Shell and BP are actively pursuing US licenses to begin extracting natural gas from shared fields in Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela, the Caribbean country’s energy minister Roodal Moonilal announced on Wednesday, according to a Reuters report.

As Latin America’s top exporter of liquefied natural gas and a major global supplier of ammonia and methanol, Trinidad is now focusing on developing offshore fields in Venezuela and along the maritime border. 

The above strategy is intended to counteract the island’s dwindling reserves and secure its supply.

Headwinds faced by Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago’s natural gas project development has faced considerable headwinds in recent years, primarily due to the inconsistent and shifting policy stance of the US toward neighbouring Venezuela. 

The frequent changes in US sanctions and energy policy concerning Venezuelan gas reserves and potential joint ventures have created a climate of regulatory uncertainty. 

This instability has made international investment in cross-border gas field development, particularly those involving shared reserves like the Loran-Manatee field, extremely cautious. 

As a result, critical projects intended to bolster Trinidad’s gas supply—essential for its significant liquefied natural gas (LNG) export industry and petrochemical sector—have been significantly delayed, hindering the nation’s efforts to maximise its hydrocarbon potential and secure its long-term energy future. 

The slow pace of progress underscores the complex geopolitical challenges involved in developing major energy resources in the Caribbean region.

Last year, President Nicolas Maduro’s administration in Venezuela halted energy-development collaboration with Trinidad and Tobago.

This suspension affected various initiatives, including planned joint natural gas projects.

The US is expediting developments in Venezuela’s oil and gas sector, particularly after the capture of Maduro this month. 

Due to Washington’s sanctions on Venezuela’s energy industry, US licenses are a prerequisite for companies to proceed with project development.

Shell, BP want US licenses 

Shell is pursuing a license to develop the Loran-Manatee discovery, according to Moonilal, who spoke to reporters at the Indian Energy Week conference. 

The natural gas field is estimated to contain approximately 10 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of gas.

Of this total, 7.3 tcf is located on Venezuela’s side of the boundary, with the remaining 2.7 tcf situated in Trinidad.

BP is currently seeking a license to develop the Cocuina-Manakin field.

Notably, the Venezuelan section of this field is part of the inactive Plataforma Deltana gas offshore project, which possesses 1 trillion cubic feet of proven gas reserves.

Moonilal said:

The United States is an ally and a very strong friend trying to reform, so we would help the companies when it comes to supporting their applications.

Dragon gas

In October, Washington had authorised Shell and Trinidad and Tobago to proceed with the development of the Dragon gas field. 

This project, located offshore Venezuela near the maritime border, is intended to supply Venezuelan gas to Trinidad.

Production at the Dragon gas field is anticipated to commence in the fourth quarter of 2027, according to Moonilal, with an expected daily output of 350 million cubic feet of gas.

Venezuela’s Dragon field contains one of the largest natural gas deposits.

Trinidad, suffering from insufficient reserves and production, requires this gas to supply its revenue-generating sectors, such as liquefied natural gas (LNG) and petrochemicals.

Moonilal stated that Trinidad is looking to lead and collaborate with other Caribbean nations, including Suriname, Guyana, and Grenada, to advance natural gas development now that its projects are operational again.

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Amazon.com Inc. said on Wednesday it plans to cut about 16,000 corporate jobs, marking a second major round of layoffs in three months as the company moves to streamline management layers and accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence across its operations.

The latest reductions deepen a restructuring effort that began last year and underscore how AI-driven automation is reshaping workforce strategies at some of the world’s largest technology companies.

Second major round of layoffs targets corporate roles

Amazon said affected US-based corporate employees will be given 90 days to search for a new internal role, alongside severance and transition support.

The details were outlined by Beth Galetti, senior vice president of people experience and technology, in a blog post.

“We’ve been working to strengthen our organization by reducing layers, increasing ownership, and removing bureaucracy,” Galetti said.

The job cuts follow Amazon’s decision in late October to eliminate 14,000 white-collar roles.

