Prysmian-Molex deal lifts investor confidence - 21 Jul 2026

As of July 21, today’s news sees again Prysmian's promising agreement with Molex and significant developments in the energy sector, particularly in China and the UK. Yesterday, Prysmian has secured a strong deal with Molex, which analysts view as a crucial enhancement to its data connectivity solutions for data centers. Jefferies analyst Lucas Ferhani highlighted that this agreement not only addresses a gap in Prysmian's offerings but also boosts investor confidence in its digital solutions segment. Additionally, the deal exceeded expectations, suggesting that the company's recovery from recent share weakness is underway. Today, Prysmian's shares rose by 4.3%, trading at 130.4 euros. Turning to the larger energy context, a report from Global Energy Monitor revealed that while China is leading the world in constructing large-scale wind and solar energy projects, its heavy reliance on coal for transmission remains a significant barrier. Currently, coal accounts for 42% of the energy transmitted through China's ultra-high voltage direct current (UHVDC) network, while only 20% comes from renewables. The report indicates that China must proceed with additional UHVDC lines to match its ambitious renewable energy goals by 2030, as the country plans to generate 315 GW of capacity requiring outbound transmission. Analysts suggested that augmenting renewable projects with energy storage, rather than coal, would represent a meaningful progress. In the UK, newly appointed Prime Minister Andy Burnham is acting quickly to alleviate the cost-of-living crisis by proposing a tax cut on domestic electricity bills. This move will be funded by the cancellation of an expensive digital ID program, though there are concerns regarding its long-term efficacy, especially in light of rising gas prices influenced by geopolitical tensions. Analysts have observed that while the initiative is a positive step, it fails to comprehensively address the wider financial challenges facing consumers. From an international standpoint, tensions are escalating following recent military exchanges between the U.S. and Iran. The U.S. military launched strikes on Iranian sites in response to casualties among American troops, prompting Iranian retaliations targeting U.S. infrastructure in the Gulf. This volatility raises further apprehensions about global energy supplies and could contribute to an increase in oil prices, reigniting scrutiny among investors focused on geopolitical stability.