Mega deals, IPOs to fuel a record 2026 for Asia Pacific equity capital markets - J.P. Morgan

If the companies use their negotiating power to lower commissions and control share allocations, it could threaten banks’ lucrative IPO business model

Published: October 19, 2026 at 7:56a.m. EDTNEW YORK — JPMorgan Chase said it has invested US$5 billion in equity in industries critical to US economic and national security, as banks seek to capitalize on growing demand for domestic manufacturing, energy infrastructure and supply-chain resilience. The lender also announced it has financed about $230 billion under its Security and Resiliency Initiative since launching the effort a year ago, when it committed to financing $1.5 trillion of US investments in the next decade, including in national security. Latest updates on investing hereLarge US banks have already been investing in rising demand for AI data centers, critical minerals and energy infrastructure upgrades, as President Donald Trump’s administration has prioritized growing US infrastructure to reduce dependence on foreign supply chains in various sectors, including clean energy and rare earths. JPMorgan said its own investments have supported companies in sectors including advanced manufacturing, energy, supply chains and defense-related technologies.

Published: October 19, 2026 at 7:48a.m. EDTSpaceX and Tesla will report third-quarter results on consecutive days this week, giving investors a rare side-by-side look at Elon Musk’s two most valuable companies as merger speculation gathers momentum. The results will test whether Starlink’s steady growth and Tesla’s car profits can fund the AI spending powering the merger debate. “In terms of metrics, it would have to be Starlink revenue growth more than launch counts and improvement in auto margins for Tesla,” said Shawn Campbell, an adviser at Camelthorn Investments who owns shares in both companies, describing investors’ focus for results. Barclays suggested last week a deal could be announced before Tesla’s annual meeting, with SpaceX the likelier acquirer, though neither company nor Musk has officially committed to favoring a deal. Latest updates on company news hereTesla on Monday said its annual meeting would be held on December 3. In an all-stock deal, Barclays estimates Musk would hold about 37 per cent of the equity and 56 per cent of the votes.

Published: October 19, 2026 at 7:32a.m. EDTU. S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was in Uzbekistan on Monday to promote trade and ties with Central Asia, during a trip that came amid rumblings that America’s top diplomat is ignoring pressing matters in favor of politically safer visits and meetings. The trip, which involves a stop in India later this week, seeks to promote U. S. economic and security ties with Central and South Asia. But it has only tangential links to the Trump administration’s current main foreign policy dilemmas in the Middle East and with the Russia-Ukraine war. Rubio has brushed aside suggestions he is eschewing the most difficult issues in favor of taking on lower-hanging diplomatic fruit with less risk of failure and political damage, and the State Department pushed back on the criticism of his schedule. Trade War coverage on BNNBloomberg.caIn Samarkand, Rubio was meeting with his counterparts from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan under the C5+1 diplomatic forum, which brings together the five Central Asian countries and the United States to discuss security, trade and other shared concerns.