# Daily Fintech News — September 16, 2026 > Daily brief on markets, macro, banking, chips and AI infrastructure. Published September 16, 2026 at 7:00 PM ET by Daily Fintech News. Canonical HTML: https://dailyfintechnews.com/brief/fintech/2026-09-16 **Entities covered:** Donald Trump, Iran, Amazon, Data center, Nebius Group, Nvidia, Tesla, Inc., Apple Inc., Palantir, United States, CoreWeave, Intel, SK Hynix, OpenAI, Initial public offering, Anthropic, Claude (AI), ChatGPT, Alphabet Inc., Meta Platforms --- ## 1. Fed Raises Rates 25 bps in Unanimous Decision, First Hike Since 2023 *Section: Federal Reserve* The Federal Reserve raised interest rates by 25 bps in a unanimous 12-0 decision, its first hike since July 2023, citing Middle East conflicts and geopolitical developments. The updated dot plot points to one more hike in 2026 and two additional hikes in 2027, signaling rates staying higher for longer. Permalink: https://dailyfintechnews.com/brief/fintech/2026-09-16#item-1 ## 2. Trump to Meet Gulf Leaders at U.N. on Next Phase of Iran Conflict *Section: Geopolitics* President Trump is expected to meet Gulf Cooperation Council leaders on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly next Tuesday to discuss a postwar Iran strategy, ahead of the Sept. 24 Trump–Xi summit where AI and regional security are also expected to be discussed. Permalink: https://dailyfintechnews.com/brief/fintech/2026-09-16#item-2 ## 3. Generac Signs Up to $8B Backup Power Deal for Amazon Data Centers *Section: Data Centers · Tickers: $AMZN, $GNRC* Generac signed a long-term agreement to supply backup power generators for Amazon data centers, with payments potentially reaching $8B and initial deliveries of roughly $2.4B across 2027-2028. Amazon received warrants for up to 1.69M Generac shares at $200.93 each, exercisable through 2033. - $GNRC close: $175.11 (+0.05%) Permalink: https://dailyfintechnews.com/brief/fintech/2026-09-16#item-3 ## 4. Fed Chair Warsh Says Rate Hike Removed a 'Dose of Accommodation' *Section: Federal Reserve* Fed Chair Kevin Warsh said the rate hike removed a dose of accommodation and shows the Fed is serious about price stability, arguing inflation can be tamed without harming the labor market. He said AI risk decisions belong to other policymakers, with the Fed's AI task force reporting by year-end. Permalink: https://dailyfintechnews.com/brief/fintech/2026-09-16#item-4 ## 5. Nebius Raises GPU Prices ~20% Again, Posts Top MLPerf Results *Section: AI Infrastructure · Tickers: $NBIS* Nebius announced another ~20% price increase for on-demand H100, H200, B200 and B300 GPUs effective Oct. 1, just four months after a ~30% hike. It also posted five first-place MLPerf inference results, including top GB300 NVL72 performance and 603K tokens/sec on NVIDIA's next-gen Vera Rubin NVL72. - $NBIS close: $209.37 (+0.96%) Permalink: https://dailyfintechnews.com/brief/fintech/2026-09-16#item-5 ## 6. Most Active Options Today Led by Nvidia, Tesla and Apple *Section: Markets* The top 10 most active options by contracts traded were NVDA (3.0M), TSLA (2.4M), AAPL (1.6M), SPCX (1.2M), INTC (1.0M), MU (857K), META (857K), AMZN (854K), AMD (743K), and HOOD (403K). Permalink: https://dailyfintechnews.com/brief/fintech/2026-09-16#item-6 ## 7. Trump Officials Weigh Meeting With AI, Tech Executives During Xi Visit *Section: AI* Trump administration officials are reportedly considering a meeting with major AI and tech executives on the sidelines of Xi Jinping's Washington visit next week, per CNN. OpenAI's Sam Altman and Nvidia's Jensen Huang could attend a discussion focused on the future of AI and related risks. Permalink: https://dailyfintechnews.com/brief/fintech/2026-09-16#item-7 ## 8. Chipotle Partners With Palantir to Strengthen Food Safety Monitoring *Section: AI · Tickers: $CMG, $PLTR* Chipotle is partnering with Palantir to track potential food safety risks including pest incidents and employee illnesses across its restaurants. The deal underscores Palantir's expansion beyond government into large-scale commercial use cases for operational risk management. - $CMG close: $33.68 (-3.30%) Permalink: https://dailyfintechnews.com/brief/fintech/2026-09-16#item-8 ## 9. U.S. Homebuilder Confidence Falls to Weakest Since Late 2022 *Section: Housing* Homebuilder confidence fell to 32, its weakest reading since late 2022, as 30-year mortgage rates climbed back above 7%. Builders responded with incentives—38% cut prices and 66% offered concessions—while housing inventory hit a 7-year high and Redfin estimated 58% more sellers than buyers in August. Permalink: https://dailyfintechnews.com/brief/fintech/2026-09-16#item-9 ## 10. Nokia Expands AI-RAN Trials Globally With NVIDIA *Section: AI · Tickers: $NOK* Nokia is expanding AI-RAN trials with operators across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East, combining its anyRAN software with NVIDIA's Aerial RAN Computer for a 20%+ gain in spectral efficiency. Nokia and NVIDIA are deepening their AI-RAN collaboration toward AI-native 5G and 6G. - $NOK close: $10.14 (+3.05%) Permalink: https://dailyfintechnews.com/brief/fintech/2026-09-16#item-10 ## 11. Apple Weighs Return to Server Market With M-Series AI Systems *Section: AI · Tickers: $AAPL* Apple is reportedly weighing a return to the server market with an AI-focused enterprise system built on its own M8 Ultra chips and NVIDIA's NVLink Fusion networking, targeting AI developers, enterprises and governments. The project is aimed for 2029 and would mark Apple's first server since discontinuing Xserve in 2011. - $AAPL close: $332.41 (+0.32%) Permalink: https://dailyfintechnews.com/brief/fintech/2026-09-16#item-11 ## 12. CoreWeave Signs 15-Year Anchor Lease at Niagara Falls AI Campus *Section: AI Infrastructure · Tickers: $CRWV* CoreWeave signed a definitive 15-year anchor lease with Blockfusion for capacity at its Niagara Falls, New York AI data center campus. The former power plant is being converted into a high-density, liquid-cooled AI facility powered predominantly by hydroelectric energy. - $CRWV close: $83.35 (+3.00%) Permalink: https://dailyfintechnews.com/brief/fintech/2026-09-16#item-12 ## 13. Apple Develops Enterprise AI Server, in Talks With Nvidia on Networking *Section: AI · Source: The Information · Tickers: $AAPL, $NVDA* Apple is building an enterprise server using its own chips and has discussed incorporating Nvidia networking equipment, aiming to sell it to AI developers, businesses and governments. The product would come in versions clustering Apple's planned M8 Ultra chips. - $AAPL close: $332.41 (+0.32%) Permalink: https://dailyfintechnews.com/brief/fintech/2026-09-16#item-13 ## 14. Intel Shares Rise Premarket on Report of SK Hynix U.S. Manufacturing Talks *Section: Business · Source: WSJ · Tickers: $INTC* Intel stock climbed premarket after a report that SK Hynix could lease Intel's planned Ohio manufacturing plant or form a joint venture. Any deal could face opposition from the South Korean government. - $INTC close: $101.05 (+4.03%) Permalink: https://dailyfintechnews.com/brief/fintech/2026-09-16#item-14 ## 15. OpenAI Weighs Pre-IPO Funding Round at More Than $1.2 Trillion Valuation *Section: AI · Source: WSJ* OpenAI has held preliminary investor discussions about a new pre-IPO raise that would value the ChatGPT maker at more than $1.2 trillion, capitalizing on demand after recent model