News & Updates
The latest news and updates from companies in the WLTH portfolio.
Anthropic IPO Valuation Reports Range From $1.5 Trillion to $2 Trillion | EconoTimes
Reports on Anthropic's potential public offering describe investor valuation discussions at different levels, but none establishes a price for the company's shares in an IPO. Reuters reported that some attendees discussed a possible valuation of about $1.5 trillion. Bloomberg separately reported discussions between $1.8 trillion and $2 trillion. The lower figure is 25% below the $2 trillion upper end of Bloomberg's reported range. Anthropic, the maker of the Claude AI assistant, said June 1 that it had confidentially submitted a draft Form S-1 to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The company's announcement did not set an offering date, share count or price, and said any sale would depend on market conditions. The valuation figures come from separate reports of investor discussions, not announced IPO terms. Earlier EconoTimes coverage of Anthropic valuation discussions also described reported estimates around $1.5 trillion to $2 trillion.
Anthropic's Claude Duet Challenges Meta, OpenAI in AI Agent Race
Claude Duet automates tasks across 6,000 platforms with safety checks, available in U.S. Following Meta and OpenAI, Anthropic has also unveiled a personal AI agent that performs tasks on behalf of users. Anthropic publicly released a research preview version of its AI agent 'Claude Duet,' developed based on the AI model 'Claude Opus 5.5,' on the 22nd (local time). Claude Duet is a service that autonomously identifies and performs necessary tasks by examining integrated data and applications (apps) without requiring repeated user instructions. Anthropic explained that it was developed to assist professionals and small business owners who struggle with managing schedules and various tasks due to heavy workloads. Users can receive daily briefings summarizing key information through Claude Duet or instruct it to check emails and messengers to send necessary messages. A notable feature is that it continues tasks on a separate virtual computer even when the user is away or shuts down their computer. The service can integrate with over 6,000 platforms, including Google Gmail, the business messenger Slack, the social networking service (SNS) LinkedIn, the payment platform Stripe, and the e-commerce platform Shopify. It also supports direct payment for goods using the digital wallets of Stripe and Shopify. Anthropic has implemented safety measures given the AI agent's increased autonomy. Before performing sensitive tasks such as sending emails, making payments, signing documents, or deleting files, it must obtain explicit user approval. High-risk operations like securities trading or fund transfers are restricted, even if approved by the user. Requests to share highly sensitive information, such as credit card numbers and identification numbers, with external parties are automatically denied. Health and financial information is designed to be transmitted only upon explicit user instruction. However, Anthropic acknowledged that, being in an early development stage, Claude Duet may misinterpret user intentions or misjudge the urgency of tasks. Claude Duet is available on the Claude website and iOS and Android apps. It is currently accepting applications from subscribers to paid plans of over 20 dollars per month within the U.S. Previously, Meta introduced the personal AI agent 'Muse,' and OpenAI unveiled 'Dots.' Meta's Muse garnered attention, recording millions of downloads shortly after its release.
Anthropic's Claude Duet Requires Approval for Sensitive Actions | EconoTimes
The U.S. preview is limited to invited Pro and Max subscribers and uses their existing Claude plan allowance. Anthropic's Claude Duet is a cloud-based work agent for invited U.S. subscribers, designed to handle tasks across connected apps even when devices are off, while requiring approval before certain actions. Anthropic's announcement, dated Oct. 21, introduced a waitlist for the research preview. The company says access is going to invited subscribers in the United States on its Pro and Max plans. Team and Enterprise accounts are excluded for now, and invitations are being sent in waves. EconoTimes previously reported on the U.S. preview rollout. Duet compiles a morning summary from connected services and revisits those accounts at intervals during the day. Anthropic says the agent runs in a cloud virtual machine and is built around Claude Opus 5.5, enabling it to keep working after a user closes the app or powers down a device. The company lists scheduling meetings, building dashboards, preparing forecasts and making web apps among possible assignments. Anthropic says Duet can use more than 6,000 connectors and plugins in the Claude Marketplace. Gmail, Slack, QuickBooks, Gusto, Docusign, HubSpot and Shopify are among the services it names. Before taking certain actions, Duet must show what it plans to do and wait for the user's approval, Anthropic says. Examples include sending a message, making a payment, signing a document or deleting content. The rules prohibit securities trading and transfers between accounts, even with user approval. Anthropic warns that Duet may misunderstand a conversation or misjudge urgency. Because it reviews accounts periodically, an urgent message could arrive before its next check; users also cannot yet watch or take control of its browser. The company says emails and web pages can contain hidden instructions intended to manipulate an AI agent, and cautions that its safeguards are not perfect. Anthropic says Duet does not directly see passwords or sign-in tokens. The preview carries no extra fee, but its work uses subscribers' usual Claude plan allowance. Background monitoring and larger assignments may draw down that capacity sooner. Anthropic says it designed Duet for professionals and small-business owners managing many decisions. The company has not given a date for broader availability.
Polymarket fires chief marketing officer after internal investigation
Matthew Modabber is out after a probe into marketing practices that worried investors, as the prediction market prepares for a more buttoned-up era Polymarket has fired its chief marketing officer, Matthew Modabber, following an internal investigation into incidents that raised concerns among the company's investors. The company is reportedly working toward a more professional corporate image as it weighs a potential initial public offering. What the investigation found The internal review began earlier in 2026. It centered on marketing practices that set off alarms among investors. Two issues stand out. The first involves a fake webpage that promoted staged videos showing traders making profits. The second concerns money flows. More than $2.5 million was routed through Modabber's personal PayPal account, according to the research. At least $350,000 of that reportedly went to content creators for promotional posts that did not carry the required disclosures. The Wall Street Journal first reported on the practices in June 2026. The fake webpage has been linked to an investigation by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, which the research describes as ongoing. Polymarket has not faced any formal regulatory finding of wrongdoing. From employee number 11 to the exit Modabber was no peripheral figure. He joined Polymarket in January 2024 as the company's eleventh employee. He was also described as a trusted advisor to CEO Shayne Coplan. That makes his October 2026 dismissal more than a routine personnel change. During his tenure, Modabber oversaw a marketing team of more than 50 people. He has claimed credit for helping push daily trading volume from $300,000 to the mid-nine figures. The board includes Coplan, Nick Tomaino, and Alex Spiro. The decision to part ways was partly shaped by the board's push for a more polished image ahead of a possible IPO. What this means for Polymarket and prediction markets Removing a senior executive tied to questionable practices is a common first step in that cleanup. It shows the board is willing to act, even against an early insider close to the CEO. The CFTC investigation remains a live risk. Staged profit videos cut directly against user trust. They suggest an easier path to winnings than users may actually find. Undisclosed paid promotion raises a parallel concern. Users scrolling social media had no way of knowing which enthusiastic posts were advertisements.
