Wall Street ends its worst month since the start of the pandemic. September saw Covid-related losses, supply chain issues and inflation woes all weighing heavily on U.S. indices. In Washington a shutdown was averted with President Biden signing off on a late-night bill to fund Congress. However, Democrats have bowed to partisan pressure and delayed the vote on the trillion-dollar infrastructure programme. And, BMW raises its full-year guidance in spite of the ongoing chip crisis. The German motor giant’s bottom line has been boosted by higher car prices. Former SPD leader Sigmar Gabriel tells CNBC he welcomes a new pro-European coalition in Germany. And in China, authorities have ordered all state-backed firms to keep energy supplies available “at all costs” as gas prices across the EU and UK soar to record highs.