• Paramount clears major merger hurdle: Paramount (PSKY) settled state antitrust lawsuits over its $110B Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) acquisition, paving the way for the merger. WBD shares surged 11%, while Paramount fell 3% amid financing concerns. Source: Stock Analysis.com.
• AMD surpasses $1T valuation: AMD (AMD) shares surged 9.6% to a record high on Monday, lifting its market value above $1T for the first time. The stock has gained 185% this year. Source: Reuters.
• Meta’s Muse tops app charts: Meta (META) saw its Muse AI agent surpass ChatGPT on the U.S. iOS free app chart, reaching 2.5M downloads in 13 days. Meta shares surged over 11%. Meanwhile, Amazon (AMZN) blocked Muse over security concerns and Shopify (SHOP) partnered with it on checkout. Source: CNBC.
• Eli Lilly expands production: Eli Lilly (LLY) said 700K seniors have started GLP-1s since Medicare expanded coverage in July, with 70% choosing Lilly medicines. The company also said Foundayo now accounts for one-third of new GLP-1 pill patients. To meet growing demand, Lilly has broken ground on a $6.5B Houston plant. Sources: CNBC / CNBC.
• Peloton's new treadmill lineup: Peloton (PTON) unveiled 3 treadmills priced from $2,195 to $6,695, including its first foldable model. Sales start on October 1. The launch and new AI-powered features aim to revive customer growth after the stock fell 20% this year. Source: Bloomberg.
• McDonald’s prepares growth strategy: McDonald’s (MCD) will outline its turnaround plan at Wednesday’s investor day after U.S. same-store sales rose just 0.8% and its shares fell 18% over the past year. Source: CNBC.
• DoorDash settles NYC wage dispute: DoorDash (DASH) agreed to pay $131.5M to settle a New York City probe into courier pay, including $16.7M in fines. About 264,000 workers will receive payments. Source: Bloomberg.
• Private equity news: Higher interest rates and weak exit markets have left buyout firms holding over 32K unsold companies worth $3.8T. Median fund lifespans have reached 15 years, prompting longer-term fund structures while delaying investor payouts. Source: Bloomberg.

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• Alibaba unveils major AI expansion: Alibaba (BABA) shares rose about 3% in Hong Kong (HKG:9988) after it unveiled the Zhenwu V900 AI chip, offering triple its predecessor’s performance, and plans for over 20 gigawatts of global data center capacity by 2032. Source: CNBC.
• OpenAI proposes AI standards: OpenAI called for international safety standards governing advanced AI and recursive self-improvement, warning that autonomous systems could outpace human oversight. Source: CNBC.
• British Columbia sues OpenAI: The Canadian province filed a lawsuit alleging OpenAI failed to alert authorities about concerning ChatGPT interactions before the Tumbler Ridge school shooting. Source: BBC.
• Banks flag AI shopping risks: Banks including Bank of America (BAC) and Capital One (COF) warned that AI shopping agents could increase fraud, scams, and data-privacy risks. They are proposing several safeguards. Source: Reuters.
• Dimon sees AI spending surging: JPMorgan (JPM) CEO Jamie Dimon said hyperscaler AI spending could reach $1T in 2027, up from $700B this year. He warned that the investment boom could fuel near-term inflation, while AI may lower costs over time. Source: CNBC.
• California tightens AI data center rules: Gov. Gavin Newsom signed 7 bills requiring data centers to fund local power grid and water system upgrades rather than pass costs on to residents. The laws also mandate water-use disclosures and introduce a new utility rate classification. Source: The Verge.

• ECB warns of prolonged inflation: ECB chief economist Philip Lane warned that a second surge in oil and gas prices could keep euro-area inflation elevated until mid-2027. The ECB raised rates by 25 basis points in September and projects inflation of 3% in 2026 and 2.5% in 2027. Source: StockAnalysis.com.
• Saudi Arabia re-opens oil pipeline: Saudi Arabia has reportedly restarted its East-West pipeline after drone attacks halted operations, with Red Sea exports potentially resuming today. Source: Reuters.

