Épisodes

  • Why AI infrastructure is powering Prysmian’s rise - Jan 7, 2025

    Why AI infrastructure is powering Prysmian’s rise - Jan 7, 2025
    Jan 7 2026
    As of January 7, today’s news sees an analysis by Citywire on Prysmian’s positioning within the AI-driven infrastructure boom and renewed pressure on the UK’s energy transition. Citywire analysed Prysmian as an indirect beneficiary of the AI boom, highlighting its growing role in power grids and data-centre infrastructure. Drawing on insights from top-performing institutional investors, Citywire highlighted Prysmian’s strategic acquisitions, strong revenue growth and increasing exposure to the US market. Meanwhile, Britain increased the share of electricity generated from fossil fuels last year for the first time in four years, a reversal that highlights the challenges facing the government’s plan to run a clean power system by 2030, Bloomberg reported. In market developments, Nexans faced a sell-off, dropping by as much as 5% due to ongoing rescheduling activities concerning the Great Sea Interconnector project, which spawned investor concern about the company's execution timeline. Analysts have indicated that while the delay may not impact 2028 financial guidance, it raises questions about achieving expected earnings growth in their Power Transmission unit. On an international scale, tensions escalated as Orsted's Sunrise Wind project in the US faced a lease suspension, prompting plans for legal action against the government's decision, which has stunted the project at a crucial development phase. Meanwhile, Japan's nuclear watchdog halted reviews of Chubu Electric's nuclear plant due to mishandled seismic data in a significant regulatory setback for the company. In a broader scenario, geopolitical tensions have surfaced, particularly with China reportedly urging technology firms to pause orders for Nvidia's H200 chips, reflecting ongoing conflicts surrounding semiconductor trade with the US and domestic strategies in AI development. Finally, amidst heightened diplomacy, Ukraine's President Zelenskiy is advocating for a new meeting with US President Trump to discuss crucial security guarantees in light of ongoing peace negotiations regarding the conflict with Russia.
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    2 min
  • EU shields recycling as U.S. growth signals fade - Dec 23, 2025

    EU shields recycling as U.S. growth signals fade - Dec 23, 2025
    Dec 23 2025
    As of December 23, today’s news sees tighter European Union rules on plastic imports and fresh signals on the strength and potential slowdown of U.S. economic growth. The European Union will introduce stricter rules for imports of plastics, the European Commission said today, as it attempts to help European recycling plants that are struggling to compete with cheaper imports. Europe's plastics-recycling industry has lost more capacity in 2025 than in any previous year, with low-cost plastic imports and high energy costs driving plant closures in countries including the Netherlands, according to industry group Plastics Recyclers Europe. Meanwhile, the U.S. economy likely grew at a brisk clip in the third quarter, driven by solid consumer spending and business investment, but momentum appears to have since faded amid the rising cost of living and recent government shutdown. In the wind energy sector, 2025 is being forecasted as a challenging year due to a combination of policy reversals, notably under President Trump's administration, which has effectively halted offshore wind project work citing national security concerns, Reuters reported. Projects from major companies like Orsted and Dominion Energy face significant delays, prompting adverse reactions from industry stakeholders. Despite this, long-term expectations remain cautiously optimistic for 2026, as adjustments in auction policies and supply chains may drive renewed growth in the sector. On the corporate front, Alphabet has announced its acquisition of data center and energy infrastructure provider Intersect for 4.75 billion dollars. This move is part of Alphabet's strategy to bolster its computing and energy capabilities amidst an increasing demand driven by artificial intelligence developments. Meanwhile, the German government is poised to receive support from the European Commission for energy price aid aimed at sustaining manufacturing sectors dealing with high operational costs. Initiatives include capping energy prices for smaller companies, which further underscores the EU's focus on protecting industries from external competition. On the global stage, Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said on Tuesday he was "sad" about U.S. President Donald Trump's renewed expression of interest in acquiring the Arctic territory.
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    3 min
  • Prysmian recycles the future as copper hits records - Dec 22, 2025

