M — Morning Briefs

Morning Brief: Anthropic and OpenAI Release Cheaper Models; Trump Hails ‘Very Good’ Iran Talks; Oil Traders Bet on Price Drop; China’s Share of Global Container Exports Hits 40%

23 September, 2026
Morning Brief

Find here our morning brief which compiled the main macro news — released on Twitter — concerning Americas, Asia and Europe.

Americas

Markets

6th day in a row more 52 week lows than highs pic.twitter.com/aDQekTBpLb

— zerohedge (@zerohedge) September 22, 2026

Bank Stocks Slide On Resurgent Agentic Fears https://t.co/JBMcOnQoEd

— zerohedge (@zerohedge) September 22, 2026

Institutional Investors now have a 57.4% equity allocation, the highest level since the Dot Com Bubble Burst 🚨 🤯 👀 pic.twitter.com/52E8Nv6gjr

— Barchart (@Barchart) September 23, 2026

Institutional investors are cutting their bullish bets on the US Dollar.

Long speculative positioning in the US Dollar fell -$15 billion, to +$5 billion in the week ending September 15th, the lowest since March.

This covers hedge funds, speculative currency traders, and asset… pic.twitter.com/3nZhbu1O9I

— The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) September 22, 2026

*Focus on AI

🇺🇲 Anthropic and OpenAI release cheaper models as price war intensifies – FThttps://t.co/KeHfMrfFw3

— Christophe Barraud 🇫🇷 🇲🇨 (@C_Barraud) September 23, 2026

Depreciation starting to emerge pic.twitter.com/bhCzMRtM22

— zerohedge (@zerohedge) September 23, 2026

SB Energy Delays IPO Funding World's Largest Data Center Amid Investor Revolt, Public Outcry https://t.co/17sMtICBi2

— zerohedge (@zerohedge) September 23, 2026

FT: "Morgan Stanley now estimates, based on a total data-centre power requirement of 257GW by 2028, a gap of between 30 and 40% between US capacity and sales projections. Or to put it in layperson’s terms: 'NYC demands 5.5-6 GW of baseload power: we are short power by six New… pic.twitter.com/t8nR8Pquua

— Trevor Noren (@trevornoren) September 22, 2026

Economic Indicators and Prospects

Preliminary weekly hiring report from ADP for the four weeks ending September 5th rose for the fifth week in six to +80k (+20k/wk), the best since June 20th, and the 4-week moving average rose for a third week to +50.6k. https://t.co/BhiCOlrDr7 pic.twitter.com/vkiwNdNSMP

— Neil Sethi NEW account (@neilsethinew) September 22, 2026

US Philadelphia Fed Non-Manufacturing Activity Index: -22.0 (est -8.7; prev -10.6)

— LiveSquawk (@LiveSquawk) September 22, 2026

The Richmond Fed Manufacturing Index came in at -2 versus the estimate of 2. pic.twitter.com/rPIOQAmA4v

— Bespoke (@bespokeinvest) September 22, 2026

GS: Prices for Refined Products Such as Diesel, Gasoline, and Jet Fuel Have Increased Substantially Since the Start of the War

Our Strategists Expect Them to Decline Over the Rest of the Year pic.twitter.com/uli2cyCS2h

— Mike Zaccardi, CFA, CMT 🍖 (@MikeZaccardi) September 22, 2026

Housing

Homebuilders say they struggle to find workers amid ICE crackdowns https://t.co/UpJh3OjQdx

— Axios (@axios) September 22, 2026

Monetary Policy

Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond President Tom Barkin warned it could take time for inflationary shocks to wane and there is a risk elevated pressures could become entrenched. https://t.co/86mikaNqrf

— Bloomberg (@business) September 22, 2026

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston President Susan Collins said she supported last week’s decision to raise interest rates, which she said would help bring inflation back to the central bank’s 2% target. https://t.co/EQZzK1m9NC

— Bloomberg (@business) September 22, 2026

Fed’s Perli Says Treasury Bill Purchases Depend On Market Conditions – BBGhttps://t.co/WfSFEl3VPy

— LiveSquawk (@LiveSquawk) September 22, 2026

Federal Reserve Bank of New York President John Williams said the shift to central clearing for US Treasuries and Treasury-collateralized repurchase agreements was ahead of schedule. https://t.co/7t55H7tPdW

— Bloomberg (@business) September 22, 2026

🇺🇲 Traders Load Up on Hedges for Shallower #Fed Rate-Hike Cycle – Bloomberghttps://t.co/p4dAYKQ0sF pic.twitter.com/XDtAtLmPii

— Christophe Barraud 🇫🇷 🇲🇨 (@C_Barraud) September 23, 2026

Fiscal Policy

White House Cancels Coverage For 750,000 ACA Enrollees, Citing Fraud https://t.co/fm5bXFsEbK

