French Bond Crisis: Will Japan's October 8 Data Spill Into Bitcoin?

October 8 – Boosted by rising oil prices, U.S. energy stocks increased in pre-market trading O/R. Brent crude futures (LCOc1) rose 4.2% to $104.4 per barrel; U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude (CLc1) climbed 4% to $91.8 per barrel. Oil prices surged due to concerns over Middle Eastern supply disruptions following an increase in vessel attacks in the Gulf region and the Strait of Hormuz (link). Meanwhile, hurricane threats have impacted offshore production, leading to a decline in U.S. crude output. Major oil and gas giants Exxon Mobil (XOM.N) and Chevron (CVX.N) rose 1.6% and 1.3% respectively. Occidental Petroleum (OXY.N) and ConocoPhillips (COP.N) were up 1.6% and 1.7% respectively. Oilfield service providers Halliburton (HAL.N) and Baker Hughes (BKR.O) gained 1.2% and about 1% respectively. Refiners Marathon Petroleum (MPC.N) and Phillips 66 (PSX.N) climbed 1.5% and 1.2% respectively. (For non-native English speakers, Reuters provides automated translations of its reports into several languages. Since automatic translation may contain errors or lack context, Reuters does not guarantee the accuracy of the translated text, which is provided solely for readers’ convenience. Reuters shall not be liable for any damage or loss arising from the use of automated translation.)

Firmus is weighing options to reduce its IPO size and cut the offer price as Maas’s share price tumbles, amid growing investor doubts over Firmus’s valuation, debt, and overall market demand. The uncertain prospects of the Firmus IPO have resulted in a AU$517 million market cap loss for Maas. Investors are concerned that Firmus, backed by Nvidia, may scale down its AU$5 billion IPO—the second largest in Australian history. This uncertainty led to a 30% plunge in the share price of Maas Group, which holds a 3.2% stake in the AI data center operator. According to a knowledgeable source, details were still being finalized as of Thursday. Firmus has not responded to Reuters’ request for comment. The market’s perception of AI has shifted sharply in recent weeks, driven by fears of excessive valuations, concerns about the technology’s potential to become “uncontrollable,” and apprehensions that huge tech investments “might never recover their costs.” According to local media, Firmus and its advisers are considering reducing the IPO size and lowering the offer price from AU$11 to AU$8.25 per share. Earlier on Thursday, bookbuilding was completed, and a reviewed term sheet informed potential investors that “joint active bookrunners will provide further information.” Some investors remain cautious about the valuation. The initial term sheet had indicated that indicative demand exceeded the deal size, but some investors told Reuters they were wary of the company’s rising valuation, its ability to deliver its ambitious growth plan, and its heavy debt load. Foreign investor demand for Firmus’s stock was reportedly weaker than expected, while this IPO was initially snapped up as a potential milestone deal for Australia’s subdued capital market. Maas’s share price closed 22.4% lower on Thursday after falling as much as 30%, marking its lowest level since May 6. The company’s market valuation shrank by about AU$517 million (US$359.52 million), putting its current valuation at AU$1.79 billion. The Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) questioned Maas following the share price collapse. In a filing to the exchange, Maas attributed the sharp price movement to speculation around whether the Firmus IPO would proceed as planned, adding that it was not aware of any undisclosed information to explain the swing. “The sell-off is a reasonable write-down of the intrinsic value of its Firmus stake, but the magnitude is excessive,” said Emanuel Ajay Datt, managing director at Datt Group. Datt noted that if Firmus’s IPO price is reduced from AU$11 to AU$9 per share, it would wipe AU$75 million off the value of Maas’s stake, but this loss is relatively moderate compared to the day’s overall market cap decline. At AU$5 billion, the Firmus IPO was expected to be the largest Australian listing in nearly 30 years, second only to Telstra’s AU$10 billion float in 1997. (US$1 = AU$1.4380)

06:49 AM EDT, 10/08/2026 (MT Newswires) -- TransUnion (TRU) said Thursday it has launched First Look Functionality for Mortgage, allowing lenders to review credit insights before purchasing additional scores. The company said the tool can help mortgage lenders reduce unnecessary credit expenses and improve origination efficiency. Lenders can initially purchase a credit report alone or with a selected score, then add scores when needed, it said. The functionality supports both soft- and hard-pull workflows and is compatible with GSE and FHA automated underwriting systems, it added.

Reuters, October 8 – Slovakia is expected to approve Tesla’s TSLA.O Full Self-Driving (FSD) system within a few days, according to a video posted Wednesday afternoon on LinkedIn by Transport Minister Jozef Ráž. This move will make Slovakia the ninth EU country to approve this driver-assistance technology. "Data shows these vehicles reduce accident rates, and that is our goal," he stated. Ráž said the ministry would send a letter of recognition to the Netherlands, where the Dutch regulator RDW approved the system earlier this year and acts as the main supervisory body for Tesla’s European approval process. "Once this letter is delivered, the FSD system can also be used here. But remember: you are still the driver and remain responsible for the vehicle. We do this for your safety," Ráž said in the video. The minister's comments closely followed a Reuters report detailing how Tesla lobbied for FSD approval in Europe by framing regulators as barriers to advancing road safety technology. Several European countries, including the Czech Republic, Slovenia, and Denmark, have approved the use of the system earlier this year. An EU-wide vote on FSD could take place as early as December. (For the convenience of non-English speakers, Reuters automatically translates its reports into several other languages. Since automated translation may be incorrect or may not provide the necessary context, Reuters does not guarantee the accuracy of automated translation and provides it purely as a convenience for readers. Reuters assumes no responsibility for any damage or loss caused by use of automated translations.)