1. U.S. Job Openings Fall to Lowest Level in 4 Years
2. Google Delivers Strong Q3 Earnings
3. AMD’s Revenue Outlook Falls Short
4. VISA to Cut 1,400 Jobs, Shares Fall
5. Construction Giant Sends Sector Index Plunging
6. Chipotle Drops 6% After Hours
7. Asset-Backed Securities Hit Post-Crisis High
1. U.S. Job Openings Fall to Lowest Level in 4 Years
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that job openings fell to 7.44 million in September — the lowest level since early 2021, below August’s 7.86 million and economists’ forecast of 8 million.
Job openings have been on a steady decline over the past two years. The latest data shows a drop across nearly all industries, alongside a rise in layoffs and fewer voluntary resignations as workers face greater difficulty finding new jobs.
The U.S. government is also set to release Q3 GDP growth forecasts later this week.
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2. Google Delivers Strong Q3 Earnings
lphabet, Google’s parent company, beat expectations in its Q3 earnings report.
Revenue excluding traffic acquisition costs rose to $74.6 billion, beating analysts’ estimates of $72.9 billion. EPS came in at $2.12, surpassing forecasts of $1.84.
While search remains Google’s core business, its cloud division continues to attract more customers — including many fast-growing AI startups founded by ex-Google engineers.
Alphabet shares rose over 3% after hours and are up 21% year-to-date.
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3. AMD’s Revenue Outlook Falls Short
AMD announced today that its Q4 revenue is expected to reach $7.5 billion — slightly below analysts’ estimates of $7.55 billion.
Seen as Nvidia’s top competitor in the AI chip space, AMD’s AI chips are now generating billions annually — a major jump from a year ago, though still far behind Nvidia’s tens of billions.
AMD’s MI300 accelerator is projected to bring in $4.5 billion this year. Like its peers, AMD outsources production to TSMC to keep up with demand.
Shares fell 4% after hours, though the stock is still up 13% YTD.
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4. VISA to Cut 1,400 Jobs, Shares Fall
According to The Wall Street Journal, credit card giant VISA is laying off 1,400 employees and streamlining its international operations.
Sources say the majority of cuts will come from tech roles, with others in merchant sales and global digital partnerships. Some contract workers in engineering teams will also be affected.
A spokesperson said the company is evolving its operating model to better serve customers and accelerate innovation. Despite the layoffs, VISA expects total headcount to grow in 2024 and 2025.
VISA employs roughly 30,000 people. Its shares reversed a brief 0.5% gain to close down 0.5%.
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5. Construction Giant Sends Sector Index Plunging
Homebuilder D.R. Horton missed Wall Street expectations with its 2025 revenue forecast, triggering a sharp selloff. The S&P Homebuilders Index fell as much as 7.8%, marking its biggest drop in over two years.
Investors are increasingly concerned that aggressive buyer incentives are squeezing margins, while high interest rates continue to deter homebuyers.
Bloomberg analyst Drew Reading noted that while large developers are more resilient, they are still vulnerable to rising rates and weakening consumer confidence.
D.R. Horton said it is helping 80% of its mortgage buyers cover part of their interest costs.
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6. Chipotle Drops 6% After Hours
Chipotle reported Q3 same-store sales growth of 6% — short of the expected 6.4%. The company also forecast fewer new store openings next year than anticipated.
While McDonald’s and Starbucks have seen declining same-store sales, Chipotle has remained resilient — though investors have grown used to its fast-paced growth.
Chipotle noted that food and processing costs rose, with avocados and dairy products seeing the biggest price hikes.
Shares plunged 6% after hours, but are still up 32% YTD.
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7. Asset-Backed Securities Hit Post-Crisis High
Asset-backed securities (ABS) issuance has topped $313 billion this year, according to Bloomberg — surpassing the post-financial-crisis record. Securitized assets range from auto loans and restaurant franchise debt to aircraft lease payments.
Investor demand — particularly from insurers — is growing rapidly. With baby boomers retiring and purchasing record levels of annuities, insurers need long-duration, high-yield, low-risk bonds to match those liabilities.
Alternatives like music royalties, data center income, and cell tower revenue are also fueling the rise of unconventional ABS.
Source：Bloomberg – Asset-Backed Debt Sales Top $313 Billion, Beating Post-Financial Crisis Record
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This content is sourced from Financial Times, Bloomberg, and The Real Deal, among other financial news outlets.