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Google to invest $15 Billion in AI Data Centres in Andhra Pradesh, India
Google announced on Tuesday that it will invest $15 billion in data centres for an artificial-intelligence hub in India’s Andhra Pradesh over the next five year period. This is one of the largest investments the company has ever made in the country. Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud, said that the hub is the largest AI hub outside the U.S. Alphabet Inc's campus of a 1-gigawatt-power data centre will be located in Visakhapatnam, a port city. The investment was initially estimated at $10 billion by officials from the state in southern India. This move coincides with a fiercer competition among the big tech companies who are investing heavily in building new data centres infrastructure to meet booming demands for AI services. Google has committed to spend $85 billion to expand data center capacity this year. AI demands enormous computing power. This is driving demand for specialized Data Centers that allow tech companies to connect thousands of chips in clusters. Microsoft and Amazon have invested billions in building data centres across India, one of the fastest growing markets for global tech giants. Nearly a billion people access the internet from India. Google's plans were first reported in July. Google's data center will be the biggest in Asia in terms of capacity and investment. It is also part of an expansion of the data centre portfolio in the region, which includes Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand. Nara Lokesh, the state's IT minister, said that such initiatives would be a strategic asset in an age where data was becoming the new oil. Reporting by Munsif Vegattil from Bengaluru, and Sarita Chaganti in New Delhi. Editing by Himani Sarkar & Lincoln Feast.
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India's listing performance since 2020
LG Electronics India had a spectacular stock market debut Tuesday. It listed at a 50% premium to its original issue price of 1,140 Rupees per share. This is the most successful listing of a billion dollar Indian initial public offer since Eternal (the parent company for food delivery platform Zomato and restaurant listing platform Zomato) debuted in the year 2021. Check out how India's billion-dollar IPOs performed in the last decade. SBI CARDS and PAYMENT Services (MARCH 2019) State Bank of India’s credit card division, which is India’s largest lender by assets, fell 13% on its market debut as COVID-19 fears dampened the enthusiasm for the largest public listing in the country. ETERNAL - FORMERLY KNOWN as ZOMATO (JULY, 2021) The food and grocery platform listed at a 51.3% premium to its initial price. This gives the startup an estimated valuation of $13 billion, and sets the stage for the other startups in the US who are waiting with their own listing plans. ONE97 (NOVEMBER 2020) Paytm's parent company made one of India's worst stock market debuts. Its shares were listed at a discount of 9% and closed on the first day of trading 27% below the offer price, due to concerns about profitability and high enterprise value. LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF INDIA (MAY 2022) The shares of India's largest insurer fell nearly 9% on the market debut, amid market volatility and worries about its loss of market share to competitors. HYUNDAI MOTOR INDIA - OCTOBER 2024 Retail investors were lukewarm in their response to the largest-ever IPO of the country amid concerns over a high valuation and a slowdown in auto industry. SWIGGY (NOVEMBER 2024) SoftBank's food and grocery delivery platform was listed at a premium of 5.6% and continued to gain throughout the day. This indicates growing investor confidence. NTPC GREEN ENERGY - NOVEMBER 2024 Investors bet on the growing demand for clean energy in the country and the company’s diverse portfolio. HDB FINANCIAL SERVICE (JULY 2020) Investors bet on the long-term growth potential of India, the world's biggest country. TATA CAPITAL (OCTOBER 2025) Investors were not too excited about the Tata Group’s first IPO since two years, due to a crowded IPO marketplace and a lack of discount on valuations compared to other listed companies.
