Truth Social parent explores spinning off social media platform | ReutersSkip to main content[Exclusive news, data and analytics for financial market professionalsLearn more aboutRefinitiv]A 3D printed miniature of U.S. President Donald Trump and the Truth Social logo are seen in this illustration created on June 22, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo [Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab]Feb 27 (Reuters) - Trump Media & Technology Group [(DJT.O), opens new tab] said on Friday it is in dis ...

Core Insights - SHINE Technologies has raised $240 million in equity funding to advance its commercial fusion technology [1] - The company appointed Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong to its board, enhancing its leadership in fusion and cancer treatment [1] - The funding round was led by NantWorks, with participation from several notable investors, indicating strong investor confidence [1] Company Developments - SHINE's commercial fusion technology includes neutron testing for defense and aerospace, and radioisotopes for cancer therapies [1] - The investment marks the beginning of SHINE's next growth phase, focusing on recycling used nuclear fuel and commercial fusion energy production [1] - SHINE has raised over $1 billion in total funding, reflecting sustained investor confidence in its path to fusion energy [1] Strategic Partnerships - A strategic partnership with NantWorks includes priority access arrangements for Lu-177 supply, aimed at advancing targeted cancer treatment [1] - Dr. Soon-Shiong's investment of $150 million is part of this partnership, emphasizing the alignment of SHINE's technology with cancer treatment goals [1] Industry Impact - SHINE operates one of the largest Lu-177 production facilities in North America, contributing to advancements in cancer treatment [1] - The company's long-term goal is to commercialize fusion energy while impacting healthcare and sustainable energy sectors [1]

Core Insights - Zhongke Qingneng has completed nearly 500 million yuan in Pre-A++ financing, marking the largest financing in the deep low-temperature sector recently [1] - The company is backed by prominent investors including Dinghui Baifu, Guoxin Fund, and Kunpeng Capital, indicating strong institutional interest [1][2] - Zhongke Qingneng focuses on deep low-temperature technology, essential for both controllable nuclear fusion and green hydrogen energy [2][3] Company Overview - Zhongke Qingneng's controlling shareholder is a private equity fund supported by state-owned enterprises, including China General Nuclear Power Group [1][2] - The company’s core technology is derived from years of research at the Hefei Institute of Physical Science, focusing on magnetic confinement nuclear fusion [2] Technology and Products - The company has developed a 3kW@4.5K helium refrigerator, the largest of its kind in China's nuclear fusion sector, which has been deployed in the CRAFT facility [3] - Zhongke Qingneng plans to launch a 20kW@4.5K helium refrigerator by 2026, which will be the largest single-unit helium refrigeration equipment globally [3] Market Trends - The controllable nuclear fusion sector has become a hot spot for investment, with significant funding flowing into core components and subsystems [4] - The investment landscape is shifting from private fusion companies to midstream suppliers of critical components, indicating a maturation of the industry [4] Hydrogen Energy Initiatives - Zhongke Qingneng has successfully provided domestically produced liquid hydrogen fuel for the Long March 8 rocket, marking a milestone in China's space history [5] - The company is set to launch China's first commercial liquid hydrogen plant with a capacity of 5 tons per day by September 2026, alongside developing a 35 tons per day hydrogen liquefaction system [5] Funding Utilization - The recent financing will support the development of larger-scale liquid hydrogen systems, nuclear fusion refrigeration systems, and the establishment of a second manufacturing center [5]

Core Insights - The Department of Energy (DOE) is implementing the Fusion Science and Technology Roadmap (FS&T Roadmap) to transition fusion energy from laboratory research to commercial viability by the mid-2030s [1][5] - The roadmap outlines a phased approach: near-term focus on digitalization and infrastructure, mid-term on prototype integration, and long-term on grid delivery and scale-up [2][3] Near-Term Actions - Emphasis on digitalization and infrastructure preparation to support fusion technology development [1] - Launch of the AI-Fusion Digital Convergence Platform to enhance materials discovery and plasma behavior prediction [4] Mid-Term Actions - Integration of prototypes to test and refine fusion technologies [2] - Construction of small-to-medium test facilities and design completion for large-scale "First-of-a-Kind" (FOAK) facilities [4] Long-Term Goals - Delivery of power to the grid from the first fleet of pilot plants [4] - Expansion of public infrastructure to support a global fusion market, aiming to lower the levelized cost of energy [4] Core Technical Challenges - The DOE has identified six core technical challenge areas to address gaps in fusion technology [3] - Key areas include structural materials, plasma-facing components, confinement systems, fuel cycle and tritium processing, blankets, and plant engineering [4][10] Material Development - Development of Reduced Activation Ferritic Martensitic (RAFM) steels and vanadium alloys to withstand neutron bombardment and minimize radioactive waste [11] - Focus on tungsten for plasma-facing components to handle extreme heat without contamination [12] Fusion Confinement Methods - The FS&T Roadmap pursues both Magnetic Confinement Fusion and Inertial Confinement Fusion [14] - Magnetic confinement utilizes High-Temperature Superconducting (HTS) magnets to stabilize plasma, with Tokamaks and Stellarators as primary architectures [15][18] Inertial Confinement Fusion - This method employs high-energy lasers to compress fuel pellets, igniting plasma through micro-explosions [19] - Companies involved in producing optical components and high-power diodes are critical to this approach [20] Tritium Breeding and Fuel Cycle - The DOE aims for a closed-loop fuel cycle to breed tritium using lithium-containing blankets, ensuring domestic supply and minimizing reliance on international sources [21] - Companies like Oklo and BWXT are involved in tritium production and breeding technologies [24][25] Blanket Technology - The blanket in fusion reactors is essential for energy conversion, tritium breeding, and radiation shielding [29] - The DOE is aligning advanced fission research and development with fusion technology to create a unified supply chain [30] Plant Engineering and Systems Integration - Focus on the Balance of Plant (BOP) to ensure reliability and efficiency in converting fusion energy to electricity [31] - Innovations such as Supercritical CO2 turbines are being prioritized for their efficiency and smaller footprint [32]

