Indonesia and US firms sign trade, investment agreements worth $7 billion
The U.S. ASEAN Business Council reported that Indonesian & U.S. firms signed 'trade and investment agreements worth more than $7 bn? on Wednesday, a day before Indonesian President Prabowo?Subianto meets with U.S. president Donald Trump for a meeting to sign a final deal. According to a U.S. ASEAN Business Council fact sheet, the agreements were signed during a dinner hosted by U.S. Chamber of Commerce for Prabowo. They include Indonesian companies purchasing 1 million metric tonnes of U.S.
What's in the EU's proposed 'Made in Europe' law draft?
Next week, the European Commission will introduce a new law requiring a minimum percentage of products to be "made in Europe" when using public money to support 'key strategic technologies. Why do it? Why do it? Prioritizing European-made products in public contracts will allow the EU to leverage the financial power of public procurement, which is more than 2 trillion euro ($2.37 trillion), or 14% of EU output. What will the law do?
French and Benelux stocks: Factors to watch
Here are some company news and stories that could have a significant impact on markets in France and Benelux or individual stocks. Aeroports de Paris, the French airport operator, reported a 7.8 million passenger increase in January for Paris, while group traffic reached 29.5 millions passengers, an increase of 5.0 percent. EIFFAGE: French concessions and construction company Eiffage will strengthen its presence in Germany by acquiring the assets of Claus Heinemann Elektroanlagen.
Siemens Energy investors claim that the spin-off of wind units is premature
In response to an activist investor who called for a split-up, three major Siemens Energy shareholders said that the company should fix its?loss making wind turbine division first before considering a separation. Comments reflect the company's support for its strategy to stabilise the business before considering any strategic options. Ananym Capital, an activist shareholder from the United States, disclosed its stake in Siemens Energy in December.
Top Siemens Energy investors: Wind unit spin-off premature for now
Three of the largest Siemens Energy shareholders said that the company should fix its 'loss-making... wind turbine division, before considering a spin-off. They were responding to an activist investor who was pushing for a split-up. The comments show support for the current strategy of the company to stabilise the business and then look at strategic options. Ananym Capital, an activist shareholder in the United States, disclosed its stake in Siemens Energy in December.
US permits oil majors to resume Venezuelan operations and broadly approves new energy investment
The U.S. eased its sanctions against Venezuela's energy industry on?Friday. It issued two general licenses allowing global energy companies? to resume oil and?gas operations in the OPEC?member?and other companies?to negotiate??contracts? on investments in???new???energy operations?. The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control has issued a license allowing Chevron BP Eni Shell Repsol and Repsol resume their oil and gas operations. The second license is for companies to invest in Venezuelan oil or gas.
China's biotech licensing boom will reach record levels in 2026, as pipelines swell
As global drugmakers cut costs before patents expire, they are increasing their search for China's experimental medicines. Industry analysts predict that licensing deals this year will reach a new record. According to Pharmcube, the value of such deals signed by companies within Greater China - including Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan – rose tenfold from 2021, to an unprecedented $137.7 Billion. Mainland China is at the forefront of this search. Global drugmakers such as Novartis Merck and GSK signed major agreements in China last year.
Andy Home, Andy Home: The US and Canada are now working together to secure critical minerals.
The U.S. president Donald Trump just announced "Project Vault", an $12 billion stockpile of critical minerals intended to protect U.S. manufacturing companies from disruptions in supply. The U.S. will need help to fill the Vault with 60 minerals that are currently classified as "critical". The U.S. is reviving friend-shoring as it seeks to form a metal alliance with China to break its stranglehold on the metals at the heart of modern technology. The U.S. is more popular than ever.
Andy Home, Andy Home: The US and Canada are now working together to secure critical minerals.
The U.S. president Donald Trump just announced "Project Vault", an $12 billion stockpile of critical minerals intended to protect U.S. manufacturing companies from disruptions in supply. The U.S. will need help to fill up the Vault's 60 critical minerals. The friend-shoring game is back and with a vengeance. As the U.S. tries to build a metal alliance to loosen China’s grip on the metals at the core of modern technology. The U.S. has more friends now than ever.
Executives warn that Europe could lose its nascent green hydrogen industry to China
The fledgling green hydrogen industry in Europe is calling on the EU to introduce "made-in-Europe" requirements for spending public money on the sector. They warn that without the support needed to scale up quickly, the domestic producers will be overtaken by their Chinese competitors. In 2025, the industry suffered a severe blow as many projects were cancelled or postponed due to high energy prices in Europe and the cheaper hydrogen derived from fossil fuels.
