Meta Goes Nuclear for AI Power

Hey Superheroes,

Gold’s glitter is only growing louder with some analysts tipping prices to hit US$4,000 as geopolitical tensions keep pushing the precious metal higher. 

But the real headline at home? CBA just became the first ASX-listed company to break the A$300 billion mark. Shares surged to over A$181 this week, cementing its place as the biggest stock on the local exchange and now representing 12% of the entire ASX 200.

Meanwhile in the U.S., Trump’s revived steel tariffs officially kicked in, fuelling fears of stagflation. But the S&P 500 shrugged it off, notching a third straight weekly gain thanks to mega-cap tech and AI optimism.

Let’s dive into this week’s biggest stories.

Meta’s Nuclear Bet to Power AI Ambitions

Meta’s AI dreams are now riding on nuclear energy.

The tech giant just inked a 20-year deal with Constellation Energy to purchase 1.1 gigawatts of carbon-free nuclear power from the Clinton Clean Energy Center in Illinois. 

The power will begin flowing in 2027, supporting Meta’s explosive growth in AI infrastructure.

⚡ AI power play

This single deal will help fuel Meta’s US$65 billion AI infrastructure spend in 2025.

The Clinton facility, once earmarked for closure, will now retain over 1,100 jobs and generate US$13.5 million in annual tax revenue without relying on government subsidies.

Meta is making a bet that many of its peers are now considering – nuclear power is one of the only energy sources that provides carbon-free, uninterrupted, baseload electricity at scale. 

Unlike wind and solar, which are intermittent and often require costly battery storage, nuclear ensures 24/7 uptime, which is crucial for training and running large-scale AI models that can’t afford to shut down or throttle back during cloudy days or calm nights.

🌍 Trend or turning point?

Meta’s move reflects a broader shift in Big Tech. Microsoft and Amazon have also ramped up nuclear investments to future-proof their AI pipelines.

With the IAEA forecasting that global data centre power demand could surpass Japan’s electricity consumption by 2030, energy security is no longer optional – it’s strategic.

Virgin’s IPO Cleared for Takeoff

Virgin Australia is gearing up for a market return – this time with tailwinds behind it.

After years in private hands, the airline’s parent company Bain Capital is dusting off its IPO plans with shares priced at A$2.90 apiece, valuing Virgin at A$2.3 billion. 

🛬 From grounded to gaining altitude

Virgin Australia collapsed into administration in 2020 with more than A$6 billion in debt. Bain Capital swooped in and restructured it into a leaner, domestic-focused airline. The business has since returned to profitability, securing a 25% stake deal with Qatar Airways – set to shrink slightly to 23% post-IPO.

The listing will raise A$685 million, with Bain retaining around 40% of the airline. Virgin plans to spend A$1.1 billion on fleet upgrades in FY26, targeting short-haul international growth and operational resilience.

🧳 Market signals takeoff

This marks the ASX’s third major float in 12 months – joining Guzman y Gomez and Chemist Warehouse. 

With Flight Centre and Helloworld still feeling cost-of-living headwinds, the strong investor appetite for Virgin suggests renewed confidence in aviation’s recovery.

🏘️ Speaking of IPOs…

While Virgin’s return to the market made headlines, the biggest IPO on the radar this year actually belongs to GemLife – a Queensland-based housing developer founded in the 1960s. 

The family-run business is looking to raise A$700–750 million, with a target valuation of A$1.5 billion, outpacing Virgin’s own float. 

GemLife operates 32 land lease communities and plans to scale that to over 10,000 homes. Investors are drawn to its vertically integrated model, recurring rental revenue and its role in unlocking housing supply by helping downsizers free up family homes. 

If successful, GemLife would become the ASX’s latest listed lifestyle housing player, joining the ranks of Lifestyle Communities (ASX:LIC) and Ingenia (ASX:INA).

🔦  Some other things we’re shining the Spotlight on:

• TESLA SHORT-CIRCUITS: Tesla stock plunged 14% on Thursday, wiping out US$152 billion in market value – its biggest single-day drop ever. The crash followed a political brawl between Elon Musk and Donald Trump, who threatened to pull federal contracts from Musk’s companies. Tesla now sits below the US$1 trillion mark, closing the day at US$916 billion.
• CROWDSTRIKE SOARS THEN SLIPS: CrowdStrike (NASDAQ:CRWD) beat expectations with Q1 revenue of US$1.10 billion and EPS of US$0.73, but shares fell after the announcement as Q2 guidance disappointed. Despite that, the company raised full-year earnings guidance and announced a US$1 billion share buyback.
• TITANIUM TURNS TO GOLD: IperionX (ASX:IPX) rallied 29% yesterday after scoring a five-year, US$99 million U.S. Department of Defense contract. The deal will fund low-cost titanium components for defence applications, boosting production at its Virginia facility and helping the U.S. reshore its strategic supply chain.

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