IBM Teams With Zscaler and Red Hat on Real-Time App Security
International Business Machines announced a new collaboration with Zscaler and Red Hat to tighten application security for enterprise clients. The joint effort combines IBM and Red Hat software platforms with Zscaler threat intelligence to provide real-time protections at the application layer. The partners plan to coordinate vulnerability discovery, automated policy updates, and validated software remediation workflows for shared customers. International Business Machines is a US-based IT group with a reported market value of about $214.0 billion, and its integrated solutions and services span the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Asia Pacific. One figure to watch is how much of IBM's reported US$24.6b of annual recurring revenue comes from security and hybrid cloud offerings connected to Red Hat and Zscaler style deployments.
0ZC.XETRA · Technology · Positive Zscaler's threat intelligence is being combined with IBM and Red Hat platforms in the joint real-time app security effort.
IBM · Technology · Positive IBM announced a collaboration with Zscaler and Red Hat to deliver real-time application-layer security for enterprise clients.
ZS · Technology · Positive Zscaler's threat intelligence is being combined with IBM and Red Hat platforms in the joint real-time app security effort.
Red Hat, Inc. · Technology · Positive Red Hat software platforms are part of the joint effort with IBM and Zscaler to provide real-time application security.
Twilio Joins S&P 500, Exits Mid Cap and Small Cap Indexes
Twilio has been added to the S&P 500, S&P 500 Growth and S&P 500 Information Technology indexes while being removed from the S&P 400 and related mid cap and sector indexes, as well as Russell small cap value and growth benchmarks. The reshuffle places the company in the large cap universe tracked by a wide range of institutional portfolios and directly affects how large funds treat the stock, since index tracking and benchmark aware funds often adjust positions to match new compositions, influencing trading volumes, liquidity and ownership mix around the effective dates. Twilio's shares have returned 4.97% over one day, 27.41% over 30 days, 109.22% year to date and about 420.8% over three years. The stock last closed at $289.47, above the most followed valuation narrative's fair value of $263.04, which presents the index driven surge as pricing in a lot of optimism already. Twilio's current P/E of 38.7x is cheaper than peers at 68.5x but rich versus the US IT sector at 22.4x and a fair ratio of 19.5x.
TWLO · · Neutral Twilio added to S&P 500 and removed from mid/small cap indexes, an index-inclusion event that shifts fund positioning but is not a product, earnings, or policy driver.
Comcast Deploys Fastly Edge Platform for Peacock Streaming
Comcast announced in late September 2026 that it is running Fastly's content and application delivery software directly on its nationwide AI-powered edge network to help NBCUniversal's Peacock stream high-demand live sports and events closer to viewers. The deployment embeds Fastly's platform inside Comcast's more than 200 edge compute centers, a setup the companies say could also support gaming, cybersecurity, AI inference, and enterprise cloud services. Fastly shares gained 13.52% over the seven days following the news. The partnership gives tangible proof of Fastly's closer-to-the-user pitch, though the company remains loss-making and carries a relatively new management team, leaving execution and valuation in focus. Five Simply Wall St Community fair values for Fastly range from about US$5 to over US$36.
FSLY · Demand · Positive Comcast is running Fastly's content/application delivery software across its 200+ edge centers, a concrete customer deployment validating Fastly's closer-to-the-user pitch.
CMCSA · Technology · Neutral Comcast is deploying Fastly's edge platform on its own edge network for Peacock, a technology integration whose net benefit to Comcast is unclear.
CoreWeave Slides as OpenAI Cuts Reported Revenue to $50 Billion
CoreWeave was caught in a sector-wide selloff after OpenAI cut its reported annualized revenue to $50 billion from $68 billion, a revision disclosed as a shift in accounting treatment rather than a demand slump. The restatement hit AI infrastructure stocks before a partial rebound, as traders questioned how much current AI infrastructure valuations rest on a small pool of heavyweight customers such as OpenAI. CoreWeave operates US cloud infrastructure supplying computing power to AI developers, and its US$48.8 billion market cap makes any rethink in spending by a few large customers carry outsized weight. Investors will watch how CoreWeave's reported backlog and contract mix evolve in upcoming quarters, including updates tied to its US$2.6 billion AI infrastructure loan and new deals from the Partner Network or clients like Ennoble Care. A steady or rising backlog with less revenue tied to a single counterparty would signal the business is reducing concentration risk rather than leaning further into it.
CRWV · Demand · Negative Caught in AI infrastructure selloff as OpenAI's reported revenue cut raises doubts about spending from heavyweight customers like OpenAI that drive CoreWeave's business.
OpenAI · Capital · Negative OpenAI cut its reported annualized revenue to $50 billion from $68 billion via an accounting treatment shift, the trigger for the AI infrastructure selloff.
Shopify Carries Positive Earnings ESP Ahead of November 3 Report
Shopify heads into its next earnings report on November 3, 2026 with a positive Earnings ESP of +10.11% and a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), a combination that has historically preceded an earnings beat. The cloud-based commerce company has topped estimates in each of its last two reports, posting earnings of $0.42 per share against a Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.39 for a surprise of 7.69%, after delivering $0.36 per share versus an expected $0.32 for a surprise of 12.50%. That gives Shopify an average surprise of 10.10% over the past two quarters. Estimates have been trending higher, and Zacks research shows stocks combining a positive Earnings ESP with a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. Shopify belongs to the Zacks Internet - Services industry.
SHOP · Capital · Positive Positive Earnings ESP of +10.11% and Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) ahead of the Nov 3 report, with estimates trending higher and past beats, signal a likely earnings beat.
