Saipem7 Rises, BYD Beats Tesla, Intel Eyes Apple - Sep 25, 2025

As of September 25, today’s news highlights significant developments in the energy and automotive sectors, alongside notable corporate moves and regulatory discussions. In a major corporate update, Saipem received approval from its shareholders for a merger with Norwegian contractor Subsea7, which will create an offshore energy services leader named Saipem7. The combined entity will boast an impressive order backlog of 43 billion euros and annual revenues approximating 21 billion euros, along with core earnings exceeding 2 billion euros. This merger reflects ongoing consolidation trends within the energy sector as companies adapt to evolving market demands. In the automotive sector, BYD has outsold Tesla in the European Union for the second consecutive month, considerably increasing its sales compared to August 2024. Stellantis has also returned to sales growth, showcasing a market rebound bolstered by the demand for plug-in hybrids and battery-electric vehicles, critical in navigating the ongoing competitive landscape shaped by new regulation and tariff considerations. Shifting to market dynamics, China is actively reviewing regulations concerning copper smelting capacity, according to the China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association. This inquiry arises from ongoing challenges posed by low processing fees that have diminished smelting profits, prompting calls for stricter controls on future capacity expansions. Meanwhile, Eni has officially finalized the sale of a 30% stake in the Baleine offshore project in Ivory Coast to Vitol. Eni now retains a 47.25% interest while Petroci holds the remaining 22.75%. This transaction exemplifies Eni's strategy to optimize its upstream portfolio by divesting equity stakes in line with its dual exploration model. Also in the market sector, BP said on Thursday it expects global oil demand to grow until 2030, five years later than its forecast a year ago, pointing to slowed efforts to increase energy efficiency and reduce global carbon emissions. The oil major's latest Energy Outlook, an annual study of energy trends through 2050, models two scenarios. On the technological front, Intel has sought investment from Apple as part of a strategy to stabilize its operations. After Nvidia's recent commitment to invest 5 billion dollars in Intel, the discussions with Apple, reportedly at an early stage, signify a potential collaboration amidst the ongoing challenges faced by the chipmaker. From a commodities perspective, copper prices have dipped after hitting a 15-month peak, influenced by easing concerns surrounding supply disruptions from Freeport-McMoRan’s Grasberg mine. Meanwhile, China has announced ambitious renewables goals, aiming to expand its wind and solar capacity significantly, although analysts express skepticism about the sufficiency of these commitments in the face of ongoing coal utilization. On an international scale, Qatar's Investment Authority is partnering with Blue Owl Capital to develop a 3 billion dollars data center platform, reflecting ongoing investment in digital infrastructure aligned with the global surge in demand for AI and cloud computing services. Simultaneously, former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been sentenced to five years in prison for criminal conspiracy, marking a significant political development in France.