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Australian shares rise as mining rally offsets bank pressure
Australian shares rose on Tuesday, as gains by gold and base-metal miners countered weakness among banks and consumer stocks. This was after the central banking struck a cautious tone regarding inflation and policy ease. After a 0.8% decline on Monday, the S&P/ASX 200 rose by 0.2% to 8,899.40. Minutes The Reserve Bank of Australia meeting in September reinforced its cautious and data-dependent approach towards inflation and spending, ahead of its next decision on policy in early November. Markets now price roughly even odds of a November 4 rate cut and a 60% chance of one in December, down from 70% earlier after a stronger-than-expected inflation reading late last month. Three of the four "Big Four" bank fell as much as one percent each. According to Junvum Kim of Saxo Markets, a senior Asia-Pacific sales trader, the slowing rate cuts are bad for banks primarily due to the fact that lower interest rates stimulate the property market, and home loans represent a large portion of their revenue. Kim stated that the minutes from RBA's September meeting raised doubts about whether we will end this year without another rate reduction, disappointing investors. Consumer discretionary stocks were the biggest drag on the market, falling 1% and reaching their lowest level since early August. The mining sub-index, on the other hand rose about 2.5%. This was largely due to gold miners who soared when bullion broke through $4,100 an ounce, on the prospect of U.S. interest rate cuts. Northern Star Resources & Evolution Mining both jumped by 2.8% and respectively 1.9%. Rio Tinto's shares rose 1.8% following a sequential increase in quarterly shipments of the commodity. However, the company said that it needed a stronger push to reach its annual target in the last quarter. BHP Group increased by 2.2% while Fortescue gained about 1.8%. New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX50 index fell 0.6% and finished the session at 13,276.99.
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Dance ship-to-ship at the MORNING BID EUROPE
Gregor Stuart Hunter gives us a look at what the future holds for European and global markets. The container ports are now the new economic battlefields. The U.S., China and other nations are intensifying their negotiations. As a result, they will begin to charge port fees for ocean shipping companies that transport everything from crude oil to toys. S&P futures lost 0.4% of their gains after China's Commerce Ministry said that the U.S. could not make threats and also seek to negotiate. This came just days after Donald Trump, on Friday, announced new tariffs on Chinese products starting November 1. Trade worries snuffed a Wall Street stock rebound that started on Monday, after U.S. Treasury Sec. Scott Bessent stated Trump is still on track to meet Chinese Leader Xi Jinping at the end of October in South Korea. After OpenAI announced that it had partnered with Broadcom in order to produce its own artificial intelligence processors, regional stocks briefly rose above the water. This pushed Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company's shares to record levels, while South Korea’s Kospi rose 0.9% as Samsung Electronics announced a 32% increase in its third-quarter profits, exceeding estimates. China's No. Sources said that BYD's stock rose by 1% as it tipped Spain as the top candidate to build a third auto factory in Europe. The yen strengthened a little against the dollar, after Japan's Finance Minister warned that the country needed a new strategy to deal with inflation rather than yesterday's villain, deflation. Gold rose 1.3% to $4164.90 an ounce. The precious metals are continuing to break records. Bitcoin fell 1.8% to $113,719.84 at the last minute, but ether dropped 3% to $4.161.86. Early European trading saw pan-regional futures up 0.2% last, German DAX Futures rise 0.1%, and FTSE Futures down 0.1%. The following are the key developments that may influence Tuesday's markets: Economic Data Germany: CPI for September and HICP, ZEW Economic Sentiment for October United Kingdom: Changes in the number of Unemployment Claimsant and HMRC Payrolls for September; ILO Unemployment rate and Average Weekly Earnings For August Debt auctions Germany: 2-year government debt auction
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Oil prices rise as US and China ease trade tensions
Early signs of a thawing in U.S. China trade tensions helped to boost market sentiment and ease concerns about global fuel demand. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated on Monday that U.S. president Donald Trump is committed to meeting Chinese president Xi Jinping this month in South Korea, as the two countries work to ease tensions over tariffs and export controls. He added that there were many communications between both sides at the weekend, and more meetings are expected. Brent crude futures were up 22 cents or 0.4% to $63.54 a barrel by 0405 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude oil was at $59.71 a barrel, an increase of 22 cents or 0.4%. Brent closed 0.9% higher in the previous session and U.S. WTI ended up 1%. Oil prices stabilized after investors weighed U.S. China tensions against the demand, Saxo Bank analysts wrote in a report. They added that Trump's tone had mellowed and he was now open to a possible deal. Oil markets have historically been buoyed by the prospect of stronger trade ties, which investors expect to lead to increased global growth. Recent developments such as Beijing's increased export controls on rare Earths, and Trump's threat of 100% tariffs on software and export restrictions from November 1 have dampened sentiment. The oil price dropped to its lowest level since May last week. Trump also cast doubts on the prospects of a meeting between Xi and Trump during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit (APEC), which is scheduled for South Korea on October 30th and November 1st, saying on Truth Social that "now there appears to be no reason for doing so." The relationship between Washington and Beijing is expected to remain in the spotlight despite the fact that the markets have been able to sell off due to the more conciliatory tone. Daniel Hynes, ANZ analyst, said that the oil industry is still navigating geopolitical issues. China announced it would tax U.S. ships, including oil tanks, that arrive at its shores. This led to several cancellations at the last minute and an increase in shipping costs. Trump's decision to end the Gaza War, which has lasted two years and caused turmoil in the Middle East, on Monday limited the upside of the stock market. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, including Russia, stated in their monthly report that the oil shortage would be reduced by 2026 as the OPEC+ alliance continues to increase planned production. Reporting by Anjana Anil from Bengaluru, and Emily Chow from Singapore. Editing by Jacqueline Wong, Clarence Fernandez.