IBM Consulting Profit Rose 15.1% on 0.2% Revenue Growth
IBM's consulting segment posted $647 million in second-quarter profit, up 15.1% from $562 million a year earlier, even as revenue edged up just 0.2% to $5.327 billion, according to results and a quarterly filing dated July 22. IBM attributed the improvement primarily to productivity actions, partly offset by investment in innovation, and consulting gross margin also improved to 28.9% from 27.5%. Consulting signings rose 5% as reported, with a trailing book-to-bill ratio of 1.05, though signings are management estimates rather than a standardized revenue measure. At the reported revenue base, one percentage point of consulting margin equals $53.3 million of quarterly segment profit, so a one-point retreat would absorb more than three-fifths of the quarter's $85 million year-over-year profit gain. Repeating 15% profit growth with a flat margin would require roughly 15% revenue growth, or, with flat revenue, a segment margin rise from about 12.1% to 14.0%.
IBM · Capital · Positive IBM's consulting segment profit rose 15.1% to $647M on productivity actions and improved gross margin, despite only 0.2% revenue growth.
IBM Launches Ready for SAP Solutions to Modernize Midsize ERP Systems
International Business Machines Corporation has launched IBM Ready for SAP SE Solutions, a program aimed at helping midsize and fast-growing businesses modernize their enterprise resource planning systems. Under the program, IBM will combine its industry expertise, fit-to-standard implementation approach and IBM Consulting Advantage, its artificial intelligence-powered consulting delivery platform, to accelerate the adoption of SAP Cloud ERP. IBM helped Volumetric Building Companies reduce operational cycle times by 50% across purchasing, manufacturing and inventory processes after a three-month SAP Cloud ERP transformation, and also supported Second Nature Brands in integrating its acquired Voortman Bakery business into a common enterprise platform. According to research from the IBM Institute for Business Value, 68% of enterprises consider accelerating ERP modernization important for improving operational efficiency and maintaining competitiveness. IBM faces competition from Microsoft Corporation and Amazon.com, Inc., with Microsoft expanding its Dynamics 365 ERP software with AI tools and Amazon Web Services helping businesses integrate AI tools with SAP ERP systems.
IBM · Technology · Positive IBM launched IBM Ready for SAP Solutions, a new program combining its AI-powered consulting platform to accelerate SAP Cloud ERP adoption for midsize businesses.
SAP.XETRA · Demand · Positive IBM's new program is designed to accelerate adoption of SAP Cloud ERP among midsize and fast-growing businesses, boosting end-customer demand for SAP's product.
IBM Mainframe Sales Fall 42% as Software Growth Slows to 5%
International Business Machines saw its IBM Z mainframe line fall 42% in fiscal Q2 2026, while distributed infrastructure, covering Power and Storage, jumped 37%. Total revenue rose only 1% to $17.2 billion, and management updated its full-year outlook to 4% to 5% constant-currency growth. Software, IBM's highest-margin segment, grew 5% in the quarter, slower than the 7.9% pace across the first half, with a segment profit margin of 32.2% and an 82.6% gross margin; Red Hat grew 11% and the data business grew 19%. Consulting was flat at $5.3 billion, free cash flow of $2.5 billion slipped $0.3 billion from a year earlier, and debt totals $62.0 billion after $10.5 billion of acquisitions this year. At 18.00 times expected earnings as of October 6, IBM trades near its five-year average of 18.18 and below the sector's 23.77, with expected EPS growth of 6.80% for 2027.
IBM · Capital · Negative IBM Z mainframe sales fell 42% and total revenue rose only 1% to $17.2B, with software growth slowing to 5% and free cash flow down $0.3B.
Red Hat, Inc. · Demand · Positive Red Hat grew 11% within IBM's software segment, outpacing the segment's 5% growth.
BigBear.ai Targets 2027 Growth After 13% Revenue Rise
BigBear.ai Holdings is positioning itself for stronger revenue growth in 2027, citing expanding defense-related AI demand, contract wins and strategic acquisitions. In the second quarter of 2026, revenues increased 13% year over year to $36.7 million, while gross margin expanded 781 basis points to 32.8%, and the company reaffirmed its 2026 revenue guidance of $135-$165 million, targeting 17% growth. BigBear.ai secured more than 20 contracts during the quarter, with individual values reaching $5 million, and backlog increased 9% from 2025-end to $269.6 million. Growth opportunities are expanding through Ask Sage's generative AI platform, CargoSeer's customs inspection capabilities and ConductorOS drone orchestration technology, with recent wins including a five-year CargoSeer deployment in El Salvador and an Ask Sage engagement with the U.S. Naval Air Systems Command. Despite the top-line improvement, the second-quarter adjusted EBITDA loss widened year over year to $11.6 million from $8.5 million, reflecting higher sales, marketing and research investments, while the company's $409.8-million cash and investment position provides flexibility to pursue acquisitions heading into 2027.
Zscaler Reaffirms Fiscal 2027 Outlook and Expands AI Security Partnership With IBM and Red Hat
Zscaler reaffirmed its fiscal 2027 outlook, guiding first-quarter revenue to about US$935 million to US$939 million and full-year revenue to roughly US$3.91 billion to US$3.94 billion, while outlining a long-term ambition for much higher annual recurring revenue. The company also announced a collaboration with IBM and Red Hat aimed at protecting private applications during the gap between vulnerability disclosure and patching. The reaffirmed guidance supports Zscaler's near-term execution story, though slower expected revenue growth remains a key risk if competition tightens or deal cycles lengthen. Zscaler's narrative projects US$5.3 billion in revenue and US$178.4 million in earnings by 2029, requiring 16.6% yearly revenue growth and a US$241.6 million earnings increase from negative US$63.2 million today. More cautious analysts assume revenue of about US$5.2 billion and earnings near US$16 million by 2029, a more restrained view of how quickly Zscaler's newer security pillars could scale.
