Economy

CLAAS KGaA mbH has announced that serial production of the Torion 537e Sinus, a battery-electric front loader, will begin in 2026. The six-tonne class machine, first presented at Agritechnica 2025, combines the features of the SINUS series with a locally emission-free electric drive.

The Torion 537e Sinus replaces the diesel engine and hydrostat typically found in the conventional TORION 537 SINUS model with an electric powertrain. It offers a standard lithium-ion battery capacity of 32.2 kWh, with an optional upgrade to 64.4 kWh. According to CLAAS, the larger battery provides a running time of up to 16 hours. The battery can be fully charged in 1.5 to 3 hours, and a recuperation system recovers energy during braking and downhill travel.

With an operating weight of 5910 kg, the Torion 537e Sinus delivers a breakout force of 48 kN and is designed for fast loading cycles. The machine incorporates a Smart Loading system to optimize loading processes, and the electric drive provides immediate acceleration and a maximum speed of 30 km/h. The SINUS steering system enables operation in confined spaces, with a minimum turning radius of 3520 mm and high stability.

CLAAS highlights the suitability of the Torion 537e Sinus for livestock farming, citing its low noise level of 65 dB(A) within the cabin, which aims to improve animal welfare and operator comfort. The spacious cabin offers good visibility, and an adjustable touchscreen terminal displays operational data and battery charge status.

The development of the Torion 537e Sinus reflects a growing trend toward battery-electric solutions in the agricultural machinery sector. CLAAS has not yet announced pricing or detailed market rollout plans beyond the 2026 production start date.

Shares of Nvidia Corp. Rose as much as 3% in after-hours trading Wednesday following the release of the company’s fourth-quarter earnings report, which exceeded analyst expectations. The gains contributed to a broader rally in the technology sector, lifting the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the S&P 500, and the Nasdaq Composite during regular trading hours.

Nvidia reported a near doubling of its quarterly profit, with data center revenue increasing 75%, signaling continued strong demand for artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. The positive results alleviated some concerns about a potential slowdown in AI investment, driving a “relief rally” in tech stocks, according to Yahoo Finance. The Nasdaq closed up over 1% on Wednesday.

The surge in Nvidia’s stock price and the overall market rally occurred ahead of the company’s earnings release, with shares rising approximately 1% prior to the report. This pre-earnings increase reflected optimism about Nvidia’s performance and its position as a leading provider of AI chips. Reuters reported that Wall Street extended its tech-powered rally as AI worries abated.

The positive market momentum similarly benefited the Dow and S&P 500, which both experienced gains. Software companies led the advance, contributing to the overall positive sentiment. According to reports, the market had been under pressure leading up to the earnings release and the scheduled release of US economic data.

The earnings report indicates that the AI boom remains robust, despite earlier anxieties about potential headwinds. MarketWatch highlighted the key takeaways from Nvidia’s financial results, emphasizing the strong performance of its data center business. The company’s revenue outlook was also viewed favorably by investors.

Nvidia shares fell more than 1% on February 25, 2026, as investors assessed the company’s earnings report amid growing competition in the artificial intelligence chip market. Wall Street had been closely watching for indications of the sustainability of hundreds of billions of dollars earmarked for data center infrastructure.

Companies including Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta are collectively projected to spend at least $630 billion in 2026, with the majority of those resources directed toward data centers and processors, according to industry analysis. Whereas Nvidia remains the dominant player, emerging challenges to its market leadership are becoming increasingly apparent.

Rival AMD is preparing to launch a new flagship AI server later this year and has already secured contracts with former Nvidia customers, including Meta. Google, meanwhile, has agreed to supply its Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) to Anthropic, developer of the Claude chatbot – a leading competitor to ChatGPT – and is reportedly in discussions to also supply Meta, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Major technology groups are also bolstering their internal development of semiconductors for their own data centers, further intensifying the competitive landscape. This shift suggests Nvidia’s path forward may not be as clear as it once was, despite its chips having been a critical differentiator until recently.

Nvidia clarified that its current quarter forecasts do not include revenue anticipated from the sale of chips for data centers in China. However, the company announced it had received licenses from the U.S. Government this month to ship “small quantities” of H200 chips to Chinese customers. Analysts had factored in a potential resumption of sales to China following export restrictions imposed by Washington. AMD has also incorporated AI chip sales to China into its projections after obtaining approvals for modified versions of its processors.

The company also stated it has secured sufficient inventory and production capacity to meet demand in the coming quarters. In a competitive environment for attracting specialized AI engineers and researchers, Nvidia will include stock-based compensation in its non-GAAP financial metrics.

As of February 25, 2026, Nvidia’s market capitalization stood at $4.7 trillion, according to data from financial markets. This places it as the last remaining company in the $4 trillion club, after Alphabet, Apple, and Microsoft all fell below that valuation earlier in the month, according to reports.