Xai floating rate VP John Spence buys $34,140 in stock By Investing.com
John Yogi Spence, Vice President of XAI Floating Rate & Alternative Income Trust (NYSE:XFLT), acquired shares of the company's common stock on October 21, 2026. Mr. Spence purchased 2,000 shares at a price of $17.07 per share. This transaction amounted to a total value of $34,140. The purchase comes as XFLT trades near $16.91, close to its 52-week low of $14.93, with the stock down roughly 20% year-to-date. According to InvestingPro data, the trust offers an exceptional dividend yield of 15.85% and has maintained dividend payments for 10 consecutive years, making it attractive for income-focused investors despite weak overall financial health scores. Following this acquisition, Mr. Spence directly holds 114,357 common shares of beneficial ownership. His indirect holdings include 2,050 shares through XA Investments LLC, 2,118 shares held by his spouse, and 3,646.94 shares through XMS Holdings LLC. These beneficial ownership figures reflect the issuer's 1-for-5 reverse stock split, which became effective on March 20, 2026. The reported holdings also include shares obtained through the XFLT Dividend Reinvestment Plan. In other recent news, shareholders of XAI Floating Rate & Alternative Income Trust have approved a new investment sub-advisory agreement. This decision was made during a special meeting that was initially convened and later adjourned to allow for more proxy solicitation. The agreement involves the Trust, XA Investments, LLC, and Rockford Tower Asset Management, L.L.C. The approval allows these parties to enter into the new sub-advisory agreement, marking a significant development for the Trust. This move is part of the Trust's ongoing efforts to manage its investment strategies effectively. The announcement was made through a press release based on an SEC filing. These developments highlight the Trust's commitment to aligning its management strategies with shareholder interests.
Gecko Robotics eyes further fleet work growth after expanded US naval work contract
Gecko Robotics' Komodo system, shown here, scans through thick, non-skid deck coatings without stripping or damaging them. (Gecko Robotics) The recently expanded contract for US Navy (USN) shipboard maintenance helps clear a path for greater naval work and maritime maintenance impact for Gecko Robotics' technology that mates robotics, sensors, and artificial intelligence (AI), according to Troy Demmer, company president and co-founder. "It's a big step forward," Demmer told Janes during an interview on 29 October. "From what we see across the fleet or across the class, we can draw out insights," Demmer said, adding that such insight can change class-maintenance plans. Based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Gecko Robotics acknowledged a USD71 million indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract with the General Services Administration (GSA) and USN in March 2026 to deploy its robotic systems for maintenance work on USN vessels. The company confirmed on 22 October that the ceiling for that initial contract had been expanded to USD300 million and will "accommodate rapid robotic deployment across the navy", the company said in a release. The increased contract work comes as the USN continues its struggle to work through maintenance delays across the fleet. Central to the expansion is Komodo, a proprietary Gecko Robotics technology system that scans through thick, non-skid deck coatings without stripping or damaging them, giving the navy the ability to see the health of assets without taking them apart, the company said. The technology produces a full-deck heatmap of corrosion and material thickness, enabling repair teams to pinpoint damage and plan work before a ship enters drydock, which was previously possible only after maintenance had begun, the company said. Komodo is ground-based robot, with more sensors and capability than previously offered, Demmer told
Anthropic's Claude Opus 5.5 tops AI index with 61.7 score
Artificial Analysis has released its Coding Agent Index v2.0, showcasing the performance of AI models across 290 software tasks. The update highlights Anthropic's Claude Opus 5.5 as the leader, scoring 61.7 overall and dominating the FrontierCode benchmark. This development follows the replacement of DeepSWE with Cognition's private benchmark, FrontierCode v1.1, and revisions to the SWE-Atlas-QnA grading criteria. The updated index evaluates performance on real-world code mergeability, providing a comprehensive assessment of modern AI capabilities. Key Takeaways * The announcement suggests that Anthropic's Claude Opus 5.5 is currently leading in AI model rankings according to the new index. * Markets appear to reflect mixed reactions, as the source's social media origin reduces perceived impact strength. * Pricing suggests a decrease in confidence for Anthropic maintaining its top position by the end of October 2026. What to Watch Observers will be monitoring further announcements from Anthropic and competitors, such as Google and Meta, which could influence market confidence. Key indicators would include any new benchmark results or model releases from these companies. The upcoming end-of-month rankings could significantly impact current market pricing, especially if other models surpass Claude Opus 5.5 in performance.
