China's Ministry of Finance intends to issue the 65th book-entry discount government bond of 2026, a 182-day zero-coupon note with a face value of 55.0 bln yuan. The issue will be allocated via competitive tender (Type A members may submit additional bids); the auction will set the issuance price and the bond will be issued at a discount to par. Interest accrual begins 21 Oct 2026; maturity is 21 Apr 2027 (holiday-adjusted).

BofA aggregate data show S&P 500 Q3 earnings expectations remain strong, but 10 of 11 sectors are projected to see slower earnings growth versus the prior quarter. Analysts forecast S&P 500 constituent earnings growth to slow from 25% in 2026 Q3 and 28% in 2026 Q4 to 18% in 1H 2027, indicating modest weakening in forward momentum. Slowing earnings growth alone may not halt the rally, but with US equities near record highs and growing concern that inflation could be stickier than expected, companies will need materially strong results to lift the market further. Pictet Asset Management chief strategist Luca Paolini said: "We see early signs that earnings momentum may be peaking. With expectations so elevated, even slight misses could trigger strong market reactions."

Japan seasonally adjusted bank lending excluding trust accounts rose 5.7% YoY in September, down from 5.8% previously.