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The stock market slipped Friday as Treasury yields reversed Thursday’s retreat, with the 10-year note climbing back to the key 5.0% mark. The stock market rebounded Thursday after Wednesday’s selloff, which followed the Federal Reserve’s first rate hike since 2023.

The coming week is relatively less busy on the economic data front, with nothing important scheduled for Monday and Tuesday. S&P Global PMI data for September is scheduled for Wednesday, while jobless claims data is set to be released on Thursday. On Friday, monthly durable goods orders for August are set to release.

Costco (COST) and BlackBerry (BB) are among notable firms reporting results in the coming week.

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Earnings spotlight: Monday: ABIVAX (ABVX). See the full earnings calendar.

Earnings spotlight: Thursday: Costco (COST) and BlackBerry (BB). See the full earnings calendar.

Volatility watch: PepsiCo (PEP) and Kodiak Sciences (KOD) have seen options volatility increase over the last week. The most overbought stocks per their 14-day Relative Strength Index include Drugs Made In America Acquisition (DMAA), Tsakos Energy (TEN), and Riley Exploration (REPX). The most oversold stocks per their 14-day Relative Strength Index include Cooper Cos (COO) and Performance Food (PFGC). Short interest is elevated on Shoe Station Group (SHOE) and Jack in the Box (JACK).

Dividend watch: Companies that have an ex-dividend date coming next week include Broadcom (AVGO), Meta Platforms (META), Seagate (STX), and Medtronic (MDT).

IPO watch: Companies due to price their IPOs and start to trade include Bamboo Insurance Services (BMB) and Amaero (AMRO).

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LONDON — More than three weeks after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle relocated back to Britain, no confirmed evidence has emerged that Meghan’s relationship with Catherine, Princess of Wales, has meaningfully improved, despite a wave of tabloid reporting speculating about the possibility of a thaw between the two women.

Harry and Meghan, along with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, moved from California back to the United Kingdom in late August, settling into a private, non-royal residence outside London ahead of the start of the new school term. The move placed the Sussexes geographically closer to Prince William and Kate for the first time since Harry and Meghan stepped back from royal duties and relocated to the United States in January 2020, a shift that has inevitably renewed public speculation about the state of relations between the two couples.

That speculation, however, has been driven almost entirely by unnamed sources cited in celebrity and royal-focused outlets rather than by any on-the-record statement from Meghan, Kate, or representatives acting on their behalf. Multiple outlets have reported, citing unidentified insiders, that Meghan is taking what one source described as a cautious approach toward Kate, wanting to avoid repeating past tensions while remaining open to eventually improving the relationship. According to one such account, published by The National Examiner and cited by other outlets, an unnamed insider said Meghan still feels Kate could have handled certain past situations differently, a reference to disagreements detailed years earlier in Harry’s memoir, “Spare.” In that book, Harry wrote at length about tensions between Meghan and Kate, including described disagreements over lip gloss, wedding preparations, and a conversation involving the phrase “baby brain.”

Other anonymously sourced reports have offered a more skeptical read on the prospects for reconciliation. One outlet, citing an unnamed source, reported that Meghan is “still” seeking greater trust with Kate as the Sussexes settle back into life in Britain, while cautioning that the family’s renewed geographic proximity “does not necessarily signal an immediate reconciliation.” Additional anonymously sourced claims circulating in recent weeks have included assertions that Kate has “secretly confided” in a new royal ally about the situation, that she intends to “rise above” perceived criticism from Meghan, and that she has “ruled out” any reunion during earlier points in the ongoing saga. None of these individual claims have been independently verified or confirmed by either family.

Royal commentators quoted by name, as opposed to anonymous sources, have generally offered more measured assessments focused on the broader dynamic between the two households rather than specific claims about Kate and Meghan’s personal relationship. Commentary published by People and cited by other outlets noted that William and Kate have remained focused on their own family milestones and royal duties during this period, including Prince George’s start at Eton College, which coincided closely with the Sussexes’ return and Buckingham Palace’s subsequent letter reiterating that Harry and Meghan remain non-working royals. Royal commentators have suggested that William and Kate are determined not to let renewed speculation about the Sussexes overshadow their own priorities, even as the family’s physical proximity has added a layer of complexity that did not exist while Harry and Meghan were based in California.

Separately, some reports have framed any potential relationship repair between Meghan and Kate as connected to broader questions about Harry’s own relationship with his father and brother. One account described Harry as having quietly worked to rebuild ties with Kate specifically, even as tension reportedly persists elsewhere within the family, though this claim, like most others circulating in recent weeks, was attributed to an unnamed source rather than confirmed directly by any of the parties involved.

What is confirmed, rather than speculated, is more limited in scope. Buckingham Palace issued a letter on September 7 formally reiterating that Harry and Meghan remain private citizens rather than working royals, a message that a spokesperson for the couple said left them “a little surprised” given the lack of advance notice. Harry made his first public appearance since the family’s return at the Invictus Spirit Awards on September 17, attending without Meghan, who was reported to be at home with the couple’s children. In brief remarks to Hello! magazine at that event, Harry described the preceding two weeks as “eventful” without offering any specific comment on his relationship with William, Kate, or the broader family dynamic.