XAI Floating Rate & Alternative Income Trust Will Host its Q3 2026 Quarterly Webinar on November 2, 2026 | Taiwan News | Oct. 23, 2026 07:41
CHICAGO, Oct. 22, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- XAI Floating Rate & Alternative Income Trust (NYSE: XFLT) (the "Trust") today announced that it plans to host the Trust's Quarterly Webinar on November 2, 2026, at 3:00 pm (Eastern Time). Kevin Davis, Managing Director at XA Investments will moderate the Q&A style webinar with Kimberly Flynn, President at XA Investments, and Young Choi, Partner and Global Head of Trading at King Street Capital Management. Young Choi also serves as the Portfolio Manager of Rockford Tower Capital Management, King Street's CLO, CBO and SMA platform. TO JOIN VIA WEB: Please click here to find the online registration link. TO USE YOUR TELEPHONE: After joining via web, if you prefer to use your phone for audio, you must select that option and call in using a number below, based on your current location. Dial: (312) 626-6799 or (646) 558-8656 or (267) 831-0333 or (720) 928-9299 or (213) 338-8477 Webinar ID: 830 6838 9008 REPLAY: A replay of the webinar will be available in the Knowledge Bank section of xainvestments.com. The Trust's common shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "XFLT." The investment objective of the Trust is to seek attractive total return with an emphasis on income generation across multiple stages of the credit cycle. The Trust seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing in a dynamically managed portfolio of opportunities primarily within the private credit markets. Under normal market conditions, the Trust will invest at least 80% of its Managed Assets in floating rate credit instruments and other structured credit investments. There can be no assurance that the Trust will achieve its investment objective. About XA Investments XA Investments LLC ("XA Investments") is a Chicago-based firm founded by XMS Capital Partners in 2016. XA Investments serves as the investment adviser for two listed closed-end funds, an interval fund, and a tender offer fund. The listed closed-end funds, the XAI Floating Rate & Alternative Income Trust and XAI Madison Equity Premium Income Fund, both trade on the New York Stock Exchange and the interval fund and tender offer fund, XAI CLO & Income Opportunities Fund and Evanston Multi-Alpha Fund, are both available via direct subscription and through select broker/dealers and wealth management platforms. In addition to investment advisory services, the firm also provides investment fund structuring and consulting services focused on registered closed-end funds to meet institutional client needs. XA Investments offers custom product build and consulting services, including product development and market research, marketing and fund management. XA Investments believes that the investing public can benefit from new vehicles to access a broad range of alternative investment strategies and managers. XA Investments provides individual investors with access to institutional-caliber alternative managers. For more information, please visit www.xainvestments.com. About XMS Capital Partners XMS Capital Partners, LLC, established in 2006, is a global, independent, financial services firm providing M&A, corporate advisory and asset management services to clients. It has offices in Chicago, Boston and London. For more information, please visit www.xmscapital.com. About Rockford Tower Asset Management Rockford Tower Asset Management, L.L.C. is a wholly owned subsidiary of King Street Capital Management, L.P. ("King Street") and an affiliate of Rockford Tower Capital Management ("Rockford Tower"). Rockford Tower, King Street's dedicated CLO, CBO and SMA platform, was formed in 2017. Rockford Tower has over $14.7 billion of assets under management as of September 30, 2026, across 19 U.S. CLOs and 10 European CLOs, one CBO transaction and one SMA. In addition, Rockford Tower has traded over $99 billion of loans as of December 31, 2025. About King Street Capital Management King Street is a global alternative investment firm founded in 1995 that manages $30.9 billion in assets as of September 30, 2026 across public and private markets. The firm marries rigorous fundamental research with tactical trading and differentiated sourcing capabilities to identify investment opportunities across asset classes, up and down the capital structure. For more information, please visit www.kingstreet.com. XA Investments does not provide tax advice; please consult a professional tax advisor regarding your specific tax situation. Income may be subject to state and local taxes, as well as the federal alternative minimum tax. Investors should consider the investment objectives and policies, risk considerations, charges and expenses of the Trust carefully before investing. For more information on the Trust, please visit the Trust's webpage at www.xainvestments.com. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the laws of such state or jurisdiction. NOT FDIC INSURED NO BANK GUARANTEE MAY LOSE VALUE Paralel Distributors, LLC - Distributor
Google Cloud Lets Anthropic Run Claude Directly for Customers Who Want New Features First
Google Cloud made an Anthropic-managed deployment option for Claude generally available, giving customers day-zero access to Claude Platform features such as Managed Agents, skills and code execution. The existing Google-managed option keeps Google as data processor, with VPC Service Controls, CMEK and regional data residency. Companies that buy Claude through Google Cloud no longer have to wait for Google to wire in each new Anthropic feature before they can use it. Google Cloud has made an Anthropic-managed deployment option for Claude generally available, running next to the Google-managed version it already sells. Both versions get new Claude models on day zero, at the same pricing and on the same Google Cloud bill. What separates them is the legal and operational setup. "The difference comes down to who acts as your data processor and whether you need access to the new Claude platform features when they launch," Michael Gerstenhaber, vice president of product management for Gemini at Google Cloud, wrote in the announcement. Two ways to buy the same models On the new option, Anthropic operates the stack as the data processor on Google Cloud infrastructure, under Anthropic's Commercial Terms. Customers still sign in with Google Cloud IAM, keep Cloud Audit Logging and run spending through their existing Google Cloud billing, and usage draws down eligible Google Cloud commitments. In exchange, they get Claude Platform features the day they ship, including Claude Managed Agents, which is in beta, along with skills and code execution. Skills also figured in separate Anthropic news earlier Thursday, when the company said it is handing its Agent Skills standard to the Agentic AI Foundation, the Linux Foundation group that also looks after the Model Context Protocol. The Google-managed route keeps Google Cloud as the data processor under customers' existing agreements. That is the version with VPC Service Controls, customer-managed encryption keys and data residency in the U.S., EU and APAC, plus native hooks into BigQuery and Model Armor. Google says it is meant for strict governance, compliance and sovereignty requirements. New platform features arrive there only after Google integrates them into its own infrastructure. Google is stacking up model choices The Claude lineup on offer includes Claude Fable 5.1, Sonnet 5.5, Haiku 5.5 and Opus 5.5. Anthropic's own Claude on Google Cloud page promotes dedicated capacity and prompt caching as ways to keep production workloads predictable. The Claude announcement came a day after Google Cloud put OpenAI's GPT-6 Astra, GPT-6.1 Sol and GPT-6 Luna into its model garden in private preview, as WebProNews reported, and Gerstenhaber wrote in that announcement that Google Cloud is now the only hyperscale cloud provider offering access to all three leading closed source LLMs. The OpenAI models are also sold through Google Cloud Marketplace, so that usage lands on the same Google Cloud invoice as everything else. Google gave no schedule for the Google-managed side. Its post says new Claude Platform features "roll out over time" on the Google-managed option, with no date for when Managed Agents will get there.