0ZC.XETRA · Capital · Positive Zscaler reaffirmed its fiscal 2027 outlook and long-term ARR ambition.
0ZC.XETRA · Technology · Positive Zscaler announced an AI security collaboration with IBM and Red Hat for private application protection.
ZS · Capital · Positive Zscaler reaffirmed its fiscal 2027 revenue guidance and long-term ARR ambition.
ZS · Technology · Positive Zscaler announced an AI security collaboration with IBM and Red Hat for private application protection.
IBM · Technology · Positive IBM collaborates with Zscaler and Red Hat on protecting private applications during the vulnerability-to-patch gap.
Red Hat, Inc. · Technology · Positive Red Hat collaborates with Zscaler and IBM on protecting private applications during the vulnerability-to-patch gap.
Truist Initiates IBM at Hold With $240 Target, Flags AI Demand Timing
Truist Securities initiated coverage of IBM at Hold with a $240 price target, saying it is constructive on the company's long-term enterprise computing position but cautious on near-term execution. Analysts led by Arvind Ramnani said IBM is positioned across mainframes, software that works across AI models, Red Hat, and a consulting arm that helps clients deploy AI, but the key question is when enterprise spending on AI infrastructure will translate into demand for IBM. Software now makes up 45% of revenue and 61% of segment pre-tax income, with about 80% of it recurring and annual recurring revenue of $24.6 billion growing 8%. The analysts called IBM's second-quarter miss an execution and timing issue rather than a structural problem, noting clients shifted budgets toward servers, storage and memory to secure supply-constrained AI hardware and dozens of large mainframe-linked software contracts were deferred rather than canceled. IBM cut its full-year constant-currency revenue growth guidance to 4%-5% from 5%-plus and sized the software shortfall at $400 million to $500 million, after which the shares fell more than 20%, mostly through multiple compression, with forward P/E dropping to 16 times from 22 times. Truist's price target applies 18 times fiscal 2027 operating EPS of $13.18, and the analysts said they could become more constructive if deferred contracts close without meaningful discounts, Transaction Processing growth improves sustainably, and organic software growth strengthens rather than growth driven by acquisitions.
IBM · Capital · Neutral Truist initiates IBM at Hold with $240 target, citing cautious near-term AI spending timing and deferred mainframe software contracts after guidance cut.
Red Hat, Inc. · Demand · Neutral Red Hat is cited as part of IBM's portfolio, with the key question being when enterprise AI spending translates into demand.
US seizes seven domains in move to dismantle Chinese IT firm's hacking infrastructure
US authorities announced they have seized seven internet domains as part of a new effort to disrupt the activities of a hacker group linked to the Chinese IT company Integrity Technology Group. In a statement on the 8th, the US Department of Justice said the domains had been used to support hacking of US critical infrastructure systems and other targets by the Chinese hacker group, calling it the second public effort to dismantle the company's hacking infrastructure. The department had announced in September 2024 that, with court authorization, it had dismantled the company's botnet, which was made up of more than 250,000 hijacked consumer devices in the United States and around the world. China's Foreign Ministry said on the 9th that it firmly opposes hacking activities and the spread of malicious disinformation, and spokesperson Mao Ning told a regular press briefing that China wants to jointly address such internet risks and build a relationship of mutual respect with the United States on this issue.
Skyticket hit by unauthorized access, data on 14.64 million customers may have leaked
Online travel agency Adventure announced on the 9th that its comparison and booking site skyticket suffered unauthorized access by a third party, and that data on approximately 14.64 million customers may have been leaked externally. The unauthorized access occurred separately in the company's servers, its business management system, and reservation data for its bus booking service. Between October 2 and 4, some of skyticket's administrative functions were exploited to gain unauthorized access to data on other servers and in the cloud, leaking information including names, dates of birth, email addresses, phone numbers, addresses, and hashed login passwords. In the unauthorized access to the business management system that occurred on September 20, refund account information may have leaked, and unauthorized login to one member's account has also been confirmed. The company has blocked the routes used for the unauthorized access and says no credit card numbers or passport information were leaked. The impact on its business results is currently being examined, and the company is urging customers to change their passwords.
6030.JP · Regulation · Negative Skyticket suffered unauthorized access leaking data on ~14.64 million customers, prompting a security breach investigation and password-change advisory.
US suspends Microsoft, Adobe and IT outsourcing firms from green card programme
JD Vance, the US Vice President, announced on Thursday 8 October that the US government has suspended Microsoft and Adobe from participating in the PERM programme, the process by which employers sponsor foreign workers for permanent residence in the United States, allowing companies to apply for green cards for employees holding H-1B visas. He added that Microsoft should hire American workers. Keith Sonderling, Deputy Secretary of the US Department of Labor, disclosed that the department is suspending the participation of several major IT outsourcing companies in the permanent labour certification programme, namely Cognizant, Infosys, Tata, Wipro, HCL and Capgemini. It is also suspending Microsoft and Adobe from the programme because both companies are subject to multiple federal investigations. Microsoft said it is ready to provide further information to the administration of President Donald Trump, explaining that of the roughly 6,000 H-1B visa applications the company filed in the most recent fiscal year, 80% were renewals or status changes for employees already working at the company, not applications to hire new employees, and that the remaining applications for new employees accounted for only 1% of Microsoft's total US workforce. The US Department of Labor also announced it is investigating nine leading American universities over their use of J-1 visas, including Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Brown and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Todd Blanche, the US Attorney General, disclosed that the Department of Justice is investigating companies that prioritise hiring foreign workers over American workers.
