Monday, February 23, 2026

Data center developers are seeking credit ratings even while facilities are under construction to unlock new capital; S&P, Moody's, and others expand coverage (Michelle Chan/Financial Times)

Michelle Chan / Financial Times:
Data center developers are seeking credit ratings even while facilities are under construction to unlock new capital; S&P, Moody's, and others expand coverage  —  Agencies are rushing to rate the debt of projects still under construction  —  Data centre developers are seeking credit ratings …



How Buddy Rizer, an official in Virginia's Loudoun County, helped build the world's largest data center market, with ~200 buildings spanning ~49M square feet (David Uberti/Wall Street Journal)

David Uberti / Wall Street Journal:
How Buddy Rizer, an official in Virginia's Loudoun County, helped build the world's largest data center market, with ~200 buildings spanning ~49M square feet  —  Virginia's Loudoun County is a giant data-center market thanks in part to a radio DJ-turned county executive director for economic development



South Korean trade data: chip exports rose 134% YoY, while computer peripherals rose 129% in the first 20 days of February, extending gains driven by AI demand (Heesu Lee/Bloomberg)

Heesu Lee / Bloomberg:
South Korean trade data: chip exports rose 134% YoY, while computer peripherals rose 129% in the first 20 days of February, extending gains driven by AI demand  —  South Korea's exports extended their growth momentum in early February, driven by resilient semiconductor demand even as trade uncertainty persists over US tariff policy.



Russian cryptocurrency payment network A7 expands to Africa, as Moscow builds an alternative payments system amid western sanctions after its Ukraine invasion (Financial Times)

Financial Times : Russian cryptocurrency payment network A7 expands to Africa, as Moscow builds an alternative payments system amid weste...