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On August 26, Barclays' strategy team stated that the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure is provoking backlash among bipartisan voters in the U.S., which could pose political risks to currently popular AI transactions. Barclays noted, 'The construction of data centers is transforming AI from an abstract technological narrative into a concrete issue of living costs.' Even voters with limited exposure to AI will be affected by rising electricity bills, water resource pressures, and the construction of industrial facilities in their communities. Evercore ISI and BCA Research also warned that the surge in energy-intensive data center construction is becoming a sensitive topic ahead of the midterm elections, with voters increasingly dissatisfied with rising electricity costs. Barclays believes that regardless of the midterm election outcomes, AI transactions lack new catalysts for growth and cautions investors not to assume that 'the rapid growth of AI applications can coexist long-term with a loose political environment.' The bank's AI data center index includes over 40 companies, such as AMD, Arista Networks, and Microsoft, and related stocks may face policy pressures.

On August 26, Barclays' strategy team stated that the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure is provoking backlash from bipartisan voters in the U.S., potentially introducing political risks to currently popular AI transactions. Barclays noted, 'The construction of data centers is transforming AI from an abstract technological narrative into a concrete issue of living costs.' Even voters with limited exposure to AI will be affected by rising electricity bills, water resource pressures, and the construction of industrial facilities in their communities. Evercore ISI and BCA Research also warned that the surge in energy-intensive data center construction is becoming a sensitive topic ahead of the midterm elections, with voters increasingly dissatisfied with rising electricity costs. Barclays believes that regardless of the midterm election outcomes, AI transactions lack new catalysts for growth and advises investors not to assume that 'the rapid growth of AI applications can coexist with a favorable political environment in the long term.' The bank's AI data center index includes over 40 companies, such as AMD, Arista Networks, and Microsoft, which may face policy pressures.

On August 26, the CME Group announced that the first trade of U.S. zinc futures has been completed through the CME Globex electronic trading platform, with Glencore and Trafigura as the trading parties. The first trade was executed on August 20, with a delivery month of September. The CME Group stated that, based on customer demand, the zinc futures contract has been adjusted to a 'U.S. Delivered Duty Paid' model effective March 2026, providing tools for managing fluctuations in U.S. zinc prices. This contract, as an exchange-traded and centrally cleared risk management tool, will help producers, consumers, and intermediaries enhance the transparency of U.S. zinc prices and optimize hedging strategies. Kim Hennig, Global Head of CME Metals, noted that geopolitical fragmentation is reshaping global supply chains, making regional price signals increasingly important. The U.S. zinc market is gradually developing its own pricing logic, and the new contract aims to assist participants in managing their risk exposure.