1/3 | BBX WEEK AHEAD — OCT 26–30, 2026 THE FED DECIDES. BIG TECH FACES THE AI TEST. One of October's most consequential weeks for stocks, bonds and crypto is here. After a volatile stretch for AI stocks and a surge in oil prices, Wall Street faces two major questions: Will the Fed keep inflation risks under control? And can Big Tech justify its massive AI investments? FIVE KEY CATALYSTS (ET): • Oct 27: $HOOD earnings • Oct 28: FOMC rate decision + $MSFT and $GOOGL earnings • Oct 29: US Q3 GDP + September PCE inflation • Oct 29: $AMZN, $COIN and $INTC earnings • Oct 30: US Employment Cost Index Last week's semiconductor selloff raised fresh concerns about AI valuations and financing costs. Meanwhile, elevated oil prices are complicating the inflation outlook. 2/3 — BIG TECH EARNINGS: After Meta's $34.91B quarterly CapEx, attention shifts to Microsoft, Alphabet and Amazon. Cloud growth matters — but cash flow and returns on AI investment may matter even more. 3/3 — MACRO & CROSS-ASSET: The Fed meets Wednesday, followed by GDP and PCE on Thursday. Treasury yields, oil, the dollar and BTC will offer critical clues about how markets price growth and inflation. The next market move may depend on two things: the cost of money and the return on AI capital. One week. Multiple catalysts. Global markets in focus.