Taken together, the two rounds bring announced corporate reductions to roughly 30,000 positions, a scale that echoes the rolling layoffs carried out in late 2022 and early 2023, when about 27,000 jobs were cut.

Reuters previously reported that the second round of layoffs was in the works and would affect teams across Amazon Web Services, retail, Prime Video, and human resources.

AI and management layers drive restructuring

Chief executive officer Andy Jassy has repeatedly emphasized the need to cut bureaucracy and management layers that built up during a pandemic-era hiring surge.

Last summer, he warned employees that advances in artificial intelligence would lead to job losses as more tasks become automated.

The latest cuts highlight how AI tools are increasingly being used to handle duties ranging from routine administrative work to complex coding tasks, allowing companies to operate with leaner corporate teams.

Industry-wide, tech groups have been reassessing staffing needs as AI assistants improve in speed and capability.

Amazon has also been investing heavily in robotics across its warehouse network, aiming to speed up packaging and delivery, reduce reliance on human labor, and lower costs in its core e-commerce business.

Corporate workforce impact remains contained

Despite the scale of the announcement, the layoffs affect a relatively small share of Amazon’s overall workforce.

The company employed about 1.57 million people as of Sept. 30, most of whom work in fulfillment centers and warehouses.

Its corporate workforce totals roughly 350,000 employees, meaning the latest 16,000 cuts represent about 4.6% of that group.

Even if the full 30,000 corporate roles flagged across both rounds are eliminated, they would still account for a small fraction of Amazon’s total headcount, though nearly 10% of its corporate staff.

Amazon’s moves mirror a broader trend among major technology companies that rapidly expanded during the COVID-19 demand boom and are now restructuring.

Firms, including Meta Platforms and Microsof,t have also cut jobs while refocusing investment toward artificial intelligence and efficiency gains.

On Tuesday, Amazon Web Services employees received a premature email mentioning layoffs.

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Investors head into this week’s Federal Reserve meeting expecting no change in interest rates and an uneventful outcome, while market leadership continues to widen beyond mega-cap tech.

According to CME FedWatch, markets assign a 97% chance the Fed holds steady when the Federal Open Market Committee concludes on Wednesday afternoon.

Rates markets were calm, and the dollar softened, with the USD at a four-month low and the yen firmer amid intervention risks, according to the Global Strategy Team at TD Securities.

US stock futures were mixed early Monday: Dow futures were less than 0.1% higher, S&P 500 futures were mostly flat, and Nasdaq 100 futures were roughly 0.1% lower.

What to expect from the Fed this week

The Fed meets Tuesday and Wednesday, with a decision due Wednesday afternoon. TD Securities expects “a relatively uneventful meeting,” with the central bank remaining on hold.

Alex Guiliano, chief investment officer at Resonate Wealth Partners, also expects an uneventful Jan. 28 meeting and “little reason for the Fed to cut rates right now, especially after cuts at each of the last three meetings,” he told MarketWatch.

The current rate-cutting cycle began in September 2024.

Political pressure on Chair Jerome Powell has intensified.

According to MarketWatch, President Donald Trump has pushed for lower rates, attempted to fire Fed governor Lisa Cook, and opened a criminal investigation into Powell.

Guiliano said he expects Powell to tread carefully if the topic arises in the press conference.

Markets focus on earnings and the economy

Despite the Fed backdrop, investors appear more focused on earnings and the economic outlook.

“I don’t think the market needs a cut,” and it can be fine without one early this year, Liz Thomas, head of investment strategy at SoFi, told MarketWatch.

Market leadership has broadened. Growth sectors, including tech, have lagged more cyclical and value areas in recent months.

Energy, industrials, and materials have been early 2026 winners, and the small-cap Russell 2000 has outpaced the S&P 500 in January, according to MarketWatch.

MarketWatch notes the US economy looks stable, with inflation largely under control and GDP growth solid.

