China pops, credit wheezes, zombies nap, waists shrink, kids unplug. Capex keeps eating.

Why it matters Zombies hold on to credit and staff that healthier firms could use; the BIS estimates the drag at about 0.2 percentage points a year on growth and inflation. For investors, an interest-cover ratio below 1 is an early warning worth checking.

Other side The study covers only listed firms and drops the tag after two good years, so it may flatter recovery; the BIS's stricter test finds more. Some firms, like Bharti Airtel, were sound businesses that recovered, so the label alone is no verdict.

Why it matters Markets are already doing some of the Fed's work: falling stocks and wider credit spreadsCredit spread The extra interest a risky borrower pays over a safe government bond; wider spreads signal more worry. tighten conditions without a vote. That turns AI earnings into a quiet input to US interest rates, and so to borrowing costs well beyond America.

Watch next Warsh's press conference on Wednesday and the 8–9 December decision. Dearer energy could keep inflation high even as growth slows, which would push the Fed to hike despite a sell-off.

Why it matters The drugs undercut the volume model behind packaged food and fast food: sell more for less. Consumer investors may need to sort brands by whether they can win on quality and price rather than quantity.

Other side Drinking and nights out have barely dipped, so the hit is narrower than feared. Some users regain weight or stop, and so far the clearest effects come from early, wealthier adopters, which may not hold as use widens.

Why it matters The people who build the platforms are opting out for their own children, a strong signal about what the tech does well and badly. The risk is two tiers: human-led teaching for families who can pay or push, screens standing in for staff everywhere else.

Other side Good tools can personalise practice and fill gaps where teachers are scarce, and the parents' main ask is evidence and vetting, not a blanket ban. A few wealthy districts may not speak for families who rely on school devices.