Core Viewpoint - Applied Materials' shares surged 11.7% in premarket trading due to strong demand for AI and a tightening memory market, leading to increased orders for chipmaking tools and a positive revenue forecast for Q2 [1] Company Summary - Applied Materials projected Q2 revenue of approximately $7.65 billion, exceeding analysts' average estimate of $7.01 billion, with an adjusted profit forecast of $2.64 per share compared to estimates of $2.28 [1] - CEO Gary Dickerson highlighted that the quarter's performance was driven by accelerated investments in AI computing, with demand for higher-performance and energy-efficient chips [1] - The company is positioned to benefit from the expansion of AI data centers and rising demand for high-bandwidth memory, which are tightening chip supply chains [1] Industry Summary - The semiconductor equipment market is expected to grow, with industry group SEMI forecasting a 9% increase in equipment sales to $126 billion by 2026 and a further 7.3% increase to $135 billion by 2027 [1] - Analysts noted that Applied Materials holds a leadership position in DRAM/HBM, Advanced Logic, and Packaging, benefiting from strong spending driven by generative AI [1] - The positive outlook for Applied Materials has also lifted shares of other chip-equipment stocks, including ASML, Lam Research, and KLA [1]

Core Viewpoint - Capgemini CEO Aiman Ezzat rejects the notion of complete technological sovereignty in Europe, emphasizing the need for a balanced approach to digital autonomy that accommodates both sovereignty and global competitiveness [1] Group 1: Technological Sovereignty - Ezzat states that "there is no such thing as absolute sovereignty," highlighting that no entity possesses complete control over the entire value chain necessary for service delivery [1] - The current European tech policy reflects a tension between the desire for autonomy and the reality of reliance on U.S. tech giants like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft [1] - Ezzat outlines a four-layer framework for digital autonomy: data, operations, regulation, and technology, indicating that Europe has independence at the first three levels but lacks complete technological independence due to U.S. dominance [1] Group 2: Strategic Partnerships - Instead of pursuing full autonomy, Ezzat advocates for finding "the right sovereignty solution based on the use case, the client environment, the government" [1] - Capgemini has formed partnerships with U.S. hyperscalers such as AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft to provide "sovereign" AI solutions, which are cloud services offered by a European company but utilize American infrastructure [1] - The company is also engaging with European AI firms like France-based Mistral as part of its strategy to navigate the complexities of technological sovereignty [1] Group 3: Reputational Challenges - Capgemini is facing reputational issues related to government contracts, exemplified by its decision to sell its U.S. subsidiary, Capgemini Government Solutions, following backlash over a $4.8 million contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement [1]

Core Viewpoint - Great Wall Motor (GWM) is re-entering the European market with a focus on hybrids and combustion-engine vehicles, aiming to double its overseas sales to 1 million vehicles by 2030, despite previous setbacks in the region [1]. Group 1: Market Strategy - GWM plans to establish a European factory with a production capacity of 300,000 cars per year by 2030, necessitating a nearly hundredfold increase in sales [1]. - The company aims to appeal to European markets by introducing a range of vehicles, including the Ora 5 electric vehicle and models from its Haval SUV brand, while also considering sedans and station wagons [1]. - GWM is focusing on enhancing resale values, which are crucial for European consumers, and is actively recruiting new dealers in the region [1]. Group 2: Competitive Landscape - The European market has evolved since GWM's initial entry in 2021, with other Chinese brands like BYD and Chery gaining traction, while European automakers are launching more affordable models [1]. - GWM's sales in Europe fell by 25.4% in 2024 and nearly 30% in 2025, totaling just 3,500 cars sold [1]. - The company faces a challenging environment as European brands have become more competitive, making it harder for GWM to regain market share [1]. Group 3: Sales Performance - GWM's total vehicle sales increased by 7.3% year-on-year to 1.32 million vehicles, with overseas sales rising by 11.7% to 506,066 vehicles, driven by growth in markets like Australia and Latin America [1]. - The U.S. market remains inaccessible for Chinese automakers, and limited access in India and Japan poses challenges for GWM in achieving its 2030 sales target without a strong presence in Europe [1]. - Analysts suggest that GWM's target of 1 million vehicles is pragmatic, provided the company maintains a consistent approach in the European market [1].