Shopify Blocks AI Agent Checkouts, Expands Ecom NOW Same-Day Delivery
Shopify introduced a new policy blocking autonomous AI agents from completing checkout flows across its merchant network, framing the restriction as a way to reduce payment risk and system strain as agent-based ecommerce activity increases. Separately, Shopify merchants gained expanded access to Ecom NOW same-day delivery through a new integration focused on Canadian order fulfillment. The company runs a global commerce platform helping merchants of all sizes set up online stores, take payments, and manage logistics across North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and Latin America. The AI checkout curb reinforces Shopify's focus on transaction security and payments reliability, core to Shopify Payments and Shop Pay, while the expanded same-day delivery supports larger brands seeking Amazon-like service levels while owning their storefronts.
NS Solutions Board Weighs Restricted Stock Grant for Subsidiary President
NS Solutions directors reviewed a proposal at a late September board meeting to dispose of treasury shares as restricted stock for a subsidiary president, a governance move that puts related-party decision-making in focus. The company's shares trade at ¥3,872 after a recent 1-day share price return of 2.33%, against a year-to-date share price decline of 11.56% but a 1-year total shareholder return of 9.82%. The SWS DCF model puts fair value at ¥3,880.83, only 0.2% above the last close, while the market assigns a P/E of 22.9x that screens as expensive relative to the estimated fair P/E of 22.1x, the JP IT industry average P/E of 16.5x and the peer group average of 21.6x. NS Solutions earned ¥30,928 million on ¥392,316 million of revenue, with growth forecasts of 5.2% a year for revenue and 7.9% a year for earnings described as slower than the wider JP market. The story faces pressure points if IT spending in Japan softens or if governance around related party decisions draws shareholder pushback.
2327.JP · Regulation · Neutral Board reviewed a governance proposal to grant restricted stock to a subsidiary president, raising related-party governance scrutiny
Aofei Data Chairman Feng Kang Proposes 50 Million to 100 Million Yuan Share Buyback
Aofei Data announced on October 9 that Feng Kang, the company's actual controller, chairman, and general manager, proposed to buy back company shares for 50 million to 100 million yuan. The repurchased shares will be used for employee stock ownership plans or equity incentives.
300738.CS · Capital · Positive Chairman and actual controller proposes a 50-100 million yuan share buyback for employee stock ownership plans or equity incentives.
Aofei Data Chairman Feng Kang Proposes Buyback of 50 Million to 100 Million Yuan in Shares
Aofei Data announced on October 9 that its actual controller and chairman, Feng Kang, proposed the company use its own funds or self-raised funds to repurchase part of its RMB ordinary shares through centralized bidding. The buyback amount will be no less than 50 million yuan and no more than 100 million yuan, with a buyback period of 12 months from the date the board approves the plan. In the first half of 2026, Aofei Data achieved revenue of 1.469 billion yuan and net profit attributable to the parent of 197 million yuan.
Aofei Data's actual controller Feng Kang proposes buyback of 50 million to 100 million yuan worth of shares
Aofei Data announced that the company's actual controller, chairman and general manager Feng Kang proposed that the company use its own funds or self-raised funds to buy back part of its A-shares, with the total buyback amount no less than 50 million yuan and no more than 100 million yuan. The shares bought back this time will be used for employee stock ownership plans or equity incentives.
300738.CS · Capital · Positive Actual controller Feng Kang proposes a 50-100 million yuan share buyback for employee stock ownership/equity incentives.
Fujitsu Completes Buyback Tranche, Repurchasing 0.53% of Shares for ¥32,823.91 Million
Fujitsu has completed a share repurchase tranche that ran from 1 July to 30 September 2026, buying 9,183,300 shares, or 0.53% of its stock, for ¥32,823.91 million. At a share price of ¥4,125.0, the company has posted a 23.24% 90 day share price return and a 9.27% 30 day gain, though its year to date share price performance declined 4.27%. The most followed narrative values Fujitsu at a fair value of ¥4,833.85, framing the buyback as one piece of a wider thesis built on digital services, AI infrastructure and margin improvement, with modernization revenue up 44% year over year, Uvance revenue up 52% year over year, and Uvance now 29% of segment sales. The article notes that Fujitsu's heavy reliance on Japanese digital transformation budgets and declining international revenue leave the undervaluation story exposed if overseas recovery stalls.
Gartner Forecasts Global AI Spending to Reach $2.59 Trillion in 2026
Worldwide spending on artificial intelligence is forecast to reach $2.59 trillion in 2026, up 47% from $1.76 trillion in 2025, and to climb to $3.49 trillion in 2027, according to Gartner. AI infrastructure is the largest piece of that total at $1.43 trillion this year, more than 45% of all AI spending, and Gartner Distinguished VP Analyst John-David Lovelock called 2026 the inflection year. The forecast is showing up in results from the latest reporting season, with Microsoft reporting fiscal 2026 fourth quarter revenue of $90.0 billion, up 18%, and Microsoft Cloud revenue of $59.3 billion, up 27%, while Meta reported second quarter 2026 revenue of $60.80 billion, up 28%, and guided full-year 2026 capital expenditures of $130 billion to $145 billion. Broadcom reported third quarter fiscal 2026 revenue of $29.6 billion, up 86%, including AI semiconductor revenue of $16.7 billion, up 221%, and guided fourth quarter AI semiconductor revenue to $21.7 billion, while AMD reported second quarter 2026 revenue of $11.5 billion, up 50%, with Data Center segment revenue of $6.7 billion, up 107%.
IT · Demand · Positive Gartner's own forecast projects global AI spending reaching $2.59 trillion in 2026, up 47%, driving demand for its research.
