Switch off The Apprentice and tune into this. The race is on to be EY’s next global chief executive. Read about the runners and riders below.

The lowdown

• 🏠 US mortgage rates have reached the highest level since 2000.

• 📉 China’s economic activity weakened again in September, according to the China Beige Book survey.

• 🔫 Fortnite maker Epic Games is laying off 16% of its workforce.

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EY sets up six-way race to be its next CEO

EY is asking its partners for their thoughts on who to appoint as its next global chief executive ($). Outgoing CEO Carmine Di Sibio announced his departure in June ($) after his plan to split the company in two failed.

The shortlist has been whittled down from 11 candidates to six:

• Andy Baldwin, global managing partner for client service. A longtime Di Sibio deputy and an architect of the break-up plan. Considered an early frontrunner.

• Jad Shimaly, CEO of EY Canada. Believed by some to be a compromise candidate who can win over both the US and Europe.

• Janet Truncale, head of Americas financial services. Another Di Sibio ally.

• Raj Sharma, head of Americas consulting. Previously a leader in the technology unit.

• Marie-Laure Delarue, head of assurance. The first woman to lead her department, largest EY service line by global revenues.

• Julie Teigland, managing partner for EMEIA. Previously a managing partner for accounts, industries, and business development.

The shortlist was reportedly shared with the firm’s 13,000 partners on a video call this week. It’s been whittled down from a long list of 11. The final decision will be made by a vote of its 18-member global executive committee, with the announcement made in November.

The content we're consuming today

• Bloomberg: One investor’s uphill battle to turn rewilding into a multi-billion dollar industry ($)

• CNN: Netflix is posting its final DVDs to customers

• FT: The debt-fuelled bet on US Treasuries that’s scaring regulators ($)

Off-balance sheet items

• Nature lovers, look away now. Someone has cut down one of the UK’s most iconic trees, and no one is quite sure why.

The bottom line