Samuel Indyk

Gold funds received their largest weekly inflow on record in the week to Wednesday, Bank of America Global Research said in a note citing EPFR data, a week in which the precious metal's price surged to a new record, before retreating sharply.

The British pound dipped against the dollar and the euro on Wednesday, after the annual rate of Britain's consumer price inflation unexpectedly held steady in September, undershooting forecasts for a rise.

The adoption of stablecoins could generate an additional $1.4 trillion in demand for U.S. dollars by 2027, if enough overseas investors want to own these digital assets, analysts at JPMorgan said in a note on Tuesday.

French stocks and the euro fell while France's borrowing costs jumped on Monday, as the government collapsed within hours of being appointed, fuelling uncertainty over the euro zone's second-largest economy.

Wall Street futures slipped on Wednesday as the clock ticked down to a U.S. government shutdown that would delay the release of crucial jobs data and muddy the interest rate outlook, while Asian markets hesitated after a solid quarter of gains.

Canada head coach Kevin Rouet highlighted the uphill task that his team of underdogs had to take on to even reach the Rugby World Cup final after they lost to England at Twickenham on Saturday.

What matters in U.S. and global markets today

The British pound dropped against the dollar on Friday after data showed the economy had stagnated in July, although it was still set for its second weekly rise before a Bank of England policy meeting next week.

European shares are expected to close the year a touch higher than where they are currently trading, a Reuters poll found, as support from looser fiscal and monetary policy will be kept in check by uncertainties over Washington's import tariffs.

The British pound rose marginally against the dollar and euro on Wednesday after data showed inflation hit its highest in 18 months in July, with markets not fully pricing the next rate cut from the Bank of England until well into next year.