— zerohedge (@zerohedge) September 22, 2026

Trade, Politics and Geopolitics

Bessent Emerges As "AI Czar" Frontrunner https://t.co/Fqtdx9pjwd

— zerohedge (@zerohedge) September 22, 2026

Trump Adviser Ties High Gas Prices To Refining – @axios https://t.co/IgDEPw04uT

— LiveSquawk (@LiveSquawk) September 22, 2026

Trump said he’s encouraged his advisers to approve a ban on diesel exports, as the price of the fuel skyrockets amid pressure from the wars in Iran and Ukraine https://t.co/H3YgwkWhIQ

— Bloomberg (@business) September 22, 2026

Republicans have long been loathe to openly criticize Donald Trump, who has wielded an uncommonly strong hold over his party. But as midterm elections approach, several are breaking with the president https://t.co/ffCzKiQwtb

— Bloomberg (@business) September 23, 2026

Key GOP Senator Roger Wicker sharply criticized Donald Trump for the manner in which he plans to host Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington this week https://t.co/V1qhl0XOFD

— Bloomberg (@business) September 23, 2026

🇺🇸 Here’s What’s Happening to the Billions of Dollars of US Tariff Refunds – Bloomberghttps://t.co/bEZT3VGdLn pic.twitter.com/al2jxIDEYh

— Christophe Barraud 🇫🇷 🇲🇨 (@C_Barraud) September 23, 2026

EU And Canada To Unveil New Partnership, But It May Not Be ‘Associate Membership,’ Says Ambassador – @politico https://t.co/m5MqdmZFfz

— LiveSquawk (@LiveSquawk) September 22, 2026

As the US investigates German drug prices, here’s why Europe should care https://t.co/lQMkZJa3zg

— LiveSquawk (@LiveSquawk) September 22, 2026

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has called for a swift resumption of talks between the US and North Korea, seeking to capitalize on Donald Trump’s relationship with Kim Jong Un to end a decades-long stalemate on the peninsula https://t.co/kTjDqIucHs

— Bloomberg (@business) September 23, 2026

Focus on Middle East conflict

🇺🇲🇮🇷 Trump tells U.N. he could ‘annihilate’ Iran but expects a deal after the midterm elections – NBChttps://t.co/mamGghF2hI

— Christophe Barraud 🇫🇷 🇲🇨 (@C_Barraud) September 23, 2026

🇺🇲🇮🇷 Trump Hails ‘Very Good’ Iran Talks Following Annihilation Threat – Bloomberghttps://t.co/RytXPKa1IA

— Christophe Barraud 🇫🇷 🇲🇨 (@C_Barraud) September 23, 2026

US State Department spokesman: Trump described the meeting with the Iranians as good and put a clear choice in front of them https://t.co/HWWNzV3LDV

— LiveSquawk (@LiveSquawk) September 22, 2026

U.S. envoy Steve Wittoff: We had lengthy talks with Iranian delegation in New York through mediators https://t.co/CwaXZbqDkW

— LiveSquawk (@LiveSquawk) September 22, 2026

#OOTT | Oil Tanker Costs Hit Record $1.2M A Day As Iran War Disrupts Shipping – FThttps://t.co/KM2LVULUgK

— LiveSquawk (@LiveSquawk) September 23, 2026

Asia/Middle East

Markets

Currency options traders are betting the Korean won’s Asia-leading rally since July has further to run https://t.co/KbVu4n7lgB

— Bloomberg (@business) September 23, 2026

And unlike the US, China has the electrical capacity to build all of this. China has 4000GW of total power generation and growing 20%. The US is at 1200GW and flat (with PJM and ERCOT nearing capacity) https://t.co/mEwD3LzvXs pic.twitter.com/p0xFKqeEAB

— zerohedge (@zerohedge) September 23, 2026

China Takes Stock Of Broadcom Gear Amid Domestic AI Drive – FThttps://t.co/uJ3qDIJOkO

— LiveSquawk (@LiveSquawk) September 23, 2026

Economic Indicators and Prospects

🚨 🇨🇳 Chinese auto brands came close to 12% market share in Europe in August as they are adapting their product mix to European constraints.

📊 As the EU decided to impose additional tariffs on Chinese-made EVs to slow their expansion, they simply shifted part of their offensive… pic.twitter.com/EOndLUG9lY

— Christophe Barraud 🇫🇷 🇲🇨 (@C_Barraud) September 23, 2026

🇨🇳 🌎 #China’s share of global container exports soars to 40% – Financial Timeshttps://t.co/ipENw7gEVghttps://t.co/3vypoJ5rks

— Christophe Barraud 🇫🇷 🇲🇨 (@C_Barraud) September 23, 2026

El Nino, AI to widen economic growth gap in developing Asia: ADB https://t.co/o5XgOtzSnt

— Nikkei Asia (@NikkeiAsia) September 23, 2026

China’s oil imports are likely to remain subdued in the coming months if crude prices stay elevated, according to Goldman, which could keep a lid on further gains https://t.co/zMUKfUjJEh

— Bloomberg (@business) September 23, 2026

Monetary Policy

🇨🇳PBOC injected CNY 8 bln via a 7-day reverse repo today; bids matched allotments at CNY 8 bln and the operation rate was 1.40%, unchanged. (https://t.co/BTF4jAgmHp)

