China’s biggest refiner, Sinopec, has set up a venture with South Korea’s LG Chem to develop sodium-ion batteries for the storage industry and for “low-speed” electric vehicles, the company said. This is the first foray of Sinopec in the battery industry. LG Chem said, as quoted by Korean media, that sodium-ion batteries have a number of advantages over alternatives, such as abundant raw materials, lower production costs, and slower degradation rates at low temperatures compared with lithium-ion batteries ...

Northern Graphite Signs Letter of Intent with Italy's Alkeemia to Secure Access to Cleaner Graphite Purification Technology Independent of ChinaNovember 03, 2025 7:30 AM EST | Source: Northern Graphite CorporationNorthern to take 50% capacity offtake (100 tonnes/year) at Alkeemia's Graphite Purification Pilot Plant in Porto Marghera, ItalyProcess targets 99.96% graphite for Li-Ion batteries that is also more efficient and with a lower carbon footprint than competing technologies in ChinaNew te ...

A rush for critical minerals is underway, the backbone of electric vehicles, batteries and clean energy systems, with two U.S.-listed ETFs positioned in the center of it all: the VanEck Rare Earth And Strategic Metals ETF (NYSE:REMX) which is up more than 7% in the past month, and the Amplify Lithium & Battery Technology ETF (NYSE:BATT), which has gained 6% in the past month. • BATT shares are experiencing downward pressure. See what the experts say here.While both funds ride the same long-term trend of glo ...

Earnings Conference Call 3Q25 October 31, 2025 Disclaimer Our estimates and forward-looking statements may also be influenced by, among others, legal, political, environmental or other risks that could materially affect the potential development of our projects, including risks related to outbreaks of contagious diseases or health crises impacting overall economic activity regionally or globally, as well as risks relating to ongoing or future investigations by local authorities with respect to our business ...

Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call Industry Overview - The report focuses on the **China Energy Transition** and the **power market** in China, projecting a significant increase in power demand growth to **8% by 2028-30E**, which is double the previous estimate of **4%** [2][3][15]. Core Insights and Arguments - **Power Demand Growth Drivers**: - The forecast of **8% power demand growth** is driven by three main structural factors: 1. **AI Infrastructure**: Expected to contribute **2.3 percentage points (ppt)** to growth, up from **0.5ppt** previously [3][14][16]. 2. **Exports**: Contribution raised from **0ppt to 1.4ppt**, with a long-term export growth assumption of **4% annually** [3][24]. 3. **Electrification**: Increased contribution from **0.6ppt to 1.2ppt**, driven by the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and power-intensive manufacturing [3][27]. - **Investment and Capacity Forecast**: - The **15th Five-Year Plan** capacity addition target is revised up by **14% to 438GW**, with significant increases in thermal (from **32GW to 61GW**), wind (from **105GW to 128GW**), and nuclear (from **12GW to 16GW**) approvals [4][35][39][41]. - **Earnings Upgrades**: - Earnings per share (EPS) forecasts for preferred companies are raised by **2-18%** for **2025-27E**, reflecting stronger volumes and improved pricing [5][47]. Stock Recommendations - **Upgrades**: - Dajin and CGN Power upgraded from **Neutral to Buy** due to stronger volume growth and improved margin forecasts [5][9]. - **Top Picks**: - Harbin Electric and CGN Power are highlighted as top investment choices, along with Dongfang, Sieyuan, Yingliu, Goldwind, and Dajin [2][9]. Additional Important Insights - **Valuation Metrics**: - Preferred stocks are trading at **15.6x 2026E PE**, below historical averages of **22x** and **21x** during previous high growth cycles [2][9]. - **Market Dynamics**: - Despite a **116% YTD rally**, the current valuations do not fully reflect the anticipated demand upcycle, indicating potential for re-rating as consensus aligns with the **8% demand growth thesis** [2][9][54]. - **Grid Capex**: - Grid capital expenditure (capex) growth is expected to accelerate to **9% CAGR** for **2025-30E**, reflecting the need to connect additional power supply to demand [47][48]. Conclusion - The report presents a bullish outlook on China's power market, driven by structural changes in demand from AI, exports, and electrification, alongside significant upgrades in capacity and earnings forecasts for key players in the industry. The anticipated demand growth and necessary investments in infrastructure suggest a favorable environment for power equipment and independent power producers (IPPs) moving forward.

Core Points - Duke Energy and the Duke Energy Foundation are contributing $100,000 to the One SC Fund to support food banks in South Carolina [1] - The initiative is part of a broader campaign to address food insecurity, with over $500,000 allocated to more than 60 feeding programs leading up to Thanksgiving [4][10] - Duke Energy has dedicated more than $2.6 million since 2021 to support food assistance agencies [10] Company Contributions - Duke Energy's annual campaign will kick off next week, focusing on organizations that combat hunger in South Carolina [4] - The campaign will highlight community partners such as Harvest Hope Food Bank and Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina [5] - Duke Energy employees will volunteer their time to assist these organizations throughout the month [5] Community Impact - As colder weather and holidays approach, many families in South Carolina rely on assistance programs, which are currently facing challenges [2] - The contribution to the One SC Fund is aimed at encouraging other corporate entities and citizens to support the fight against hunger [11] - Gov. Henry McMaster emphasized the importance of community support during uncertain times [11]