XAI Madison Equity Premium Income Fund Will Host its Q3 2026 Quarterly Webinar on November 5, 2026
CHICAGO, Oct. 22, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- XAI Madison Equity Premium Income Fund (NYSE: MCN) (the "Fund") today announced that it plans to host the Fund's Quarterly Webinar on November 5, 2026 at 11:00 am (Eastern Time). Kimberly Flynn, President at XA Investments will moderate the Q&A style webinar with Ray Di Bernardo and Drew Justman, Portfolio Managers at Madison Investments. TO JOIN VIA WEB: Please click here to find the online registration link. TO USE YOUR TELEPHONE: After joining via web, if you prefer to use your phone for audio, you must select that option and call in using a number below, based on your current location. Dial: (312) 626-6799 or (646) 558-8656 or (267) 831-0333 or (720) 928-9299 or (213) 338-8477 Webinar ID: 832 1620 9414 REPLAY: A replay of the webinar will be available in the Knowledge Bank section of xainvestments.com. The Fund's primary investment objective is to provide a high level of current income and gains, with a secondary objective of capital appreciation. The Fund pursues its investment objectives by investing in a portfolio consisting primarily of high quality, large and mid-capitalization stocks that are, in the view of the Fund's Investment sub-adviser, selling at a reasonable price in relation to their long-term earnings growth rates. The Fund will, on an ongoing and consistent basis, sell covered call options on its portfolio stocks to seek to generate current earnings from option premiums. There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objectives. The Fund's common shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol MCN. About XA Investments XA Investments LLC ("XA Investments") is a Chicago-based firm founded by XMS Capital Partners in 2016. XA Investments serves as the investment adviser for two listed closed-end funds, an interval fund, and a tender offer fund. The listed closed-end funds, the XAI Floating Rate & Alternative Income Trust and XAI Madison Equity Premium Income Fund, both trade on the New York Stock Exchange and the interval fund and tender offer fund, XAI CLO & Income Opportunities Fund and Evanston Multi-Alpha Fund, are both available via direct subscription and through select broker/dealers and wealth management platforms. In addition to investment advisory services, the firm also provides investment fund structuring and consulting services focused on registered closed-end funds to meet institutional client needs. XA Investments offers custom product build and consulting services, including product development and market research, marketing and fund management. XA Investments believes that the investing public can benefit from new vehicles to access a broad range of alternative investment strategies and managers. XA Investments provides individual investors with access to institutional-caliber alternative managers. For more information, please visit www.xainvestments.com. About XMS Capital Partners XMS Capital Partners, LLC, established in 2006, is a global, independent, financial services firm providing M&A, corporate advisory and asset management services to clients. It has offices in Chicago, Boston and London. For more information, please visit www.xmscapital.com. About Madison Investments Madison Investments (Madison) is an independent investment management firm based in Madison, Wisconsin. The firm was founded in 1974, has approximately $29 billion in assets under management as of June 30, 2026, and is recognized as one of the nation's top investment firms. The firm has managed covered call strategies for over 20 years through various market cycles. Madison offers domestic fixed income, U.S. and international equity, covered call, multi-asset, insurance, and credit union investment management strategies. For more information, please visit www.madisonfunds.com. XA Investments does not provide tax advice; please consult a professional tax advisor regarding your specific tax situation. Income may be subject to state and local taxes, as well as the federal alternative minimum tax. Investors should consider the investment objectives and policies, risk considerations, charges and expenses of the Trust carefully before investing. For more information on the Trust, please visit the Trust's webpage at www.xainvestments.com. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the laws of such state or jurisdiction. NOT FDIC INSURED NO BANK GUARANTEE MAY LOSE VALUE Paralel Distributors, LLC - Distributor
XAI Madison Equity Premium Income Fund Will Host its Q3 2026 Quarterly Webinar on November 5, 2026 | Taiwan News | Oct. 23, 2026 07:16
CHICAGO, Oct. 22, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- XAI Madison Equity Premium Income Fund (NYSE: MCN) (the "Fund") today announced that it plans to host the Fund's Quarterly Webinar on November 5, 2026 at 11:00 am (Eastern Time). Kimberly Flynn, President at XA Investments will moderate the Q&A style webinar with Ray Di Bernardo and Drew Justman, Portfolio Managers at Madison Investments. TO JOIN VIA WEB: Please click here to find the online registration link. TO USE YOUR TELEPHONE: After joining via web, if you prefer to use your phone for audio, you must select that option and call in using a number below, based on your current location. Dial: (312) 626-6799 or (646) 558-8656 or (267) 831-0333 or (720) 928-9299 or (213) 338-8477 Webinar ID: 832 1620 9414 REPLAY: A replay of the webinar will be available in the Knowledge Bank section of xainvestments.com. The Fund's primary investment objective is to provide a high level of current income and gains, with a secondary objective of capital appreciation. The Fund pursues its investment objectives by investing in a portfolio consisting primarily of high quality, large and mid-capitalization stocks that are, in the view of the Fund's Investment sub-adviser, selling at a reasonable price in relation to their long-term earnings growth rates. The Fund will, on an ongoing and consistent basis, sell covered call options on its portfolio stocks to seek to generate current earnings from option premiums. There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objectives. The Fund's common shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol MCN. About XA Investments XA Investments LLC ("XA Investments") is a Chicago-based firm founded by XMS Capital Partners in 2016. XA Investments serves as the investment adviser for two listed closed-end funds, an interval fund, and a tender offer fund. The listed closed-end funds, the XAI Floating Rate & Alternative Income Trust and XAI Madison Equity Premium Income Fund, both trade on the New York Stock Exchange and the interval fund and tender offer fund, XAI CLO & Income Opportunities Fund and Evanston Multi-Alpha Fund, are both available via direct subscription and through select broker/dealers and wealth management platforms. In addition to investment advisory services, the firm also provides investment fund structuring and consulting services focused on registered closed-end funds to meet institutional client needs. XA Investments offers custom product build and consulting services, including product development and market research, marketing and fund management. XA Investments believes that the investing public can benefit from new vehicles to access a broad range of alternative investment strategies and managers. XA Investments provides individual investors with access to institutional-caliber alternative managers. For more information, please visit www.xainvestments.com. About XMS Capital Partners XMS Capital Partners, LLC, established in 2006, is a global, independent, financial services firm providing M&A, corporate advisory and asset management services to clients. It has offices in Chicago, Boston and London. For more information, please visit www.xmscapital.com. About Madison Investments Madison Investments (Madison) is an independent investment management firm based in Madison, Wisconsin. The firm was founded in 1974, has approximately $29 billion in assets under management as of June 30, 2026, and is recognized as one of the nation's top investment firms. The firm has managed covered call strategies for over 20 years through various market cycles. Madison offers domestic fixed income, U.S. and international equity, covered call, multi-asset, insurance, and credit union investment management strategies. For more information, please visit www.madisonfunds.com. XA Investments does not provide tax advice; please consult a professional tax advisor regarding your specific tax situation. Income may be subject to state and local taxes, as well as the federal alternative minimum tax. Investors should consider the investment objectives and policies, risk considerations, charges and expenses of the Trust carefully before investing. For more information on the Trust, please visit the Trust's webpage at www.xainvestments.com. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the laws of such state or jurisdiction. NOT FDIC INSURED NO BANK GUARANTEE MAY LOSE VALUE Paralel Distributors, LLC - Distributor
