A-share computing power leasing concept stocks rebounded after fluctuating during the session, with Hongbo Co., Ltd. hitting the daily limit, and Zhenshitong, Aikelan, Rike Chemical, Baolande, Jinji Co., Ltd., Dawei Technology and Wangsu Technology a

From data centers to hydroelectric power plants, battery giant CATL is betting on potential future growth engines following the electric vehicle (EV) boom. According to analysts, since June of last year, at least seven equity investment deals led by CATL involving non-battery industries have been finalized, totaling over 17 billion yuan (approximately US$2.5 billion). These investments cover areas including humanoid robots, state-owned hydroelectric power plants, artificial intelligence data centers (AIDCs), and DeepSeek, a developer of large language models. Yang Jing, Director of Corporate Ratings for Asia Pacific at Fitch Ratings, stated, “As an industry leader, maintaining market share and profit margins requires identifying new high-growth frontiers as early as possible and seizing a first-mover advantage. AIDC (Autonomous Energy Distributed) possesses characteristics of high growth and high barriers to entry, thus it is expected to become the ‘third growth curve’ after electric vehicles and energy storage systems. If the demand for energy storage related to AIDC grows as rapidly as expected, CATL’s investments around AIDC will help it further consolidate its market dominance in the post-electric vehicle era.” Regarding investments in hydropower stations, Lucas Zhang, Director of WaterRock Energy Economics, a Hong Kong-based consulting firm, stated that these projects can provide CATL with lower-priced green electricity, helping the company reduce its carbon footprint to meet EU regulations and its own decarbonization goals. CATL may also become more deeply involved in the construction of industrial parks aiming for zero carbon emissions in the future, as battery energy storage systems are an important component of such projects.

Energy 1. Argentina's daily oil production hit a record high in July. 2. US media: The US seeks to acquire stakes in some Venezuelan oil fields. 3. Deepening relations with the US, Venezuela reportedly plans to withdraw from OPEC. 4. Qatar Energy sold at least 7 million barrels of crude oil for October loading. 5. Goldman Sachs: Persian Gulf oil exports have recovered to about two-thirds of pre-war levels. 6. Sources: The Trump administration is considering increasing biofuel quotas by 500 million gallons in 2027. 7. With surging demand in Asia, Brazil's state-owned oil company, Petrobras, is considering resuming liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports. 8. Market news: Qatar extends its force majeure order on Pakistani LNG until October. 9. According to Saudi Arabia's Al Arabiya TV: A senior Iranian official stated that due to the US naval blockade, Iran is unable to import enough fuel to compensate for insufficient domestic production. 10. EIA Natural Gas Report: As of the week ending August 21, total U.S. natural gas inventories stood at 3.184 trillion cubic feet, an increase of 15 billion cubic feet from the previous week. Agriculture/Mining 1. Russian media: Rusal plans to freeze some of its alumina assets. 2. Canada expands retaliatory tariffs on the U.S. by 50%, adding copper wire and charcoal. 3. Thai petrochemical giant: The oversupply situation in the petrochemical industry is beginning to ease. 4. Thai industry association: The Thai Ministry of Finance has no intention of imposing a gold tax in the near future. 5. Governor of the Bank of Thailand: Restrictions on gold trading may be further tightened. 6. Industry association: El Niño may lead to a 3 million-ton reduction in Indonesian palm oil production next year. 7. South African Finance Minister approves sugar price increase, raising the reference price for sugar from $680 to $785 per ton. Iran Situation 1. US military says it has cleared mines from the international shipping lanes of the Strait of Hormuz. 2. The US Department of Justice plans to reopen the arrest warrant for the seizure of Iranian oil tankers. 3. US media reports that the Trump administration has refused to return to the agreement reached with Iran in June. 4. Trump: The Strait of Hormuz is open; we had 24 ships pass through last night. 5. Iran's Oil Minister stated that despite reductions, Iran's offshore oil sales and deliveries have not stopped. 6. US Treasury Secretary Bessenter: In the past 14 days, the US has diverted 130 million barrels of oil out of the Strait of Hormuz, while Iran's crude oil exports have been zero. 7. Rezaei, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council: The mediators have requested Iran to propose conditions for opening the Strait of Hormuz; Tehran is preparing a list of these conditions.