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Entergy's capital expenditure plan increases by 33% for expanded Meta data center
Entergy, a U.S.-based electric utility, has increased its capital spending plan for the next four years by 33%, to $57 billion. This increase is largely due to the expansion of the energy infrastructure needed to service Meta data centers, according to the company. The U.S. Energy Information Administration reports that the U.S. power demand will reach record levels this year as data centers are rapidly built. Some of these data centers use as much energy as a city. Entergy has been one of the utilities to increase capital expenditures in the past two years. This is partly for the construction and upgrading of transmission lines, as well as power plants. Entergy announced last month that it has entered into an agreement with Meta data centers to provide electricity. The deal will require the construction of seven new combined-cycle natural gas power plants totaling?more than 5.2 gigawatts. One gigawatt can power 750,000 homes. Entergy also plans to build multiple gas-fired plants in Louisiana as part of a separate 2024 agreement for a massive Meta data center campus. On Wednesday, during a conference call for investors to discuss its earnings, Entergy said that it has 7 to 12 gigawatts worth of potential new data centers interested in connecting to the system. Data centers are becoming more common, and this has led to concerns that the average home or business will be stuck with at least a portion of the cost of building a massive energy infrastructure for Big Tech. Entergy claims that the new Meta deal will lower the power bills of the rest its customers. The agreement is also part of a new regulatory framework which requires data centers to pay more for power needs. Entergy reported on Wednesday a 6.7% increase in its first-quarter profits. The company supplies electricity to approximately 3 million customers throughout Arkansas, Louisiana?, Mississippi and Texas. The company reported that its weather-adjusted sales increased?6% over last year. This was boosted by an increase in industrial sales, as data centers, metal manufacturers, and transportation customers all saw sales rise. The New Orleans utility's industrial revenue for the quarter increased by nearly 15%, to 15,895 gigawatt hours. As of March 31, the company's debt level had risen 10% to $34.18 Billion. Entergy's operating costs also increased by nearly 22%, to $2.61 Billion for the period January-March. The company reported a 'net income' of $384.92 millions, or $83 per share, up from $360.76million, or $82 per share, a year earlier. According to LSEG data, Entergy adjusted profit per share reached 86 cents, which is in line with the average analyst estimate.
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Hegseth, Pentagon's Hegseth, defends Iran War and says it is not a Quagmire
Hegseth, the U.S. Defense Secretary, made fiery remarks to Congress on Wednesday. He defended the Iran War by saying it was not a "quagmire" and called Democratic lawmakers "feckless," for criticizing this unpopular conflict. Hegseth testified before Congress for first time after the U.S. launched a war on Iran in February. Trump's popularity is down since the conflict started. The /Ipsos survey found that only?34% Americans approve of the U.S. conflict against?Iran. This is down from 36% at mid-April, and 38% at mid-March. Democrats bombarded Hegseth's office with questions regarding the ongoing conflict. Rep. John Garamendi, of California, called it a "quagmire," and a "political disaster on every level." Hegseth replied angrily. "You call ?it a quagmire, handing propaganda to our ?enemies? Hegseth responded to Garamendi by saying, "Shame 'on you. You made a foolish statement." He also criticized the "reckless feckless and defeatist" Congressional Democrats. "Don't say: 'I'm in support of the troops, but a two-month military mission is a quagmire. ' Whom are you cheering here? "Who are you rooting for?" Reporting by Phil Stewart and Idrees Al, editing by Michelle Nikil
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Pentagon official: U.S. War in Iran cost 25 billion dollars so far
A senior Pentagon official said that the United States war against Iran had 'cost' $25 billion to date. This was the first estimate of the cost for the military. Democrats have been able to gain a strong lead in opinion polls in the six months before mid-term elections, when Trump's Republicans will likely face a tough battle to maintain their House majority. They are also attempting to link affordability with the unpopular Iran War. Jules Hurst who is the comptroller told the House Armed Services Committee members that the majority of this money was "for munitions". Hurst didn't specify what was included in that estimate, or whether it took into account the projected costs for rebuilding and repairing the base infrastructure damaged by the conflict in the Middle East. Rep. Adam 'Smith, the top Democrat in the House Armed Services Committee responded to?Hurst by saying: "I am glad that you answered that?"question. We've asked for a very long time and nobody has given us a number. The United States began to conduct strikes against Iran in February. Both sides maintain a fragile truce. Pentagon has sent tens and thousands of additional forces to the Middle East. Three aircraft carriers are also stationed in the area. Thirteen U.S. soldiers have died in the conflict and hundreds of others were injured. The disruptions in oil and gas shipments since the start of the war have caused a rise in the price of gasoline and agricultural products like fertilizers in the United States, in addition to the list of other high prices for consumers. Trump's popularity is down since U.S. and Israel started a war on Iran in February, which led to an increase in gas prices. A recent Ipsos survey found that only?34% Americans approve of the U.S. war with Iran. This is down from 36% at mid-April, and 38% at mid-March.