AMD · Demand · Positive AMD reported Q2 2026 revenue up 50% with Data Center segment revenue up 107%, reflecting strong AI-driven product demand.
AVGO · Demand · Positive Broadcom reported Q3 fiscal 2026 AI semiconductor revenue of $16.7 billion, up 221%, and guided Q4 AI revenue to $21.7 billion.
META · Capital · Positive Meta guided full-year 2026 capital expenditures of $130 billion to $145 billion, signaling massive AI infrastructure investment.
MSFT · Demand · Positive Microsoft reported fiscal 2026 Q4 revenue up 18% with Microsoft Cloud revenue up 27%, reflecting AI-driven cloud demand.
DARPA taps IBM and IonQ for Stage C of fault-tolerant quantum computing push
DARPA has selected IBM and IonQ to lead the next phase of its Quantum Benchmarking Initiative, aimed at developing a fault-tolerant quantum computer. The two companies advanced to Stage C of the program, which moves beyond conceptual plans to hardware tests conducted by DARPA's independent verification and validation team. DARPA launched the Quantum Benchmarking Initiative in 2024 to determine whether an industrially useful fault-tolerant quantum computer can be built by 2033, and IBM and IonQ both took part in the first two stages. IBM is developing its Quantum Starling fault-tolerant computer and expects to deliver the first fault-tolerant system in 2029, according to Jay Gambetta, Director of IBM Research, while IonQ is pursuing continued improvement and deployment of its Superion systems. The Stage C agreement has a potential value of $300M to continue validating IonQ's approach to delivering large-scale fault-tolerant quantum computers, though funding beyond the initial obligation remains subject to future appropriations and DARPA funding actions.
IBM · Technology · Positive DARPA selected IBM to lead Stage C of its Quantum Benchmarking Initiative, advancing its fault-tolerant quantum computing hardware toward validation.
IONQ · Technology · Positive DARPA selected IonQ for Stage C of the Quantum Benchmarking Initiative, with a potential $300M agreement to validate its fault-tolerant quantum computing approach.
GABLE expects continued growth in the second half of 2026, backed by a backlog of 7.318 billion baht
GABLE, also known as GABLE, has disclosed that its business outlook for the second half of 2026 will continue to grow from the first half, with a large number of projects currently under bidding and being presented to customers, which will help increase the value of its work in hand from the level of 7.318 billion baht as of the end of the second quarter of 2026. Dr. Chaiyuth Chunhacha, Chief Executive Officer, said that the company is currently in the process of having its third-quarter 2026 financial statements reviewed by the auditor, and expects operating results in the fourth quarter of 2026 to continue growing. The company is benefiting from demand for investment in new technologies, including AI, data centers, cloud systems, and cyber security, with its main customer group being financial institutions, which account for approximately 80 to 90 percent of its total customer portfolio. Meanwhile, the government market accounts for only a small share of revenue because its projects are seasonal in nature. The company also aims for 2026 operating results to grow more than last year, provided there are no negative factors from the macroeconomy. The key risk lies in the timing of project delivery, which may be delayed by uncontrollable events such as floods or additional special holidays.
GABLE.BK · Demand · Positive GABLE expects H2 2026 growth on a 7.318 billion baht backlog and strong demand for AI, data center, cloud, and cybersecurity projects from financial-institution customers.
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Uber and Pony.ai to Test Gen-7 Robotaxis in London
Uber and Chinese autonomous vehicle maker Pony.ai plan to launch a robotaxi service in London, with testing of Pony.ai's Gen-7 robotaxis set to begin in the coming weeks. The move expands a partnership that began in May 2025 in the Middle East and has since grown to Europe, where the two companies plan to deploy 2,000 robotaxis, starting with Croatia's capital, Zagreb. In August 2026, the companies launched an autonomous ride-hailing service in Zagreb with a third partner, Verne, under a model in which Pony.ai supplies the autonomous driving system and the Arcfox Alpha T5 robotaxi developed with Chinese automaker BAIC, Verne owns and operates the fleet, and Uber provides access to its ride-hailing network. The London service will follow a similar model, though the companies have not said who will own and operate the fleet. Pony.ai won't be Uber's only robotaxi partner in London: Uber has also partnered with and invested in British self-driving startup Wayve, which in February 2026 raised $1.2 billion in a funding round backed by Microsoft, Nvidia and Uber, with the total potentially reaching $1.5 billion through an additional $300 million from Uber contingent on Wayve deploying robotaxis starting in London. Uber expects to offer AV trips in as many as 15 cities globally by the end of 2026, roughly split between U.S. and international markets, and has struck deals with more than 30 autonomous vehicle companies.
2026.HK · Demand · Positive Pony.ai will supply its Gen-7 robotaxis and autonomous driving system for the new London robotaxi service with Uber.
UBER · Demand · Positive Uber expands its robotaxi offering by launching a London service with Pony.ai, adding to its AV ride-hailing network.
Wayve Technologies Limited · Capital · Neutral Wayve is mentioned only as another Uber robotaxi partner and past funding recipient, not part of the London Pony.ai deal.
Okta Unveils New AI-Agent Security Capabilities at Oktane 2026
Okta Inc. unveiled additional AI-agent security capabilities at Oktane 2026, building on its Agent SSO product that became generally available in August, as the company positions itself as a critical identity control layer for enterprise AI agents. The company delivered 10.60% year-over-year topline growth in the second quarter of fiscal 2027, bringing trailing twelve-month revenue to $3.07 billion, with $987 million in trailing operating cash flow and approximately $961 million in trailing twelve-month free cash flow. Okta shares have returned 144.58% year-to-date and were trading at $211.49 at the close on October 2, extending 52-week gains to 125.69%, against a 14.58% rise for the broader S&P 500 over the same period. The stock carries a market capitalization of $35.90 billion and a trailing P/E of 123.71x, while its roughly 54x forward multiple reflects adjusted earnings expectations rather than the GAAP basis of the trailing figure. Institutional interest has grown, with 58 hedge funds holding positions as of second-quarter 2026 13F filings, up from 49 at the end of the first quarter, and BlackRock the largest institutional investor at 18.7 million shares, or 11.19% of outstanding shares.
