Eos Energy Enterprises’ stock jumped over 60% in the last few days as investor enthusiasm grew around its scaling production and role in powering AI-driven infrastructure demand, according to the International Business Times.

The company designs, develops, manufactures, and markets energy storage solutions for utility-scale, microgrid, and commercial and industrial applications in the United States. The stock surge builds on earlier momentum after the company reported strong preliminary Q1 2026 revenue of $56–$57 million. Growth was fueled by higher shipments, improved output, and better manufacturing efficiency at its Pennsylvania facility, signaling progress in ramping up its second production line.

This positive update helped ease concerns from earlier setbacks, including missed 2025 revenue guidance and ongoing class-action lawsuits tied to production projections. While legal risks remain, recent operational gains have renewed investor confidence.

IBT writes that Eos is positioning itself to meet rising electricity demand from AI and data centers, highlighted by a new partnership aimed at rapidly deploying large-scale power solutions. Its zinc-based batteries—seen as safer, cheaper, and more domestically sourced than lithium alternatives—are gaining attention as utilities and tech firms seek reliable energy storage.

Looking ahead, the company expects 2026 revenue between $300 million and $400 million, with improving margins as production scales. A $701 million backlog supports future growth, though profitability, cash needs, and execution risks remain concerns.

Analysts are cautiously optimistic and broader market optimism and policy support for U.S.-based energy solutions have also contributed to the stock’s recent strength.

Overall, Eos appears to be at a turning point. Continued manufacturing progress and successful contract wins could solidify its position in the energy storage sector—but uncertainty and risk remain part of the story.

Following stellar equity trading results from Goldman and JPMorgan, this morning Bank of America reported that its traders also pulled in the business’s highest quarterly revenue in more than a decade, riding a wave of volatility that pushed the firm’s stock-trading desk to an all-time record. Bank of America said Q1 profit rose 17% from a year earlier, while net income came in at $8.58 billion. That amounted to $1.11 a share, above analyst estimates of $1.01. Revenue was 7% higher at $30.27 billion, driven by solid net interest income, sales and trading and investment banking fees. 

Revenue from equity trading climbed 30% to $2.8 billion in the first quarter, beating expectations, while fixed-income trading, which fell short of a consensus of analyst estimates, rose less than 1% to $3.5 billion, similar to Goldman’s FICC miss. Bank have benetted from a volatile quarter, when the Iran war sent oil prices surging and concerns about artificial intelligence and private credit whipsawed stocks. Trading desks were already on a roll since President Donald Trump won the 2024 election, as his policy moves often spurred reactions across stocks, commodities and rates. The total trading haul helped push revenue to $30.3BN, above the $29.92BN consensus estimate, while adjusted EPS rose 25% to $1.11 a share, also beating the $1.01 analyst estimate. Overall, Bank of America’s net income was up 17.3% to $8.16 billion.

Here are the Q1 highlights

• EPS $1.11, beating ests of $1.01
• Revenue net of interest expense $30.27 billion, beating estimates of $28.63 billion
  • Trading revenue excluding DVA $6.32 billion, estimate $6.34 billion
    • Equities trading revenue excluding DVA $2.83 billion, beating estimate $2.51 billion
    • FICC trading revenue excluding DVA $3.50 billion, missing estimate $3.78 billion
• Net interest income FTE $15.91 billion
• Wealth & investment management total revenue $6.71 billion, beating estimate $6.59 billion

Last month, BofA Co-President Dean Athanasia said that he was feeling good about net interest income, expecting growth of at least 7%. Well, the final number was even stronger, and the bank reported NII of $15.7 billion, up 9% from the first quarter of 2025 (more below). Just as importantly, BofA raised its full-year NII forecast, now expecting it to grow 6%–8%, up from previous estimates of 5%–7%, driven by strong first-quarter performance, and suggesting the Fed’s rate cuts won’t negatively impact the bank.

Balance sheet metrics were also solid

• Return on average equity 12%, estimate 10.8%
• Return on average assets 0.99%, estimate 0.92%
• Return on average tangible common equity 16%, estimate 14.5%
• Basel III common equity Tier 1 ratio fully phased-in, advanced approach 12.5%, estimate 12.7%
• Standardized CET1 ratio 11.2%, estimate 11.4%

Turning to asset quality, aside from some concerns about Private Credit (see below), the results were solid with BofA’s net charge-offs down 3% to $1.41 billion, below the estimate of $1.42 billion while the provision for credit losses also dropped to $1.34 billion, and also below estimates of $1.5 billion, and down $143MM YoY. As BBG notes, the number “came in way below estimates, offsetting larger-than-expected numbers for some of its peers. Overall, the combined tally is tracking lower than feared, helping soothe concerns about private-credit contagion into financials.” BofA also announced a net reserve release of $72MM in 1Q26 vs. net reserve build of $28MM in 1Q25 and $21MM in 4Q25. Meanwhile, the allowance for loan and lease losses of $13.1B represented 1.09% of total loans and leases. Nonperforming loans (NPLs) of $5.8B decreased $0.3B from 1Q25, and were flat to 4Q25, as higher consumer NPLs, driven by residential mortgage relief extended for borrowers impacted by 2025 California wildfires, were mostly offset by lower commercial NPLs. 

In its earnings presentation, BofA highlighted solid growth across most segments…

… and noted that every segment contributed to YoY growth.

