News 23 March 2026

Goldman Sachs Raises Brent, WTI Oil Forecasts Despite 11% Oil Drop on Iran Talk Hopes
···

Goldman Sachs Raises Brent, WTI Oil Forecasts Despite 11% Oil Drop on Iran Talk Hopes

Goldman Sachs raised its 2026 Brent crude forecast to $85 a barrel, citing ongoing disruption in the Strait of Hormuz and increased stockpiling. The bank warned oil could briefly hit $135 if Hormuz flows remain blocked for 10 weeks. Brent fell 10.9% to $99.94 after President Trump postponed strikes on Iran, but executives said risks remain. Iran denied any talks with the U.S.
March 23, 2026
African ministers snub London Africa Energies Summit as local content row deepens
···

African ministers snub London Africa Energies Summit as local content row deepens

The African Energy Chamber said Monday that African petroleum ministers will boycott May’s Africa Energies Summit in London over local content and representation concerns. Mozambique’s chamber had already withdrawn. The summit, billed as Africa’s top oil and gas conference, is set to proceed, with organizers still listing major speakers and promoting local content partnerships.
March 23, 2026
Shell and BP Looked Like the FTSE 100’s Only Clear Oil Bets. Then Brent Fell Below $100
···

Shell and BP Looked Like the FTSE 100’s Only Clear Oil Bets. Then Brent Fell Below $100

Shell shares fell 4.2% and BP dropped 2.2% Monday as Brent crude settled just below $100 after President Trump delayed strikes on Iranian power plants. The FTSE 100 closed down 0.2%. Brent had spiked to $119 last week after Iran struck Qatar’s Ras Laffan LNG complex. UK government officials met as gilt yields hit their highest since 2008 and investors trimmed interest rate hike expectations.
March 23, 2026
ASX Falls, Fuel Security Fears Grip Australia as Iran Threats Whipsaw Oil and Stocks
···

ASX Falls, Fuel Security Fears Grip Australia as Iran Threats Whipsaw Oil and Stocks

Australian stocks fell sharply Monday as the Iran war disrupted energy markets and triggered renewed concerns over fuel security. Energy Minister Chris Bowen said six fuel cargoes to Australia had been cancelled or delayed, though some were replaced. The ASX 200 closed down 0.7% after earlier losses of nearly 2%. Brent crude ended down 10.9% after President Trump paused planned strikes on Iran.
March 23, 2026
Smartphone Storage to Jump as On-Device AI Uses Up to 60GB, Adding to Phone Price Pressure

Smartphone Storage to Jump as On-Device AI Uses Up to 60GB, Adding to Phone Price Pressure

Average smartphone storage is projected to rise 4.8% in 2026, despite NAND flash memory prices nearly tripling over the past year, according to TrendForce. On-device AI features now require 40GB to 60GB of system storage, prompting brands to increase base capacities. Analysts expect higher memory costs to push up handset prices and reduce demand, especially for lower-end models.
March 23, 2026
AI Simulations Are Reshaping Renewable Power Output — and Energy Stocks Are Taking Notice
···

AI Simulations Are Reshaping Renewable Power Output — and Energy Stocks Are Taking Notice

Hitachi Energy launched its HMAX Energy suite for utilities and data centers as Nvidia and Emerald AI announced partnerships with major U.S. power firms to develop AI-driven data centers. At CERAWeek, Google warned U.S. energy supply may lag as data centers could reach 9% of U.S. electricity use by 2030. Siemens and Nvidia are expanding digital twin tools for grid and renewable optimization. Shares of Nvidia, NextEra, Vistra, and Constellation rose.
March 23, 2026
Fusion Energy Startups Go Public as AI Boom Accelerates Investment in Clean Power Stocks
···

Fusion Energy Startups Go Public as AI Boom Accelerates Investment in Clean Power Stocks

General Fusion will go public via a $1 billion SPAC merger, while TAE Technologies plans a $6 billion all-stock tie-up with Trump Media & Technology Group. Fusion investment rose $2.64 billion in the year through July 2025. Data centers could drive U.S. electricity demand to 9% by 2030. Fusion remains far from commercialization as regulators review new rules.
March 23, 2026
Next-Gen Smartphones Push Toward 256GB as On-Device AI Demands More Space
···