A return of federal data releases after last fall’s shutdown has helped investors assess trends following a soft patch in the 2025 labor market.

Currency and rates backdrop

TD Securities reported a quiet session for Treasuries, with rates finding support.

Data were limited: the S&P Composite PMI for January ticked up to 52.8 from 52.7, while the University of Michigan index was revised to 56.4 from 54.0.

The USD hit a four-month low to start the week, while the JPY gained on intervention risks, with talk of coordinated rate checks from the Fed and Bank of Japan, TD Securities said.

Near-term catalysts to watch

Earnings could be the bigger swing factor. Half of the “Magnificent Seven” report this week, with Microsoft, Meta Platforms, and Tesla on Wednesday, Jan. 28, and Apple on Thursday, Jan. 29, according to MarketWatch.

These names still carry significant weight in the S&P 500, though broader participation could make the market more durable.

“The S&P 500 is expected to grow earnings by 15% this year and is currently priced around 22-times next year’s earnings,” Scott Helfstein, head of investment strategy at Global X, told MarketWatch.

He added that most of last year’s gains arrived during earnings season, suggesting fundamentals are a key driver, while lower rates are a tailwind but “not a precondition” for stocks to rise.

Policy outlook and politics

MarketWatch reports that Trump is expected to name a new Fed chair, which could bring “stock-market volatility” as the market adjusts midyear, according to Guiliano.

Traders are starting to price a 59.4% chance of a June rate cut, which may reinforce a pause at the next few meetings.

Why Fed days still move markets

Even if the Fed stands pat, volatility around the press conference remains common.

Thomas said investors often “listen so closely and hang on to every word of Jerome Powell,” and warned that “the most dangerous time to trade is between 2 and 2:30 p.m. Eastern time on Fed days.”

Bottom line: with the Fed widely expected to hold, attention is shifting to earnings and the economy, while FX and rates signal a calmer backdrop.

The next leg likely hinges on profit trends, incoming data, and the Fed’s leadership transition later this year.

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The KOSPI Composite Index continued its remarkable rally, reaching its highest level on record as the AI boom continued and the frenzy among investors accelerated. It also jumped despite the renewed tariff threat from the United States. It has soared by over 121% from its lowest level this year.

KOSPI Composite Index jumps despite the tariff threat 

South Korean stocks have been in a strong uptrend in the past few months as demand from investors gained steam. The rally was supercharged last year when the country’s president predicted that the KOSPI Index would jump to KRW 5,000, up from KRW 2,100 at the time.

The index rallied on Tuesday even after Donald Trump announced that he was considering imposing a 25% tariff on all goods from South Korea. He cited the fact that the country’s parliament had failed to codify the deal he reached last year with the government.

The president said that new tariffs will apply to all goods shipped from South Korea, including lumber, autos, and pharmaceutical products. These tariffs would hit top companies like Hyundai, LG, and Samsung. Hyundai sold over 1.1 million vehicles to the United States in 2024.

Donald Trump and his South Korean counterpart reached an agreement that slashed the reciprocal tariffs to 15%. South Korea also pledged to invest billions of dollars in the United States. 

Most recently, a report by Bloomberg noted that the country would delay implementing the investment to the United States because of the fears of capital outflows and currency volatility.

READ MORE: Here’s why the Kospi Composite Index is in an unstoppable bull run

One potential reason why the KOSPI Composite Index is soaring is the concept known as TACO, which stands for Trump Always Chickens Out.

It simply meant that Trump often makes statements that he never follows through on. For example, he recently threatened to take over Greenland and then stepped back, receiving a deal that has always existed.

Looking ahead, the next key catalyst for the KOSPI Composite Index this week will be the upcoming Samsung Electronics earnings, which are scheduled for Thursday. These results will provide more color on its business amid the ongoing AI boom.

The KOSPI Index also rose amid rising optimism that the central bank will deliver a dovish policy statement after a recent report showed that the economy contracted in the fourth quarter. 