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Thyssenkrupp to receive $4 billion in Kone-TK Elevator Deal
Analysts estimate that Thyssenkrupp's share of the proceeds from Kone's proposed purchase of liftmaker TK Elevator is nearly two thirds of its current market capitalisation. According to Jefferies and JPMorgan estimates, the windfall for the German company if the deal is completed could be as high as 3.4 billion euro ($4 billion). This would be a huge financial boost to the German firm that's undergoing a major restructuring in order to become a holding corporation. Thyssenkrupp's shares, which were up 7.5% by 1437 GMT, didn't comment on the financial implications of the deal. They only said they were reviewing the proposal. Under the plan, Kone would be the world’s largest lift manufacturer. In December, the company stated that its 16.2% share in TKE retained after a landmark division sale to a consortium headed by Advent and Cinven, in 2020, has a book value of approximately 2 billion euros. Jefferies analysts called it "clearly positive" for Thyssenkrupp. It delivered long-awaited value crystallisation from a non core asset, and improved transparency materially. According to the terms of the deal, TKE shareholders will receive 5 Billion Euros, which is equivalent to 810 Million Euros for Thyssenkrupp, based on Thyssenkrupp's TKE stake. According to the terms, Thyssenkrupp will also receive up to 2,46 billion euros worth of newly issued 'Kone shares. This would give it a stake of 5.5% in the combined Kone/TKE entity.
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The most diverse corals of the South Atlantic, Brazil's Abrolhos, are declining as the climate warms
Researchers in Rio de Janeiro reported that the coral cover on Brazil's Abrolhos reefs, which is the most biodiverse ecosystem of the South Atlantic, had fallen by around 15% in 18 years due to climate changes and human activity. The climate change-linked heatwaves have intensified the so-called "bleaching events" where corals expulse the algae they call home. This permanently undermines the coral health. Corals are dying because their health is compromised by the increased frequency of heatwaves. They may even regain color with this increase, but will develop diseases and necrosis. Coral reefs sustain about 25% of marine life around the globe, but are in a state of almost irreversible death. Scientists have called this the "tipping point" for climate-driven ecosystem collapse. Scientists say that in order for reefs to recover, the world must drastically increase climate action and bring temperatures to just 1 degree Celsius below the preindustrial norm. According to U.N. data and EU science agencies, global temperatures are already 1.3-1.4 degrees Celsius (2-3 degrees Fahrenheit above preindustrial levels) warmer than the average. Brazilian researchers studied the Abrolhos Reefs from 2006 to 2023. The Royal Society Proceedings B journal published the results of this study. The findings show "insidious shifts in coral assemblages including the collapse branching corals." The study found that while larger branching corals provide reef structure, they are being replaced with species that grow faster and offer fewer "ecological" benefits. Moura stated that human activity is responsible for the worsening of the damage. The sediment created by the dredging of a nearby shipping channel in the Port of Caravelas damages the water quality and kills corals. The report stated that local marine protected areas had not 'halted the corals decline. This indicates that, while they are fundamental in protecting biodiversity, it is 'not enough to face a global climate emergency. Ricardo Gomes is a biologist from the Instituto Mar Urbano. He said that reefs are vital for fishing, tourism, coastal livelihoods and jobs. Gomes stated that "putting Abrolhos in danger means putting all of the biodiversity along the Brazilian coast in peril." (Reporting by Sergio Queiroz in Rio de Janeiro; Writing by Oliver Griffin; Editing by Aurora Ellis)
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Thyssenkrupp to receive $4 billion in Kone-TK Elevator Deal
Analysts estimate that Thyssenkrupp will benefit from Kone's $34.4 billion acquisition of liftmaker TK Elevator. According to Jefferies' and JPMorgan's estimates, the windfall would be as high as $4 billion. This is a huge financial boost for the German business that is undergoing a major restructuring in order to become a holding. Thyssenkrupp's shares, which were up 7.5% by 1409 GMT, didn't comment on the financial implications of the deal. They only said they were examining "the proposal" under which Kone could become a world leader in lift manufacturing. The?company stated in December that the book value of its 16.2% share in TKE was around?2bn euros. This stake will be retained by the company after it sells TKE to a consortium headed by Advent and Cinven. Jefferies analysts called it "a clear positive for Thyssenkrupp as it delivers long-awaited value from a non-core asset, and materially improves transparency". Thyssenkrupp's TKE stake is worth 810 million euro, or 5 billion euros. According to the terms of the agreement, Thyssenkrupp will also receive up to 2,46 billion euros worth of newly issued Kone shares. This would give the company a 5.5% share in the combined Kone/TKE entity.