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Shanghai copper prices rise as US-China tensions ease
Shanghai copper prices rebounded Tuesday, as investors focused on supply shortages and mine disruptions instead of fears about a possible escalation of U.S.-China tensions. As of 0330 GMT, the most active copper contract at the Shanghai Futures Exchange had risen 1.38% to 86,070 Yuan ($12,060.87) a metric ton. The hope of a deescalation between the two world economic giants grew when U.S. Treasury Sec. Scott Bessent stated that President Donald Trump was still on track to meet Chinese Leader Xi Jinping at the end of October in South Korea. Copper prices are supported by mine disruptions including the suspension of Grasberg operations in Indonesia at the end of last month. This is due to expectations of a deficit of supply in 2026. Analysts at Chinese broker Minmetal Futures reported that demand also improved after a price decline on Monday. As of 0354 GMT on Tuesday, the benchmark three-month contract for copper on London Metal Exchange (LME), was down 0.24% to $10,794 per ton after a gain of more than 2% on Monday. Aluminium gained 0.24% among other SHFE base-metals, while zinc was up 0.18%. Nickel fell 0.43%. Tin dropped 0.58%. Lead was not changed. The LME also saw a rise in aluminium of 0.43% and lead by 0.2%. Zinc, nickel, and tin, however, were not much changed. $1 = 7.1363 Chinese Yuan (Reporting and editing by Subhranshu Sahu; Lewis Jackson)
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Swedish Firm to Deliver Carbon-Neutral Surveys for Baltic Sea OW Projects
Swedish offshore survey specialist Njord Survey has signed a long-term framework agreement with German transmission system operator (TSO) 50Hertz to support offshore wind development in Baltic Sea.Under the agreement, Njord Survey will deliver geophysical and ROV seabed survey services to support offshore wind development in the Baltic Sea, contributing to the reinforcement of Europe’s future power grid.According to the company, biofuel will be used by all vessels which minimize emissions.“This agreement with 50Hertz reflects our dedication to building lasting client relationships. It underlines the strength of our commercial strategy and confirms Njord Survey’s role as a trusted partner in Europe’s offshore energy transition,” said Martin Wikmar, CEO of Njord Survey:“We are honored by the trust 50Hertz has placed in us. With our people and technology, we will provide the high-quality data needed for safe and efficient project design in Germany – supporting the secure integration of renewable energy into the European grid,” added Philip Ljungström, Project Director at Njord Survey.