Market Overview - The ChiNext Index experienced a high and then a decline, dropping over 1% at one point during the early session on January 13. The total trading volume for the Shanghai and Shenzhen markets reached 2.44 trillion yuan, an increase of 128.3 billion yuan compared to the previous trading day [1] - The overall market saw over 2800 stocks decline, with the Shanghai Composite Index down 0.03%, the Shenzhen Component Index down 0.31%, and the ChiNext Index down 0.83% [1] Sector Performance - The AI application sector continued to show strong performance, with over ten constituent stocks hitting the daily limit. Notable stocks include Ingrity Media, Liou Co., and Shengguang Group, all of which reached the limit [1] - The AI medical sector remained active, with Meiyan Health and Dean Diagnostics achieving three consecutive limit-ups, while Hongbo Pharmaceutical hit a 20% limit-up [1] - The commercial aerospace sector showed localized strength, with Shaanxi Huada and Electronic Science and Technology Chip both reaching the limit [1] - Conversely, the controlled nuclear fusion sector saw a collective decline, with Zhongzhou Special Materials and Wangzi New Materials experiencing significant drops [1] Limit-Up Performance - The limit-up rate was recorded at 69.00%, with 72 stocks hitting the limit and 32 stocks touching the limit on the previous day [3] - The opening rate for limit-up stocks was 85%, with a profit rate of 2.96% [3]

Core Viewpoint - Trump Media is launching a new digital token for its shareholders, which will provide periodic benefits but not represent ownership in the company [1][3]. Group 1: Token Distribution - The new token will be distributed in partnership with Crypto.com, leveraging its blockchain technology, Cronos, which supports a $500 million DeFi ecosystem [2]. - Shareholders will receive one token for each whole share of Trump Media, with the tokens offering benefits such as discounts on company products [3]. - The tokens are anticipated to be non-transferable and cannot be exchanged for cash [3]. Group 2: Company Developments - Trump Media has previously partnered with Crypto.com to establish a digital asset treasury company and develop a prediction market called Truth Predict [5]. - The company announced a $6 billion merger with TAE Technologies to build a utility-scale fusion power plant by 2026 [6]. - The first five Truth Social ETFs began trading on the New York Stock Exchange, with plans to offer crypto-based ETFs in 2026 through a Crypto.com subsidiary [6]. Group 3: Leadership and Future Plans - CEO Devin Nunes expressed optimism about utilizing Crypto.com's blockchain technology to enhance regulatory clarity and promote fair markets [4]. - Additional details regarding the token distribution will be shared in the new year [4].

Company Overview - Trump Media & Technology Group Corp. has seen its shares surge nearly 70% following a $6 billion merger agreement with fusion startup TAE Technologies, resulting in shareholders of both companies owning approximately half of the combined entity on a fully diluted equity basis [1] - TAE Technologies, founded in 1998, aims to deploy commercial, utility-scale fusion energy and plans to begin construction of its first fusion power plant in 2026, which is expected to generate between 350-500 MWe [3] Investment and Funding - TAE Technologies has raised over $1.3 billion from notable investors including Google, Chevron Technology Ventures, Goldman Sachs, and Sumitomo Corporation of America [4] - The company is utilizing neutral particle beams and magnets in its fusion reactors, diverging from the traditional laser approach [4] Nuclear Fusion Technology - Nuclear fusion is recognized for its potential to generate four times as much energy as nuclear fission from the same mass of fuel, producing significantly less radioactive waste and eliminating the risk of meltdown [6] - The process of nuclear fusion involves combining hydrogen atoms to create helium and release energy, a method that mirrors the energy generation in stars [5] Global Fusion Developments - The global nuclear renaissance has reignited interest in nuclear fusion, with companies like Helion Energy making strides in commercial fusion energy, including a power purchase agreement with Microsoft to supply electricity starting in 2028 [9] - China has rapidly advanced in the fusion sector, holding more fusion patents than any other country and achieving significant breakthroughs with its private fusion company, Energy Singularity, which has developed the HH70 superconducting tokamak [13][14] Future Prospects - Energy Singularity's next-generation device, HH170, is expected to be completed by 2027 and aims for a tenfold energy gain, a critical milestone for commercial viability [15] - Commonwealth Fusion Systems, based in Massachusetts, is also pursuing small reactor designs and has secured around $3 billion in funding to develop its SPARC reactor, which aims to achieve net energy fusion [18]

