The Nasdaq’s AI IPOs, Tesla’s Q3, Gloomy Economic Sentiment 10/22/26

AI is fueling record Nasdaq IPO wins and robotaxi bets even as surveys show the worst economic sentiment since the pandemic.

• Tesla's dual future: Musk said on the Q3 call that Tesla could handle the majority of passenger miles globally via robotaxis; hosts debated a possible Tesla-SpaceX merger, which Musk called 'tap dancing through a minefield,' with Bloomberg reporting he wants a deal before Trump leaves office, possibly announced in H1 2026.
• Nasdaq's IPO dominance: CEO Adena Friedman said Nasdaq won 8 of the top 10 listings this quarter and 7 of top 10 IPOs this year (plus Hilton's switch), with $49B in quarterly index inflows ($141B annually) and 14% overall revenue growth, even as rising rates soften the broader IPO window.

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