CoreWeave to Build 240 MW AI Data Center Capacity in India With AdaniConneX
CoreWeave has entered India, announcing plans to develop 240 MW of AI data center capacity through a collaboration with AdaniConneX at its Taloja campus in Navi Mumbai. The initial deployment will consist of three 80 MW buildings, with CoreWeave serving as the sole tenant, and the campus has the potential to double capacity by another 240 MW, giving a possible total expansion opportunity of 480 MW. The first phase is expected to become operational in mid-2028, with additional capacity coming online in phases, and the project will deploy the NVIDIA Vera Rubin Platform. CoreWeave has been aggressively building a global footprint across North America, Europe and the Asia-Pacific, including an entry into Indonesia in August, and has approximately 4.2 GW of contracted power as stated on its second-quarter earnings call. The India project fits into a broader strategy of securing power, building specialized data centers, deploying advanced NVIDIA hardware and providing AI infrastructure close to customers.
CRWV · Capital · Positive CoreWeave expands its AI data center footprint with 240 MW in India, part of its aggressive global buildout and contracted power growth.
AdaniConneX · Demand · Positive AdaniConneX's Taloja campus will host CoreWeave as sole tenant for 240 MW of AI data center capacity.
NVDA · Demand · Positive The India project will deploy the NVIDIA Vera Rubin Platform, adding demand for NVIDIA's AI hardware.
CoreWeave Raises GPU Prices Twice in Three Months, UBS Flags Demand Strength
CoreWeave Inc. has raised its per-hour GPU prices twice in three months, first by 25% across all products in July 2026 and then by another 10% over the past two to three months, according to UBS analyst Karl Keirstead, who sees the pricing gains as evidence that demand in the AI infrastructure market remains strong. Keirstead said the industry is seeing higher hosted Nvidia GPU prices and improving revenue per gigawatt of capacity, though the impact will take time to appear in financial statements. UBS also flagged local and state opposition to data centers, along with the cost and availability of capital, as risks, adding that some projects may fade while better-positioned companies such as CoreWeave should remain strong. CoreWeave carries approximately $35.1 billion in debt, $16.3 billion in operating lease liabilities and $5.5 billion in cash, giving it an enterprise value of $94.23 billion, nearly double its $48.20 billion market capitalization, and a valuation of 7.42x forward sales versus roughly 3.84x on market cap alone. The two increases together raise hourly pricing by about 37.5%, though the news does not specify how much of the business is covered by the new pricing; hedge fund holders rose from 63 at the end of Q1 2026 to 71 at the end of Q2 2026, while short interest stood at 17.64% as of September 15, 2026.
CRWV · Pricing · Positive CoreWeave raised per-hour GPU prices twice in three months (~37.5% total), a direct price hike on its own products that UBS reads as evidence of strong AI infrastructure demand.
NVDA · Demand · Positive UBS notes higher hosted Nvidia GPU prices and improving revenue per gigawatt, indicating strong demand for Nvidia GPUs in the AI infrastructure market.
IBM Reaches Final Phase of DARPA Quantum Benchmarking Initiative
International Business Machines has reached the final phase of DARPA's Quantum Benchmarking Initiative, according to an early October update. Under the current DARPA program framework, IBM is targeting delivery of a fault-tolerant quantum computer by 2029. The closing stage of the initiative involves validation work alongside US government and academic partners focused on industrially useful quantum performance metrics. International Business Machines, a US-based IT group with a reported market value of about $208.5b, sells integrated solutions and services across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. The DARPA milestone complements IBM's existing focus on hybrid cloud, AI consulting and products such as IBM Bob, Digital Asset Haven and Ready for SAP Solutions, layering quantum computing as a long-term initiative on top of recurring software, Red Hat growth and the z17 mainframe program.
IBM · Technology · Positive IBM reached the final phase of DARPA's Quantum Benchmarking Initiative, targeting a fault-tolerant quantum computer by 2029.
DXC Technology Unveils Assure Platform AI Tools for Insurers
DXC Technology has unveiled new Assure Platform capabilities and Smart Apps aimed at workflow automation, AI adoption and tighter operational control for insurers, announced at the DXC Connect Insurance Executive Forum in London. The tools are designed for insurers that want AI driven capabilities without replacing their existing core systems. The company said recurring software, SaaS and AI revenue in insurance is growing at 24%, supported by products including OASIS, CoreIgnite, Horizon and Assure Smart Apps. DXC Technology last closed at $12.02, against a widely followed fair value estimate of $11.21 that uses a 12.54% discount rate, leaving the prevailing analyst narrative calling the stock about 7% overvalued, while a Simply Wall St DCF model estimates a future cash flow value of $35.27. The shares have returned 29.81% over 90 days and 10.99% over 7 days, but are down 14.63% year to date and down 64.01% on a 5-year total shareholder return basis.
DXC · Technology · Positive DXC unveiled new Assure Platform capabilities and Smart Apps for AI-driven workflow automation for insurers.
DXC · Demand · Positive Company said recurring software, SaaS and AI revenue in insurance is growing at 24%, supported by OASIS, CoreIgnite, Horizon and Assure Smart Apps.
