{"id":72150,"date":"2026-09-23T16:08:17","date_gmt":"2026-09-23T20:08:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/global-markets-react-to-energy-expansions-tech-price-hikes-and-geopolitical-tensions\/72150\/"},"modified":"2026-09-23T16:08:17","modified_gmt":"2026-09-23T20:08:17","slug":"global-markets-react-to-energy-expansions-tech-price-hikes-and-geopolitical-tensions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/global-markets-react-to-energy-expansions-tech-price-hikes-and-geopolitical-tensions\/72150\/","title":{"rendered":"Global Markets React to Energy Expansions, Tech Price Hikes, and Geopolitical Tensions"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Shell (<a href=\"\/stock\/SHEL\">SHEL<\/a>)<\/strong> and partners are nearing a final investment decision to <strong>double the capacity<\/strong> of the <strong>LNG Canada<\/strong> project to <strong>28 million tonnes per annum (mtpa)<\/strong>, targeting a massive expansion in global gas supply.<\/li>\n<li><strong>TSMC (<a href=\"\/stock\/TSM\">TSM<\/a>)<\/strong> has confirmed wafer-out price increases of <strong>3% to 6%<\/strong> effective <strong>January 2027<\/strong>, citing sustained high demand for AI chips and full capacity utilization.<\/li>\n<li><strong>BHP (<a href=\"\/stock\/BHP\">BHP<\/a>)<\/strong> has suspended all operations at <strong>Escondida<\/strong>, the world\u2019s largest copper mine, following a <strong>fatal maintenance accident<\/strong>, adding to supply concerns amid ongoing labor negotiations.<\/li>\n<li><strong>The U.S. rejected an Iranian proposal<\/strong> to reopen the <strong>Strait of Hormuz<\/strong>, dismissing Tehran&#39;s standing to control the vital waterway during high-stakes mediated talks at the <strong>UN General Assembly<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>General Motors (<a href=\"\/stock\/GM\">GM<\/a>)<\/strong> is accelerating its push to bypass <strong>China&#39;s battery dominance<\/strong> by successfully piloting a closed-loop recycling program using <strong>100% recycled critical minerals<\/strong> for new EV cathodes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Energy and Natural Resources<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Shell (<a href=\"\/stock\/SHEL\">SHEL<\/a>)<\/strong> and its joint venture partners\u2014including <strong>Petronas<\/strong>, <strong>PetroChina<\/strong>, <strong>Mitsubishi Corp<\/strong>, and <strong>Korea Gas Corp<\/strong>\u2014are poised to approve the <strong>Phase 2 expansion<\/strong> of the <strong>LNG Canada<\/strong> project in Kitimat, British Columbia. This expansion would add <strong>14 mtpa<\/strong> of capacity, effectively doubling the facility&#39;s output to meet surging demand from Asian buyers seeking energy security. The move comes as global gas prices remain volatile, with Canadian gas trading significantly lower than international benchmarks, offering a lucrative export opportunity.<\/p>\n<p>In the mining sector, <strong>BHP (<a href=\"\/stock\/BHP\">BHP<\/a>)<\/strong> halted all operational activities at the <strong>Escondida<\/strong> copper mine in Chile on Wednesday after a worker was killed during maintenance. The suspension at the world\u2019s largest copper producer comes at a critical time, as the company faces a potential strike from unionized supervisors who are currently voting on a final contract offer. Analysts warn that a prolonged shutdown or labor action could tighten global copper markets, which are already under pressure from the energy transition&#39;s demand for the metal.<\/p>\n<h2>Technology and Manufacturing<\/h2>\n<p><strong>TSMC (<a href=\"\/stock\/TSM\">TSM<\/a>)<\/strong> is set to raise wafer prices by <strong>3% to 6%<\/strong> starting in <strong>2027<\/strong>, a move that reflects the company&#39;s dominant market position and the relentless demand for advanced semiconductors. The price hike is expected to impact major clients across the smartphone and AI sectors, potentially providing competitors like <strong>Intel (<a href=\"\/stock\/INTC\">INTC<\/a>)<\/strong> more room to adjust their own pricing strategies. Visibility for the foundry&#39;s orders now reportedly extends to <strong>2030<\/strong>, driven by the &quot;full loading&quot; of processes below 45 nanometers.<\/p>\n<p><strong>General Motors (<a href=\"\/stock\/GM\">GM<\/a>)<\/strong> is making significant strides in its strategy to decouple from the Chinese battery supply chain. The automaker recently completed a pilot program producing EV batteries with <strong>100% recycled nickel, cobalt, and manganese<\/strong>. By partnering with <strong>Cirba Solutions<\/strong>, <strong>GM<\/strong> aims to establish a domestic, circular battery economy that reduces reliance on imported raw materials and lowers the carbon footprint of its electric vehicle lineup.<\/p>\n<h2>Geopolitics and Domestic Policy<\/h2>\n<p>At the <strong>United Nations<\/strong>, <strong>Ethiopian President Atske-Selassie Amde<\/strong> delivered a stern message to &quot;forces of destruction,&quot; urging respect for the peace of the <strong>Horn of Africa<\/strong>. While highlighting progress with neighboring nations, he criticized &quot;reckless external actors&quot; for interfering in Ethiopia&#39;s internal affairs. The President&#39;s remarks underscore the fragile security situation in East Africa as regional powers vie for influence.<\/p>\n<p>In the Middle East, the <strong>U.S.<\/strong> dismissed an <strong>Iranian<\/strong> offer to reopen the <strong>Strait of Hormuz<\/strong> in exchange for lifting naval blockades and freezing assets. U.S. negotiators reportedly told Iranian officials that Tehran does not legally control the international waterway. Despite the rejection, <strong>President Trump<\/strong> characterized the mediated talks as &quot;productive,&quot; leading to a temporary dip in <strong>Brent crude<\/strong> prices to below <strong>$100 per barrel<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Domestically, <strong>Trump administration<\/strong> officials are reportedly weighing a rollback of a controversial <strong>beef import plan<\/strong> as &quot;midterm panic&quot; spreads among GOP leaders in ranching states. The plan, which aimed to lower consumer prices by importing <strong>300,000 tons<\/strong> of foreign beef, has alienated core supporters in states like <strong>Texas<\/strong> and <strong>Nebraska<\/strong>. Meanwhile, the <strong>&quot;One Big Beautiful Bill&quot;<\/strong> continues to impact the economy, with millions of Americans seeing immediate tax breaks on tips and overtime, even as significant cuts to <strong>Medicaid<\/strong> and <strong>SNAP<\/strong> benefits begin to take effect.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Takeaways Shell (SHEL) and partners are nearing a final investment decision to double the capacity of the LNG Canada 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