X-energy and Amazon plan 12 nuclear reactors at a retired Indiana coal site
Amazon backs 12 nuclear reactors in Indiana for data centers * Amazon plans to buy power from 12 proposed Indiana nuclear reactors * The proposed facility could deliver 960 megawatts to Indiana's electricity grid * X-energy's Xe-100 reactors would use helium cooling and TRISO fuel Amazon is backing a proposed nuclear power development in Indiana designed to supply electricity for its expanding data center operations and the regional grid. The project involves 12 small modular reactors from X-energy, with a combined planned output of 960 megawatts, although construction and commissioning dates remain uncertain. Amazon hasn't disclosed the specific amount it is putting into the Indiana project, but it says it is "investing billions in nuclear energy projects" overall. This confirmation, coupled with its lead role in X-energy, suggests the commitment could plausibly exceed $1 billion, though that is speculation. Twelve reactors face an uncertain road to operation The planned installation would occupy the former Breed coal generating station site in Sullivan County, Indiana, where developers intend to establish new nuclear generating capacity. Each Xe-100 reactor is designed to generate 80 megawatts using helium gas for cooling and specially engineered uranium fuel particles known as TRISO. X-energy says TRISO fuel resists extreme temperatures, while the Xe-100 design aims to limit reliance on active safety systems during certain accident scenarios. However, the proposed Indiana installation remains a development project, and the United States has yet to operate a commercial small modular reactor supplying electricity. Amazon's partnership with X-energy dates back to 2024, when the technology company led a $700 million financing round supporting reactor development and fuel production preparations. That funding included work on reactor licensing and the initial stage of a TRISO-X fuel manufacturing facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The Indiana proposal forms part of a separate ambition to introduce more than 5 gigawatts of nuclear generating capacity across the United States by 2039. Amazon would purchase electricity from the proposed installation, providing developers with an expected customer while the project advances through planning and regulatory requirements. "New technologies like this often need initial customers to help de-risk projects and provide funding so they can be built and scaled to commercial availability," said an Amazon spokesperson. Regulatory approvals could determine the timeline Regulatory approvals remain a key obstacle, and coordinating construction across the proposed facility could complicate delivery. Nuclear developers in America generally pursue either approval for a standard reactor design or authorization covering a specific installation and its location. X-energy has reported progress toward a construction permit for a separate Texas development, but that authorization would not automatically approve its Indiana proposal. The Texas project involves four reactors intended to support a Dow chemical manufacturing facility, substantially fewer units than the planned Indiana installation. According to the South Bend Tribune, an X-energy representative indicated that the Indiana facility could become operational during the middle of the 2030s. The representative warned that the schedule could change as the project progresses, so the mid-2030s estimate remains provisional.
Exclusive | Polymarket fires top executive who was closely allied with CEO Shayne Coplan: sources
Polymarket has fired a top executive who was closely allied with CEO Shayne Coplan - the latest upheaval at the prediction market giant as it grapples with growing pains, The Post has learned. Matthew Modabber - who has served as Polymarket's chief marketing officer since January 2024 - has been ousted following an internal probe that began earlier this year over a string of headline-grabbing incidents that have sparked concern among the company's investors, sources said. Those included a reported scheme in which Modabber's team allegedly built a fake webpage to promote staged videos of users making money off phony trades - a sham that was uncovered in a June expose by the Wall Street Journal and which triggered an investigation by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. The investigation is ongoing and no wrong-doing has been established. Polymarket told the Journal at the time it was "committed to maintaining accurate, fair, and transparent markets," adding that it plans to conduct a comprehensive audit of active promotional content. One of the insiders said Polymarket is finalizing Modabber's separation agreement and that both parties have maintained mutual respect for one another. A Polymarket spokeswoman declined to comment and Modabber didn't respond to The Post's request for comment. Modabber's ouster was complicated by the fact that he has been a close confidante of 28-year-old Coplan, who became the nation's youngest billionaire after Polymarket exploded in popularity following the 2024 presidential election, sources told The Post. In conversations with The Post, insiders have described Modabber as an executive who makes impulsive decisions that have turned into public relations nightmares. But disciplining Modabber had proved tricky because of his buddy-buddy relationship with Coplan. The duo were pals at the Beacon School - a prestigious public high school in Manhattan's Hell's Kitchen - and multiple sources say they've been "thick as thieves" during the meteoric rise of Polymarket, which offers wagers on everything from sports, the weather, the Oscars and celebrity breakups. One source told The Post that Coplan was "irate" and even threatened to terminate members of the legal team that pushed for the firing - though he later conceded that parting ways with Modabber is best for the company. Coplan didn't respond to a request for comment. According to sources, Polymarket's board - consisting of Coplan, crypto investor Nick Tomaino, the powerful corporate lawyer Alex Spiro and an unidentified partner at Peter Thiel's investment firm Founders Fund - ultimately concluded in recent weeks that Modabber was getting in the way of the company's bid to shed is scrappy startup image as it eyes a possible IPO. According to his LinkedIn page, Modabber was "employee #11" at Polymarket, building the company's daily volume from $300,000 to "mid 9-figure daily volume via digital growth hacks". He also claims to have "Built and led a 50+ person team across marketing, partnerships, and growth." But over the past year, an internal rift widened at the company between loyalists to Coplan and Modabber and other employees and investors who viewed Modabber as a loose cannon and a "huge liability" who was "wreaking havoc" on the company's attempts to "grow up," sources previously told The Post. In particular, Polymarket insiders said Modabber hasn't helped as Coplan previously raised concerns with his own behavior, including screaming at the office and spreading unsubstantiated sex rumors about the co-founders of archrival Kalshi. "You can only have so many crazy people at the top of a company," one of the sources said. A Polymarket spokesman previously denied that Coplan has spread