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```htmlGolden Ten Data, May 18｜Ford Motor shares surged more than 6% in pre-market trading, quoted at $14.24. According to reports, Ford Energy, a subsidiary of Ford Motor Company, and EDF North America Power Solutions announced on Monday that they have reached a five-year framework agreement. Under the agreement, EDF can procure up to 4 GWh of DC block battery energy storage systems per year, with a maximum total potential procurement volume of up to 20 GWh. The two companies stated that deliveries are expected to begin in 2028. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.```

BlockBeats News, on May 18, CNBC reported that several institutions have warned global crude oil inventories are rapidly declining. Europe could even face an actual oil shortage by the end of this month, and inventory recovery may not occur until December 2027. Abaxx Commodity Exchange Co-Executive Chairman Jeff Currie stated that while the oil market appears stable on the surface, the supply system is already under extreme strain, and Europe could experience a physical shortage "at any time." He warned that once inventories are depleted, oil prices could undergo a "nonlinear" surge. Currie pointed out that the current crude oil market is transitioning between the traditional off-peak and peak demand periods. However, with Memorial Day in the United States and the UK Spring Bank Holiday approaching, demand for diesel, gasoline, and jet fuel will rise rapidly, potentially intensifying supply pressures. SocGen analysts indicated that the oil market is currently maintaining only a "veneer of stability," while underlying inventories and logistics systems are actually "extremely fragile." The report noted that since the escalation of the US-Iran conflict on February 28, traffic through the Strait of Hormuz—which accounts for about one-fifth of global oil and gas transport—has been continuously restricted. Even if the strait resumes normal navigation in early June, considering tanker transport, unloading, refining, and distribution processes, it will take at least 52 days for the global supply chain to recover. SocGen cautioned that if resumption of the Strait of Hormuz is further postponed to the end of June, the market will face deeper and more prolonged supply pressures. Global inventories may deteriorate further, oil prices could surge to $150 per barrel, and remain elevated throughout the year.

BlockBeats News, May 18 — The Trump administration is forming a new model for supporting businesses: instead of relying solely on traditional bailouts, subsidies, or tax incentives, it is directly taking equity stakes in key American companies, with a particular focus on industries involving national security such as semiconductors, critical minerals, and nuclear energy. According to reports, the Trump administration has employed equity investment methods with US companies multiple times over the past two years. Trump and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick's camp believe that this approach not only assists struggling American enterprises but may also provide long-term returns to US finances, similar to venture capital investments. Intel is regarded as the most typical case. In August 2025, the Trump administration reached a special agreement with Intel, acquiring around a 9.9% stake in the company worth about 10 billion US dollars. At that time, Intel was facing declining market share and high debt pressure. During an interview with Fortune Editor-in-Chief Alyson Shontell, Trump stated that Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan had personally visited the White House to meet with him: "I like him. I think he is excellent." The report noted that at that time, the Trump administration also had leverage, including undistributed funding from the CHIPS Act. Since the deal, Intel’s share price has risen significantly. However, Fortune also noted that this model is controversial. Supporters believe that if the US government can achieve high returns like a top VC, it may even help ease the fiscal deficit in the future; opponents worry that direct government shareholding could undermine free market principles and open the door for future administrative intervention in corporate governance. In addition, the article pointed out that the continued growth in capital expenditure on AI infrastructure by US tech giants is also one of the key reasons why the US stock market has remained strong despite the backdrop of the Iran war and high oil prices.