Prysmian secures €5.5bn Molex data center deal - 20 Jul 2026

As of July 20, today’s news is dominated by Prysmian's significant new agreement and key developments in global markets, particularly relating to energy and technology sectors. Prysmian has signed an up to 5.5 billion euros long-term agreement, which includes a 550 million euros upfront payment, with Molex, part of the large private U.S. company Koch Inc., for a period of up to ten years, for the supply of optical cables to be deployed inside data centers, the company said in a statement. The deal with Molex is part of an overall set of new agreements and commercial initiatives with hyperscalers and data center infrastructure providers, foreseen to bring in an additional cumulative value of over 10 billion euros on an incremental basis up to 2035, versus the 2025 baseline. This includes up to 1.1 billion euros of Revenues on a yearly basis from 2031. To support this growth, Prysmian will implement a significant expansion in capacity for optical cables and fiber, which will more than double fiber capacity in the U.S. versus the current baseline. In other market news, European stocks were broadly affected by geopolitical tensions, particularly regarding threats of maritime blockades from Yemen's Houthi rebels against Saudi Arabia, which heightened fears over global energy supplies. The Stoxx 600 index saw a slight decline of 0.3%, led by a drop in shares of Ryanair, which reported a significant decline in profits amidst soaring oil prices influenced by ongoing Middle East conflicts. Turning to broader scenarios, maritime tensions in the Strait of Hormuz remain concerning as a reduction in vessel traffic was noted amid escalating assaults between the U.S. and Iran. Reports indicate a small number of ships made crossings over the weekend, with both countries' military operations jeopardizing shipping routes critical for global oil trade. This instability has resulted in fluctuations in oil prices, which briefly spiked above 90 dollars per barrel. Elsewhere in the world, newly appointed British Prime Minister Andy Burnham expressed his commitment to revitalize the UK’s economic framework during a period of political instability. He focused on domestic issues and has pledged to release a comprehensive economic plan in the upcoming months.