No public appearance, joint statement, or confirmed private meeting between Meghan and Kate has been reported since the Sussexes’ return to Britain. Absent such direct confirmation, the substantial volume of coverage speculating about improvement, or continued strain, in their relationship remains sourced to anonymous insiders whose claims cannot be independently verified, a pattern that has characterized much of the reporting on the Sussex-Wales dynamic for several years.

For now, the honest answer to whether Meghan and Kate’s relationship has improved since Harry’s return to the U.K. is that there is no confirmed public evidence either way. What coverage exists rests almost entirely on unnamed sources offering competing, sometimes contradictory characterizations, leaving the actual state of the relationship between the two women a matter of speculation rather than established fact as the Sussexes continue settling into their extended stay in Britain.

LeBron James’s decision to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers on the smallest contract of his 22-year NBA career has drawn attention not just for the move itself, but for a separate, considerably larger endorsement deal that some league observers say could reshape how future free agents and teams approach contract negotiations.

James is signing a two-year, $8 million contract with the 76ers that includes a player option, according to reporting from ESPN. “James, 41, is signing a two-year, $8 million contract with a player option, Klutch Sports Group CEO Rich Paul told ESPN’s Shams Charania,” ESPN’s Dave McMenamin wrote in confirming the deal. The contract marks the smallest of James’s career, a notable development for a four-time NBA champion entering his 23rd professional season at age 41.

That modest on-court salary, however, stands in sharp contrast to a separate deal James struck with prediction-market platform Polymarket. According to Front Office Sports, James will earn more annually from that partnership than from his actual playing contract with the 76ers. “LeBron James will make more money from his Polymarket partnership than from playing for the 76ers, Front Office Sports has learned,” reporters Ryan Glasspiegel and Ben Horney wrote. “The prediction-market platform is paying James $15 million a year under the recently announced partnership, sources tell FOS. James is not an investor in Polymarket, just an endorser, one source says.”

The scale and timing of the Polymarket deal, arriving alongside James’s decision to accept a below-market playing contract, has prompted speculation among league insiders about whether the arrangement could serve as a model for other veteran players, particularly those in the later stages of their careers who may be willing to accept smaller playing contracts in exchange for lucrative off-court endorsement income. NBA insider Brett Siegel raised that possibility directly, suggesting the structure could effectively function as a workaround to the league’s salary cap system without technically violating its rules. “As far as my knowledge goes, this doesn’t interfere with any CBA rules, but moving forward, these side deals players have with companies could directly lead to smaller contracts to help with cap relief, which in theory, is kind of like cap circumvention,” Siegel wrote, referring to the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement.

The concern centers on the incentive structure such arrangements could create across the league. If teams and players increasingly negotiate smaller on-paper salaries in exchange for players securing substantial outside endorsement income, tied to a partnership facilitated or encouraged by the team or its sponsors, that dynamic could functionally allow teams more roster flexibility under the salary cap than the league’s rules were originally designed to permit, even without any explicit rule violation. Because Polymarket’s payment structure to James exists entirely outside his formal NBA contract, and because he holds no ownership stake in the company itself, the arrangement does not currently trigger the kind of direct scrutiny that would apply to a more traditional violation of cap rules.

For James specifically, the financial logic behind accepting a smaller playing contract becomes considerably easier to understand once the Polymarket income is factored in. Rather than relying primarily on his on-court salary during what he has described as his final competitive run for another championship, James’s overall compensation package now includes a mix of playing salary and outside endorsement income that, combined, likely exceeds what he could have commanded through a larger playing contract alone, particularly given his age and the corresponding market constraints he faced in free agency.

It remains unclear exactly when discussions around the Polymarket partnership began relative to James’s free agency decision, meaning it is not confirmed whether the endorsement deal directly influenced his choice to sign with Philadelphia on a reduced contract, or whether the two developments arrived independently around the same time. Regardless of that sequencing, league observers have suggested the arrangement could serve as a template other aging stars, or players willing to relocate to markets with limited salary cap space, might look to replicate going forward.

That dynamic could prove particularly relevant for veteran players approaching the later stages of their careers who may prioritize joining a preferred team or market over maximizing their formal playing salary, especially if they can secure substantial outside income through endorsement deals structured similarly to James’s Polymarket partnership. Teams operating with tight salary cap space could similarly benefit from such arrangements, gaining access to accomplished veteran talent without the same budgetary constraints that would otherwise apply under a more traditional, salary-cap-maximizing contract structure.

James’s move to Philadelphia comes after what has been described as a lengthy and deliberate free agency process, and his decision to join the 76ers positions him for what many around the league view as a final opportunity to pursue an additional championship before his playing career concludes. Training camp for the upcoming NBA season is approaching, with James expected to be a central figure in Philadelphia’s roster plans as the team prepares for the new campaign.

