Ofgem has proposed rules requiring data centre projects to post substantial upfront fees or financial guarantees — for example letters of credit, performance bonds or cash deposits — and to meet tighter project milestones to prevent speculative projects from long-term occupation of grid connection queues. The regulator will publish a consultation on Wednesday setting out fee calculation, how the National Grid ESO would hold and manage the funds, and the circumstances in which projects could lose

Kyodo reported on the 29th, citing a senior Japanese government official, that deaths from the Kumamoto prefecture earthquake may have exceeded 10.

Goldman Sachs says the sharp sell-off in Japan AI-related stocks has created a buy opportunity and that strong earnings could revive interest in semiconductor names. Bruce Kirk, Goldman's chief Japan equity strategist, said the correction has lowered the earnings bar, making outperformance more price-moving, and that current levels look attractive to add positions absent a material deterioration in geopolitical risk. He added that earnings will ultimately decide the direction and that strong results at much lower price levels should refocus investors on the AI profit story. Goldman cautioned short-term volatility may persist: its prime-brokerage data show hedge funds' gross and net Japan exposures sit above the 98th percentile of their five-year ranges, a historically high level.