Next-Gen Smartphones Push Toward 256GB as On-Device AI Demands More Space

Smartphone makers will boost built-in storage in 2026 despite rising flash-memory costs, with average handset capacity up 4.8%, according to TrendForce. Apple’s iPhone 17 starts at 256GB, while Samsung raised U.S. prices on its Galaxy S26 lineup. DRAM contract prices are set to jump up to 95% this quarter. Gartner forecasts smartphone prices could rise 13% by year-end as memory costs surge.
March 23, 2026
AI Could Lift Europe’s Productivity by More Than 4% in 10 Years, ECB Says
···

AI Could Lift Europe’s Productivity by More Than 4% in 10 Years, ECB Says

ECB chief economist Philip Lane said artificial intelligence could boost euro-zone productivity by over 4 percentage points in the next decade if adoption spreads quickly, but warned a prolonged energy shock could limit gains. ECB staff last week cut the 2026 growth forecast to 0.9% and raised the inflation outlook as energy costs rose. Only 3% of euro-area patents relate to AI, compared to 9% in the U.S.
March 23, 2026
Clean Energy Incentives Return as EU Clears Denmark Wind Aid, France Hydrogen Support Amid Energy Price Shock
···

Clean Energy Incentives Return as EU Clears Denmark Wind Aid, France Hydrogen Support Amid Energy Price Shock

The European Commission approved a €5 billion Danish aid plan for two offshore wind farms and a French package to support 1 GW of renewable hydrogen, both using long-term contracts. Denmark’s program covers Hesselø and North Sea I Mid, together supplying about a quarter of the country’s electricity. The French plan will fund hydrogen electrolysis projects through three tenders.
March 23, 2026
Why Smartphone Storage Is Set to Rise in 2026 as AI Demands More On-Device Power
···

Why Smartphone Storage Is Set to Rise in 2026 as AI Demands More On-Device Power

Average smartphone storage capacity will rise 4.8% in 2026 despite higher NAND memory prices, TrendForce said Monday. AI features now require 40–60 GB of local storage, pushing premium models like Apple’s iPhone 17 and Samsung’s Galaxy S26 to 256 GB minimums. Gartner expects smartphone prices to increase 13% by late 2026, with lower-end demand under pressure.
March 23, 2026
AI Boom Forces Urgent Energy Expansion as Google Warns of U.S. Power Crunch, Power Stocks Gain
···

AI Boom Forces Urgent Energy Expansion as Google Warns of U.S. Power Crunch, Power Stocks Gain

Google warned Monday that U.S. electricity supply is lagging behind AI-driven demand, forcing tech firms to adjust data center plans. The U.S. Energy Information Administration projects national electricity load to rise 1.9% in 2026 and 2.5% in 2027, after a record in 2025. Google expanded demand response contracts to secure up to 1 gigawatt of flexible load. SoftBank and AEP plan a 10-gigawatt AI campus and 9.2-gigawatt gas plant in Ohio.
March 23, 2026
AI-Driven Platforms Enable Telecoms to Launch New ‘As-a-Service’ Digital Experiences, Putting Software Shares in Focus

AI-Driven Platforms Enable Telecoms to Launch New ‘As-a-Service’ Digital Experiences, Putting Software Shares in Focus

Circles and Huawei announced a global partnership to deliver AI-native telecom software as Telkomsel migrated 2.5 million by.U users to Circles’ cloud platform with no downtime. IDC forecasts global telecom capex will drop 1.5% in 2026 to $320 billion. Amdocs, Nokia, and Calix shares rose after unveiling new AI telecom software deals. Telkomsel and Circles said more user migrations are planned.
March 23, 2026
Amazon’s Secret ‘Transformer’ Smartphone Aims to Reinvent Mobile With AI as AMZN Stock Climbs
···

Amazon’s Secret ‘Transformer’ Smartphone Aims to Reinvent Mobile With AI as AMZN Stock Climbs

Amazon shares climbed 3.2% to $211.85 Monday after reports it is developing an AI-focused smartphone codenamed “Transformer.” The device, led by former Microsoft executive J Allard’s ZeroOne group, could sync with Alexa and expand Amazon’s services but may still be shelved. Amazon declined to comment. The move comes as the company defends a $200 billion AI infrastructure plan and faces a shrinking smartphone market.
March 23, 2026
CERAWeek 2026: Google, Nvidia and Energy CEOs Tackle AI Power Demand as Constellation, Vistra, NextEra Stocks Rise
···