— CN Wire (@Sino_Market) September 23, 2026

Trade, Politics and Geopolitics

EXCLUSIVE: China's Xi expected to press Trump to halt Taiwan arms sales under 1982 agreement, sources say https://t.co/N6Dk2NYhjN https://t.co/N6Dk2NYhjN

— Reuters (@Reuters) September 22, 2026

China urges the EU to keep auto markets open, avoid protectionism https://t.co/VFCPZuR8dI pic.twitter.com/tHGNc8JAY6

— Zoe Schneeweiss (@ZSchneeweiss) September 22, 2026

Trump, Takaichi reaffirm alliance days before US-China summit https://t.co/oL3ef0eu0S

— Nikkei Asia (@NikkeiAsia) September 22, 2026

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi pledged to continue Japan’s support for Ukraine in her first summit meeting with Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy https://t.co/dQndSKsSbR

— Bloomberg (@business) September 22, 2026

Kim Jong Un Touts Hypersonic Missile Test: 'Incurable Headache' To Enemies https://t.co/3LHeQlfVDS

— zerohedge (@zerohedge) September 23, 2026

Europe

Markets

Oil prices are heading for their longest losing streak in a year as signs of recovering supply from Saudi Arabia and renewed US-Iran diplomacy ease some of the risk premium that has driven crude sharply higher this year.https://t.co/8W0Co71SIU

— NDTV Profit News (@NDTVProfit) September 23, 2026

🛢️#Oil Traders Bet on Price Drop at Record Pace as Disruptions Ease – Bloomberghttps://t.co/enKLFWCGcN pic.twitter.com/uPuZ1rOPAt

— Christophe Barraud 🇫🇷 🇲🇨 (@C_Barraud) September 23, 2026

Economic Indicators and Prospects

Eurozone Consumer Confidence Sep P: -16.5 (est -16.0; prev -15.5)

— LiveSquawk (@LiveSquawk) September 22, 2026

🇨🇳🇩🇪 🇪🇺 #China's industrial rise hits German manufacturers hard, ECB finds – Reutershttps://t.co/2jBPCIcasdhttps://t.co/3vypoJ5rks

— Christophe Barraud 🇫🇷 🇲🇨 (@C_Barraud) September 23, 2026

🇨🇳🇪🇺 Which countries are most vulnerable to the industrial rise of China? Mapping Europe’s uneven exposure – ECBhttps://t.co/WMz6JVJcIr pic.twitter.com/YIdtPsOIPa

— Christophe Barraud 🇫🇷 🇲🇨 (@C_Barraud) September 23, 2026

Monetary Policy

The second wave of energy price increases means inflation is likely to be higher for longer before falling back towards target from mid-2027 onwards, Chief Economist Philip R. Lane tells @LeTemps.

He also discusses growth, government spending and AI https://t.co/M9BSfSH14U pic.twitter.com/ZpEPbGJFwB

— European Central Bank (@ecb) September 22, 2026

Nagel says the ‘vigilant’ ECB may need mildy restrictive rates https://t.co/INyIw4MiLs pic.twitter.com/S0jbzAeEW4

— Zoe Schneeweiss (@ZSchneeweiss) September 23, 2026

Fiscal Policy

Meloni loses hope of EU reprieve as Italy deficit stays at 3.1% https://t.co/sjspj7a9Ks via @Alemrome pic.twitter.com/7T91bbTfGJ

— Zoe Schneeweiss (@ZSchneeweiss) September 22, 2026

The French government said today it would spend €450 million to extend fuel subsidies until the end of the year to help companies and workers affected by the economic consequences of the war in the Middle East. https://t.co/zYedqbzZhp

— POLITICOEurope (@POLITICOEurope) September 22, 2026

🇺🇦 Zelensky: I met with the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, Kristalina Georgieva.

The IMF will help find part of the funding Ukraine needs to maintain its financial resilience next year. pic.twitter.com/WkZ4Ch959S

— The Ukrainian Review (@UkrReview) September 22, 2026

Trade, Politics and Geopolitics

Zelenskiy Says Russia Planning New Mass Attack On Ukraine – RTRShttps://t.co/GIuUPo6qC7

— LiveSquawk (@LiveSquawk) September 23, 2026

Zelensky Asks Trump For Winter Arms Package, Expects Energy-ceasefire Push – WSJhttps://t.co/3r1JNMh0Gv

— LiveSquawk (@LiveSquawk) September 23, 2026

EU Renews Russia Sanctions, Drops Russian Billionaires Usmanov And Fridman – @Reuters https://t.co/2soIhNct4x

— LiveSquawk (@LiveSquawk) September 22, 2026

Other Areas And Global Economy

⚠ #WeekAhead #Preview: Week 39 (2026) ⚠

🇺🇸🇨🇳 Trump-Xi Talks
🌎 UN General Assembly
🇩🇪 German State Elections' Results
🌎 #OECD Economic Outlook
🌎 Central Banks' Rate Decisions
🌎 Global Flash PMIs
…https://t.co/lvkX9f4rTW

— Christophe Barraud 🇫🇷 🇲🇨 (@C_Barraud) September 20, 2026