The chipmaker, NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA), announced plans to add a record-setting $150 billion to its stock buy back program. That new money sits on top of existing authorizations, and Cramer put the combined total at $238 billion in his CNBC commentary on the announcement. Nvidia is launching the largest-ever U.S. stock buyback. The announcement represents an extraordinary vote of confidence from CEO Jensen Huang in the company's cash-generation ability as demand for AI infrastructure accelerates.
Revenue of $96.2 billion, up 106% from a year ago. NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA) today reported revenue for the second quarter ended July 26, 2026, of $96.2 billion, up 18% from the previous quarter and up 106% from a year ago. During the second quarter of fiscal 2027, NVIDIA returned approximately $26.0 billion to shareholders in the form of shares repurchased and cash dividends. As of the end of the second quarter, the company had approximately $99.0 billion remaining under its share repurchase authorization.
Nvidia's growth is being driven by a once-in-a-generation platform shift to AI and accelerated computing. Our cash generation gives us the capacity to invest in the technologies that advance this transformation and return capital to shareholders. This authorization reflects our confidence in the long-term opportunity ahead. The buyback underscores the structural advantage Nvidia holds in the AI boom, allowing the company to deploy capital simultaneously on R&D, dividends, and share repurchases.
For business owners watching the AI investment landscape, Nvidia's massive capital return signals that AI infrastructure spending is durable and profitable rather than speculative. However, Nvidia's capital intensity suggests competitive barriers remain steep for would-be challengers in chip design and data center acceleration.
New York Fed President John Williams, the second-ranking official on the Federal Reserve's rate-setting committee, pushed back on an October rate hike. The Fed has "no need for urgency," he said. "With the policy action we took at our September meeting, there is no need for urgency, and we have time to gather more information," said Williams. New York Fed President John Williams on Tuesday said that the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) could wait until December before raising key interest rates. The current effective federal funds rate is 3.88%. As of market close on October 1, 2026, futures markets are pricing the rate to rise to about 4.1% by January and reach roughly 4.7% by October 2027, reflecting expectations for further policy tightening amid persistent inflation pressures and resilient growth.
Crude oil prices rose sharply Thursday following a report the U.S. is sending a third aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East. Brent crude, the international benchmark, jumped 4.4% to close at $102.31 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures climbed 2.7% to settle at $92.87 a barrel. Oil prices are now hovering between $90 and $100 per barrel as the U.S. war with Iran drags on, contributing to stubborn inflation. Oil prices are now hovering between $90 and $100 per barrel as the U.S. war with Iran drags on, contributing to stubborn inflation. U.S. inflation rates have remained stubbornly above 3% most of the year, well above the Fed's target rate of 2%. Higher oil prices threaten to slow the Fed's path to rate cuts and make inflation control more difficult.
The deal is now expected to close on October 6, per Paramount's regulatory filings. Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery have cleared the last hurdle in order to close its $111 billion media merger. Ynon Kreiz, the former CEO of Mattel, has been named Co-CEO of the combined WarnerMount alongside David Ellison, the company announced on Wednesday following the news of the final hurdle clearing. As Chairman & CEO, Ellison will lead all strategy, creative and technology while Kreiz, as Co-CEO will oversee day-to-day operations and integration of the combined businesses. The merger's closure marks the culmination of a major media consolidation that reshapes the streaming and traditional entertainment landscape.
A 20-year power purchase agreement signed by tech giant Amazon will enable Constellation to add 190 MW of capacity and extend the operating life of the Calvert Cliffs nuclear power plant in Maryland in the US. Constellation said that the agreement will allow USD3 billion of investment, with the additional 190 MW being added to the existing 1,790 MW output of the Calvert Cliffs Clean Energy Center between 2030 and 2032. Under the agreement, Amazon will receive 690 megawatts of power from Calvert Cliffs, a 1,790-megawatt facility situated in Lusby along Chesapeake Bay's western shoreline. The deal provides financing for roughly 190 megawatts of additional clean generating capacity, which the company said is slated to enter service between 2030 and 2032. The $3 billion commitment shows how AI infrastructure demand is reshaping corporate energy procurement and supporting long-term nuclear investment.
Accenture (ACN) surged 15.78% after earnings topped expectations and multiple analysts lifted price targets. Synopsys (SNPS) jumped 12.78% after upbeat investor day guidance and new AI partnerships with Amazon and OpenAI. The S&P 500 survived September and now faces a pivotal October as Alphabet, Amazon and Microsoft prepare to unveil third-quarter earnings. We'll get updated on how businesses like Alphabet, Amazon and Microsoft are doing in the second half of the month, and what they say could shape how the market performs through the end of 2026. The company said the model sets a new record in real-world software engineering, ties for first in cybersecurity, and leads another benchmark measuring performance across finance, legal, and other professional tasks. Alphabet shares rose more than 1% after hours.
Under the terms of the settlement, Corteva will dismantle its existing pesticides loyalty program, which has limited distributors' ability to do business with generic competitors that seek to enter the market after Corteva patents have expired. The settlement agreement will provide relief to farmers who have long endured high pesticide prices by ensuring greater access to lower-cost generic pesticide products. This settlement will do away with unfair corporate practices that have hurt farmers by impeding the sales of lower-priced products. The settlement reflects the Trump administration's continued focus on agricultural markets and pricing enforcement.
Private-sector employment increased by 90,000 jobs in September, according to the ADP National Employment Report. Base pay for private-sector workers rose 3.2% and gross pay was up 4.7% year over year, according to ADP Pay Insights. Private-sector payrolls rose by 90,000, the most in three months, according to ADP Research data out Wednesday. The median estimate in a Bloomberg survey of economists called for a 75,000 increase. "It's a strong report," said Dr. Nela Richardson, chief economist, ADP. "After a three-month slowdown, job creation rebounded and pay growth remained solid."
The chipmaker, NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA), announced plans to add a record-setting $150 billion to its stock buy back program. Nvidia's massive buyback is not a sign of market saturation or slowing demand—it is a vote of confidence from management that AI infrastructure spending is real, durable, and profitable. For most business owners, this matters because it validates the structural case for investing in AI capabilities now. Companies that have delayed cloud or AI adoption on the premise that capex would eventually pause should reconsider. Nvidia would not commit $150B to buybacks if it saw demand eroding. Meanwhile, interest rates remain uncertain and oil costs are rising, both of which eat into margins. A small business depending on transport, energy, or credit should plan for higher costs into the fourth quarter and beyond.
The US economy is expected to have added 90K jobs in September 2026, following a stronger-than-expected gain of 162K in August. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate is expected to have remained unchanged at 4.1%, hovering near a one-year low. The labor market is holding steady but not accelerating, which supports the Fed's cautious stance on rate hikes. For operators, this means hiring remains feasible but competitive. Wage growth at 4.7% gross is outpacing most inflation expectations, so talent retention will require meaningful compensation adjustments. Corteva's antitrust settlement also signals that regulatory scrutiny of pricing, loyalty programs, and anti-competitive practices is alive—operators should audit their own customer and supplier agreements for similar vulnerabilities.