The top gainers in the index are companies like Kumho Electric, DYP, Hyosung TNC, Hannong Chemicals, and Hyundai Motor.

KOSPI Index technical analysis 

KOSPI Composite Index chart | Source: TradingView 

The daily timeframe chart shows that the KOSPI Composite Index has rebounded in the past 12 months. It jumped from a low of KRW 2,276 in April last year to the current KRW 5,045.

The index has remained above the 50-day and 100-day Exponential Moving Averages (EMA), a sign that bulls remain in control for now.

The Relative Strength Index (RSI) and other oscillators like the MACD and Stochastic continued rising. Therefore, the index will likely continue rising as bulls target the key resistance level at KRW 5,200.

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Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) has been steadily expanding its footprint across Europe, pouring capital into startups that align with its vision of an artificial intelligence (AI) powered future.

With hyperscalers racing to secure computing muscle, the chipmaker has positioned itself not just as a supplier but as a strategic partner.

In 2025 alone, Nvidia or its venture arm “NVentures” participated in 14 European funding rounds, a sharp increase compared to previous years.

Among the most notable deals were its investments in French AI lab Mistral, quantum computing pioneer Quantinuum, and fintech heavyweight Revolut – three names that highlight the breadth of NVDA’s ambitions across different sectors.

Why Nvidia invested in Mistral?

In September 2025, Nvidia joined a massive €1.7 billion Series C round for Mistral – a Paris-based AI startup that has quickly become one of Europe’s most ambitious labs.

The deal valued Mistral at €11.7 billion, underscoring its growing reputation as a rival to American giants like OpenAI and Google.

Nvidia’s involvement wasn’t just about money – it was a strategic bet on ensuring its GPUs remain the backbone of cutting-edge model training.

Having already backed Mistral’s Series B in 2024, NVDA doubled down to strengthen ties with a company building frontier models, reflecting its desire to anchor itself in Europe’s AI ecosystem.

Why Nvidia invested in Quantinuum?

Also in September 2025, Nvidia participated in a $600 million funding round for Quantinuum – a UK-US hybrid firm with deep roots in Europe.

The capital raise pushed Quantinuum’s valuation to roughly $10 billion, with funds earmarked for the launch of its next-gen quantum system – Helios.

Nvidia’s interest here is clear: quantum computing could eventually complement or even “disrupt” classical AI workloads – and being close to a leader in the field is a hedge against that future.

With an investment, the AI darling gained early access to potential breakthroughs while ensuring its hardware and software stack can adapt to quantum advances.

Simply put, NVDA’s participation in Quantinuum’s funding round underscores its commitment to diversify across technologies that could redefine computing itself.

Why Nvidia invested in Revolut?

This past November, Nvidia quietly bought shares in Revolut – the UK-based fintech giant valued at about $75 billion.

While the exact amount that NVDA has invested wasn’t disclosed, the deal signalled chipmaker’s intent to extend its influence beyond pure artificial intelligence labs into sectors where AI adoption is accelerating.

For Revolut, which handles millions of transactions daily, Nvidia’s expertise in machine learning and fraud detection tools is a natural fit.

For Nvidia, the partnership offers exposure to Europe’s most valuable startup and a unique chance to showcase how its technology can transform financial services.

The investment demonstrates NVDA’s wider ambition, embedding itself into industries where AI is not just experimental but mission-critical.

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Meta Platforms is preparing to test new subscription models across its social media apps, aiming to unlock additional revenue streams while expanding access to artificial intelligence-powered tools.

The plans, confirmed by a Meta spokesperson and first reported by TechCrunch, signal a broader shift toward paid features layered on top of Meta’s free core services.

The company said the subscriptions are designed to “unlock more productivity and creativity” by giving users access to exclusive features and expanded AI capabilities.

The tests are expected to roll out in the coming months across Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp, with each app offering a distinct set of paid tools and controls.

A premium layer across Meta’s apps

Meta said it is not committed to a single subscription strategy and will experiment with different bundles and features depending on the app.