ArcSoft Technology Repurchases 1.18 Million Shares for 36.27 Million Yuan
ArcSoft Technology announced on October 8 that as of September 30, 2026, the company had repurchased 1.18 million shares, accounting for 0.29% of total share capital, with a total repurchase amount of 36.27 million yuan. The actual repurchase price range was 29.07 yuan to 34.76 yuan per share. In the first half of 2026, ArcSoft Technology achieved revenue of 440 million yuan and net profit attributable to the parent company of 77.14 million yuan.
iSoftStone Has Repurchased 4.29 Million Shares for 158 Million Yuan
iSoftStone disclosed on October 8 that as of September 30, 2026, the company had repurchased 4.29 million shares, accounting for 0.41% of total share capital, with a total repurchase amount of 158 million yuan and a repurchase price range of 34.89 yuan to 39.5 yuan per share. In the first half of 2026, iSoftStone achieved revenue of 18.607 billion yuan and a net loss attributable to the parent company of 265 million yuan.
Wangsu Science & Technology Repurchases 12.22 Million Shares for 183 Million Yuan
Wangsu Science & Technology announced on October 8 that as of September 30, 2026, the company had repurchased 12.22 million shares, accounting for 0.4894 percent of total share capital, with a total transaction amount of 183 million yuan. The highest transaction price was 15.146 yuan per share and the lowest was 14.67 yuan per share. In the first half of 2026, Wangsu Science & Technology achieved revenue of 2.318 billion yuan and net profit attributable to the parent company of 348 million yuan.
IBM Selected for Stage C of DARPA Quantum Benchmarking Initiative
IBM has been selected for Stage C, the third phase of the Quantum Benchmarking Initiative led by DARPA, the United States Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. The phase moves IBM into DARPA's verification process, in which independent experts extensively test and measure quantum hardware, technology, systems engineering, and architectures to determine whether a company can build a fault-tolerant quantum computer. Jay Gambetta, Director of IBM Research and IBM Fellow, said advancing to the third stage validates the strength of IBM's path to building a fault-tolerant quantum computer, and that IBM expects to deliver the first fault-tolerant system in 2029. DARPA launched the QBI in 2024 to determine whether an industrially useful fault-tolerant quantum computer can be built by 2033, defining such a system as one whose computational value will exceed its cost. IBM progressed through Stage A, which required an initial technical concept, and Stage B, which called for a comprehensive research and development plan with risk mitigation approaches; Stage C performers now move beyond conceptual plans to evaluation by DARPA's QBI independent verification and validation team. IBM's quantum computers are used today by a network of more than 340 organizations, and the company has said it plans to deliver the world's first fault-tolerant quantum computer, IBM Quantum Starling.
IBM · Technology · Positive IBM selected for Stage C of DARPA's Quantum Benchmarking Initiative, advancing its fault-tolerant quantum computing hardware into independent verification.
IBM Selected for Stage C of DARPA Quantum Benchmarking Initiative
IBM has been selected for Stage C, the third phase of the Quantum Benchmarking Initiative led by DARPA, the United States Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. This phase moves IBM beyond conceptual plans and into evaluation by DARPA's QBI independent verification and validation team, which will extensively test and measure quantum hardware, technology, systems engineering, and architectures to determine whether a company can build a fault-tolerant quantum computer. Jay Gambetta, Director of IBM Research and IBM Fellow, said advancing to the third stage validates the strength of IBM's path to building a fault-tolerant quantum computer, adding that IBM expects to deliver the first fault-tolerant system in 2029. DARPA launched the QBI in 2024 to determine whether an industrially useful fault-tolerant quantum computer can be built by 2033, defining such a system as one whose computational value will exceed its cost; IBM has now progressed through all three stages, after Stage A required an initial technical concept and Stage B called for a comprehensive research and development plan with risk mitigation approaches. IBM said its quantum computers are already used as scientific tools by a network of more than 340 organizations across financial services, healthcare, materials science, academia, and government, and that it plans to deliver the world's first fault-tolerant quantum computer, IBM Quantum Starling.
IBM · Technology · Positive IBM selected for Stage C of DARPA's Quantum Benchmarking Initiative, advancing its fault-tolerant quantum computing hardware and architecture toward independent verification.
Jefferies Flags Rising Twilio Investor Concerns Ahead of Q3 Earnings
Jefferies says investor concerns around Twilio are rising as the company's shares reach new highs, even as enthusiasm grows over its potential to benefit from wider adoption of voice-based AI. Twilio shares are down 2% in Wednesday trading but have gained 95% so far this year. The brokerage said the key questions ahead of Twilio's third-quarter results, expected on 30th October, are whether gross profit growth can accelerate, whether personal AI assistants will drive demand for voice AI infrastructure, and whether large cloud providers could pose a greater competitive threat. Jefferies expects gross profit growth of 19% in the third quarter and said growth of 20% or more is possible, helped by a stronger business environment and the continued rollout of higher-margin voice AI revenue. The brokerage said it does not see a near-term threat to Twilio from major cloud providers, arguing that the company's role in voice AI extends beyond the services provided by ElevenLabs.
TWLO · Capital · Neutral Jefferies flags rising investor concerns and lays out key questions ahead of Twilio's Q3 earnings, with gross profit growth expectations of 19%.
VeriSign Upgraded to Zacks Rank #2 Buy on Rising Earnings Estimates
VeriSign has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), placing the internet infrastructure services provider in the top 20% of the more than 4,000 stocks covered by the Zacks rating system in terms of earnings estimate revisions. The upgrade reflects a steady rise in analyst estimates, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company climbing 1.3% over the past three months. VeriSign is expected to earn $9.59 per share for the fiscal year ending December 2026, which represents no year-over-year change. Under the Zacks system, only the top 5% of covered stocks receive a Strong Buy rating and the next 15% receive a Buy rating, so the placement signals superior earnings estimate revision momentum. Zacks said the upgrade is essentially a positive comment on VeriSign's earnings outlook that could have a favorable impact on its stock price.