CERAWeek 2026: Google, Nvidia and Energy CEOs Tackle AI Power Demand as Constellation, Vistra, NextEra Stocks Rise

AI-driven data center power demand dominated CERAWeek as Google’s Ruth Porat warned the U.S. was lagging on energy, and Nvidia announced new partnerships with major utilities. The Energy Information Administration expects U.S. electricity use to hit records in 2026 and 2027, with data centers projected to reach 9% of demand by 2030. NextEra and SoftBank announced major gas-fired projects for AI campuses. Energy stocks rose during the conference.
March 23, 2026
Global Push to Revive Clean Energy Incentives Gains Momentum as EU Backs Wind, Hydrogen Amid Oil Shock
···

Global Push to Revive Clean Energy Incentives Gains Momentum as EU Backs Wind, Hydrogen Amid Oil Shock

The European Commission approved €5 billion in Danish offshore wind subsidies and support for 1 GW of French hydrogen production on Monday. The Danish scheme will fund two wind farms expected to supply a quarter of Denmark’s electricity, while France’s hydrogen aid will be allocated through three tenders. The moves come as Brent crude trades near $101 a barrel and the EU seeks to shield itself from energy shocks.
March 23, 2026
New Ai+ Nova Series Signals Shift Toward Personalized, AI-Driven Smartphone Experiences in India

New Ai+ Nova Series Signals Shift Toward Personalized, AI-Driven Smartphone Experiences in India

Ai+ Smartphone will launch the Nova 2 and Nova 2 Ultra 5G in India on April 9, with three more Nova models to follow. The Nova 2 Ultra features customizable rear lighting, while prices remain undisclosed. Ai+ recently signed a deal with Optiemus Electronics to manufacture 3 million devices in India. The launch comes as rising memory costs push brands to focus on software and AI features.
March 23, 2026
Microsoft Stock Rises as MicroLED Breakthrough Aims to Halve AI Data Center Power Use
····

Microsoft Stock Rises as MicroLED Breakthrough Aims to Halve AI Data Center Power Use

Microsoft last week unveiled a MicroLED-based optical cable design it says could cut power use for short-range AI data center links by up to 50%, targeting commercialization in late 2027. The cable, developed with MediaTek, uses imaging fiber and hundreds of data channels. Microsoft shares rose 1.2% to $386.60 Monday morning. Google expanded utility agreements for data center power curtailment, while Amazon warned of grid delays in Europe.
March 23, 2026
Rising NAND Prices Still Push Smartphone Storage Higher in 2026 as AI Drives 256GB Phones
···

Rising NAND Prices Still Push Smartphone Storage Higher in 2026 as AI Drives 256GB Phones

Average smartphone storage will rise 4.8% in 2026 as NAND flash prices surge, TrendForce said Monday. Brands are dropping low-capacity models and boosting storage for AI features, with Apple’s iPhone 17 now starting at 256GB. IDC warned higher memory costs could cut global smartphone shipments 12.9% next year. Gartner expects combined DRAM and SSD prices to climb 130% by late 2026.
March 23, 2026
1 … 124 125 126 127 128 … 351

Stock Market Today

  • WiseTech Global (WTC) Share Price Down 46.1% in 2025: Why Investors Still Eye ASX Tech Stocks
    May 27, 2026, 6:58 PM EDT. The WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX:WTC) share price has declined 46.1% since early 2025, sparking renewed interest in this logistics software provider. WiseTech's flagship CargoWise platform dominates the freight forwarding sector, serving 24 of the top 25 global forwarders. Despite a weak five-year return of -1.62% for the S&P/ASX200 Info Tech Index, tech stocks attract investors due to high profit margins, recurring software-as-a-service revenue, and global scalability. WiseTech reports robust 84% gross margins and steady revenue growth. WTC's current price-to-sales ratio of 11.92x is well below its five-year average of 31.86x, indicating a potentially attractive valuation. Analysts recommend comprehensive valuation models for investment decisions beyond single metrics.