sexual rumors about Kalshi's co-founders. The spokesperson added that Kalshi has stoked tensions between the two companies for years which has ultimately led to such allegations. Polymarket's legal team - led by Neal Kumar who joined Polymarket last year after more than eight years with elite white-shoe law firm Willkie Farr & Gallagher - had long been concerned about Modabber's actions. Company lawyers specifically told Modabber to quit the marketing scheme which advertised fake trades well before it was made public in June, according to a source. At one point, sources said that some Polymarket employees had even grown suspicious of Modabber's cozy relationship with internet influencers including Clavicular, known for his bizarre "looksmaxxing" advice that has included suggesting followers hit themselves in the face with a hammer to get a more chiseled jawline. Polymarket has offered betting markets involving Clavicular - including which countries he would visit next. Earlier this year, the pair were caught on video partying at a nightclub and Modabber appeared to stop mid-sentence when he realized their conversation was being recorded. It couldn't be learned whether the episode contributed to Modabber's firing. Insiders said Polymarket's review also examined Modabber's reported use of a personal PayPal account - registered to an email for a Salad House, an Italy-based salad chain he co-founded - to pay influencers to promote Polymarket, often without disclosure of the paid partnership, as detailed in a June Politico article. At the time, a Polymarket spokesperson declined to answer questions from Politico about the company's strategy for partnering with influencers, its policies for disclosing those deals on social media, or why Modabber used a personal account for the transactions. Investors have recently taken a more active role in attempting to steer Polymarket onto a more stable path. A Bloomberg report this week detailed how Peter Thiel's venture firm Founders Fund last year insisted that Polymarket shore up financial controls before it wrote the company a check. When Modabber joined Polymarket in 2024 he called Coplan his "dear friend" in a Linkedin post. "All gas, no breaks," Modabber wrote in the post about Polymarket's upward trajectory. In August, Polymarket restructured its marketing team, bringing on the founder of the e-scooter startup Bird to head the division - effectively a demotion for Modabber, one of the insiders said. The Post has sought comment from Polymarket.
Anthropic says Claude proved security properties in 123 open-source libraries
Anthropic says Claude produced formal proofs for 123 open-source libraries and uncovered bugs that had evaded detection for years. Anthropic said its Claude models were able to produce formal proofs for security properties in compiled code across 123 open-source libraries, a result the company described as a step toward making formal software verification practical at much larger scale. In the research post published on Oct. 22, 2026, Anthropic said the work also surfaced bugs that had gone unnoticed for years. Evidence and context According to Anthropic, Claude proved that 239 entry points across those 123 libraries would not crash on any input below 64 MB under the project's modeled conditions. The company said the proofs were applied at the assembly-code level on RISC-V binaries and used Theorem's formal semantics for RISC-V and Linux process behavior. Anthropic said the effort covered real-world open-source software, including libraries from Google's OSS-Fuzz initiative, and that it represents, to its knowledge, the first large-scale use of AI to apply formal verification to production software at the assembly-code level. The company said the proofs were generated over several weeks and that Claude also patched bugs it encountered during the process. Among the examples listed were an out-of-bounds write triggered by a rare 20 MB input layout, an out-of-bounds read in an image decoder requiring a 64 MB input and more than 2 GB of memory, a crash tied to a particular call sequence across two file handles, and a rediscovery of CVE-2026-56132 in libexpat. Anthropic also said the effort uncovered logic bugs that did not crash the software, including one case in which a file-access restriction feature was not always enforced. The company said the proofs are conditional and do not imply the software is bug-free. Its own limitations section says the guarantees depend on modeled assumptions, including single-threaded static binaries with a fixed memory budget running on RISC-V Linux, and that the work does not cover all entry points or all ways software may be used in production. Anthropic said the remaining uncertainty is concentrated in the trusted components: the RISC-V and Linux semantics, the theorem statements, and the Rocq proof checker. Why it matters Anthropic framed the work as evidence that LLMs can reduce the cost of formal verification, which has historically required highly specialized effort and has usually been confined to mission-critical systems. The post says larger models needed fewer tokens for some verification tasks, while shared proof components reduced duplication across related projects. The company also said it plans to publish a subset of the proofs and that Theorem will offer the same pipeline for other open-source projects. The research is consistent with wider industry work showing that formal verification can complement testing rather than replace it. But as Anthropic itself notes, the value of a proof still depends on whether the specification and machine model match reality, and many deployment assumptions remain outside the scope of the verified claims.
Anthropic Transfers Agent Skills Standard to AI Foundation
Anthropic is transferring the Agent Skills name, logo, GitHub organisation and domain to the Agentic AI Foundation. Anthropic announced on October 22, 2026 that it is donating the Agent Skills standard to the Agentic AI Foundation, which operates under the Linux Foundation. Skills package instructions and supporting material that software agents can load for particular tasks. Anthropic developed the format while working on Claude Code and published it as an open standard in December 2025. Okay News reports that the transfer covers the Agent Skills name and logo, its GitHub organisation and the agentskills.io domain. Anthropic said developers can continue using the standard and contributing to it without joining the foundation. Engineers from several companies will maintain it as individuals, with David Soria Parra and Mahesh Murag serving as lead maintainers. The proposed roadmap includes versioned releases, a formal process for changes and security guidance for people who write or install skills.
Kraken Launches ChatGPT App With Read-Only Account Access
Kraken went live in ChatGPT on Thursday, letting users ask about account gains and losses through a read-only link that cannot place trades or move money. * Kraken launched an app inside ChatGPT on Thursday that lets users ask questions about their Kraken account, such as what they made in a day or where they lost money in a month. * The account connection is read-only, so ChatGPT cannot place trades or move money, and prices, charts and news are available without logging in, the exchange said. * Kraken's tokenized stock platform, xStocks, said on the same day that more than 1,000 xStocks are now live on Kraken. Crypto exchange Kraken has launched an app inside OpenAI's ChatGPT that lets users ask about their account performance, through a read-only connection that cannot place trades or move funds. The app lets Kraken customers check their gains and losses by asking ChatGPT in plain language. Kraken Keeps ChatGPT Access Read-Only Prices, charts and news are available in the ChatGPT app without logging in, Kraken said. In a reply to its post, Kraken added a standard disclaimer that "geographic restrictions apply," without saying which regions are affected. It defaults to market data, read-only account access and paper trading, and requires explicit acknowledgment before an agent can use services it labels "Dangerous," such as live spot trading, unless a user starts it with an override flag, the documentation said.
