US equities finished lower for the week, weighed down by AI-related names, as investors continued to question the sustainability of AI-related investment. US inflation surprised to the upside, with headline CPI accelerating to 3.7% in September and core inflation rising to 2.6%. Gasoline prices jumped 9.1% over the month and accounted for more than half of the 0.6% monthly CPI increase. Producer prices were also strong, rising 1.3% MoM and 6.3% YoY, while retail sales increased 0.8% MoM, pointing to continued resilience in consumer demand. 

Elsewhere, the picture was mixed. UK GDP grew just 0.1% MoM in August, slowing from 0.4% in July, although production strengthened while services were flat. Inflation pressures also picked…