While the core experiences on Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp will remain free, paid users will receive additional controls over how they share content and connect with others.

Some early indications of what these subscriptions could include have already surfaced.

According to reverse engineer Alessandro Paluzzi, the Instagram subscription may allow users to create unlimited audience lists, see which followers do not follow them back, and view Stories anonymously without notifying the poster.

Meta emphasized that these new offerings will be separate from Meta Verified, its existing paid product launched in 2023, which is aimed primarily at creators and businesses.

Meta Verified includes a verified badge, direct support, impersonation protection, and search optimization.

The company said it plans to apply lessons learned from Meta Verified to develop subscriptions that appeal to a broader audience, including everyday users.

AI agents and video tools move behind paywalls

A central component of Meta’s subscription push is artificial intelligence.

The company plans to scale Manus, a general AI agent platform it acquired in December for a reported $2 billion, as part of its paid offerings.

Meta intends to integrate Manus directly into its products while continuing to sell standalone subscriptions to businesses.

Meta has also been spotted testing shortcuts to Manus within Instagram, suggesting deeper integration across its ecosystem.

The move comes after years of heavy spending on AI talent and acquisitions, even as Meta kept its Llama large language models open-source and freely available.

In addition, Meta plans to introduce subscriptions tied to AI-powered creative tools.

One example is Vibes, a short-form AI video experience built into the Meta AI app.

While Vibes has been free since its launch, Meta now plans to offer a freemium model, giving users basic access while charging for additional video creation opportunities each month.

Revenue ambitions and subscription fatigue risks

The subscription strategy could help Meta generate incremental revenue at a time when social media companies are seeking alternatives to advertising alone.

However, the company faces the challenge of subscription fatigue, as consumers already juggle multiple monthly services.

Competitors have demonstrated that there is demand for paid social features.

Snapchat’s Snapchat+ subscription, which starts at $3.99 per month, has grown to more than 16 million subscribers, more than doubling since early 2024.

Meta said it plans to listen closely to user feedback as it rolls out the new subscriptions.

How compelling the features prove to be may determine whether users are willing to pay for yet another digital service in an increasingly crowded subscription economy.

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Geopolitical risk has sent gold soaring past $5,000 an ounce on investor uncertainty, even as energy markets remain firmly tied to tangible supply-demand constraints, according to a new Rystad Energy update.

“The message for commodity markets heading into the week is clear. Geopolitical rhetoric remains loud, but pricing continues to respond primarily to tangible constraints on supply, trade, and policy,’ Claudio Galimberti, chief economist at Rystad, said in an emailed commentary. 

Unless escalation moves from words to actions, volatility is likely to remain concentrated in specific pockets—precious metals, weather-exposed energy markets, and geopolitically sensitive crude flows—rather than across the commodity complex as a whole.

Geopolitics, trade and volatility

The market for risk assets largely disregarded the Greenland incident, suggesting an immediate US-EU trade shock was improbable, according to Galimberti. 

This had an impact on commodities.

Brent crude prices, which had initially strengthened due to wider geopolitical unrest concerning Venezuela and Iran, softened as the chances of near-term transatlantic trade disruption rose. 

However, prices recovered as the situation subsequently de-escalated.

Crude prices remain sensitive to incremental supply risks, largely due to ongoing renewed US sanctions pressure on Iran, which continues to underpin the oil market.

A noticeable trend among middle powers to diversify economic ties was highlighted by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s proposal for “variable geometry” alliances, focusing on enhancing supply-chain resilience and energy security instead of rigid political alignment. 

However, the tone sharply escalated when US President Donald Trump threatened to impose 100% tariffs on Canada if Ottawa proceeded to ratify a trade agreement with China. 

Furthermore, the week saw a tense period of escalation and subsequent de-escalation between the US and Europe concerning the sovereignty of Greenland, an issue that momentarily brought the two economic blocs to the brink of a trade war.

