U.S. employers added 162,000 jobs in August, far above the 56,000 economists expected, while the unemployment rate held at 4.1%. Annual wage growth slowed to 3.1%, the weakest since June 2021. The stronger jobs report lifted expectations of a Federal Reserve rate increase in September, sending the dollar higher before it pared gains. Bitcoin fell 2.32% to $79,595.

Anthropic has pushed back plans for an initial public offering, with marketing now expected to start in midOctober at the earliest. Some investors believe the company could be valued at about $2 trillion. It is also seeking to finalise a $15 billion revolving credit facility and is forecasting 2028 revenue of about $190 billion to $200 billion, versus a $47 billion revenue run rate disclosed in May.

Vice President JD Vance said U.S. military escort operations helped prevent a global energy crisis during the war with Iran. The six-month conflict pushed the national average diesel price to a record $5.85 per gallon, disrupting global fuel supplies and driving up crude oil prices. The United States also approved potential arms sales to Saudi Arabia, including $5 billion in Joint Direct Attack Munitions and related equipment and a separate $750 million package for tank engines and associated support.

Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson said Middle East tensions have disrupted oil production and transport, sending jet fuel prices higher and lifting airfares. The European benchmark jet fuel price has risen from around $800 a tonne to about $1,450 after peaking at more than $1,800 in April. Virgin Atlantic has responded by adding fuel surcharges of £50 for economy, £180 for premium and £360 for business class.

Enbridge shares are trading near C$69, down from a 12-month high above C$80, lifting the dividend yield to 5.6%. The company has already sanctioned C$9 billion in growth projects in 2026 and is advancing a C$41 billion secured capital program. It has also announced a C$2.7 billion expansion of the Westcoast natural gas pipeline system in British Columbia and agreed to buy Permian Basin oil infrastructure assets for US$600 million.

Novartis said its experimental cardiovascular drug pelacarsen failed in a large clinical trial. The treatment had been widely viewed as a potential breakthrough for preventing heart attacks, strokes and cardiovascular deaths. The setback surprised cardiologists who had been expecting Lp(a)-targeting drugs to play a major role in prevention.

S&P Dow Jones Indices said Bloom Energy will be added to the S&P 500 as part of its September quarterly rebalance. Following the announcement, Bloom Energy shares rose about 6% in Friday after-hours trading. The stock is up more than 191% this year, driven by rising AI data center power demand and several multi-billion-dollar deals.

El Salvador President Nayib Bukele has made concessions to meet International Monetary Fund (IMF) requirements, announcing an end to government-level bitcoin purchases and the transfer of the country’s existing bitcoin reserves to a private operator for management. The move marks a significant shift in El Salvador’s bitcoin strategy, after the country made bitcoin legal tender and continued accumulating the asset.