Anthropic CEO Defends Safety via Tech Leadership
Amodei argues leading AI development elevates industry standards despite criticism over accelerated projects Dario Amodei, Anthropic's CEO who has advocated for slowing the pace of artificial intelligence (AI) development, has rebutted criticism that the company's massive investments and accelerated development contradict its safety principles. He argued that companies developing technology safely must lead in cutting-edge competition to raise industry-wide safety standards. By emphasizing safety as the reason to both slow AI development and maintain a competitive edge, Amodei framed safety as the core justification for Anthropic's strategy. Amodei posted on social media X on October 20, local time, stating, "Our strategy has always been a 'race to the top,'" adding, "By demonstrating responsible technology development, we can elevate industry standards." He emphasized, "The impact is far greater when the company executing this is at the forefront of technology." The logic is that if safety-focused firms lead technologically, others will follow. The post was a response to criticism from Nathan Calvin, Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) of AI safety nonprofit EncodeAI. In September, Amodei had proposed slowing the improvement of AI model capabilities. However, Calvin highlighted nine instances where Anthropic allegedly accelerated AI development despite its safety stance, including a contract securing over 500 billion dollars in computing resources and increased use of its AI, Claude, in next-generation model development. Calvin argued that Anthropic prioritizes accelerating AI development while publicly emphasizing safety. Amodei also claimed Anthropic sacrificed business interests for safety. He noted that while the company secured a Mythos-class model in February, it delayed its public release until June to strengthen cybersecurity measures. "Economically, releasing the model immediately would have been far more rational," he said, adding, "We likely sacrificed a significant portion of our model's lead over several months." He acknowledged that strict restrictions to prevent biological weapon misuse have caused the company to miss out on legitimate biological research demand but stated, "It's the right thing to do, and we will continue." Amodei did not retract the need for slowing development entirely. Regarding the challenge of safety measures lagging behind AI acceleration, he said, "We are nearing that point, which is driving discussions about 'speed moderation.'" However, he did not specify when or by how much Anthropic would slow its development. The debate emerged as Anthropic prepares for a large-scale initial public offering (IPO). The company is expected to list next month with a valuation of 2 trillion dollars. It recently announced third-quarter revenue of 16.8 billion dollars.
Anthropic opens ₹3.26 crore job for human writers; experts say it's a 'premium on judgment' | Company Business News
In one of the great paradoxes of the generative AI boom, Anthropic, the creator of the Claude AI chatbot, which can easily generate a speech or an essay in seconds, is looking for human writers, according to Business Insider. The AI giant recently listed an opening for an "Executive Communications Writer" for a whopping $2,95,000 to $3,45,000 (roughly ₹2.78 crore to ₹3.26 crore) a year. However, they aren't looking for just anyone with a way with words -- Anthropic wants a candidate with at least eight years of experience who can quickly digest technical concepts, sharpen executive thinking, and maintain composure during breaking news. While the job posting drew scepticism on LinkedIn -- with an Oregon-based author joking it was the job to take if the "writer wanted to build their own gallows" to train AI -- communication professionals told BI that the opening highlights the enduring value of human creatives. Speaking to Business Insider, three professional writers and communications experts noted that for young writers, the real work starts long before the typing begins, and simply being good with words is only a fraction of the job. "When speed becomes cheap, judgment carries a premium," Ann Handley, chief content officer at MarketingProfs and author of Everybody Writes, told the publication. "I think we're seeing that value extended to the role of the writer." What AI cannot achieve The search for a human writer comes as Anthropic's internal data reveals how AI is already reshaping its workforce. According to a company report, junior workers accounted for just 9% of technical department hires in June, down from 27% in early 2025. In May, Anthropic CFO Krishna Rao revealed that AI already writes 90% of the company's code. This shift pivoted hiring needs across all office roles away from actual execution and toward oversight, judgment, and strategy. Rao noted that the company might still expand hiring because "there's no shortage of work to do." Corporate communicators must evolve into strategists for company leaders rather than just acting as language polishers, according to Handley. "Good writers have always been strategic, in the sense that they have always made choices about what goes on the page, and what does not," Handley told BI. "The successful candidate isn't merely shaping language, but shaping thought leadership and how the team is presenting to the world," she added. "That means knowing which ideas are worth owning, which are worth exploring, and which are just plain dumb." Joseph Braue, executive editor of Content Marketing Partners, told Business Insider that a major part of corporate writing is challenging unsupported claims, preventing overpromising, and resisting the pressure to publish weak material. "The decisions I've regretted the most were times I didn't push back enough on corporate or customer executives," Braue said, noting that while writers often collaborate with AI, humans must control the narrative and ensure absolute accuracy. Measuring impact beyond word counts The compensation for Anthropic's new role is exceptionally high compared to industry standards. By comparison, Amazon Web Services recently listed an Executive Communications Manager opening in Seattle offering an annual pay range of $126,700 to $171,400. To justify such an expense, professionals argue that writers must prove their business impact. Josh Bernoff, a business strategy author and former executive with two decades of experience, told the publication that a large volume of content does not prove a writer's worth. Instead, writers need tangible evidence of their work's impact. "If your job is to create market research reports, then you're only effective if people read those reports and say, 'here are the changes we're going to make on this product,'" Bernoff explained. "Your job is to move people and think about how to do it before you start writing." Braue advised that writers looking to advance must understand business terminology and track whether sales leaders and internal partners are actually utilising their content. "Learn basic marketing analytics. Understand attribution, conversion, and how a pipeline works," Braue said. "Writers who speak revenue get promoted." Bernoff suggested that early-career workers should take writing classes and use AI for research and efficiency, all while composing the final words themselves. In his annual survey on AI usage among writers, Bernoff found that while many use AI as a search engine or thesaurus, fewer than 10% use it to generate publishable content as is. "If you're in a position to move your fellow students or people reading a school newspaper or your professors, then you're going to be taking the first step that's necessary to be able to move people in a corporate environment," Bernoff advised. Handley recommended that young professionals start a newsletter and publish bi-weekly, regardless of audience size. "Maybe you'll learn to interview people or ask better questions or notice things others don't," Handley said. "In doing so, you'll build a body of work that shows a potential employer that, sure, you can write, but most importantly, you can think, and you can engage on the page."