launches. The company is expected to go public next year. Permalink: https://dailyfintechnews.com/brief/fintech/2026-09-16#item-15 ## 16. Italian Startup Exein Raises $270M to Fight AI Hackers With AI *Section: Cybersecurity · Source: FT* Rome-based Exein raised $270 million to build a foundation model that protects billions of internet-connected devices, from robots to lightbulbs, against AI-powered cyberattacks. Permalink: https://dailyfintechnews.com/brief/fintech/2026-09-16#item-16 ## 17. AI Debt Boom Heads From Wall Street to Europe Despite Tech Angst *Section: AI · Source: Bloomberg* The wave of debt financing fueling AI data-center and infrastructure buildouts is spreading from Wall Street into European credit markets, even as investors voice growing anxiety about stretched tech valuations. Permalink: https://dailyfintechnews.com/brief/fintech/2026-09-16#item-17 ## 18. Novo Nordisk to Use Anthropic's Claude for Drug Research *Section: AI · Source: WSJ · Tickers: $NVO* Novo Nordisk, the maker of Ozempic, is partnering with AI firm Anthropic to use its Claude models to speed up drug development and discovery. - $NVO close: $41.71 (-1.93%) Permalink: https://dailyfintechnews.com/brief/fintech/2026-09-16#item-18 ## 19. Circle Launches New Blockchain for Stablecoins, Other Assets *Section: Fintech · Source: The Information · Tickers: $CRCL* Circle launched a new blockchain built for stablecoins and other assets, a move designed to help it diversify revenue beyond the interest income it earns on its stablecoin reserves. - $CRCL close: $80.45 (-6.78%) Permalink: https://dailyfintechnews.com/brief/fintech/2026-09-16#item-19 ## 20. OpenAI Tests Sponsored Agents, Adds AI Tools for ChatGPT Advertisers *Section: AI · Source: The Information* OpenAI is ramping up its advertising business, testing sponsored agents and rolling out new AI tools for both ChatGPT users and advertising partners. Permalink: https://dailyfintechnews.com/brief/fintech/2026-09-16#item-20 ## 21. Banks Line Up $22 Billion Chip Loan for Blackstone-Alphabet Cloud Venture Crux AI *Section: AI Infrastructure · Source: Bloomberg · Tickers: $BX, $GOOGL* A group of 10 banks is providing a $22 billion loan to finance the processors behind Crux AI, a new cloud venture from Blackstone and Alphabet, in the latest mega-debt deal in the race to fund AI infrastructure. - $GOOGL close: $342.87 (-0.61%) Permalink: https://dailyfintechnews.com/brief/fintech/2026-09-16#item-21 ## 22. Drone Startup Zipline in Talks on About $1 Billion Raise at $20 Billion Valuation *Section: Funding · Source: Bloomberg* Drone delivery and logistics startup Zipline is in talks to raise about $1 billion in a funding round that would value it at roughly $20 billion, nearly tripling its previous valuation. Permalink: https://dailyfintechnews.com/brief/fintech/2026-09-16#item-22 ## 23. Manus Eyes $4 Billion Value in First Round Since Meta Breakup *Section: Funding · Source: Bloomberg* Chinese-founded AI startup Manus is set to roughly double its valuation to $4 billion in a planned ~$500 million round, its first fundraising since Beijing ordered it to split from Meta. The deal would make the agentic-AI company China's most valuable startup in its field. Permalink: https://dailyfintechnews.com/brief/fintech/2026-09-16#item-23 ## 24. Nvidia Partner GMI Cloud Seeks Loan to Buy Chips for Thai Site *Section: AI Infrastructure · Source: Bloomberg* GMI Cloud, an Nvidia partner, is seeking a $300 million loan to buy chips for a new data center facility in Thailand, adding to a growing list of debt-funded AI-infrastructure deals across Asia. Permalink: https://dailyfintechnews.com/brief/fintech/2026-09-16#item-24 ## 25. Salesforce