Author: admin

Fears that the US economy is slowing, with firms shedding jobs and imposing hiring freezes, sent Wall Street tumbling on Thursday.

The S&P 500 index of leading firms was down 1% as investors also highlighted concerns about the potential for a slump in the value of businesses that have benefited from huge investments in artificial intelligence. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite fell 1.5%.

A report showed that last month was the worst October for US layoffs since 2003, which grabbed the attention of investors in the absence of official data delayed by the federal government shutdown.

Companies cut jobs and imposed hiring freezes, according to the global outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas.

Chris Beauchamp, the chief market analyst at the trading platform IG.com, said: “The lack of US data and the ongoing government shutdown is making investors nervous.”

US markets have been rattled by a review of Donald Trump’s tariffs by the supreme court, which could result in the US president being forced to abandon his flagship policy.

A lack of official data has also forced the Federal Reserve to judge the state of the US economy with only a fraction of the information it would usually sift before judging the level of interest rates.

Beauchamp said the Fed and financial markets had found themselves “groping around in the dark” after the suspension of inflation and employment data.

Speaking on CNBC, the Fed board member Austan Goolsbee said the lack of official data on inflation during the government shutdown accentuated his caution about cutting interest rates further.

“I lean more to the, when it’s foggy, let’s just be a little careful and slow down,” he said.

The survey by Challenger, Gray & Christmas found that employers announced 153,074 job cuts last month, compared with 55,597 in October 2024. It said US firms announced the termination of 1.09m roles during the first 10 months of this year, up 44% from the 761,358 cuts in 2024. Technology businesses led private-sector layoffs, it added.

The FTSE 100 fell 41 points or 0.4%. European stocks also fell. The Stoxx Europe 600 closed 0.7% lower, with tech stocks suffering the heaviest losses, and the Dax in Germany fell 1.3%.

Beauchamp said: “If the supreme court rolls back some of the tariffs then inflationary worries will subside to an extent, though this is a topic that will not come to fruition for weeks.”

BETHESDA, Md., Nov. 6, 2025 – Lockheed Martin has made a major breakthrough in artificial intelligence (AI) technology with the introduction of the STAR.OS™ solution, a powerful new tool that enables different AI systems to work together smoothly and effectively. This innovative solution has the potential to be used in future collaborations with private sector companies and solves a long-standing challenge in the field of AI by providing a common framework that makes it easier to combine different AI systems and services to achieve a common goal.  

The STAR.OS™ solution seamlessly integrates Systems, Tactical applications, Autonomy/AI, and Rapid deployment, providing a unified framework for AI deployments that support national security. The platform consists of three main components: a toolkit for developers (STAR.SDK™), a system that connects different AI systems (STAR.IO™), and a user-friendly interface that provides a clear view of how AI is being used in real-time (STAR.UI™). 

“With the STAR.OS™ solution, we’re taking a major step forward in our ability to bring together different AI systems and make them work together seamlessly,” said Mike Baylor, Lockheed Martin vice president and chief digital AI officer. “This will help us provide more effective and efficient solutions to our customers and ultimately help them make more informed decisions and stay ahead of emerging threats.” 

STAR.OS is a key part of Lockheed Martin’s efforts to integrate AI systems across different domains, making it easier to deploy AI capabilities and enhance mission effectiveness for the Department of War, U.S. government and beyond. 

Key Components of STAR.OS™ 

The STAR.OS™ platform is made up of three product lines, each designed to address specific challenges in AI integration: 

1. Service Development Kit (STAR.SDK™): A toolkit that helps developers create and deploy AI services quickly and efficiently, so they can focus on what they want to achieve rather than how to achieve it. 

2. Interoperability (STAR.IO™): A system that connects different AI systems and allows them to work together, ensuring they can communicate and share information seamlessly. 

3. User Interface (STAR.UI™): A user-friendly interface that lets engineers and operators see how AI is being used in real-time, and get insights into how it’s performing, with the help of built-in AI assistants. 

Making a Difference 

Early instances of the STAR.OS™ solution are being used to support the Department of War and other government customers, with successful integrations in areas such as detecting threats at sea and missile warning. At a recent internal hackathon as part of AI Fight Club™, the STAR.OS™ solution showcased its ability to integrate multiple AI services into a digital environment, demonstrating its potential to enhance mission effectiveness for the warfighter. 

STAR.OS™ is now available to federal and private sector customers as a unified framework for combining different AI systems and services. For more information about Lockheed Martin’s the STAR.OS™ solution, visit:  https://www.lockheedmartin.com/STAROS 

About Lockheed Martin 

Lockheed Martin is a global defense technology company driving innovation and advancing scientific discovery. Our all-domain mission solutions and 21st Century Security® vision accelerate the delivery of transformative technologies to ensure those we serve always stay ahead of ready. More information at www.lockheedmartin.com.  

Media Contacts: 

Lockheed Martin: Trent Perrotto, +1 (321) 272-8027, trent.perrotto@lmco.com