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Sources say Indian refiners are limiting the use of a special FX credit facility, causing rupee pressure.
Three sources with knowledge of the matter said that India's state oil refineries are only using a limited amount of the "special FX credit lines" offered by India's largest banks to help ease the pressure on the rupee. They expressed concern about the rupee falling further. The rupee is under pressure again, and has dipped near its record low of 95.21. This comes after several steps taken by the Reserve Bank of India to support the currency. According to FX traders, the currency has been affected by dollar purchases related to oil in recent sessions. India's biggest imports are crude?oil, petroleum products and petroleum products. These items have added $12 billion to $13 billion per month in the last three months to the country?s import bill. India offered state-run refineries a special credit line via State Bank of India at the end of April. This allowed them to borrow dollars for oil import payments. This was done to curb spot dollar purchases for oil imports. Two sources from state-run refineries said that the'refiners are reluctant to use the facility because they anticipate the rupee weakening a little more, increasing their repayment burden. One source said that using the special FX line was not cost-effective when the rupee will likely weaken. His company uses the facility to meet a portion of its dollar needs, while the remainder is met through spot purchases. Second source: His company has limited access to the credit facility and is borrowing short-term from the markets. The source stated that the weakening rupee and high oil prices have reduced the appeal of the credit facility. Sources spoke under anonymity as they weren't authorized to make public comments. OIL WORRYS The rupee has fallen by about 2% in the last eight sessions. This is similar to the rate of declines seen among other Asian countries that import oil, such as Thailand and the Philippines. Brent crude, which fell to $86 per barrel around mid-April amid optimism about a resolution of the U.S./Iran conflict, has now climbed to $112 per barrel. The third source who is familiar with the thinking of the central bank said that dollar purchases by oil refiners on the spot market were 'among the main sources of pressure against the rupee. This is not the only factor, said this source, without going into detail. The RBI didn't immediately respond to our request for comment.
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Gold continues to decline as inflation concerns linger and a Fed meeting is looming
The gold price fell for the?third consecutive session on Wednesday as inflation concerns linked to the?ongoing?conflict? in the Middle East clouded monetary policy outlooks. Meanwhile, the U.S. Federal Reserve rate decision was in the spotlight later that day. As of 8:55 am EDT (1255 GMT), spot gold was down by 1.1%, at $4,543.57 an ounce. This is a new low for the month. U.S. Gold Futures dropped 1.1% to $4,555.70. We are seeing some positions ahead of the FOMC's decision this afternoon. "Rising U.S. Treasury Yields and higher crude oil prices have been negative for the gold price," said Jim Wyckoff. Senior analyst at Kitco Metals. Gold is a popular inflation hedge. However, its appeal will diminish if central banks increase interest rates. U.S. president Donald Trump called on Iran to sign a deal and "get smart" soon, after a stalemate in efforts to end conflict in the Middle East. This was in response to media reports that the U.S. will extend its blockade against Iran's ports. Brent oil hit a month-high as supply disruptions continued to be a concern. Meanwhile, U.S. Treasury yields increased. At 2 p.m. ET (1800 GMT), the Federal Reserve is expected to announce its policy decision. Rates are expected to remain unchanged. Fed Chair Jerome Powell will hold a presser half an hour after the meeting, which could be his last as Fed head. No rate changes are expected at today's meeting. Wyckoff said that any surprise from Powell could be market-sensitive. The World Gold Council reported that global gold demand increased 2% on an annual basis in the first quarter 2026, primarily due to a surge of purchases?of coins and gold bars, as well as a growth of 3% in central bank buying. This outweighed a decline of 23% in jewellery demand. (Reporting by Ashitha Shivaprasad in Bengaluru; Editing by Ronojoy Mazumdar) (Reporting and editing by Ronojoy Mazumdar in Bengaluru)
Andy Home: Congo conflict double trouble for the global tin industry
Alphamin Resources' decision suspending operations at the Bisie Tin Mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo highlights the fragility of the global tin supply chain.
