OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said the company is pausing its planned 2026 IPO, citing concerns about potential AI safety risks, including the possibility of human extinction. Altman said AI development should proceed cautiously as calls for regulation continue to grow. Rival Anthropic, meanwhile, plans to keep moving ahead with its own IPO.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said the company will not go public in 2026, citing AI safety considerations. The decision comes as calls for tighter AI regulation intensify and experts warn about potential risks from the technology. Altman framed the move as part of a strategy to align safety measures with government-industry cooperation.

The dollar strengthened slightly against the euro and Swiss franc after U.S. consumer prices rose 0.4% in August, lifting expectations the Federal Reserve could raise interest rates next week. Gains were limited as escalating tensions in the Middle East kept oil above $100 per barrel and added to inflation concerns. The yen firmed on speculation the Bank of Japan may hike rates, underscoring persistent uncertainty around inflation and geopolitical risks.

The dollar strengthened against the Swiss franc on Friday after U.S. inflation data reinforced expectations of a Federal Reserve rate hike next week. Gains in the greenback were capped as rising Middle East tensions pushed oil prices higher. U.S. Treasury yields hovered near multiyear highs, while the yen advanced sharply on speculation the Bank of Japan could raise interest rates.

U.S. consumer inflation rose 0.4% month-on-month in August, pushing market expectations for a Federal Reserve rate hike higher. The implied probability climbed to 85% from 67%, adding pressure on global equities and lifting bond yields. Brent crude fell 3.3% to $104.04 a barrel, but was still up more than 8% for the week as Middle East tensions supported prices.

Traders are preparing to deliver large volumes of Brazilian Arabica coffee to ICE exchange warehouses to rebuild certified inventories that have fallen to a 26-year low. Olam and Louis Dreyfus Company are seeking to certify up to 200,000 bags for delivery against the December futures contract, with shipments to Antwerp, Belgium, rising. Although the 2026/27 season is forecast to be in surplus, ICE stocks remain well below normal levels and Brazil’s harvest has been delayed by extreme weather, keeping futures prices around $3 per pound.

U.S. Labor Department data showed the consumer price index rose 0.4% in August and was up 3.4% from a year earlier, unchanged from July. After the inflation report, the dollar strengthened against major currencies including the euro and the Swiss franc, according to the Labor Department. The figures reinforced market expectations that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates at its meeting next week.

U.S. August producer prices rose and oil costs surged, fueling worries the Federal Reserve could raise interest rates at its meeting next Wednesday. Brent crude climbed 6% to $107 a barrel amid supply disruptions tied to geopolitical conflict, adding to inflation expectations. The 10year Treasury yield rose to multi-year highs, pressuring equity valuations; the S&P 500 fell with Nvidia and Micron leading declines, while Apple gained after unveiling its $1,999 iPhone.

The Indian Primary Copper Producers Association says a mismatch between global mining and smelting capacity has helped push copper prices higher. Expectations of U.S. tariffs have diverted large volumes of spot copper to the United States, lifting Comex inventories to 675,000 tonnes while LME stocks have shrunk. LME copper hit $14,737 per tonne in September 2026, up 50% from a year earlier.