Looking at the bank’s high margin trading businesses, results here were stellar in equities, and subpar in credit. Total revenue ex net DVA of $7.1B increased 8% from 1Q25, driven by higher sales and trading revenue, partially offset by the absence of gains related to leveraged finance positions in 1Q25. Sales and trading revenue of $6.4B increased 13% from 1Q25; excluding net DVA, up 12%

• Revenue net of interest expense $30.27 billion, beating estimates of $28.63 billion
  • Trading revenue excluding DVA $6.32 billion, estimate $6.34 billion
    • Equities trading revenue excluding DVA rose 20% to $2.83 billion, beating estimate $2.51 billion
    • FICC trading revenue excluding DVA rose 2% to  $3.50 billion, missing estimate $3.78 billion

As an aside, noninterest expense of $4.4B increased 15% vs. 1Q25, driven by higher revenue-related expenses and investments in the business, including people and technology. Lastly, average Q1 VaR tumbled to just $47MM in 1Q26 as even trading desks retrenched. 

Momentum in markets was coupled with a comeback in dealmaking: this boosted investment-banking revenue to $1.89 billion, above the  average estimate of $1.79 billion. Fees for advising on mergers and acquisitions rose to $553 million. The bank’s equity-capital markets business generated $353 million in revenue, while debt-underwriting revenue totaled $986 million, with both beating estimates. Analysts had expected revenue of $312 million and $963 million, respectively. 

The second-largest US bank said that net interest income, a key source of revenue for the company, rose 9% to $15.7 billion. Analysts had expected a 6.5% increase for NII, the revenue collected from loan payments minus what depositors are paid. Net Interest Yield dropped from 2.08% to 2.07% as a result of declining interest rates. 

The company’s loan balances rose 8.5% to $1.21 trillion at the end of the first quarter, above analysts’ estimates of $1.19 trillion. Lending has been a key focus for investors, with interest rates holding steady.

Bank of America’s noninterest expenses were up 4.3% to $18.5 billion from a year earlier. Charges and costs are another focal point for investors, with persistent inflation putting pressure on spending. Analysts had expected a 4% increase to $18.47 billion.

Earlier in the week, JPMorgan and Citigroup reported earnings that were boosted by record trading results. Wall Street banks have also been tallying and detailing their exposure to the private-credit industry, with many investors on edge over valuations and the growing impact of artificial intelligence.

Commenting on the state of the US consumer, CEO Brian Moynihan said consumer spending points to a “resilient American economy”, while also warning of risks. Earlier, JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon said “the U.S. economy remained resilient in the quarter, with consumers still earning and spending and businesses still healthy.” Wells Fargo CEO Charlie Scharf: “While markets have been volatile, we still see continued resiliency in the underlying economy and the financial health of the consumers and businesses we serve remains strong, though the impact of higher oil prices will likely take some time to materialize.”

Turning to the number one topic in banking these days, Bank of America disclosed $20 billion of private credit exposure, noting that typical advance rates on private credit and broadly syndicated loans are between 70% to 75%. The company said the underlying collateral of those loans are showing “strong” earnings and are often senior in the credit stack. BofA also noted that it has less than $2 billion in lending to BDC companies which have been the epicenter of the private credit meltdown. 

Bank of America’s results also offered a look at how US consumers fared during the first three months of the year with investors eager to hear details on the national economy from bank executives whose firms cater to America’s consumers and businesses. The bank noted that total credit and debit-card spending was up 6% in the first quarter, while consumers are facing pressure from higher gas prices: spending on gas was up 16% in March from a year earlier.

“We remain watchful of evolving risks,” CEO Brian Moynihan said in a statement. “However, we saw healthy client activity, including solid consumer spending and stable asset quality, indicating a resilient American economy.” Earlier this week, JPMorgan, Citigroup and Wells Fargo also said consumer spending was holding up despite surging gas prices.

Shares of Charlotte, North Carolina-based Bank of America, rose about 4% to $55 in early trading Wednesday, a two month high. They’ve gained 45% in the 12 months through Tuesday, outpacing the 9.8% increase in the S&P 500 Financials Index.

The full BofA Q1 presentation is below (pdf link)

The Presentation Materials_1Q26 by Zerohedge

Federal prosecutors on Tuesday made a surprise visit to the Federal Reserve headquarters building that’s undergoing a $2.5 billion renovation, as they continue to investigate whether Fed Chair Jerome Powell lied to Congress about the cost and scope of the project. Construction workers told the prosecutors they couldn’t come on the site without prior authorization, the Wall Street Journal reported. Instead, they were referred to the Fed’s lawyers to coordinate a return visit.  

The provocative move is the latest chapter in a months-long legal drama over the enormously expensive renovation of two Fed office buildings built in the 1930s, and whether Powell made false statements about the project in a congressional hearing last June. Specifically, Powell disputed media reports and accusations from administration officials and congressional Republicans that the project had extravagant design features, such as a VIP dining room, premium marble, water features and a rooftop terrace garden. 

Last year, Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought reported that the $2.5 billion cost was $700 million over budget. President Trump, who has repeatedly criticized Powell for not pushing interest even lower than they are, was quick to condemn the Fed director for the steep price of the project. “When you spend $2.5 billion on, really, a renovation, I think it’s really disgraceful,” he said last year. More recently, he said the lead contractor “is probably one of the richest men in the country right now.”

The ongoing drama had a moment of comic relief in July, when Trump joined Powell in touring the construction site with reporters tagging along: 

JUST IN: President Trump starts arguing with a clearly uncomfortable Jerome Powell as the two wear their hard hats.

Trump: So we’re taking a look and it looks like it’s about 3.1 billion.

Powell: I’m not aware of that.

Trump: Yeah, it just came out.

Powell: Yeah, I haven’t… pic.twitter.com/CKAAvd0lvp

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) July 24, 2025

Last month, US District Judge James Boasberg threw out two subpoenas that federal prosecutors had issued to the Fed. “There is abundant evidence that the subpoenas’ dominant (if not sole) purpose is to harass and pressure Powell either to yield to the President or to resign and make way for a Fed Chair who will,” wrote Boasberg, an Obama appointee. Tuesday’s surprise visit to the construction zone signals the DOJ’s dedication to chasing the case. 

