Finance & Markets News Today — November 2, 2026

Investors are bracing for the outcome of the US elections, but according to Morgan Stanley's chief stock-market strategist, the result is likely to be positive for the markets. The strategist believes that regardless of who wins, the election will ultimately be good news for stocks. This view may be influenced by the fact that some high-profile politicians, such as Democratic Representative Stevens, are already making public endorsements, adding to the sense of momentum building around certain candidates, like Republican Rogers in the Michigan Senate election.

Meanwhile, outside of the election spotlight, other significant issues are unfolding. Social Security, a critical source of income for millions of Americans, may be forced to cut retirement benefits in just six years, putting a large amount of money at stake for beneficiaries. In the corporate world, the impact of artificial intelligence is being felt, with Meta's ad business reportedly getting a boost from AI, while Google's search business is struggling. These divergent trends highlight the rapidly changing landscape of the US economy and the varied ways in which technological and political shifts are affecting different sectors.

Today's signal:
• The election will be good news, regardless of outcome, says Morgan Stanley’s chief stock-market strategist (marketwatch.com)
• Democratic Rep. Stevens endorses Republican Rogers over rival El-Sayed in Michigan Senate election (cnbc.com)
• Social Security may have to cut retirement benefits in six years. Here's how much money is at stake for beneficiaries (cnbc.com)
• Why AI is boosting Meta's ad business while hurting Google search (cnbc.com)