Core Viewpoint - Peter Schiff criticizes Trump Media & Technology Group (DJT) for lacking intrinsic value beyond its association with Donald Trump, highlighting a lack of a coherent business model as the company shifts strategies [1][3][4] Company Evolution - DJT initially launched as a social media platform with Truth Social but faced growth and monetization challenges, leading to a rebranding as a financial technology and cryptocurrency-focused entity [2][3] - The company is now proposing a merger with TAE Technologies, a fusion energy firm, marking another significant strategic pivot [3][6] Merger Details - The all-stock merger with TAE Technologies values the combined entity at over $6 billion, positioning DJT as one of the few publicly listed companies involved in nuclear fusion research [6] - Management presents the merger as a long-term investment in clean energy and the increasing demand for power from data centers and AI infrastructure [6] Market Reaction - Following the merger announcement, DJT shares saw significant volatility, with a more than 8% increase on the day of the news and a rally of over 50% in the past five days [7][9] - Despite this positive market reaction, DJT's stock is down more than 50% year to date, indicating ongoing struggles for the company [9]

Group 1: Drug Price Cuts and Pharmaceutical Stocks - President Trump announced significant drug price cuts in collaboration with nine major pharmaceutical companies, aiming to align U.S. drug costs with those in other developed nations [2] - Despite the announcement of price cuts, shares of involved drugmakers like GSK, Merck, Amgen, Novartis, Sanofi, and Roche rose by approximately 1% to 3%, as the deals removed the immediate threat of punitive tariffs for three years [3] - Analysts noted that the deals serve more as a public relations strategy rather than a substantial change in company economics, with Medicaid already benefiting from significant discounts [4] Group 2: Market Reactions to Health Insurers - Major health insurers such as Cigna, CVS Health, Elevance Health, and UnitedHealth Group experienced an initial dip of about 1% following Trump's comments but quickly recovered, indicating a market accustomed to Trump's policy announcements [5] Group 3: Merger of Trump Media & Technology Group and TAE Technologies - Trump Media & Technology Group announced a merger with TAE Technologies, valuing the combined entity at $6 billion, which led to a 42% surge in DJT shares, closing at $14.86 [7] - The merger has drawn mixed reactions, with some analysts viewing it as a significant move towards creating a public nuclear fusion company, while others criticized it as a questionable venture [9] Group 4: Tariff Threats and Market Volatility - Throughout 2025, Trump's threats and impositions of tariffs, particularly against China, have caused significant market volatility, including a $5 trillion market wipeout following an April tariff announcement [11] - The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite experienced substantial declines during tariff threats, but the market has shown resilience, often recovering to new highs [12] Group 5: Overall Market Environment - As 2025 concludes, the financial markets continue to be influenced by Trump's unpredictable policies, creating a landscape where traditional analysis is often overshadowed by political developments [13]

Core Viewpoint - Trump Media is merging with TAE Technologies in a $6 billion deal to create a publicly traded fusion energy company, addressing the increasing energy demands from AI data centers [1][2]. Company Overview - Trump Media & Technology is the parent company of Truth Social, which was launched in 2022 as an alternative to mainstream social media platforms [4]. - TAE Technologies, based in Foothill Ranch, California, has raised over $1.3 billion for commercial-scale nuclear fusion and has built five fusion reactors since its founding in 1998 [2][3]. Industry Insights - Nuclear fusion aims to produce limitless energy using the same process that powers the sun, but large-scale implementation has been hindered by volatility and high costs [3]. - The merger could position TAE Technologies as one of the first publicly traded companies in the fusion energy sector, which is expected to require significant investment and regulatory navigation [2][7]. Investment and Regulatory Considerations - Trump's involvement in the merger raises potential conflicts of interest, particularly given the highly regulated nature of the energy industry [6][7]. - Analysts have noted that Trump's indirect association with TAE Technologies could lead to scrutiny due to the significant investments required for advancing fusion technology [6][7].