Japanese regulators urge companies to use cash for growth rather than shareholder returns

01:37 PM EDT, 10/09/2026 (MT Newswires) -- (Updates with latest market prices and developments.) US benchmark equity indexes were higher intraday as investors evaluated a survey on consumer sentiment. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.8% at 51,628.8 after midday Friday, while the Nasdaq Composite and the S&P 500 rose 0.6% each to 27,352.4 and 7,809.5, respectively. Barring communication services, all sectors were in the green, led by real estate. US consumer sentiment fell in October as the one- and five-year inflation expectations reached their highest levels since May, preliminary results of a University of Michigan survey showed Friday. "While year-ahead expectations for personal finances and business conditions crept up slightly, buying conditions for durables plummeted amid high prices and borrowing costs," Surveys of Consumers Director Joanne Hsu said. "Frustration over cost-of-living continues to mount, as consumers across the political spectrum believe that the trajectory of the economy has weakened since the beginning of the year." Markets are currently pricing in a nearly 81% probability that the Federal Reserve will keep its benchmark rate steady later this month, with the remaining odds in favor of a second consecutive 25-basis-point hike, as the central bank looks to tame inflation, according to the CME FedWatch tool. West Texas Intermediate crude was down 0.4% at $91.17 a barrel intraday, while Brent lost 0.5% to $103.81. The 10-year US Treasury yield was up 1.5 basis points at 5.25%, while the two-year rate increased 3.9 basis points to 4.8%. In company news, SpaceX (SPCX) shares were up 0.5%. The rocket and satellite company said late Thursday it agreed to acquire a nationwide low-band spectrum portfolio from investment firm Grain Management as it seeks to establish Starlink Mobile as a major US mobile carrier. T-Mobile US (TMUS) shares sank 13% intraday Friday, the worst performer on the S&P 500, followed by AT&T (T) and Verizon Communications (VZ), which fell 10% and 9.8%, respectively.

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As of press time, the stock has dropped more than 10%, trading at $10.77.