• Iran signals possible Hormuz reopening: Iran reportedly offered to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 7 days if the U.S. eases military pressure and lifts its port blockade. The unverified reports sent Brent crude down, raising hopes of renewed diplomacy. Source: CNBC.
• Trump addresses the UN: President Trump is addressing the UN General Assembly today, where he is expected to defend his Iran policy and highlight diplomatic agreements. Planned meetings with world leaders, including Zelenskiy, and an upcoming visit by China's Xi Jinping put trade and geopolitical relations in focus. Sources: NPR / Reuters.
• Typhoon Dujuan kills 4 in Japan: Typhoon Dujuan killed four people, left six missing, and cut power to 50,000 as it battered Tokyo and surrounding areas Monday. Hundreds of flights were suspended, though most evacuation orders were lifted on Tuesday. Source: BBC.
• Networks boycott Trump's helipad debut: Major news outlets skipped President Trump's new White House helipad inauguration after CNN was barred from covering it. Source: AP.
• Cable cut disrupts U.S. flights: Hundreds of flights were delayed across major Northeast airports Monday after construction workers severed an air traffic control cable. Newark was hardest hit. Source: BBC.

• 8:15 AM: ADP Employment Change Weekly
• 4:30 PM: API Crude Oil Stock Change
• Friday: Durable Goods Orders MoM

AutoZone (AZO) has released its quarterly earnings.

• Revenue of $6.60B (+5.66% YoY) misses by $110.81M.
• EPS of $56.05 (+15.07% YoY) beats by $1.95.
• Financials · As Reported · Metrics · Press Release

ABIVAX Société Anonyme (ABVX) has released its quarterly earnings.

• Revenue of $2.96M (-61.71% YoY) beats by $1.10M.
• EPS of -$2.43 misses by $1.35.
• Financials · As Reported · Metrics · Press Release

Cintas (CTAS) will report tomorrow before market open.

• Analysts estimate revenue of $2.98B (+9.49% YoY).
• EPS is estimated to be $1.36 (+13.33% YoY).
• Financials · As Reported · Metrics

Paychex (PAYX) will report tomorrow before market open.

• Analysts estimate revenue of $1.63B (+5.53% YoY).
• EPS is estimated to be $1.32 (+8.20% YoY).
• Financials · As Reported · Metrics

General Mills (GIS) will report tomorrow before market open.

• Analysts estimate revenue of $4.35B (-3.81% YoY).
• EPS is estimated to be $0.72 (-16.28% YoY).
• Financials · As Reported · Metrics

Costco (COST) will report Thursday.

• Analysts estimate revenue of $94.85B (+10.09% YoY).
• EPS is estimated to be $6.52 (+11.07% YoY).
• Financials · As Reported · Metrics

Darden Restaurants (DRI) will report Thursday.

• Analysts estimate revenue of $3.21B (+6.71% YoY).
• EPS is estimated to be $2.05 (+4.06% YoY).
• Financials · As Reported · Metrics

TD SYNNEX (SNX) will report Thursday.

• Analysts estimate revenue of $18.79B (+20.05% YoY).
• EPS is estimated to be $4.64 (+29.61% YoY).
• Financials · As Reported · Metrics

• Estimated Wednesday, Sept. 23: Amaero Inc. (AMRO), a producer of titanium and refractory metal powders for defense and aerospace 3D printing with $12.48M in TTM revenue and 378.7% revenue growth YoY.
• Estimated Wednesday, Sept. 23: Bamboo Insurance Services, Inc. (BMB), a provider homeowners insurance as a managing general underwriter with $295.78M in TTM revenue and 36.9% revenue growth YoY.
• Estimated Friday, Sept. 25: ADARx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (ADRX), a late-clinical stage biotechnology company with $6.13M in TTM revenue.