Author: Money Mechanics

SoftBank Group announced today that it plans to spend up to €75 billion (around $87 billion) to expand data center capacity in France. The goal, the firm said, is to develop and operate up to 5 gigawatts of additional data center capacity. The first phase of the plan involves building data centers in Dunkirk (Loon-Plage), Bosquel, and Bouchain to deliver 3.1 gigawatts of capacity to the Hauts-de-France region by 2031. SoftBank, which is both an investor in and customer of OpenAI, says this will be its largest AI infrastructure investment in Europe. In a statement, French economic minister Roland Lescure described…

(BOE Report)- U.S. shale producers have the lowest stock of drilled-but-uncompleted wells on record, limiting their ability to move quickly to boost crude output and replace rapidly depleted oil inventories after exports and refinery processing jumped to plug the shortfall in supply caused by the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. Producers in the United States have increased exports to Asia and Europe since the conflict began and Iran effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz, bottling up most Middle Eastern oil supply. That has led to a rapid fall in U.S. stockpiles of oil. U.S. crude inventories fell 12.4 million barrels in…

A “double scar” of past inflation woes and geopolitical trauma is warping how consumers view the economy and threatening a drop-off in retail spending, new research from the European Central Bank showed.According to ECB researchers, euro area households have become more sensitive to the financial consequences of the Iran war due to cumulative economic wounds left behind by the post-pandemic inflation surge and the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, which resulted in soaring energy prices. “There is good reason to believe that consumer expectations are shaped not only by current developments, but also by memories of these recent adverse events,” they wrote…

One of the good things about equity markets is that investors can get started on a budget. With $20 or less, it’s possible to invest in companies with decent prospects. Let’s consider three such stocks: Rivian Automotive (NASDAQ: RIVN), SoFi Technologies (NASDAQ: SOFI), and Adyen (OTC: ADYEY). They have faced challenges recently, but at under $20 per share, these companies are worth a second look. Image source: Getty Images. Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a “Double Down” signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same “Total Conviction”…

enters the final session of May in recovery mode, edging higher toward the $4,500 mark per troy ounce in the early Friday session after rebounding from a two-month low struck in the prior trading day, when the metal sank toward the $4,360 support zone before buyers stepped in. The bounce follows reports that Washington and Tehran have reached a tentative agreement to extend their ceasefire by 60 days and open further talks on Iran’s nuclear program — a development that, counterintuitively for a safe-haven asset, has helped by undermining the U.S. dollar rather than by stoking fear. The price action…

In this edition of Just Listed–a series from Redfin News that explores homes that are listed by Redfin or Compass agents on Redfin.com–we’re exploring an unfinished estate in Maryland.  Set on more than 38 private acres in the rolling countryside of Howard County, MD, The Devlin Estate is listed for $5 million. The unfinished compound at 15125 Devlin Drive in Glenelg offers buyers a rare opportunity to complete a spacious, ultra-luxury estate tailored to their own vision.  “It has the kind of privacy and luxury that only over 32 acres and 32,000 square feet allows you to have. It’s a…

Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x (2026) pros and cons Pros Improved performanceFantastic displayExcellent keyboard, webcam, and buildGreat battery Cons Screen is very glossyBright display and high refresh affects batteryNot cheapFingerprint magnet Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.The aptly-named Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x is the epitome of a lightweight business laptop, with a vivid, 14-inch OLED display, solid stack of hardware, and great battery life. It’s a sleek package that weighs 2.8 pounds, with a dark blue finish that’s business-friendly yet versatile enough for mobile and hybrid workers alike. Also: Dell vs. Lenovo: I’ve tested dozens of laptops from both brands,…

(Oil & Gas 360) By Greg Barnett, MBA –  For years, America’s rare‑earth and critical‑minerals problem was framed as a single failure: too much dependence on China, too little domestic mining. That framing was incomplete. What is emerging now is not a race to simply dig faster. It is a coordinated effort to rebuild capability across an entire system—using defense procurement, oil and gas infrastructure, applied science, recycling, and allied partnerships to reduce exposure to markets that only function smoothly when geopolitical incentives align. This matters because the assumption that global supply chains will always remain neutral has weakened. Interdependence…

(Image credit: Getty Images)There’s a certain point every year when your home can feel like it’s bursting at the seams. Holiday decorations are stacked in corners, patio furniture and cushions are coming back out for the season, and somehow the closets that just felt organized are full again.That’s when a storage unit can feel like the perfect solution. It’s quick, convenient and creates extra space without forcing you to decide what to keep, donate or throw away. But storage isn’t as simple as packing things away and forgetting about them.What you put in a storage unit still matters. Some items…

(Image credit: Getty Images)You are the chief financial officer of your household. Big title, big responsibility. Day to day, you’re juggling bills, work, family … life.But what if something happens to you — or you and your spouse or partner? Who steps in? Will they know how and where to start?Most of us avoid these questions. They’re depressing. They’re overwhelming. But they’re not going away. We might think we have all the time in the world, but life happens fast and things don’t always go according to plan. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Become a smarter, better…