49 times next year's expected earnings and yields 4.59%, and revenue rose 52.80% last quarter as the company grew through acquisitions. The article argues that much of this growth was bought rather than built, with only 13.25% of revenue remaining as operating profit and debt at 143.07% of equity. Because a large part of the business involves buying and reselling liquids rather than earning transport fees, the article views the discount as having a reason behind it. It concludes that investors should watch margins rather than revenue.
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