“Any construction project that has cost overruns of almost 80 percent over the original construction budget deserves some serious review,” US Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro told the Journal on Tuesday. “And these people are in charge of monetary policy in the United States?” Pirro, a long-time Trump ally, gave a green light to the investigation in November. 

Powell’s term as chair will expire on May 15, though his underlying seat on the Fed’s Board of Governors doesn’t end until 2028. In January, Trump nominated Kevin Warsh to replace him, but his Senate confirmation is being held up by Republican North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis, who said he won’t vote to advance Warsh’s nomination until the DOJ investigation of Powell and the Fed is complete. Powell has said he’ll stay on as chair until his successor is confirmed. Fed chairs usually give up their Board of Governors seat after leaving the top job, but Powell has said he will make a decision on that “based on what I think is best for our institution and the people we serve.”

Just when you thought you’d seen the last of the AI pivot idiocy…

Allbirds (yes, the wool sneaker people) is mooning—up as much as 360%—after announcing it’s ditching shoes and pivoting to, of course, AI. This comes just weeks after agreeing to sell off its brand and footwear business for $39 million, according to Sherwood News.

The plan? Rebrand as “NewBird AI,” raise $50 million, and reinvent itself as a GPU-as-a-Service / AI cloud company. Translation: buy a bunch of high-powered GPUs and rent them out to companies desperate for AI compute. The company’s press release out Wednesday morning said: “Following its prior announcement that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell the Allbirds brand and footwear assets to American Exchange Group, which intends to continue to build on Allbirds’ legacy and deliver compelling products to Allbirds’ customers, Allbirds, Inc. today announced the execution of a definitive agreement with an institutional investor for a $50 million convertible financing facility.”

It continues: “The Facility, which is expected to close during the second quarter of 2026, will enable the Company to pivot its business to AI compute infrastructure, with a long-term vision to become a fully integrated GPU-as-a-Service (GPUaaS) and AI-native cloud solutions provider. In connection with this pivot, the Company anticipates changing its name to “NewBird AI.””

“NewBird AI expects to use initial capital from the Facility to acquire high-performance GPU assets, which will be deployed to serve customers requiring dedicated access to AI compute capacity. NewBird AI’s long-term vision is to become a fully integrated GPU-as-a-Service (GPUaaS) and AI-native cloud solutions provider. Over time, the Company intends to grow its neocloud platform by expanding its compute and service offerings, deepening partnerships with operators and customers, and evaluating strategic M&A opportunities,” the release continues.

It adds:

The rise of AI development and adoption has created unprecedented structural demand for specialized, high-performance compute that the market is struggling to meet. Global enterprise spending on AI services and data center investment are on the rise. At the same time, GPU procurement lead times are increasing for high-end hardware, North American data center vacancy rates have reached historic lows, and market-wide compute capacity coming online through mid-2026 is already fully committed. The result is a market where enterprises, AI developers, and research organizations are unable to secure the compute resources they need to build, train and run AI at scale.

NewBird AI is being built to help close that gap. The Company will initially seek to acquire high-performance, low-latency AI compute hardware and provide access under long-term lease arrangements, meeting customer demand that spot markets and hyperscalers are unable to reliably service.

In the process, we’re guessing they’ll also scrub references to their environmental mission—because nothing says sustainability like a rack of energy-hungry GPUs.

The pitch is that insatiable AI demand will carry them back toward their former $4 billion valuation.

At this rate, we’ll be back to Chamath SPACs and gamma squeezes just like the good ole’ days of Covid in just weeks. Who knew that apparently, selling compute to tech execs is the new, more durable version of selling them “eco-friendly” sneakers?

Summary

• The Iran war is “very close to over” with authorities in Tehran eager to agree a peace deal, Trump says, adding: “We’ve beaten them militarily.”

• AP/Bloomberg reporting the two sides have an “in principle agreement” to pursue further diplomacy; however, this is batted down as ‘unconfirmed’ by Tehran & a US official.

• The Pentagon is sending thousands of additional troops into the Middle East in coming days: WaPo

• Trump claims China “very happy” the US is permanently opening the Strait of Hormuz, also Xi told him Beijing was not sending weapons/defense items to Tehran.

• Significant Lebanon fighting continues: Israel issues more evacuation orders, moving into south; Tehran outraged, threatens Red Sea shipping. Unconfirmed reports of one-week Lebanon ceasefire about to take effect.

*  *  *

Lebanon Ceasefire Imminent? 

The Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Mayadeen channel, citing a senior Iranian source, reports that a ceasefire in Lebanon will begin tonight. “The duration of the ceasefire will be one week and will extend until the end of the ceasefire period between Iran and the United States.”

However, there’s been no confirmation of this from Israel or the US, or in Israeli media. The Lebanese government just met with Israeli officials for Rubio-sponsored talks in Washington yesterday, but there was no word of a definitive ceasefire coming from the meeting, and currently Hezbollah and Israel are not directly talking at all. It remains unclear whether this could be a sign of Lebanese officials getting Hezbollah on board with a pause in fighting.

Meanwhile, two fresh notes on the question of advancing a second round of US-Iran negotiations:

• Iranian media reported that Field Marshal Asim Munir, Chief of Staff of the Pakistani Army, headed a high-ranking political-security delegation from Pakistan to convey the US message and plan the second round of talks, and is scheduled to meet with officials of the Islamic Republic.
• Regional mediators are trying to extend the U.S.–Iran cease-fire and restart talks after failed negotiations in Islamabad, but no date or venue has been set. A new round is unlikely before Pakistan completes its regional diplomatic

‘Very Close’ To War Over, Diplomacy in Reach: Trump

The latest from Trump: The Iran war is “very close to over” with authorities in Tehran eager to agree a peace deal, President Trump claimed in a fresh interview broadcast Wednesday. “We’ve beaten them militarily, totally,” Trump told Fox Business in a prerecorded interview. “I think it’s close to over, I view it as very close to over… If I pulled up stakes right now it would take them 20 years to rebuild that country, and we’re not finished.” He added: “We’ll see what happens, I think they want to make a deal very badly.”