Core Viewpoint - Safran's CEO Olivier Andries indicated that while CFM will strive to meet any additional engine requests from Airbus, the primary focus remains on fulfilling existing supply commitments amid ongoing supply chain challenges with Pratt & Whitney [1]. Group 1: Company Commitments - CFM, co-owned by Safran and GE Aerospace, is committed to a 15% increase in total LEAP engine deliveries for the year, but this forecast does not account for an increase in market share [1]. - Safran has agreed on engine volumes with Airbus for 2026, emphasizing that any additional production will align with their market share commitments [1]. Group 2: Industry Context - Airbus is currently facing a stand-off with Pratt & Whitney regarding engine supplies, which jeopardizes its production goals and has led to a search for additional engines from CFM [1]. - Airbus aims to ramp up A320neo-family production to 75 units per month by 2027, up from approximately 60 currently, but has faced delays due to supply chain issues, particularly with Pratt & Whitney engines [1]. - Pratt & Whitney expressed confidence in reaching an agreement with Airbus, while Airbus has not commented ahead of its earnings announcement scheduled for February 19 [1].

Exclusive: India's Reliance wins US licence for Venezuelan oil, sources say | ReutersSkip to main content[Exclusive news, data and analytics for financial market professionalsLearn more aboutRefinitiv]A guard walks past the Reliance Industries logo near the entrance of Dhirubhai Ambani Knowledge City in Navi Mumbai, March 15, 2024. REUTERS/Francis Mascarenhas/File Photo [Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab]- Companies- Summary- Trump wants India to buy more oil from US and Venezuela- Direct import of V ...

Group 1 - Three contract workers suffered burns while working at the ExxonMobil facility in Beaumont, Texas [1] - The injured workers are receiving treatment, and a comprehensive investigation has been initiated by ExxonMobil [1] - The local media reported that the EMS units transported the injured workers to CHRISTUS St Elizabeth Hospital [1] Group 2 - Additional details regarding the cause of the incident, the severity of the burns, and the conditions of the injured workers were not immediately available [1] - ExxonMobil did not respond immediately to a request for comment from Reuters [1]

Company Impact - A fire at Valero's Ardmore oil refinery in Oklahoma resulted in one death from injuries sustained during the incident [1] - Valero Energy Corp has not yet provided a comment regarding the situation [1] Industry Context - The incident highlights ongoing safety concerns within the oil refining industry, which may impact operational protocols and regulatory scrutiny [1]

Core Viewpoint - ConocoPhillips and its partners are set to invest approximately $2.11 billion to restart production in the Greater Ekofisk area by the end of 2028, focusing on extracting hydrocarbons from previously shut fields [1] Investment Details - The investment will target three fields: Albuskjell, Vest Ekofisk, and Tommeliten Gamma, which were shut down in 2019 [1] - The project, named Previously Produced Fields (PPF), aims to recover an estimated 90 million to 120 million barrels of oil equivalent in natural gas and condensate from these fields [1] Stakeholder Information - ConocoPhillips holds a 35.1% stake in both Albuskjell and Vest Ekofisk, and a 28.3% stake in Tommeliten Gamma [1] - Other partners include Vaar Energi with a 52.3% stake in Albuskjell and Vest Ekofisk, Orlen Upstream with 7.6%, and state-owned Petoro with 5% [1] - In Tommeliten Gamma, Orlen holds a 62.6% stake while Vaar Energi has 9.1% [1] Production Timeline - The first gas production from the project is anticipated to commence in the final quarter of 2028 [1]

Core Insights - NatWest reported a 24% increase in annual profit, reaching 7.7 billion pounds ($10.47 billion), which exceeded analysts' forecasts of 7.5 billion pounds [1][1][1] - The bank has raised its return on tangible equity target for 2028 to over 18%, up from a previous target of over 15% for 2027 [1][1][1] - The results were announced shortly after NatWest's agreement to acquire Evelyn Partners, one of Britain's largest wealth managers [1][1][1] Financial Performance - The pretax operating profit for 2025 was reported at 7.7 billion pounds, an increase from 6.2 billion pounds the previous year [1][1][1] - The profit growth of 24% was slightly above market expectations, indicating strong performance [1][1][1] Strategic Outlook - NatWest's new target for return on tangible equity reflects a more ambitious growth strategy moving forward [1][1][1] - The acquisition of Evelyn Partners is expected to enhance NatWest's wealth management capabilities and market position [1][1][1]

Core Viewpoint - Eutelsat reported better-than-expected revenue, driven by France's initiatives to develop a European competitor to Elon Musk's Starlink, which supports the company's shift towards internet services [1] Group 1 - Eutelsat's revenue performance exceeded expectations [1] - France's efforts to create a European alternative to Starlink are positively impacting Eutelsat [1] - The company is pivoting its focus towards internet services [1]