Energy markets

The focus will continue to be on energy markets. 

“Oil traders will monitor any concrete follow-through on Iran sanctions enforcement and signals from OPEC+ members, while natural gas markets remain highly exposed to weather risks,” Rystad Energy said in the update. 

The recent spike in US gas prices, driven by an extreme winter storm, underscores how quickly fundamentals can overwhelm broader macro narratives when supply-demand balances tighten.

Commodity pricing in the near term will be significantly influenced by both macroeconomic data and upcoming policy decisions, the Norway-based energy intelligence company said. 

Fed and macro-financial split

Attention will be focused on the Federal Reserve’s guidance following its expected decision to keep rates steady this week, particularly comments from Chair Powell. 

Given that US growth has exceeded expectations and inflation is tracking forecasts, markets have scaled back anticipation for immediate rate cuts. 

For commodity markets, this means the US dollar, real interest rates, and overall liquidity remain key variables, Rystad said. 

A continued restrictive stance from the Fed would likely limit gains in cyclical commodities, whereas any indication of a more flexible approach could bolster energy and industrial metals.

“Precious metals tell a different story,” Galimberti said. 

The sustained demand for gold, now exceeding $5,000 per ounce, and silver, having risen well above $100, is a direct result of investors seeking hedges against significant policy uncertainty, growing concerns over fiscal dominance, and increasing doubts regarding the independence of the Federal Reserve.

This divergence highlights an important theme for the coming week: commodity markets are increasingly bifurcated between those driven by physical balances (e.g., natural gas) and those responding to macro-financial risk (e.g., gold).

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Rolls-Royce share price has pulled back in the past few weeks, moving from the all-time high of 1,306p on January 13 to the current 1,235 as some investors started booking profits. 

US flight cancellations and Middle East tensions

It retreated by over 1.4% on Monday after airlines cancelled thousands of flights in the United States because of the large snowstorm. 

These cancellations will likely have a minor impact on Rolls-Royce Holdings, a company whose revenue growth depends on flight hours.

On the positive side, there are signs that the situation is normalizing, with Sean Duffy, the Transportation Secretary, predicting normal conditions on Wednesday.

Rolls-Royce share price has also retreated amid the rising tensions in the Middle East that may impact the aviation sector. Donald Trump has sent an armada to the Middle East and is actively considering options for Iran. A war in the region would also lead to more disruptions. 

Analysts are optimistic about its growth

City analysts believe that Rolls-Royce Holdings’ business will continue thriving in the coming years. The average estimate among these pros is that its underlying revenue for the last financial year will be £19.5 billion, much higher than what it made in 2024.

Its revenue will then jump to £21 billion this year, £23 billion in 2027, and £25 billion in 2028. This revenue growth will happen as the company’s civil aviation business booms and average flying hours jump.

Most importantly, the management’s efforts are expected to improve its profitability substantially higher over the years. For example, the free cash flow is expected to jump from £3.1 billion in 2025 to £4.5 billion in 2028, a 45% surge. 

The other notable catalyst for the Rolls-Royce share price is that GE Aerospace, its biggest competitor, published strong financial results last week. It said that its orders grew by 32%, while its adjusted revenue rose by 21% and its operating profit jumped by 25% to over $9.1 billion. 

This growth is a sign that the industry is doing well, which is a good thing for Rolls-Royce Holdings.

Is Rolls-Royce a bargain or expensive?

The main concern among analysts is that the Rolls-Royce share price surge has made it a highly overvalued company. Data compiled by Simply Wall St shows that the company is about 25% overvalued based on the discounted free cash flow (DCF) calculation. This estimate places its potential target at 987p.

However, other valuation metrics show that it is an undervalued company. It has a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.8x, lower than its other peers like BAE Systems, Babcock, and GE Aerospace. However, its forward PE ratio of 26 is higher than that of these companies. 

A potential catalyst for the company is that its small modular reactors (SMR) business will continue doing well in the coming years.