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Investors wary of US-China trade tensions causing Asian markets to be hesitant
Asian stocks fell on Tuesday as uncertainty about whether China and the U.S. could reach a lasting trade deal tempered signs that the U.S. was preparing to hold talks with China later this month. The S&P 500 Futures and MSCI's broadest Asia-Pacific share index outside Japan, which had seen early gains, have now traded flat. The markets had earlier reacted to the positive cash session on Monday after U.S. Treasury Sec. Scott Bessent stated that U.S. president Donald Trump is still on track to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping at a South Korean summit in late October. Wall Street's major indexes rose as much as 2,2% overnight, led largely by chipmakers after Trump adopted a more accommodative tone in his remarks on the trade tensions between China and the United States. The global equities market turned abruptly red on Friday, after Trump announced tariffs of 100% on China. This brought back memories of the volatility that followed April's "Liberation Day". The selling only stopped after Trump cooled down his rhetoric in his Truth Social network. Citi analysts stated in a report that they did not anticipate an escalation in trade tensions between Beijing & Washington. The U.S. might have to adjust its negotiation strategy because China is the only country that has bargaining power. A spokesperson from China's Commerce Ministry said Tuesday that the U.S. could not seek to negotiate while making threats. This would keep markets nervous about the prospects of a wider trade agreement. U.S. China will start charging port fees to ocean shipping companies that transport everything from holiday toys and crude oil. The high seas are now a major front in the trade dispute between the two world's largest economies. The Hang Seng Index, which measures blue-chip Chinese shares, fell 0.4% after initial gains in Hong Kong. TSMC, which has partnered Broadcom in order to manufacture its first artificial intelligence processors in-house, rose to a new record. This was the leading Asian stock market with a 0.8% rise. The South Korean Kospi index rose 0.6% on Tuesday after Samsung Electronics announced a 32% increase in operating profit for the third quarter compared to a year ago. This was a surprise, as analysts had expected a decline in sales of high bandwidth memory chips. However, demand for conventional memory helped offset this. Japan's Nikkei index dropped 1.2% after the markets reopened following a holiday. The U.S. Dollar was unchanged at 152.31 Japanese yen against the yen. The dollar index (which measures the strength of the greenback against a basket six currencies) was trading at 99.246. This is a 0.1% decrease. The Federal Reserve is expected to ease interest rates later in the month, according to traders. According to CME Group’s FedWatch tool, the pricing of Fed funds futures indicates a 96.7% chance of a 25 basis-point reduction in interest rates during the Federal Open Market Committee’s meeting on the 29th of October. A day earlier the probability was 98.3%. The euro barely changed at $1.1571 on Monday after French President Emmanuel Macron refused to resign, as two no-confidence votes could topple his government by the end the week. Brent crude last rose 0.2% to $63,45 per barrel following an OPEC report released on Monday. The report showed that world oil production is expected closely match the demand in 2020 as OPEC+ increases its output. This was a significant change from last months outlook which predicted a shortage of supply by 2026. Gold rose 1.1% to $4.155.90 an ounce. The precious metals are continuing to break records. Bitcoin dropped 1.9% to $113.629.29 while ether fell 3% to $4.161.79.
Tchiroma, the opposition candidate in the presidential election of Cameroon, claims victory and urges Biya concede
Issa tchiroma, the opposition candidate in Cameroon's presidential election on October 12, declared victory late Monday night. He urged President Paul Biya not to be deterred by the results and to "honor the truth of the vote box".
"Our victory is obvious." Tchiroma, in a Facebook post from his hometown in Garoua (north of Central African State), said that it must be respected. The people have made their choice. "This choice must be respected."
Tchiroma (76), a former spokesperson for the government and minister of employment, broke with Biya in early this year, and launched a campaign which attracted large crowds, and received endorsements from an alliance of opposition parties, and civic groups.
Biya is the oldest head of state in the world at 92 years old. He has been in power for 43 years. Analysts expected that his control of state institutions, and fragmented opposition would give him the edge in this election despite public discontent with economic stagnation and security.
Tchiroma thanked voters who resisted intimidation by staying late at the polling station to protect their votes.
Tchiroma added: "I thank all the candidates who have sent me congratulations and acknowledged the will of people."
He warned: "We put the regime ahead of its responsibilities. Either it shows greatness and accepts the truth at the ballot box or it chooses a turbulent country that will leave a permanent scar on the heart of our nation."
The government hasn't officially responded to Tchiroma’s declaration.
The Minister of Territorial Administration Paul Atanga Nji, however, warned that unilaterally publishing results could be considered as "high treason", adding that the Constitutional Council is the only body with the authority to declare the winner.
The Cameroon electoral law allows for results to be posted and published at polling stations. However, the final results must be approved by the Constitutional Council. It has until the 26th of October to announce the result.
Tchiroma announced that he will soon release a breakdown by region of the vote totals compiled from results publicly displayed.
This victory is neither the work of a single man nor a single party. He said, "It is the triumph of a nation."
He also called upon the military, security services and government administrators to remain loyal "to the republic, not to the regime".
The Cameroon electoral system, which uses a single round of voting, gives the presidency to the candidate who receives the most votes. Over 8 million voters were registered. Reporting by Desire Danga Essigue, Blaise Essigue; Writing by Bate Felice; Editing and Michael Perry.
(source: Reuters)