Key Takeaways
- IREN (IREN) successfully delivered its first 50MW AI Cloud deployment to Microsoft (MSFT) and achieved NVIDIA (NVDA) Exemplar Cloud status, boosting its stock by 6%.
- Ardagh Holdings has initiated preparations for a potential sale of its majority stake in Ardagh Metal Packaging (AMBP), a unit that reported $5.5 billion in 2025 sales.
- DeepSeek announced a significant overhaul of its API pricing effective August 16, introducing peak and off-peak rates that could see costs for some models nearly double.
- US Trade Adviser Peter Navarro signaled a hardening stance on USMCA, stating that any future deal must include strict transshipment provisions to prevent tariff evasion by third countries like China.
- Antofagasta (ANTO) confirmed that its northern Chile operations remain unimpacted by recent heavy rainfall, despite a government-declared preventive emergency in the region.
Tech & AI Infrastructure
IREN (IREN) announced Thursday the delivery and acceptance of Horizon 1, the first of four planned 50MW direct-to-chip liquid-cooled data centers, to Microsoft (MSFT). This milestone is part of a massive five-year, $9.7 billion cloud services agreement. Following the news, IREN shares rose approximately 6% in early trading.
The company also secured NVIDIA (NVDA) Exemplar Cloud status for its GB300 NVL72 deployment. This designation follows rigorous testing by Nvidia and validates IREN's ability to handle high-scale AI workloads. IREN remains on track to expand its gross AI Cloud capacity to 480MW by the end of 2026.
In the software space, AI developer DeepSeek is adjusting its pricing model. Starting August 16, the company will implement peak and off-peak billing, with off-peak rates set at 50% of peak prices. The move marks a shift from its previous ultra-low pricing strategy as it rolls out its V4 model family.
Industrial & Corporate Strategy
Ardagh Holdings S.A. has instructed financial advisers at Evercore and legal counsel at Kirkland & Ellis to prepare for a potential sale of Ardagh Metal Packaging (AMBP). The parent company currently holds a 76% stake in the metal unit. While no definitive timeline has been set, a full divestment could involve Ardagh acquiring the remaining public shares to facilitate a clean sale to a third party.
In the mining sector, Antofagasta (ANTO) reported that its operations in northern Chile have not been disrupted by the recent "atmospheric river" weather event. While the Chilean government declared a preventive emergency for the regions of Arica, Parinacota, and Coquimbo, the company’s flagship assets remain functional. This follows a separate investigation into water discharge at its Los Pelambres mine earlier this year.
Trade & Geopolitics
US Trade Adviser Peter Navarro emphasized that any renewal or revision of the USMCA will require robust transshipment provisions. Navarro noted that US Customs officials are currently "overwhelmed" by tariff evasion tactics. He specifically targeted goods from China being routed through Mexico and Canada to bypass US duties.
In the Middle East, Iranian state media Fars News reported that cleanup operations for a major oil spill in the Strait of Hormuz have reached their final stages. The spill, which covered roughly 32,000 square meters near Qeshm Island, has been blamed by Iranian officials on a foreign bulk carrier. The incident has added to regional tensions, with Tehran demanding compensation for environmental damages.
Ed Liston is a senior contributing editor at TheStockMarketWatch.com. An active market watcher and investor, Ed guides an independent team of experienced analysts and writes for multiple stock trader publications.