Business

Nvidia Forecast Signals Faster Growth as Vera Rubin Launches

Nvidia just reported its 11th straight quarter of revenue growth above 55% as the leading tech names keep snapping up the company’s AI chips. Already the world’s most valuable public company, growth is now reaccelerating.

In its earnings report Wednesday, Nvidia said year-over-year revenue will surge about 77% this quarter to roughly $78 billion. That would mark the fastest growth rate for any period since the quarter ending January 2025, when expansion came in slightly higher at 78%. Its forecast sailed past the $72.6 billion average analyst estimate, according to LSEG.

Revenue in the fourth quarter jumped 73%, also topping estimates, following expansion of 62% in the prior period. The data center business, home to Nvidia’s AI graphics processing units, now accounts for over 91% of sales.

The chipmaker’s optimistic outlook comes as the company ramps production of Vera Rubin, its next rack-scale system for AI that will succeed Grace Blackwell. Nvidia says the system’s 72 next-generation Rubin graphics processing units (GPUs) are expected to deliver 10 times more performance per watt, compared to their predecessors.

Finance chief Colette Kress said on the earnings call after the report that the company shipped its “first Vera Rubin samples to customers earlier this week,” and that Nvidia expects every model builder and cloud provider to eventually deploy the system. She said the company now expects growth this year to exceed what was included in the company’s projection last year for a $500 billion revenue opportunity between Blackwell and Rubin.

“We believe we have inventory and supply commitments in place to address future demand, including shipments extending into calendar 2027,” Kress said.

Nvidia’s shares were little changed in extended trading after initially popping, reflecting investors’ lofty expectations for the company, which is valued at almost $5 trillion thanks to its dominance in AI processors.

There’s competition on the horizon, as smaller rival Advanced Micro Devices is set to release Helios, its first rack-scale system for AI, later this year. Earlier this week, Meta committed to deploying up to 6 gigawatts of AMD GPUs, with Helios shipments starting in 2026.

Nvidia also faces challenges from some of its biggest customers — namely Amazon and Google — making in-house AI chips to power their data centers. In its annual filing, Nvidia said a potential risk to future results is that “customers develop their own internal solution.”

Looking beyond fiscal 2027, growth is expected to slow dramatically, from 63% this year to 30%, 11.5% and 3% in the three subsequent years, according to LSEG.

‘Compute equals revenue’

But for now, Nvidia’s growth is far outpacing any of its competitors or peers as tech giants and AI model developers race to build out their infrastructure to meet soaring demand.

“In this new world of AI, compute equals revenues,” CEO Jensen Huang said on Wednesday’s earnings call. He repeated the phrase and variations of it several times during the call, in reference to the speedy adoption of agentic AI, which goes beyond early generative AI by allowing businesses to create and run applications with text prompts.

Anthropic’s Claude Cowork has quickly taken off in the enterprise by plugging into more applications. And earlier this month, OpenAI hired OpenClaw developer Peter Steinberger after his tool surged in popularity by automating tasks such as managing emails and calendars, browsing the web and interacting with online services.

“Between Claude Cowork and OpenClaw, compute demand is skyrocketing, and the ChatGPT moment of agentic AI has arrived,” Huang said on the call.

Not included in Nvidia’s first-quarter forecast is any potential data center revenue from China. A lack of clarity around export controls has kept Nvidia from selling into the world’s second-largest economy, even after President Donald Trump said in January that his administration would approve China sales of Nvidia’s H200 chip, with the U.S. government taking 25% of sales.

Huang said in May that China’s AI market would likely reach about $50 billion within two to three years, and that missing out on it would be a “tremendous loss.” It’s an opportunity that hasn’t yet opened up.

“While small amounts of H200 products for China-based customers were approved by the U.S. government, we have yet to generate any revenue and we do not know whether any imports will be allowed into China,” Kress said on the call. “We are not assuming any data center compute revenue from China in our outlook.”

CNBC

Business

EU Rejects Higher US Tariffs After Court Ruling, Says ‘Deal Is a Deal’

EU says it will accept no increase in US tariffs after Supreme Court ruling: ‘a deal is a deal.’

The European Commission demanded on Sunday, February 22, 2026, that the United States stick to the terms of an EU-U.S. trade deal reached last year after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Donald Trump’s global tariffs and he responded with new levies across the board.

After the court struck down Trump’s global tariffs on Friday, the U.S. president announced temporary, across-the-board tariffs of 10%, which he then hiked to 15% a day later.

The Commission, which negotiates trade policy on behalf of the 27 EU member states, said Washington must provide “full clarity” on the steps it intends to take following the court ruling.

“The current situation is not conducive to delivering ‘fair, balanced, and mutually beneficial’ transatlantic trade and investment, as agreed to by both sides” in the joint statement setting out the terms of last year’s trade agreement, the Commission said. “A deal is a deal.”

