The Baltic Dry Index fell for a third consecutive week, down 34 points (1.27%) to 2,511 — its lowest since June 30 and roughly 14% lower on the week. The capesize index (BCI) dropped 73 points (2.2%) to 3,249, the weakest since early April and about 25% lower on the week; capesize daily earnings declined $664 to $25,961. The panamax index (BPI) fell 42 points (1.78%) to 2,314; panamax daily earnings eased $373 to $20,827. Supramax (BSI) rose 9 points (0.48%) to 1,865 and handysize (BHSI) gained

On Oct. 17 in Bangkok IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said the 2026 autumn meetings produced three core consensuses: AI is now a key growth driver but overreliance and concentration pose risks and global economic resilience is under pressure; global economic divergence is widening—countries outside the AI value chain and energy-importing economies hit by war face greater development stress and growth gains are unevenly shared; and rapid AI development means current policy choices will shape its future path. Participants agreed to pursue AI’s benefits while building safeguards, risk controls and stronger cooperation among governments, firms and international institutions.

Shanghai party secretary Chen Jining met Apple executive chairman Tim Cook today and invited Apple to deepen cooperation in the city on smart-device supply chains, innovation-ecosystem development and sound AI development, and to deploy more new products, technologies and services in Shanghai. Chen said the city will continue to optimize a market-oriented, rule-of-law, international business environment and speed up alignment of regulatory and legal frameworks with higher-level opening to support global firms' expansion in Shanghai.