RWE looks to buy LNG from ADNOC in Germany as it moves to diversify its supply
RWE signed a preliminary agreement with Abu Dhabi National Oil Company on Friday. The German utility stated that it could purchase LNG for European markets as Berlin strives to diversify their energy partners. The German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has been visiting the Gulf region to look for new energy sources, and to reduce the country's dependency on the United States, its dominant supplier. RWE is not only a power producer but also a trader of gas and LNG and an energy 'importer.
Maguire: China tightens its grip on clean tech with growing exports of EVs.
China's position as the world leader in clean technology is best illustrated by its EV exports. These will reach nearly $70 billion dollars in 2025, and span over 150 countries. Electric vehicles are a major part of China's manufacturing industry, and millions of people work in the various supply chains that support?clean cars? and their components. Over half of new cars in China are EVs. But as the domestic market slows, China's EV industry is likely to become more dependent on foreign markets.
Maguire: China tightens its grip on clean tech with EV export growth.
China's position as a global leader in clean technology is best illustrated by its massive EV exports. These will reach nearly $70 billion dollars in 2025, and span well?over 150 different countries and territories. Electric vehicles are a major part of China's manufacturing industry, and millions of people work in the various supply chains that support clean cars. Over half of new cars in China are EVs. But as domestic demand declines, the country's EV industry is likely to be more dependent on foreign markets.
HMC Capital's share price in Australia rises after KKR invests in Energy Transition Platform
HMC Capital, a company based in Australia, announced on 'Friday that it had struck a deal with KKR managed funds to invest up A$603 (US$416.49 ) million in preferred equity into its Energy Transition Platform. This will increase its share price. HMC shares rose 7.7% intraday to A$4.34, their highest intraday increase since November 28, 2025. The investment will be backed by KKR’s Global Climate -Transition strategy and finance wind and battery storage projects that are essential to grid reliability –and Australia’s energy transition.
Glencore is in talks with a US-backed consortium to sell a 40% stake in DRC mining to Glencore
Glencore has been in discussions to sell a 40 percent stake in its copper-and-cobalt operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The assets are valued at $9 billion, including debt. The Orion Critical Mineral Consortium, led by Orion Resource Partners, a private equity fund, and the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation are seeking a combined stake of 40% in Glencore’s Mutanda Mining (KCC) and Kamoto Copper Company projects.
Chinese solar stocks jump on news of Musk's visit, but some firms deny cooperating
Chinese solar shares rose on Wednesday, after local media reported Elon 'Musk sent delegations to visit various companies. This was days after Elon announced plans to build a large-scale?cell capacity for the U.S. The CSI All Share Solar Power Equipment Sub-Industry Index grew 3.61%, while the CSI SH-HK-SZ Solar Power 50 Index grew 3.22%. According to a report published by Sina Finance on Tuesday, citing sources from the Chinese solar industry, a team sent by Musk visited several photovoltaic companies in China.
Goldwind Science under investigation by EU for possible subsidies
The EU launched an investigation into Goldwind Science and?Technology, a Chinese wind turbine manufacturer, on Tuesday after claiming that it received foreign subsidies which gave it an unfair edge in Europe. The European Commission took this action after a group of Chinese wind turbine suppliers were asked for information under the EU’s Foreign Subsidies Regulation, which targets unfair state aid from abroad. The major European turbine manufacturers?Vestas Energy…
Siemens Energy CEO: spin-off wind business idea is valid, but first turnaround must be achieved
Siemens Energy CEO, said on Tuesday that it is reasonable for activist investors Ananym Capital?to push?for the spin-off of a loss-making division of wind turbines?of the firm. Ananym, a U.S. company, said it took a stake in Siemens Energy in December and asked the management to review its wind division, Siemens Gamesa. It claimed that the division could be worth up to $10 billion and a spinoff would increase investor returns by 60 percent.
Holm, CFO of green steel startup Stegra, has been appointed to the position in order to raise additional funds
Swedish green steel startup Stegra announced on Monday that it had appointed Markus Holm to the position of chief financial officer. The company is scrambling?to raise additional cash in order to complete its hydrogen-based'steel plant' in northern Sweden. In Europe, many green steel projects are being delayed or have run into problems because the technology is still new and the investment costs are high. Stegra originally planned to open the plant in this year but will now do so by 2027.
Top tax official: India monitors evolving crypto-trading to ensure tax compliance
India has been in contact with cryptocurrency exchanges for a while to gauge the changing trading activities. It is also seeking to monitor newer crypto products. India does not regulate cryptocurrencies. However, global crypto exchanges like Binance, Coin DCX and Zebpay, which are registered with the government, operate in India. The central bank of Asia's third largest economy has warned against the risks associated with crypto trading and imposed punitive tax on gains from cryptocurrencies.