Rolls-Royce share price technical analysis

The daily chart shows that the RR stock price has formed a highly bullish pattern that may lead to a rebound. It is now forming a bullish flag pattern, which is made up of a vertical line and a descending channel. 

The stock has remained above the 50-day and 100-day Exponential Moving Averages (EMA) and the Supertrend indicator. Therefore, the most likely outlook is bullish, with the next key target being at 1,306p, its highest point this year. A move above that level will point to more gains, potentially to 1,500p this year.

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Asian markets advanced on Tuesday as investors balanced optimism around US mega-cap earnings with renewed uncertainty from President Donald Trump’s latest tariff threats, while separate developments in semiconductors and technology highlighted shifting global investment and revenue strategies.

Asian markets edge higher as earnings optimism offsets tariff worries

Asian shares posted modest gains as investors looked ahead to a heavy slate of earnings from US technology giants, even as trade tensions with South Korea limited broader risk appetite.

MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 1.18%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index gained 1.3%.

Japan’s Nikkei gained 0.7%.

Markets appeared relatively resilient to Trump’s announcement late Monday that he plans to raise tariffs on imports from South Korea to 25%, accusing the country’s legislature of “not living up” to its trade deal with Washington.

The higher rate would apply to autos, lumber, pharmaceutical products, and other goods. South Korea’s KOSPI reversed earlier losses to trade up 0.8%.

In commodities, uncertainty boosted demand for safe havens.

Gold climbed 1.4% to $5,080 an ounce, just below a recent record, while silver surged 6.4% to $110.60 an ounce.

Christopher Louney, commodity strategist at RBC Capital Markets, said the rally reflected “the frenetic nature of uncertainty coupled with a weaker dollar.”

US equity futures were slightly higher, with Nasdaq futures up 0.6%, as investors prepared for earnings from major technology firms including Microsoft, Apple and Tesla.

Wall Street closed higher overnight for a fourth straight session, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq hitting their highest levels in more than a week.

Micron to invest $24 billion in Singapore amid AI-driven demand

Separately, Micron Technology said it plans to invest about $24 billion in Singapore over the next decade as it expands manufacturing capacity to meet surging demand for memory chips driven by artificial intelligence.

The Boise, Idaho-based company said it has broken ground on an advanced wafer fabrication facility within its existing NAND manufacturing complex in Singapore.

The project represents a planned investment of 31 billion Singapore dollars ($24.41 billion), with wafer output expected to begin in the second half of 2028.

Micron said the new fab will help it “address growing market demand for NAND technology driven by the rapid expansion of AI and data-centric applications.”

The company already manufactures about 98% of its top-end NAND flash memory in Singapore, according to the country’s Economic Development Board.

The investment follows Micron’s earlier announcement of an advanced packaging facility for high-bandwidth memory at the same site, representing about $7 billion in spending through the end of the decade.

Micron has also recently raised its outlook for memory demand growth and announced plans to buy a Taiwanese chip-making site for $1.8 billion.

Automakers weigh lifeline for bankrupt supplier First Brands

Ford and General Motors are in advanced talks to provide a potential financial lifeline to First Brands Group, the bankrupt US car-parts maker, as it races to secure funding to keep operations running while it seeks a buyer, reported Financial Times.

According to the report, the two automakers are among a group of customers negotiating a short-term financing arrangement that would involve paying in advance for parts they are scheduled to receive.

The structure would inject much-needed liquidity into First Brands, helping it continue operating through its Chapter 11 proceedings.

While the deal is not yet finalized, one person described the talks as near the “finish line.”

The intervention highlights First Brands’ importance to automotive supply chains.

The Ohio-based company, which filed for bankruptcy in September with about $12 billion in debt, supplies key components to both Ford and GM, including windscreen wiper parts used in Ford’s F-150 pickup.

The F-series trucks account for nearly 40% of Ford’s US sales.