As the M23 rebels advance deeper into Congo's mineral-rich Kivu Provinces, one of the largest tin mining operations in the world is returning to Myanmar after a long absence.
Tin's supply volatility is once again generating price volatility. On the news, London Metal Exchange's three-month tin soared 11.5% and reached a three-year high price of $37100 per metric tonne.
The Congo conflict is a serious problem for the global market. Not only are units being lost, but also the transparency of the artisanal production in the region.
SUPPLY-CHAIN INFLUENCE
The Bisie mine produced around 17,300 tonnes of contained tin in the past year. This represents about 6% of the global mine supply.
Alphamin Resources is ramping up production at what was formerly an artisanal mining site. The company aims to produce 20,000 tons of ore this year before suspending operations.
It has been a major supplier of raw materials to China's smelters since August 2023, when the Man Maw Mine in Myanmar was suspended. Wa State authorities, who control Man Maw, have opened the process of issuing new mining licenses to signal its imminent restart.
It will take months to resume operations after such a lengthy closure, and the loss of Bisie at the same time compounds China's immediate raw material challenge.
China's refined-tin production is remarkably resilient, despite the loss in feed from Man Maw. According to the International Tin Association, in 2024 national output increased by 4.6% on an annual basis.
The ITA attributed the growth to an unprecedented use of scrap that fueled a 14.9% increase in secondary production year-over-year, as well as the reduction of concentrates stock.
Shanghai Metal Market, a local data provider, describes historically low conversion rates as a result of the reduced inventories.
The market's reaction to the suspension of Bisie suggests that it expects an impact on the world's biggest producer of refined Tin.
Transparency is lost
Alphamin's move to evacuate non-essential personnel from Bisie is a sign that the M23 rebels have advanced beyond the city of Goma, which they captured on the eastern border of the Congo.
By March 12, the insurgents had reached a distance of 125 km from the mine in the Walikale District of North Kivu.
The group is moving through a region rich in minerals, where Bisie is the sole official tin producer. The rest of Congo's production is produced by artisanal cooperatives.
According to the Congo Ministry of Mines, Alphamin exports 27,000 tons and the unofficial sector, 16,000 tons. Of these, 3,300 tons are from North Kivu and South Kivu.
Kivu has been used as a test bed for years to integrate responsible artisanal production in the global supply chains, not only for tin, but also tantalum and tungsten. ITSCi is the organisation that is responsible for ensuring compliance with OECD conflict mineral rules. ITSCi was born out of the ITA, and now is backed jointly by the Tantalum Niobium International Studies Centre. ITSCi, according to a report dated February 28, had suspended certain activities like inspecting sites and tagging the production in "some areas but not all" of North Kivu and South Kivu Provinces.
It is difficult to tell what is going on in the unofficial industry, assuming that work continues at all. This raises the risk that tin from an expanding conflict zone could be illegally exported into the official supply chain.
REPUTATIONAL RISK
This would be a blow to the years of effort spent convincing end users such as Apple Inc. that minerals from Congo can be produced responsibly, even in the artisanal industry. The ITSCi program is not without critics. It is at the centre of a lawsuit filed by the Congolese Government against Apple subsidiaries located in France and Belgium.
The metal of the future, tin, is at risk of regaining the problematic conflict mineral label of the past if there are no checks on the amount of tin produced or where it goes in the unofficial sector of the Kivu Region.
The more M23 rebels advance into the Kivu region the greater the risk for the market and its reputation. The M23 rebels' withdrawal at the last minute from negotiations with the government indicates that they have no intention of stopping anytime soon.
These are the opinions of the columnist, an author for.
(source: Reuters)