This as the Associated Press has reported the US and Iran are closer to extending a ceasefire and restarting negotiations, even amid the intensifying standoff over the Strait of Hormuz as the US Navy has blockaded it for all shipping leaving Iranian ports or with ties, or under sanction.

The two sides have an “in principle agreement” to pursue further diplomacy after last weekend’s failed Islamabad talks. Trump on Tuesday had optimistically cited that the next round could be just two days away. Mediators are said to be pushing for a compromise on outstanding issues including Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear program before the April 7 truce expires next week, the news agency said – as they also eye the extension off the initial two weeks.

IRAN’S TASNIM: US-SANCTIONED CONTAINER SHIP GOLBON PASSED THROUGH HORMUZ pic.twitter.com/Wtca8fTZ2b

— zerohedge (@zerohedge) April 15, 2026

However, Iran’s Foreign Ministry has made clear the reports about the ceasefire extension are not confirmed, while Axios’ Barak Ravid similarly writes – US official tells me: “The US has not agreed to an extension of the ceasefire. There is continued engagement between the U.S. and Iran to reach a deal.”

Iran meanwhile is warning that it sees a prolonging of the US blockade as “a prelude to a breach of the ceasefire,” a military spokesman said, as featured state TV. Iran’s military “will not permit any exports or imports to continue in the Persian Gulf, the Sea of Oman or the Red Sea” if it continues, the spokesman added. 

IRAN’S BAGHAEI: NO SPECIFIC DAY SET FOR NEW US NEGOTIATIONS

Trump on China

President Trump says he asked his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping not to supply weapons to Iran, and Xi replied he was not doing so. “I had heard that China’s giving weapons to, I mean – you’re seeing it all over the place – to Iran,” Trump also said in the aforementioned Fox Business interview.

“And I wrote him a letter asking him not to do that, and he wrote me a letter saying that essentially he’s not doing that.” Major media outlets previously reported that US intelligence indicated China was preparing to ship advanced weaponry to Iran. Beijing’s public rejection of the “baseless smear” – as the Foreign Minister called it – has indeed been swift and vehement.

With oil prices remaining elevated, with Brent crude trading about 33% higher than before the start of the war, Trump has issued a new Truth Social claiming China is “very happy that I am permanently opening the Strait of Hormuz.” This even though in many cases it is China bound tankers being blocked and turned back by the US naval armada. “This situation will never happen again,” Trump added. He is set to meet with Xi in Beijing on May 14-15. On this he wrote that “President Xi will give me a big, fat, hug when I get there in a few weeks. We are going working together smartly, and very well!” But then Trump says “But remember, we are very good at fighting, if we have to…”

More Troops Sent to Mideast

The Washington Post is out with a new report of more troops being sent to the theatre. “The Pentagon is sending thousands of additional troops into the Middle East in the coming days, as the Trump administration attempts to pressure Iran into a deal that could end the weeks long conflict there while considering the possibility of additional strikes or ground operations if a fragile ceasefire deal does not hold.”

Already a combined estimated ten thousand US sailors, Marines, and personnel – on at least a dozen US warships, are maintaining the Trump-ordered blockade on Hormuz. So Washington continues to try and build leverage, also with the announced additional forces being prepped, while also sounding optimistic on a potential peace deal – thought to two sides are very far apart especially on the nuclear issue.

Trump has at times still shrugged off the importance of a final peace deal, having told ABC News that while an official peace agreement may not be necessary, “I think a deal is preferable because then they can rebuild.” He had said, “They really do have a different regime now. No matter what, we took out the radicals.”

Trump:

I wrote a letter to Xi. I asked him not to give Iran weapons. He wrote me a letter, and he is saying that he is essentially not doing that. pic.twitter.com/yrTT9Dwi2V

— Clash Report (@clashreport) April 15, 2026

Tehran (& Houthis) Threaten Red Sea Trade as Lebanon Fighting Persists

Iran’s army warned it will block trade through the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf, and the Sea of Oman if the US naval blockade on Iranian ports continues. In a statement carried by Iranian state television, the head of the military’s central command center said the “powerful armed forces of the Islamic Republic will not allow any exports or imports to continue in the Persian Gulf, the Sea of Oman and the Red Sea.”

According to more via Al Jazeera, he added that Iran will “act decisively to defend its national sovereignty and its interests.” One key factor which has outraged Iran is Israel’s continued major attacks on Lebanon, after last Wednesday’s massive aerial attack on Beirut and elsewhere which left over 300 dead. Israel on Wednesday said that Hezbollah fired 40 rockets into Israel earlier in the morning.

An Israeli drone strike on the Jiyeh road, Lebanon

More Geopolitical Headlines

via Newsquawk…

Diana Choyleva wrote an excellent editorial for the Wall Street Journal entitled “The Iran War Is A Boon For The Petrodollar.”

She pushes back against claims that the Iran conflict is accelerating the death of the petrodollar.

Instead, RealInvestmentAdvice.com points out that she argues the opposite: between Iran and Venezuela, the U.S. is defending and bolstering dollar dominance in the oil trade.

The 75-year-old petrodollar system rests on oil being priced and traded in dollars, which keeps the dollar prominent in all global trade.

China has been undermining the petrodollar through yuan settlement systems and by deepening its ties with some Arab nations.