Sees $63 Billion in Revenue in Fiscal Year 2030 *Section: Earnings · Source: Bloomberg · Tickers: $CRM* Salesforce gave a long-term revenue outlook of $63 billion by fiscal 2030, exceeding analysts' estimates and signaling confidence it can keep growing despite competition from AI tools. - $CRM close: $250.54 (-2.00%) Permalink: https://dailyfintechnews.com/brief/fintech/2026-09-16#item-25 ## 26. Huawei Set to Unveil China's Answer to Nvidia AI Chips *Section: AI Chips · Source: Bloomberg* Huawei is preparing to unveil new AI accelerators positioned as China's most competitive answer to Nvidia, as Beijing pushes domestic alternatives amid U.S. export curbs. The reveal underscores intensifying U.S.-China competition over AI-chip supremacy. Permalink: https://dailyfintechnews.com/brief/fintech/2026-09-16#item-26 --- ## Questions this brief answers **How much did Fed raise?** The Federal Reserve raised interest rates by 25 bps in a unanimous 12-0 decision, its first hike since July 2023, citing Middle East conflicts and geopolitical developments. The updated dot plot points to one more hike in 2026 and two additional hikes in 2027, signaling rates staying higher for longer. **What did Donald Trump announce on September 16, 2026?** President Trump is expected to meet Gulf Cooperation Council leaders on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly next Tuesday to discuss a postwar Iran strategy, ahead of the Sept. 24 Trump–Xi summit where AI and regional security are also expected to be discussed. **What did Amazon announce on September 16, 2026?** Generac signed a long-term agreement to supply backup power generators for Amazon data centers, with payments potentially reaching $8B and initial deliveries of roughly $2.4B across 2027-2028. **What did Fed Chair Warsh do with interest rates?** Fed Chair Kevin Warsh said the rate hike removed a dose of accommodation and shows the Fed is serious about price stability, arguing inflation can be tamed without harming the labor market. **How much did Nebius Group raise?** Nebius announced another ~20% price increase for on-demand H100, H200, B200 and B300 GPUs effective Oct. 1, just four months after a ~30% hike. It also posted five first-place MLPerf inference results, including top GB300 NVL72 performance and 603K tokens/sec on NVIDIA's next-gen Vera Rubin NVL72. **Which stocks had the most active options on September 16, 2026?** The top 10 most active options by contracts traded were NVDA (3.0M), TSLA (2.4M), AAPL (1.6M), SPCX (1.2M), INTC (1.0M), MU (857K), META (857K), AMZN (854K), AMD (743K), and HOOD (403K). --- ## More from Daily Fintech News - Previous brief: [September 15, 2026 — Clarity Act Crypto Bill Fails to Advance in Senate; Coinbase, Circle Slide](https://dailyfintechnews.com/brief/fintech/2026-09-15) - Next brief: [September 17, 2026 — Trump Weighs Resuming Large-Scale Military Operations Against Iran](https://dailyfintechnews.com/brief/fintech/2026-09-17) - Also covers Alphabet Inc., Amazon, Anthropic: [September 21, 2026 — Nasdaq Closes at Record as Chip and AI Stocks Rally](https://dailyfintechnews.com/brief/fintech/2026-09-21) - Also covers Alphabet Inc., Amazon, Anthropic: [September 23, 2026 — 10-Year Treasury Yield Tops 5.1% as Hot PMI Data Fuels Inflation Fears](https://dailyfintechnews.com/brief/fintech/2026-09-23) - Also covers Alphabet Inc., Anthropic, Apple Inc.: [September 1, 2026 — Dell delivers huge beat and raise on AI server demand](https://dailyfintechnews.com/brief/fintech/2026-09-01) - [All briefs](https://dailyfintechnews.com/brief/fintech) *Source: Daily Fintech News (https://dailyfintechnews.com). Attribution with a link to the brief URL is appreciated when quoted.*