Whether the structure of James’s Polymarket partnership ultimately prompts broader changes to how future free agent contracts are negotiated across the league remains to be seen, but the arrangement has already introduced a new point of discussion among league insiders about the evolving relationship between traditional playing contracts and the growing universe of outside endorsement opportunities available to the NBA’s most recognizable stars.

Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season arrives with a slate heavy on division rivalries and early-season storylines, as teams look to build on strong openers or correct course after rocky Week 1 performances across the league.

Several division matchups headline the week, including the Minnesota Vikings visiting the Chicago Bears, the Carolina Panthers facing the Atlanta Falcons, the Las Vegas Raiders traveling to face the Los Angeles Chargers, and the Seattle Seahawks squaring off against the Arizona Cardinals. Another marquee matchup pits Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence against Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix in a closely watched early-season quarterback duel.

The Broncos enter the matchup looking to bounce back after a lopsided loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 1, playing the rematch on a short week. Whether offensive coordinator Davis Webb can get Nix settled into a rhythm against Jacksonville’s defense figures to be one of the week’s central questions. On the Jaguars’ side, wide receiver Parker Washington opened the season with a 28.6% target share and 19.3 fantasy points in Week 1, positioning him as a player fantasy managers are watching closely heading into Week 2.

In New England, the Patriots host the Pittsburgh Steelers as clear favorites according to ESPN’s prediction models and staff picks. ESPN’s Football Power Index gives New England a 66.1% chance of winning, projecting an average margin of victory of 4.3 points. ESPN staff picks for the matchup were similarly lopsided in New England’s favor: analyst Maldonado projected a 19-17 Patriots win, while both Moody and Walder projected a 27-17 or 27-20 Patriots victory. New England will need to navigate the game without wide receiver Brown for the next four weeks, according to injury reports, adding a layer of uncertainty to how the offense adjusts in his absence.

Green Bay enters Week 2 facing scrutiny over its offensive line after a difficult Week 1 outing against the Vikings. Official statistics showed quarterback Jordan Love was hit 15 times during the game, though Packers offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich said the real number was closer to 18. Either figure represents a level of pressure the team will be looking to address heading into its next matchup.

Elsewhere across the league, the Indianapolis Colts host the Kansas City Chiefs in Sunday Night Football, a matchup that outside analysts have described as a potential letdown spot for the Chiefs given the disparity in how each team opened the season. The Colts were among the biggest disappointments of Week 1 following a rough home-opener performance, while Kansas City was one of the league’s most impressive teams in its own opener, leading some analysts to characterize Indianapolis as facing a must-win atmosphere already, given the pressure surrounding the team’s coaching staff entering the season.

The New York Giants host the Los Angeles Rams in a matchup between two teams coming off emotionally charged divisional wins in prime time the previous week. Analysts have suggested that dynamic could favor the home team, even though the Rams do not face a significant home-field disadvantage on the road, with some also flagging the possibility of overconfidence for New York after its win over the rival Dallas Cowboys in Week 1.

Thursday night’s game between the Detroit Lions and Buffalo Bills opened Week 2 with a closely contested prediction split among analysts, with expert panels showing a near-even divide on the outcome heading into kickoff.

In Seattle, quarterback Drew Lock is expected to make his second consecutive start in relief of Sam Darnold, who continues to be sidelined by a glute injury. Lock threw for nearly 200 yards and a touchdown in relief during Week 1, describing what analysts called an “adequate” performance, and offensive coordinator Brian Fleury leaned heavily into play-action concepts during that game, calling play-action on 10 of the team’s 27 pass attempts, a 37% rate that ranked fourth-highest in the league during Week 1. The Seahawks enter their matchup against Arizona as 3.5-point favorites in a game with a total of 41 points, with one predictive betting model giving Seattle better than a 60% probability of covering that spread.

Tampa Bay enters its home matchup against Cleveland as an 8.5-point favorite with a game total of 41.5 points, with the same predictive model projecting the Buccaneers to cover the spread in well over half of its simulations and the game to go over the total more than 60% of the time.

In New York, the Jets will be without star safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, ruled out with a groin injury, as the team continues navigating what has been described as the longest interception drought in NFL history heading into its matchup against the Green Bay Packers.

Baltimore enters Week 2 with renewed optimism around its offense, built around a steady performance from quarterback Kirk Cousins and rising contributions from running back Ashton Jeanty. The potential return of tight end Brock Bowers from a knee injury has been cited by analysts as a factor that could further tip the offensive balance in the Ravens’ favor as the week’s matchups unfold.

With injury questions still swirling around several teams at the quarterback position, including Seattle, Minnesota and Atlanta, all of which turned to backup quarterbacks during Week 1, and continued uncertainty surrounding both Los Angeles franchises after difficult opening performances, Week 2 offers an early opportunity for teams across the league to establish clearer identities heading into the season’s next stretch.