Rather than Iran being a “perfect storm” weakening the petrodollar, as some argue, Choyleva sees American military engagement in Iran as supportive of the dollar. 

Simply, control the flow of oil, and you control the currency it’s traded in.

Most Arab nations back the US campaign against Iran. Importantly, “the security commitment was tested; it held.”

This reinforced the security-for-oil-pricing bargain that underpins the petrodollar system.

The removal of Venezuelan President Maduro and influence over Venezuelan oil accomplishes similar goals.

If the US controls Western Hemisphere oil reserves, it would command more oil than OPEC combined, thus providing enormous leverage for keeping oil priced in dollars.

The author sees two scenarios for how the war ends.

First, an agreement that gives the U.S. influence over Iranian oil flows.

Second, US forces seize Kharg Island and police the Strait of Hormuz.

In her words, controlling “the choke point through which a fifth of the world’s oil flows.”

Either way, both events lead to more dollar-based oil trades, not less.

She concludes that “those who conclude that the petrodollar is already in its death throes are reading the map upside down. The storm is real. The dollar is fighting back.”

March saw the submission of multiple construction permits for new reactors, while new designs like India’s thorium reactor, obtained their first criticality. Microreactors in the US also progressed through DOE regulatory pathways as they approach a criticality deadline in July. 

Last month also saw multiple headlines in the US across the nuclear fuel chain. Uranium pricing in the spot market was relatively flat after the significant pullback in February. GS updated their uranium supply demand model to account for some of the latest updates resulting in a continued gross mismatch over the next couple decades. 

These nuclear industry updates come in a time of great power competition in the form of an AI race between China and the US. Constellation Energy’s CEO Joseph Dominguez recently stated the US is “very behind” China in the race to build up energy to feed AI data centers.

Taking into account the fact that China has built the entirety of the US electric system since just 2010, Dominguez said “we’re in some trouble” if building as fast as China is what it takes to win. He additionally argues a restructuring of national grid operations to better manage peak energy demands could more appropriately balance use of the grid and potentially lead to lower energy prices.  

Goldman Sachs analyst Brian Lee reviews headlines across the nuclear industry for March.  

New reactor progress and announcements

North America

3/16/26 – Canada – Darlington Unit 4 has returned to service at 100% power, completing Ontario Power Generation’s four‑unit Darlington Refurbishment Project, which extends the plant’s operating life by around 30 years; the CAD 12.8 billion programme was finished four months ahead of schedule and CAD 150 million under budget, marking the full return of all four Candu units to operation.

3/26/2026 – United States – NASA plans to launch Space Reactor‑1 Freedom, the first nuclear‑powered interplanetary spacecraft, to Mars before the end of 2028, using nuclear electric propulsion to enable efficient deep‑space travel; the mission is intended to demonstrate flight‑ready nuclear technology and deploy Ingenuity‑class helicopters at Mars while establishing a foundation for future nuclear‑powered exploration beyond the Moon.

3/27/2026 – United States – Microsoft and Nvidia have announced an “AI for nuclear” collaboration to deploy AI‑driven tools that streamline permitting, accelerate plant design, and optimise construction and operations across the nuclear lifecycle, aiming to reduce regulatory bottlenecks and development timelines without compromising safety; the partnership brings Nvidia‑backed nuclear AI capabilities, including digital twins and simulation, onto Microsoft’s Azure platform, with Everstar contributing domain‑specific nuclear AI.

4/1/2026 – United States – Constellation Energy says it still expects to restart the Crane Clean Energy Center (formerly Three Mile Island Unit 1) in 2027, and plans to seek FERC approval to transfer grid‑capacity rights from its Eddystone plant to overcome potential PJM interconnection delays that could otherwise push grid upgrades into the 2030s.

4/1/2026 – United States – Holtec International has completed passivation of the Palisades plant’s primary system, bringing it to operating temperature and pressure for the first time since the reactor shut down in 2022; the system will now be cooled for further testing, equipment upgrades, and preparations for fuel loading.

Europe

3/31/26 – Poland – Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe has submitted a construction‑permit application to Poland’s National Atomic Energy Agency for the country’s first nuclear power plant, including a comprehensive Preliminary Safety Analysis Report, marking a major regulatory milestone as Poland advances its nuclear build programme.

4/2/2026 – UK – The Hunterston B nuclear power station in Scotland has transferred from EDF Energy to UK government ownership, with responsibility moving to the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and its subsidiary Nuclear Restoration Services, marking the first Advanced Gas‑Cooled Reactor plant to enter government ownership as it begins decommissioning. 

Asia and other

3/13/2026 – China – Unit 1 of the San’ao nuclear power plant in Zhejiang, China, successfully connected to the grid on March 12, 2026. This HPR1000 reactor is the first of six planned for the site and is expected to enter full commercial operation in the first half of 2026.

3/16/2026 – Russia – The first VVER-TOI unit at Russia’s Kursk II plant has reached 100% power during commissioning. The 1,250 MWe reactor is undergoing final safety tests and is expected to enter commercial operation later in 2026. This new fleet will replace the site’s aging RBMK reactors, with all four units planned to be operational by 2034.

3/23/2026 – Vietnam – Vietnam and Russia have signed an intergovernmental agreement to build the Ninh Thuan 1 nuclear power plant, planned to use two VVER‑1200 reactors based on the Leningrad NPP‑2 design; the deal establishes the legal framework for the project and marks Vietnam’s restart of its nuclear programme following government approval in 2024.

3/27/2026 – Taiwan – Taipower has applied to Taiwan’s Nuclear Safety Council to restart the two‑unit Maanshan nuclear power plant after their 40‑year operating licenses expired, following a legal change allowing 20‑year license extensions; the submission initiates a procedural and technical review process, with additional safety inspections expected to take roughly 18–24 months before any potential return to service.