Dow Jones Top Markets Headlines at 9 PM ET: SpaceX, Anthropic and Nvidia Help Snap Tech Stocks Out of Their Recent Malaise | Canada ...
SpaceX, Anthropic and Nvidia Help Snap Tech Stocks Out of Their Recent Malaise Bullish signals from three different links of the AI chain helped the Nasdaq Composite undo most of Friday's selloff. Canada to Provide Steel, Auto Sectors With Billions to Ease Trade Crunch It is Canada's latest dollop of federal aid for companies that have faced financial strain since President Trump imposed hefty tariffs on foreign-made metals and automotives. Diplomats Race to Head Off Escalation With Iran Efforts to revive talks come as the U.S. sends more warships to the region and Israel plans for possible attacks. The Real Energy Bottleneck Isn't Crude-It's Fuel, Says Kuwait CEO The biggest bottleneck to the global trade of energy is no longer crude oil, according to the head of Kuwait's state oil company. The Trump Administration Wants More Tax Charges. It's Going to Be Tough. The Justice Department has told its overworked fraud prosecutors to look for tax charges wherever they can, but law enforcement is already straining. U.S. Crude Oil Stockpiles Fall More Than Expected Commercial crude oil stocks decreased by 3.1 million barrels last week. Analysts had expected crude stocks to be down by 300,000 barrels. NYSE Just Extended Options Trading Hours. It's Only the Beginning. The New York Stock Exchange said plans to open up options trading for roughly two hours before the market's typical 9:30 a.m. ET opening bell and then again for 15 minutes after the 4 p.m. ET closing bell. Healthcare Stocks Are Rallying, and Flashing a Warning for the Rest of the Market The sector is trading at a premium as investors seek safety from AI jitters. Soaring Energy Prices Spur U.K. to Approve Controversial Gas Field The decision brings an end to an approvals process that had stalled on climate concerns, and primes operations to kick off within weeks. Oil Futures End Mixed as Traders Weigh Supply Recovery Against Shipping Risks Oil prices settled mixed as optimism about a recovery in Middle East oil exports was offset by continued threats against shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and attacks targeting Saudi Arabia. U.K. Inflation Jumps Again, Strengthening Case for Rate Hike Inflation rose further above the Bank of England's target as policymakers prepare for a meeting that is expected to yield a first rate increase since the start of the Iran war. U.K. Government on Track to Cut Borrowing Ahead of Budget The government cut borrowing in the first six months of its fiscal year-but at a slower pace than planned-underlining the challenges posed by rising prices and interest payments.
HCLTech and Anthropic sign global partnership to scale governed Agentic AI - Enterprise IT News
HCLTech to establish a dedicated Anthropic Business Unit and Center of Excellence (CoE) to accelerate deployments of Claude in enterprise environments HCLSoftware becomes an Anthropic ISV partner, embedding Claude and Claude Code into select enterprise products with frontier safety guardrails SANTA CLARA, Calif. and NOIDA, India, Oct. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- HCLTech (NSE: HCLTECH) (BSE: HCLTECH), a leading global technology company, today announced a Global Premier Partnership with Anthropic, to accelerate enterprise adoption of Agentic AI with a focus on safety, cybersecurity and governance. HCLTech's services teams will build industry solutions and offerings powered by Claude, Cowork and Claude Code, while HCLSoftware, as an Anthropic ISV partner, will embed these into its select enterprise products. HCLTech will establish a dedicated Anthropic Business Unit with a Center of Excellence (CoE) to build Agentic AI solutions and provide secure sandbox environments for enterprise deployments of Claude through FDEs. It will also help clients adopt AI-native engineering practices, train their workforces and build the organizational capabilities needed to operate Agentic AI safely at scale. As an ISV, HCLSoftware will embed Claude capabilities and have access to advanced models to integrate into select enterprise products across cybersecurity, automation and business process application and application development, including HCL BigFix and HCL AppScan, while enabling Actian AI analyst. Additionally, HCLTech will integrate Claude and Claude Code in its agentic software engineering platform AI Force across IT support, code remediation and digital employee services. These workflows are supported by policy guardrails, exception handling and human oversight for high-impact changes. "AI can only be as useful as it is trustworthy, and we build Claude to give companies the confidence to bring it into their most sensitive and valuable work. HCLTech manages those kinds of systems for banks, hospitals, telecom companies and manufacturers, and we're excited to partner with them as they integrate Claude and Claude Code. This partnership -- and our broader commitment to advancing capability and safety together -- is how AI will change the way entire industries run for the better," said Daniela Amodei, Co-founder and President of Anthropic. "Few technology companies combine the scale of a global systems integrator with the product depth of an ISV. That gives us a rare advantage to securely engineer and deploy Agentic AI at scale and deliver the business outcomes that matter most to our clients. Our partnership with Anthropic further strengthens our capabilities to achieve the same," said C Vijayakumar, CEO & Managing Director, HCLTech. The collaboration builds on HCLTech's broader AI capabilities across engineering, data, cloud and software. By combining these capabilities with Anthropic's commitment to advancing AI and safety together, HCLTech will help clients move from AI experimentation to enterprise deployment safely and at scale. About HCLTech HCLTech is a global technology company, home to more than 223,000 people across 60 countries, delivering industry-leading capabilities centered around AI, digital, engineering, cloud and software, powered by a broad portfolio of technology services and products. We work with clients across all major verticals, providing industry solutions for Financial Services, Manufacturing, Life Sciences and Healthcare, Technology & Services, Semiconductor, Telecom and Media, Retail and CPG, Mobility and Public Services. Consolidated revenues as of 12 months ending June 2026 totaled $14.8 billion. To learn how we can supercharge progress for you, visit hcltech.com.