    Prysmian recycles the future as copper hits records - Dec 22, 2025
    Dec 22 2025
    As of December 22, today’s news is dominated by Prysmian’s strategic partnership with Eni's Versalis, alongside significant developments in the industrial and energy sectors. Prysmian and Versalis, Eni’s chemical company, have signed a strategic partnership to give new life to plastic cable scrap, through an innovative chemical recycling process, developing a dedicated supply chain, the company said in a statement. Following this agreement, Prysmian will collect plastic scrap from its own production as well as from decommissioned cables coming from major customers, while Versalis will use its Hoop technology at its Mantua plant, Italy, to transform the scrap first into a pyrolysis oil, and then into a new material for new plastic polymers. Prysmian will then use these polymers in the production of new high-performance cables. Meanwhile, after a year marked by tariff uncertainty, Europe’s industrial giants are expecting a solid 2026 as the data center buildout continues, electrification demand accelerates and manufacturing activity recovers. The Stoxx Europe 600 industrials index is expected to deliver earnings-per-share growth of almost 13% next year, compared to 6.6% growth in 2025, Bloomberg Intelligence data shows. Expectations are particularly high for the companies exposed to artificial intelligence infrastructure – including Prysmian, Schneider Electric and Siemens Energy. Turning to market updates, Nexans has entered exclusive negotiations to sell its Autoelectric division to Samvardhana Motherson International Limited for a deal valued at 207 million euros. This sale marks a strategic step in Nexans’s shift towards focusing on electrification, having divested various non-electrification businesses since 2023. The Autoelectric division, based in Germany, specializes in wiring solutions for the automotive sector, realizing approximately 749 million euros in annual sales. On the materials front, copper prices surged to record highs spurred by supply concerns and speculative trading. Benchmark prices on the London Metal Exchange reached nearly 11,996 dollars per metric ton, reflecting a 36% increase this year due to ongoing disruptions in mining operations and a tightening supply landscape. From an international perspective, US intelligence reports continue to warn that Russian President Vladimir Putin has not abandoned his aims of capturing all of Ukraine and reclaiming parts of Europe that belonged to the former Soviet empire, six sources familiar with U.S. intelligence said, even as negotiators seek an end to the war that would leave Russia with far less territory.
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    3 min
  • Copper rallies as AI chips face new scrutiny - Dec 19, 2025

    Copper rallies as AI chips face new scrutiny - Dec 19, 2025
    Dec 19 2025
    As of December 19, today’s news sees relevant developments in copper pricing and the artificial intelligence sector. Copper prices exhibited a notable increase today, buoyed by investor speculation surrounding potential U.S. interest rate cuts following slower consumer inflation reports. The most active copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange appreciated by 0.46%, although it concluded the week 1.07% lower overall. Meanwhile, the London Metal Exchange saw its benchmark three-month copper price rise by 0.29% to 11,812 dollars per ton, ending the week 2.53% higher. These fluctuations come amid a backdrop of ongoing supply constraints in the copper market, highlighted by bullish forecasts from Goldman Sachs. The firm reiterated its long-term outlook, predicting significant demand growth and targeting a price of 15,000 dollars per ton by 2035. In broader global scenarios, the U.S. administration has initiated a review of Nvidia's advanced AI chip sales to China, which could potentially mark a pivotal shift in technology trade relations. This development is being closely monitored amid concerns that such transactions might enhance China's military capabilities and affect U.S. advantages in AI technology. Elsewhere, as the Trump administration faces a deadline to release documents related to the investigations into Jeffrey Epstein, there is mounting anticipation regarding the implications of these disclosures on political narratives in the U.S.
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    2 min
  • Prysmian lights Milan as markets and politics shift - Dec 18, 2025

    Prysmian lights Milan as markets and politics shift - Dec 18, 2025
    Dec 18 2025
    As of December 18, today’s news includes a corporate initiative by Prysmian aimed at celebrating its deep-rooted connection with the Milanese district of Bicocca through a series of symbolic holiday installations, and critical discussions among EU leaders regarding Ukraine. Prysmian has decided to mark the upcoming holiday season by underlining its historic links with Milan’s Bicocca district. Prysmian has marked the occasion by lighting a Christmas Tree in the middle of the Piazza Torre Breda, a place where thousands of residents, office workers and shoppers pass year-round. Prysmian has also illuminated over 4km of road, connecting the centre of the city to Bicocca – Viale Fulvio Testi – with colours and messages to underscore the spirit of energy, togetherness and home for visits coming into and leaving both Milan and the district this winter. Meanwhile, by 2025, Terna expects to bring into operation development infrastructure worth around 800 million euros. The results recorded over the year confirm the company’s commitment to strengthening the security and resilience of Italy’s national transmission grid, in support of the country’s energy transition. Since 2023, the value of projects delivered into full operation has exceeded 2 billion euros. Turning to international markets, China's Commerce Ministry announced new streamlined export licenses for rare earth elements, aiming to expedite shipments of these critical materials. While some exporters have met the basic requirements for permits, European firms have not confirmed receipt of such licenses yet, although discussions about them are ongoing within the European Commission. In the technology sector, Micron Technology's shares surged nearly 16% following a compelling profit forecast, fueled by a global memory chip shortage driven by strong demand from AI data centers. Traders indicated that prices in this segment are rising significantly, benefiting not just Micron but also its competitors. On another front, the European Union conducted a crucial summit to discuss the possibility of utilizing frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine's war efforts. EU leaders are under pressure to demonstrate unity and resolve, given their ongoing need to finance Ukraine amid geopolitical tensions. The European Commission has proposed leveraging these assets, mainly held in Belgium, to secure loans for Kyiv.
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    3 min
  • Year in Review with Massimo Battaini, Prysmian CEO