3/31/2026 – Bangladesh – Rooppur Unit 1 has successfully completed boron flushing of its primary circuit systems, a key pre‑commissioning milestone ahead of first criticality, clearing the way for nuclear fuel loading, which is scheduled to take place in April as Bangladesh’s first nuclear power reactor moves toward initial start‑up.

3/31/2026 – South Korea – South Korea’s Nuclear Safety and Security Commission has approved the restart of Kori Unit 2, allowing the 685 MWe PWR—offline since April 2023 after its original 40‑year license expired—to resume operations following completion of inspections and safety upgrades under its extended operating permit through 2033.

4/7/2026 – India – India’s 500 MWe PFBR at Kalpakkam reached first criticality on 6 April, marking a key milestone in the country’s second stage of its three‑stage nuclear programme and advancing plans for a closed fuel cycle centred on thorium.

SMR announcement tracker

3/5/2026 – United States – The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has issued a construction permit for TerraPower’s first Natrium plant in Kemmerer, Wyoming. Per the NRC, this is the first approval in more than 40 years for a commercial non‑light‑water reactor; the 345 MWe sodium‑cooled fast reactor, which includes molten‑salt energy storage, can now begin nuclear construction, with a separate operating license still required before generation.

3/18/2026 – United States – Oklo has received US Department of Energy approval for Nuclear Safety Design Agreements covering both its Aurora powerhouse pilot reactor at Idaho National Laboratory and Atomic Alchemy’s Groves Isotopes Test Reactor in Texas, allowing both projects to move into the next phase of licensing under the DOE’s Reactor Pilot Program, with NRC licensing to follow for commercial operations.

3/19/2026 – Sweden – Blykalla is advancing plans for a lead‑cooled SMR plant in Norrsundet, Sweden, after studies confirmed the site’s suitability; the project would deploy six SEALER reactors totaling about 300 MW to supply fossil‑free power, with permitting expected to start later this year and potential operation in the early 2030s, subject to approvals.

3/20/2026 – United States – Aalo Atomics has completed assembly of its Critical Test Reactor at the Idaho National Laboratory, unveiling the experimental Aalo‑X reactor and targeting criticality well before the 4 July deadline under the US DOE’s Nuclear Reactor Pilot Program; the reactor serves as a precursor to Aalo’s planned 50 MWe extra‑modular reactors for data centres, with final startup pending fuel delivery and DOE approval.

3/20/2026 – United States – X‑energy has signed a letter of intent with Talen Energy to assess deploying multiple XE‑100 SMR plants in Pennsylvania and across the PJM market, potentially developing three or more four‑unit plants to add clean baseload capacity; the companies will carry out early‑stage feasibility studies and site evaluations, including opportunities to repower existing fossil‑fuel sites using established infrastructure, transmission, and workforce resources.

3/23/2026 – Sweden – Kärnfull Next has submitted Sweden’s first application under the new Act on Government Approval of Nuclear Facilities to build an SMR campus in Valdemarsvik, southeastern Sweden, covering a planned four‑to‑six‑unit light‑water reactor site; the project is part of its ReFirm South programme and represents a step from concept to formal permitting aimed at delivering new dispatchable, fossil‑free power, with additional SMR applications expected later this year.

3/24/2026 – Uzbekistan – Uzbekistan and Russia have marked progress on the country’s first SMR project by signing a nuclear cooperation roadmap and beginning initial concrete works for a RITM‑200N reactor at the Jizzakh site; the project now combines two large VVER‑1000 units with two 55 MWe SMRs, establishing the framework for construction, training, and long‑term nuclear development.

3/30/2026 – United States – New Hampshire has launched a formal review of advanced nuclear reactor deployment after Governor Kelly Ayotte issued an executive order directing the state’s Department of Energy to assess regulatory, financial, and market conditions and develop a statewide nuclear energy roadmap to guide potential next‑generation nuclear development.

3/31/2026 – South Africa – South Africa’s Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa) has launched an Expression of Interest to identify technology partners for the development and demonstration of a small modular reactor, aiming to assess mature SMR designs and financing models as part of its strategy to position the country in the global SMR supply chain and support future deployment.

3/31/2026 – UK – Holtec International’s SMR‑300 small modular reactor design has completed Step 2 of the UK Generic Design Assessment, with regulators concluding there are no fundamental safety, security, safeguards, or environmental protection issues that would prevent its deployment in Great Britain.

4/2/2026 – Canada – OPG has applied to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission for a 20‑year operating license for the first BWRX‑300 SMR at the Darlington New Nuclear Project, a step required to complete commissioning and begin operation once construction is finished; the application will be decided following a public hearing.

Global reactor critical updates

In the month of March, there have been few changes to new reactor construction starts, grid connections, shutdowns, or restarts.

Global reactor construction tracker

Global reactors under construction

China only

Fuel announcements

3/9/2026 – United States – Oklo and Centrus Energy are exploring a joint venture focused on HALEU deconversion services and advanced nuclear fuel‑cycle technologies, with proposed activities co‑located at Centrus’s Piketon, Ohio site to integrate enrichment and deconversion, improve efficiency, and expand domestic advanced nuclear fuel capacity to support Oklo’s reactors and broader US deployment.

3/11/2026 – United States – Framatome and NuScale Power have expanded their long‑standing fuel partnership to include Framatome’s European fabrication facilities, establishing a global supply chain to support NuScale’s SMR deployments in both the US and Europe; the agreement also advances qualification of Framatome’s Richland, Washington plant to produce NuScale’s NuFUEL‑HTP2 fuel, with deliveries for the first US customer targeted from around 2030.

