Harris and Trump make final appeals as race goes down to wire

As we speak’s agenda: Wall Avenue’s ‘neocloud’ AI guess; China pressures wealthy to cough up taxes; BoE set for price reduce; Hamas after Sinwar; and Buffett slashes Apple stake

Good morning. It’s the eve of the world’s most vital election. Each candidates spent their weekends campaigning in swing states, with Donald Trump making unfounded claims of electoral fraud at a Pennsylvania rally whereas Kamala Harris fastidiously pushed an upbeat closing message in Michigan after showing on the comedy present Saturday Evening Reside. Right here’s the newest from the ultimate days of the US presidential race.

The place the polls stand: Harris and Trump stay in a useless warmth, with the Financial Times poll tracker exhibiting they’re nonetheless locked in a statistical tie within the seven battleground states. However one ballot gave the vice-president an unexpected three-point lead in Iowa, a state her Republican rival gained by 9 factors 4 years in the past. The survey breakdown suggests a late surge in help from girls voters, a demographic Harris has focused on consistently by campaigning on reproductive rights.

What to anticipate in markets: Bankers, merchants and traders are getting ready for a protracted interval of high volumes and increased volatility. The early focus because the polls shut will likely be on bond and foreign money markets, which commerce by the evening. Whereas inventory futures will even be shifting, they sometimes develop into extra dependable indicators within the morning, earlier than the New York market opens. The Federal Reserve remains to be anticipated to lower rates by a quarter-point when it declares its rate of interest resolution on Thursday, with the election outcomes probably not but recognized.

In tomorrow’s publication, I’ll carry you extra updates on what to look out for as polls shut within the night within the US. For now, listed here are some really helpful reads. You too can discover all of our coverage here.

• What if Trump wins? The previous president might really feel emboldened to implement a radical agenda, with fewer checks and balances than throughout his first time period.

• What if Harris wins? A legal and information war waged by Trump’s staff to cease her victory from being licensed might drag out the method for days and even weeks.

• Ignore the noise: Buyers ought to tune out, writes Richard Bernstein. The truth is presidents have traditionally had comparatively little impact on returns.

• America’s vitality future: Few industries stand to realize — or lose — extra with the election than renewable sources of power.

Be sure you’re signed up for our US election publication to get updates tomorrow. Right here’s what else I’m protecting tabs on at present:

• Financial information: The EU has its manufacturing buying managers’ index.

• Oil: The annual Adipec trade occasion begins in Abu Dhabi with Opec’s secretary-general attending. The cartel has delayed a plan to start elevating oil manufacturing till the top of the 12 months.

• China: Prime lawmakers have begun a week-long assembly that’s anticipated to approve a long-awaited fiscal stimulus package.

• Moldova: President Maia Sandu is on course to win a second time period, in response to preliminary outcomes.

Consultants led by Monetary Instances editor Roula Khalaf will focus on their predictions for the world in 2025 in a digital occasion on December 11. Register today.

5 extra high tales

1. Unique: Wall Avenue’s largest monetary establishments have loaned greater than $11bn to a distinct segment group of tech corporations based mostly on their possession of the world’s hottest commodity: Nvidia’s synthetic intelligence chips. Blackstone, Pimco, Carlyle and BlackRock are amongst those who have created a profitable new debt market over the previous 12 months by lending to so-called neocloud companies.

2. Chinese language authorities are demanding corporations and the rich double-check their taxes for unpaid liabilities as native governments hunt for income to refill coffers depleted by a property hunch. The transfer threatens to additional dent investor confidence forward of this week’s anticipated fiscal stimulus. Here’s more on the tax “self-inspections”.

3. The Financial institution of England is anticipated to vote for its second rate of interest reduce this 12 months regardless of predictions that the UK Price range will increase near-term demand and result in greater inflation. However economists stated the near-term stimulus was unlikely to be substantial sufficient to derail a widely anticipated rate cut on Thursday.

4. A bitter authorized dispute prompted by an inner ethics code has damaged out amongst Germany’s high financial advisers. Because the Council of Financial Consultants places the ultimate touches on its report due this month, one of many 5 teachers on the panel has taken the opposite colleagues to court docket. Olaf Storbeck has more details from Frankfurt.

5. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez was evacuated from Spain’s flood catastrophe zone yesterday as livid locals pelted mud at him and the Spanish king over a string of failures that left individuals helplessly uncovered to a lethal deluge. Some residents of Paiporta, a city that was dwelling to just about one-third of the 214 recognized victims, shouted “murderers” as the leaders visited the area.

Information in-depth

Israel’s navy has already wrested a lot of Gaza from Hamas, killing hundreds of its fighters and assassinating its chief, Yahya Sinwar. However the political motion has all the time been far more than its navy wing, and what stays will show far more durable to destroy. “In every single place there may be the scent of Hamas,” stated one Gazan. “They’re not going anywhere.”

We’re additionally studying . . . 

• Financial mirage: The US financial system appears unusually sturdy, however its current development has been lopsided, brittle and heavily reliant on authorities spending and borrowing, writes Ruchir Sharma.

• Argentine politics: Javier Milei’s deregulation minister speaks to the FT about his mission to create the world’s freest economy by taking a chainsaw to its statute guide.

• Mattel after Barbie: With the movie’s success, CEO Ynon Kreiz now plans to show the corporate’s different toy manufacturers right into a “playground” for filmmakers.

• Gen Z’s woes: Does the youthful technology really have it tougher than earlier ones? Amy Borrett finds out.

Chart of the day

Warren Buffett has continued to slash his stake in Apple as a part of a promoting spree that has seen his Berkshire Hathaway dump $166bn value of shares over the previous two years. Over the weekend, the conglomerate disclosed it had diminished its place within the iPhone maker to $69.9bn within the third quarter, indicating it had shed an additional 100mn shares.

Take a break from the information

An electronic mail introduction ought to produce a gathering that’s helpful, mutually helpful and enjoyable, writes columnist Pilita Clark. However far too many break these basic rules that an introducer ought to nearly all the time observe.