    Year in Review with Massimo Battaini, Prysmian CEO
    Dec 18 2025
    Leadership Talks – a Prysmian podcast created to share insights and discuss the latest news with our leadership team. In this episode, Massimo Battaini, Prysmian CEO offers a recap of the past year, reflecting on key achievements and challenges.
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    8 min
  • Cooling UK inflation, heating pp the AI chip wars - Dec 17, 2025

    Cooling UK inflation, heating pp the AI chip wars - Dec 17, 2025
    Dec 17 2025
    As of December 17, today’s news sees developments in inflation trends in the UK and strategic moves by major corporations in the tech and energy sectors. British inflation fell much more sharply than forecast in November to 3.2%, its lowest since March, from 3.6% in October, official data showed today, cementing market expectations that the Bank of England will cut interest rates on Thursday. Meanwhile, Alphabet's Google is working on a new initiative to make its artificial intelligence chips better at running PyTorch, the world’s most widely used AI software framework, in a move aimed at weakening Nvidia's longstanding dominance of the AI computing market, according to people familiar with the matter. Turning to market updates, Nexans has completed its acquisition of Electro Cables, reinforcing its low-voltage solutions segment in North America. This acquisition, fully financed in cash, is expected to be accretive to earnings from year one. Furthermore, copper prices showed a notable rise, driven by mixed U.S. labor market data which revealed a rebound in job growth. The most-traded copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange increased by 0.49%, while the benchmark three-month copper price on the London Metal Exchange rose by 1.15%. This uptick suggests a correlation with improved economic conditions and rising demand for the metal. From the international front, Amazon is reportedly in negotiations to invest around 10 billion dollars in OpenAI, which could elevate OpenAI's valuation above 500 billion dollars. This potential investment demonstrates the fierce competition in the AI sector for computing resources, with other notable players like Nvidia and Oracle already having substantial deals with OpenAI. Conversely, Oracle has faced obstacles in its data center plans as Blue Owl Capital has withdrawn from a 10 billion dollars deal intended to fund a new facility, amid concerns about Oracle's rising debt linked to AI expenditures. Finally, a strategic development in the semiconductor sector comes from China, where engineers have reportedly created a prototype machine capable of producing advanced semiconductor chips, aiming to compete against Western technology, Reuters has learned. This initiative underscores ongoing tensions and competition in the global tech arena.
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    3 min
  • Prysmian soars as peace pressures defense shares - Dec 16, 2025

    Prysmian soars as peace pressures defense shares - Dec 16, 2025
    Dec 16 2025
    As of December 16, today’s news highlights contrasting moves in European equities, with analyst upgrades supporting Prysmian while defense stocks come under pressure amid geopolitical developments. UBS has reaffirmed its Buy rating on Prysmian and raised its target price to 105 euros. The bank emphasized Prysmian's strong anticipated growth in EBIT until 2027-28 within the electrification sector and pointed out opportunities arising from a robust order book, strong demand in the United States, and exposure to structural trends such as electric grids and data centers. Meanwhile, Fincantieri shares dropped as much as 9.9% in Milan trading, with other European defense stocks declining as well, after the U.S. offered Ukraine a security guarantee that could help bring the continent closer to peace. The Italian company also released its updated 2026–30 target: 2028 revenues at about 11 billion euros, Ebitda in the same period at about 930 million euros. In market developments, NKT announced the completion of an investment for a new test hall and capacity expansion at its site for cable accessories in Sweden. In the broader energy scenario, the European Commission is set to make concessions regarding its planned ban on new combustion-engine vehicles from 2035. Intense pressure from key automotive nations such as Germany and Italy has led to proposals allowing the continued sale of certain non-electric vehicles, marking a shift that reflects the challenges facing the electric vehicle (EV) transition. The change acknowledges industry concerns over competitiveness compared to EV powerhouses like Tesla and manufacturers from China. Corporate movements in the oil and gas sector also captured attention, particularly as Shell's chief of mergers, Greg Gut, left the company following the blocking of a proposed acquisition of BP. This development underscores the complexities within the industry as major players reassess their strategies. Meanwhile, in Italy, the offshore wind energy initiative is facing delays due to bureaucratic hurdles, raising concerns over the country's climate objectives and impacting investor sentiment. As the transition toward electric vehicles unfolds, companies like Ford are facing substantial challenges, recently announcing a writedown related to its electric vehicle programs as it shifts focus amid market pressures. This highlights a growing theme of uncertainty across the sector as key players navigate the path forward. Globally, ongoing tensions and diplomatic efforts are significant. An International Claims Commission has been established to address damages from the ongoing war in Ukraine, reflecting Europe's commitment to ensuring accountability for Russian actions.
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    3 min