3/12/2026 – UK – Urenco reported its order book has reached a record €21.3 billion, up about 14% year‑on‑year, with enrichment contracts now extending into the 2040s, reflecting strong demand for nuclear fuel services amid rising political and utility support for nuclear power in Europe and North America.

3/20/2026 – Belgium – Framatome has signed a contract with Belgium’s SCK CEN to supply high‑density silicide low‑enriched uranium fuel for the BR2 research reactor as it transitions away from high‑enriched uranium, following successful irradiation of lead test assemblies delivered in 2025.

3/23/2026 – United States – Uranium Energy Corp has expanded uranium production at its Christensen Ranch ISR mine in Wyoming by bringing new header houses into operation, while its subsidiary United States Uranium Refining & Conversion Corp has passed the first licensing milestone for a planned US uranium conversion facility; the developments support higher domestic uranium output and advance UEC’s strategy to rebuild a vertically integrated US nuclear fuel supply chain.

3/30/2026 – United States – FluxPoint Energy, plans to develop what it expects will be the first new uranium conversion facility in the US in about 70 years, aiming to convert uranium oxide U3O8 into UF6 to strengthen domestic nuclear fuel supply security, with first production targeted for 2030–2031.

4/1/2026 – Ukraine – Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers has approved a plan to build a domestic nuclear fuel assembly production facility, giving Energoatom the go‑ahead to design and construct a plant using Westinghouse technology in the Mykolaiv region, a move aimed at strengthening fuel security and advancing Ukraine toward a self‑sufficient nuclear fuel cycle.

Uranium pricing and volume trackers

Spot pricing starting to stabilize. Spot pricing continued its downward trend through much of March following February’s pullback, easing from the high‑$86/lb level at the start of the month to the low‑to‑mid $80s by the second half. Prices declined steadily through mid‑ and late‑March, briefly dipping below ~$84/lb, before stabilizing toward month‑end around ~$84/lb. Spot market activity picked up modestly relative to February but remained well below January levels, with flows largely driven by traders rather than utilities. Financial participation remained intermittent, with SPUT activity episodic rather than sustained. Despite softer pricing through March, year‑to‑date spot volumes in 2026 remain meaningfully ahead of last year, reflecting a stronger start to the year overall.

Term pricing holds strong. Term uranium pricing remained firm through March, holding at ~$90/lb following February’s step‑up, reinforcing the view that pricing has reset to a higher plateau. While reported term contracting activity was limited during the month, engagement remained active, with utilities continuing to evaluate both mid‑ and long‑term offers across uranium (U₃O₈), conversion, and EUP. Market color pointed to continued upward pressure on offer structures, with floor prices largely holding in the mid‑$70s and ceiling prices stretching into the low‑$130s and beyond for longer‑dated deliveries. Overall, March was characterized by constructive sentiment in term markets but limited execution, as buyers remained selective amid elevated price levels.

KAP earnings update. On 3/20/26, KAP held its 4Q25 earnings call where management reiterated its production guidance of 27,500-29,000 tU (71.5-75.4mn lbs), with the midpoint ~5% below its subsoil use contract annual production of 29,697 tU.

Authored by Rex Widerstrom via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),

While managing to avoid Australia’s under-16 social media ban, the global game creation platform Roblox has moved to introduce restricted accounts for children and teenagers.

The move also comes in the wake of a lawsuit from Los Angeles County alleging it does not carry out adequate moderation and that its age-verification systems are not fit for purpose.

The suit claims that, as a result, young people were exposed to sexual content, exploitation, and online predators while playing the game.

It joined more than 60 other actions brought by players or their parents, the majority from families in the United States.

Roblox founder and CEO, David Baszucki, announced the changes online, saying an update to the platform will bring age checks, account-level defaults, content ratings, ongoing moderation, and expanded parental controls together into a “unified framework for younger users.”

“Based on our selection criteria, we believe age-checked users under 16 will have access to the vast majority of their favourite games at launch. Age-checked users 16 and older will not see any change to their Roblox experience,” Baszucki said.

With over 151 million active players every day, Roblox has become one of the most popular online platforms ever.

Users will now be sorted into one of three groups: Kids’ accounts (ages 5 to 8), Select accounts (ages 9 to 15) and those aged 16 and above, who will have access to the standard Roblox account.

Users between the ages of five and eight will be assigned to a Kid’s account by the platform’s systems, either based on a verified parent or its worldwide age-check technology, which includes facial recognition. They will be limited to games with a “minimal” or “mild” content maturity label, and communication will be disabled by default.

Roblox Select accounts will be able to access games with content maturity labels up to and including “moderate” and chat room functions will be gradually introduced with safeguards, allowing them to chat with family and friends or those that are a similar age.

Each of the two new levels will have a distinct background colour across the app to indicate the account type.

Roblox Chief Safety Officer Matt Kaufman told GamesBeat that there should be coordination between platforms.

“There has to be some coordination, some minimum bar we expect all companies to clear when you involve kids and teens. The reality is, they’re just jumping from platform to platform. That’s normal. I have two kids who have grown up online. It’s just what they do.”

Despite the action against it in the United States, Roblox was not among the platforms Australia’s eSafety Commissioner said she would be investigating for potential non-compliance with Australia’s social media ban.

Those were Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube, all of which are currently restricted platforms under the law, which has now been in place for 4 months.

Government Welcomes Changes

Meanwhile, Australian Communications Minister Anika Wells welcomed the Roblox announcement. She has previously met with representatives of the platform and expressed concerns over graphic content and reports of grooming.

“We made it clear to Roblox that something had to be done,” she told journalists, “and I welcome these steps towards stronger safety measures on their platform for under-16s, not just in Australia, but globally. Kids should be able to play their favourite games without being exposed to harmful content.