Snowflake Raises Fiscal 2027 Product Revenue Guidance to $6.07 Billion
Snowflake raised its fiscal 2027 product revenue guidance to $6.07 billion, implying 36% year-over-year growth, up from its previous outlook of $5.84 billion and 31% growth. The company's fiscal second-quarter product revenues rose 37% to $1.49 billion, accounting for 96% of total revenues, and fiscal third-quarter product revenues are expected between $1.588 billion and $1.593 billion, indicating 37-38% growth. Snowflake ended the second quarter of fiscal 2027 with 14,554 total customers, up 32% year over year after adding 692 net new customers, while 828 customers generated more than $1 million in trailing 12-month product revenues, up 27% year over year. The company's AI products contributed roughly half of the recent acceleration, with CoCo surpassing 9,100 accounts and CoWork expanding to 5,800 accounts, up nearly 11% sequentially. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal third-quarter revenues is $1.65 billion, indicating 36.11% year-over-year growth, with earnings pegged at 60 cents per share, up 71.43% year over year, while the stock trades at a forward 12-month Price/Sales of 15.83X versus the Internet Software industry's 4.44X.
IBM Launches Self-Hosted Deployment Option for Its Bob Agentic AI Platform
International Business Machines Corporation introduced a self-hosted deployment option for IBM Bob, its agentic software development platform, letting enterprises adopt AI-powered software development and modernization tools while retaining greater control over sensitive data, source code and development environments. The offering can be deployed across on-premises, private-cloud, sovereign-cloud and air-gapped infrastructure, making it particularly relevant for organizations with stringent security, regulatory and data-residency requirements. IBM is seeking to address growing enterprise demand for secure and governed AI adoption by enabling customers to run supported AI models within controlled environments or connect to external models through hybrid configurations. The enhancement complements IBM's broader hybrid cloud and AI strategy, alongside its watsonx platform and the HashiCorp buyout that augmented its hybrid multi-cloud capabilities. IBM has plummeted 23.6% over the past year against the industry's growth of 155.8%, while earnings estimates for 2026 have moved up 2.5% to $12.33 and for 2027 have increased 3% to $13.19. The company faces stiff competition from Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure, and a potent threat from Anthropic, whose Claude Code tool can modernize legacy COBOL systems embedded in IBM's mainframe ecosystem.
IBM · Technology · Positive IBM launched a self-hosted deployment option for its Bob agentic AI platform, expanding enterprise AI capabilities.
Anthropic · Competition · Neutral Anthropic's Claude Code is cited as a potent threat to IBM's mainframe ecosystem, but no new development for Anthropic itself.
CoreWeave partners with AdaniConneX for first India data centers
CoreWeave Inc. announced it will establish its first data centers in India through a partnership with AdaniConneX Pvt., a joint venture between Adani Group and EdgeConneX. The AI cloud-computing provider will utilize 240 megawatts of capacity at AdaniConneX's Taloja campus in Navi Mumbai, with an option to expand to 480 megawatts, and plans to open an office in India. The total investment is projected to reach multiple billions of dollars throughout the project's duration, with the first data centers scheduled to begin operations in mid-2028. CoreWeave will install Nvidia Corp. Vera Rubin chips at the facilities for tasks including training and operating models, managing reasoning functions, and supporting AI agents. The move follows CoreWeave's initial Asian entry in August with projects in Indonesia, and comes after CEO Mike Intrator said last month the company is largely sold out of capacity; CoreWeave reported approximately 4.2 gigawatts of contracted power in August.
CRWV · Capital · Positive CoreWeave announces multi-billion-dollar India data center investment via AdaniConneX partnership, expanding its capacity footprint.
AdaniConneX · Demand · Positive AdaniConneX secures CoreWeave as anchor tenant for 240MW at its Taloja campus, with expansion option to 480MW.
Adani Group · Capital · Positive Adani Group's JV AdaniConneX lands CoreWeave as a major data center tenant with multi-billion-dollar investment.
NVDA · Demand · Positive CoreWeave will install Nvidia Vera Rubin chips at its new India facilities, representing product demand for Nvidia.
CoreWeave Enters India With 240 MW AdaniConneX Data Center Deal
CoreWeave announced its entry into India through a collaboration with AdaniConneX that will add 240 megawatts of data center capacity in Navi Mumbai. The new campus will span three 80 MW buildings at AdaniConneX's Taloja campus, with CoreWeave as the sole tenant across all three buildings and the opportunity to double capacity by expanding by up to 240 MW at the site. CoreWeave plans to deploy the NVIDIA Vera Rubin Platform on its AI cloud platform there and intends to invest in India by establishing an office and hiring locally. The first phase of the project is expected to be available in mid-2028, with additional capacity coming online in phases. The expansion follows CoreWeave's recent entry into Indonesia and, as of its earnings call on August 11, 2026, the company had approximately 4.2 gigawatts of contracted power.
CRWV · Capital · Positive CoreWeave enters India with a 240 MW AdaniConneX data center deal, expanding its contracted power footprint and AI cloud capacity.
AdaniConneX · Demand · Positive AdaniConneX signs CoreWeave as sole tenant across three 80 MW buildings at its Taloja campus, with potential to double capacity.
NVDA · Demand · Positive CoreWeave plans to deploy NVIDIA's Vera Rubin Platform at the new India AI cloud campus, representing product adoption.
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