Meta tests paid subscriptions across its apps

In the technology sector, Meta Platforms is preparing to test new subscription models across Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp, according to a report from TechCrunch confirmed by a Meta spokesperson.

The company said the subscriptions are designed to “unlock more productivity and creativity” by offering exclusive features and expanded AI capabilities, while keeping core services free.

Each app will have a distinct set of paid tools, and Meta said it will test a variety of bundles.

A central part of the strategy involves scaling Manus, an AI agent platform Meta acquired in December for a reported $2 billion, and expanding access to AI-powered tools such as its Vibes short-form video experience.

The subscriptions will be separate from Meta Verified, which is aimed primarily at creators and businesses.

The move could help Meta diversify revenue beyond advertising, though the company faces the challenge of subscription fatigue as consumers juggle multiple paid services.

Meta said it plans to gather user feedback as it rolls out the subscriptions in the coming months.

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Global power sector emissions showed rare stability in 2025 as sharp gains in clean energy across Asia began to outweigh rising coal use elsewhere.

New data, as reported by Reuters, suggest that China and India, the world’s largest coal consumers, both recorded declines in electricity-related emissions in the same year for the first time in more than five decades.

The shift helped neutralise a jump in US power emissions, keeping overall pollution from electricity generation largely flat despite rising global demand.

Researchers say the turning point reflects the pace at which renewables are being added in the two Asian economies, altering long-term emissions trends that have dominated the past decade.

Clean energy shifts in Asia

According to a report published this month by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, states Reuters, power sector emissions in China and India fell simultaneously in 2025, a first in 52 years.

The two countries had accounted for 93% of the growth in global carbon dioxide emissions from electricity generation in the decade through 2024.

China’s power sector emissions dropped by 40 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, or 0.7%, over the year.

In India, emissions from utilities declined by 38 million tonnes, or 4.1%, in the 11 months to the end of November.

The estimates were compiled by energy think tank Ember using monthly government data.

The reductions came after both countries added record volumes of new clean power capacity last year.

Experts say those additions were sufficient to meet rising electricity demand without further increases in coal-fired output, marking a break from previous years when demand growth translated directly into higher emissions.

Global emissions held in check

The declines in China and India offset a sharp rise in US power emissions during 2025.

US utilities recorded an increase of 55.7 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent over the year after coal-fired power output jumped 13.1%.

That pushed power plant emissions up 3.3%, the fastest annual rise this century.

Despite the US increase, global power sector emissions remained broadly stable. China, India, and the US together account for around 60% of emissions from electricity generation, which itself represents roughly 35% of total greenhouse gas pollution linked to climate change.

Over the decade to 2024, power plant emissions rose by an average of 3.4% a year in China and 4.4% in India, while falling 2.4% annually in the US.

The 2025 data suggests those long-standing trends are starting to diverge.

Coal trends by country

Longer-term expectations for coal use vary widely across major economies.

The International Energy Agency said in December that coal consumption in China is set to decline gradually over the current decade.

That shift is expected to help emissions from power generation plateau as renewables and other low-carbon sources continue to expand.

India’s trajectory looks different. While record renewable additions and modest electricity demand growth helped limit coal use in 2025, the IEA expects coal to remain central to India’s power mix.

Even with a decline in coal-fired generation this year, the agency anticipates a moderate increase in coal consumption driven by steadily rising electricity demand.

In the US, the IEA forecasts coal demand to fall by 6% through 2030 as higher costs weigh on consumption.

This is expected despite policy incentives from President Donald Trump’s administration and a slowdown in coal plant closures.

What it means for climate targets

The simultaneous fall in power emissions in China and India highlights how rapidly expanding clean energy can change global emissions patterns.

While coal still plays a significant role in all three major power markets, the data suggests that renewables’ growth in Asia is beginning to cap global pollution from electricity generation, even as coal use fluctuates elsewhere.

Researchers say sustained investment in clean power will be key to determining whether 2025 marks a temporary pause or a longer-term shift in emissions linked to climate change.

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