“We will closely watch the rollout of Roblox’s changes to make sure they create a meaningful difference to the experience of young Australians on their platforms.”

She dismissed concerns that young people have continued to circumvent the restrictions—including by reportedly drawing on facial hair—saying it’s no surprise.

“There isn’t 100 percent effectiveness for the law against murdering people in this country; people still murder [yet] no one is making an argument that we shouldn’t have a law against murdering people in this country,” she said.

“We’ve always said cultural change takes time, and we will not get a 100 percent strike rate, or anything like it, for any amount of time shortly after the ban comes in.

“The law is important because it sets a cultural standard.”

This is quite the ambitious headline revealing the latest ‘plan’ for Hormuz to come out of Europe, as it sits on the sidelines watching the US get potentially bogged down in the region following a month of heavy airstrikes on Iran: Europe drafts postwar plan to free up Strait of Hormuz without US, WSJ reports.

This is apparently a plan for after the main crisis is over, amid the strait still being blockaded (with the each warring side insisting it is they in control of the strategic chokepoint waterway). It seems the main idea is to eventually take the United States out of the equation, allowing only for the ‘neutral’ countries to free up and clean the Hormuz Strait.

But the whole thing is very strange – on the one hand, it purports to keep one of the key belligerents, namely the United States, at bay – while on the other envisioning European/NATO military ships engaged in freedom navigation operations, including some mine-clearing.

For example, there is this line from the Journal report: “French President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday the plan is for an international defensive mission that doesn’t include the ‘belligerent’ parties, meaning the US, Israel and Iran. European diplomats familiar with the plan say European ships wouldn’t be under American command.”

According to a Newsquawk summary of the WSJ main highlights: 

—European countries are putting together a plan for a broad coalition of countries to help free up shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, including sending mine-clearing and other military vessels. But the plan would only come after the war and may exclude the US.

—Some differences must still be worked: French diplomats think that any US involvement in the operation would make it less palatable to Tehran, while British officials worry that not including the Americans will anger Trump and limit the operation’s scope.

—The plan has three broad aims:

1) put logistics in place to ensure the hundreds of ships currently stuck in the strait can leave.

2) Employ a major demining operation to clear the way for a far larger number of ships to use a broader part of the strait.

3) Removing Iranian mines in Hormuz is crucial to getting ships going again.

The reality is that this supposed plan brings things back full circle to problem #1... as it’s not as if either Iran, or the United States, will simply shrug and cede control so that a European military coalition can step in and take over.

Which side will ever actually agree to this? The obvious answer, at least for the time being and foreseeable future is… nobody.

And then there’s the question of what leverage or force will Europe employ to assert its military presence in the strait in order to keep all parties in line… some mere harsh language and strong words?

Authored by Mrigakshi Dixit via Interesting Engineering,

The UK’s new nuclear approval at Wylfa officially kicks off what the government calls a “golden age” for the nation’s energy sector.

On April 13, the government approved the development of three Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) at the Wylfa site on Anglesey, North Wales. 

This project, a partnership between Rolls-Royce SMR and Great British Energy – Nuclear, aims to advance domestic, low-carbon energy technology.

The BBC reported that the three units have a total output capable of powering approximately 3 million homes for over 60 years.

If all goes to plan, the first “Made in Britain” SMRs could begin feeding the National Grid in the 2030s. 

“This is a critical milestone for Rolls-Royce SMR, for Rolls-Royce and for the UK as the Government looks to realize its ambition of a ‘golden age’ of new nuclear,” said Tufan Erginbilgic, CEO, Rolls-Royce, on April 13.

Reviving Wylfa

Last November, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer confirmed that the coastline of Ynys Môn (Anglesey) would become the official home for three of the UK’s first small modular reactors.

Through a £2.5 billion partnership, the site is being transformed into a high-tech energy hub.

The original Wylfa power station, once Britain’s oldest nuclear plant, concluded 44 years of operations in 2015, having reached the end of its natural lifespan.

The site’s closure was driven by the aging infrastructure of the 1960s-era reactors and the 2008 cessation of the specific fuel production required to run them. 

Although initial replacement plans were abandoned in 2021, the site is now entering a new chapter following the 2024 proposals to revitalize the location as a modern energy hub.

The Rolls-Royce SMR is a 470 MWe pressurized water reactor designed to provide reliable baseload power for at least 60 years. Each unit has a compact footprint of approximately 16 meters by 4 meters. 

According to a World Nuclear News report, the modular design allows 90% of the unit to be manufactured off-site. 

Moving the bulk of the work off-site limits local disruption and ensures a much faster, more predictable construction timeline.

Rolls-Royce SMR chief Chris Cholerton pointed to the project as a clear win for domestic innovation, proving the UK can build its own path to energy security.

UK’s energy independence

The push for energy independence has become a mantra for the UK government. By building locally, the UK aims to insulate itself from global price spikes while meeting its aggressive net-zero targets.

To further the UK’s nuclear ambitions, a £599 million commitment from the National Wealth Fund has been allocated to support the engineering and rollout of these reactors.

The project is a massive engine for employment. Officials estimate it will create 8,000 new jobs. While 3,000 of these roles will be rooted locally in Anglesey, another 5,000 will be spread across the national supply chain.

Industry leaders have hailed the decision as a “historic step” in Welsh industrial growth, positioning the site as the launchpad for Britain’s first fleet of small modular reactors. 

Wylfa has seen false starts before. A previous plan for a large-scale plant was scrapped in 2021, leaving the local community in limbo. While site work begins immediately, a final investment decision isn’t expected until the turn of the decade.

The goal is to clear all planning and regulatory hurdles so the reactors are operational during the 2030s. 

This timeline ensures that once the financial and legal frameworks are settled, the site can begin contributing to the energy grid within the next decade.