Core Insights - Crédit Agricole S.A. reported strong financial results for Q3 2025, with net income group share increasing by 10.2% year-on-year to €1,836 million, driven by high revenues and a controlled cost of risk [32][40][44] - The group achieved revenues of €9,731 million in Q3 2025, reflecting a 5.6% increase compared to Q3 2024, with a gross operating income of €3,944 million, up 8.9% [18][33] - The cost/income ratio improved to 59.5%, down 1.2 percentage points from the previous year, indicating better operational efficiency [18][35] Financial Performance - For Q3 2025, Crédit Agricole S.A. reported revenues of €6,850 million, a 5.6% increase from Q3 2024, with operating expenses rising by 4.0% to €3,837 million [33][34] - The gross operating income for the quarter was €3,013 million, up 7.7% year-on-year, while the cost of risk increased by 13.0% to €489 million [35][37] - In the first nine months of 2025, net income group share reached €7,120 million, a 9.7% increase compared to the same period in 2024 [21][40] Business Lines and Activity - The group experienced sustained activity across all business lines, with significant growth in home loans (+18% year-on-year) and corporate loans (+14% year-on-year) [7][10] - Asset management saw record inflows of €15 billion in Q3 2025, contributing to a total of €2,317 billion in assets under management [11][52] - The insurance segment reported strong performance, with revenues reaching €11.8 billion, up 21.4% compared to Q3 2024 [46][62] Customer Growth and Market Position - Crédit Agricole Group gained 522,000 new customers in Retail Banking during Q3 2025, with total on-balance sheet deposits amounting to €835 billion, reflecting a 0.6% year-on-year increase [10][27] - The group maintained a strong market share in credit, standing at 22.6% as of June 2025, with buoyant loan production driven by home loans and specialized markets [27][10] Risk Management and Solvency - The phased-in CET1 ratio for Crédit Agricole S.A. was reported at 11.7%, while the group’s CET1 ratio stood at 17.6%, indicating strong solvency [3] - The cost of risk for the group was stable at 27 basis points over a rolling four-quarter period, reflecting prudent risk management practices [19][24]

Core Insights - Energy Vault is evolving as an integrated energy storage Independent Power Producer (IPP) and has introduced a new investment platform called Asset Vault to enhance deployment and value creation in the energy transition [2]. Group 1 - The company is hosting a Virtual Investor and Analyst Day Webcast to provide insights into its strategy, business performance, and growth trajectories [1]. - A presentation related to Energy Vault's strategy is available on the investor website, and a replay of the webcast will be accessible later [3].

October 29, 2025 Third Quarter 2025 Financial Results Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This presentation, as well as other statements we make, contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws, which include any statements that are not historical facts. Such statements often contain words such as "expect," "may," "can," "believe," "predict," "plan," "potential," "projected," "projections," "forecast," "estimate," "intend," "anticipate," "ambitio ...

Summary of Energy Vault's 2025 Investor Day Company Overview - **Company**: Energy Vault (NYSE: NRGV) - **Event**: 2025 Virtual Investor and Analyst Day - **Focus**: Integrated energy storage Independent Power Producer (IPP) and introduction of Asset Vault, a new investment platform for energy transition [1][4] Key Points and Arguments Introduction of Asset Vault - Asset Vault is designed to accelerate deployment and value creation in energy transition [1][6] - It aims to enhance Energy Vault's role in operating critical energy storage infrastructure [6][10] Business Performance and Growth - Energy Vault has brought online 65 megawatts of projects and contracted an additional 275 megawatts [7] - Projects include the 125-megawatt Stony Creek project in Australia and the 150-megawatt Sosa Energy Center in Texas [8] - These projects are expected to generate approximately $40 million in annual recurring EBITDA over the next 24 months [9] Financial Outlook - A $300 million funding of non-dilutive preferred equity will enable up to 1.5 gigawatts of new deployments, equating to over $1 billion in capital expenditures [9] - Projected annual recurring EBITDA from Asset Vault alone is expected to reach $100 to $150 million within the next three to four years [9][21] Market Position and Strategy - Energy Vault's contract backlog has quadrupled to almost $1 billion, indicating strong demand for energy storage solutions [10][21] - The company is positioned to leverage its expertise in energy storage and grid management to support the growth of AI infrastructure [10][27] Collaboration with Crusoe Energy - Energy Vault is collaborating with Crusoe Energy to develop modular AI data center infrastructure projects [10][27] - This partnership aims to address the energy needs of large data centers, which are critical for the AI industry [27] Investment Strategy - Asset Vault will be capitalized through a combination of common stock issued to Energy Vault and preferred equity from Orion Infrastructure Capital (OIC) [32] - The capital structure is designed to minimize dilution and maintain control while facilitating project financing [32][38] Project Evaluation Criteria - Projects are evaluated based on developer reputation, project economics, project risk, and geography [54][56] - A scoring matrix is used to objectively assess projects, ensuring only those that meet internal hurdle rates are pursued [59][63] Revenue Structure - The targeted revenue mix aims for 75% contracted revenue from investment-grade offtakes and 25% merchant exposure to capture upside [64] - This balance allows for stable cash flows while also taking advantage of market volatility [64][66] Additional Important Insights - Energy Vault's technology-agnostic software platform enables the deployment of various technologies tailored to specific applications [19] - The company has a strong focus on R&D and core technologies while shifting towards owning and operating energy storage assets [45] - The anticipated growth in energy storage demand is projected at a CAGR of approximately 28% through 2030, significantly outpacing electricity demand growth [12][13] Conclusion - Energy Vault is strategically positioned to capitalize on the growing demand for energy storage solutions, particularly in the context of the AI infrastructure boom [10][27] - The introduction of Asset Vault and collaborations with key partners like Crusoe Energy are expected to enhance the company's growth trajectory and shareholder value [10][27][21]