The comments were far more strongly worded than the Commission’s initial response on Friday, which had said only that it was studying the outcome of the Supreme Court decision and keeping in contact with the U.S. administration.

Last year’s trade deal set a 15% U.S. tariff rate for most EU goods, apart from those covered by other sectoral tariffs such as on steel.

It also allowed zero tariffs on some products such as aircraft and spare parts.

The EU agreed to remove import duties on many U.S. goods and withdrew a threat to retaliate with higher levies.

“In particular, EU products must continue to benefit from the most competitive treatment, with no increases in tariffs beyond the clear and all-inclusive ceiling previously agreed,” the EU executive said, adding that unpredictable tariffs were disruptive and undermined confidence across global markets.

It said that EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic had discussed the issue with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Saturday,February 21,2026.

The international News

Business

France’s Thales to hire 9,000 in 2026, 60 vacancies in the UAE

French defence and aerospace giant Thales plans to recruit more than 9,000 new employees worldwide in 2026 — including 60 roles in the UAE and 30 in Saudi Arabia.

The global hiring drive follows the recruitment of 8,800 employees in 2025, exceeding the company’s original target of 8,000 new hires.

In total, 150 jobs are planned across the Middle East and Africa next year. The company is also recruiting 450 workers in India.

The global hiring drive follows the recruitment of 8,800 employees in 2025, exceeding the company’s original target of 8,000 new hires.

In total, 150 jobs are planned across the Middle East and Africa next year. The company is also recruiting 450 workers in India.

Patrice Caine, CEO of Thales, said, “Together, we are shaping the future by inspiring an increasing number of young people, especially young women, to pursue careers in science and technology.”

Thales employs more than 83,000 people in 68 countries and generated €20.6 billion in sales in 2024. The company said strengthening diversity remains a priority.

In 2025, women accounted for 32 per cent of all recruitments. It added that 69 per cent of its management committees include at least four women, with a target of 75 per cent in 2026.

Thales also reported an employment rate of over 7 per cent for people with disabilities in France in 2025.

Strong demand for jobs

Thales said it received 1.4 million applications worldwide in 2025, up from one million CVs in 2024. The recruitment advisory Universum’s ranking also placed Thales first among the most attractive employers for engineering school students in France.

Around 40 per cent of new hires in 2026 will go into engineering roles, including software, systems engineering, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and data. A further 25 per cent will be recruited into industrial positions such as technicians, operators and engineers.

In France alone, the company plans to hire 3,300 people across several regions.

Thales has maintained a presence in the UAE for over 50 years, employing more than 500 people across three main offices.

Thales operates entities like Thales Emarat Technologies (TET), which focuses on defence and aerospace capabilities.

Thales’ key products include avionics, flight decks, and in-flight entertainment systems for aviation, along with radars, missiles (Starstreak, Crotale), armoured vehicles (Bushmaster, Hawkei), and unmanned drones (Watchkeeper) for defence.

Business

Saudi Halal Ecosystem Boosts Export Competitiveness

-Makkah Halal Forum 2026 marked a pivotal milestone in the development of Saudi Arabia’s halal industry, ushering in a new phase of structured institutional action.
This shift moves the sector beyond theoretical discourse toward a fully integrated implementation framework. It cements the Kingdom’s global leadership in halal and enhances the credibility of Saudi products in international markets.
The forum witnessed the launch of a package of strategic enablers reflecting the maturity of the Saudi experience in the sector. Chief among them was the introduction of the Halal Academy as a specialized knowledge and training arm dedicated to building professional expertise and raising standards across the entire value chain.
The event also saw the unveiling of the Golden Halal logo, a high-level accreditation mark designed to provide global markets with a unified benchmark of trust, underscoring the Kingdom’s commitment to the highest standards of quality and compliance.
These initiatives signal a strategic shift that goes beyond the traditional concept of religious oversight. Instead, they frame halal as a comprehensive industrial and economic system that integrates Sharia compliance with high quality standards, advanced governance, and digital traceability. The approach is expected to enhance the competitiveness of Saudi exports and facilitate their entry into global markets.
National success stories highlight the tangible impact of this transformation. Chief executive officer and founder of Roya Factory for Food Products Rasha Al Sanea noted that Saudi accreditation has evolved into a comprehensive quality certification that provides companies with a clear competitive edge abroad.
She noted that obtaining certification involves a rigorous process, including assessments of facility safety, manufacturing quality, and compliance with global standards ahead of final audits. These measures strengthen product reliability and boost readiness for international expansion.
Al Sanea added that the presence of international delegations and trade missions in Makkah on the sidelines of the forum helped accelerate expansion opportunities and open direct export channels to several markets.
She emphasized that pairing the Saudi Made logo with accredited halal marks, foremost among them the Golden Halal logo, enhances global consumer confidence and gives Saudi products a strong presence across diverse cultures and markets.
— SPA