US Appeals Court Keeps Trump’s 10% Global Tariff in Effect During Ongoing Legal Battle 
Pakistan Economy Grows 3.7% in FY2026 Amid Strong Fiscal Performance 
US Dollar Edges Higher as Inflation Data and Middle East Tensions Shape Market Sentiment 
Oil Prices Fall as U.S.-Iran Peace Deal Hopes Ease Supply Concerns 
SpaceX IPO Demand Surges Past $250 Billion Ahead of Historic Market Debut 
Asian Stocks Slide as Tech Selloff Deepens and US-Iran Conflict Escalates 
Astera Labs and Rocket Lab Surge After Nasdaq-100 Inclusion Announcement 
Coupang Hit With Record $409 Million Fine Over Data Breach Affecting 33 Million Users 
Sigma Healthcare Shares Slide Amid Preliminary Boots Acquisition Talks 
European Stocks Rise Ahead of ECB Rate Decision as Investors Buy the Dip 
EngineAI Files for Hong Kong IPO Amid Rising Demand for AI and Robotics Stocks 
US Stock Futures Rally as U.S.-Iran Peace Talks Boost Market Sentiment Despite Ongoing Strikes 
US Dollar Heads for Weekly Loss as Iran Peace Deal Hopes Boost Risk Appetite 
BHP Port Hedland Workers Back Strike Action Amid Pay Dispute 
New Zealand Manufacturing Slips Back Into Contraction in May 
Gold Prices Slip Weekly Despite Friday Rebound as U.S.-Iran Peace Deal Hopes Grow 
GM and Peak Energy Partner to Advance Sodium-Ion Battery Technology for Grid Storage 
Ford Motor and SK Innovation are reportedly joining forces and will soon announce their electric vehicle battery joint venture in the U.S. This information was said to have been shared by two individuals who are familiar with the situation.
Ford Motor and SK Innovation signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to work together. The partnership is likely to be officially announced on Thursday, May 20, according to sources who provided the information to Reuters.
The deal between Ford and SKI
The reported joint business deal of the American automaker and Korean energy conglomerate will include building a plant for the production of battery cells for rechargeable EV batteries. The two companies will jointly own the facility and operate together as well.
The insider further revealed that the talks about SK Innovation and Ford Motor’s plan to do business together intensified last month when the former agreed to pay its rival LG Energy Solutions some $1.8 billion to settle their infringement dispute in the U.S.
But then again, Ford was contacted to comment on this partnership speculation but reportedly declined. The company only said that SK Innovation is a valued supplier. As for the Korean firm, it did not give a direct reply as well and stated it does not comment on inquiries about projects as it is a confidential matter.
U.S. and Korean leaders to meet for
It was said that Ford and SKI’s deal could be similar to General Motors and LG Energy’s battery joint venture. The latter is already constructing facilities in Tennessee and Ohio and GM will benefit from this too since they are working together.
Meanwhile, the possibility of Ford Motor and SK Innovation announcing their partnership is quite high. Bloomberg also reported that the companies’ venture is one of the highlights of the U.S. and S. Korea’s ties on the electric vehicles business. The media outlet wrote that Ford and SKI are poised to announce that they have reached an agreement to cooperate in building EV batteries.
Meanwhile, Korean President Moon Jae In is already in Washington for a 4-day summit with President Joe Biden. They are expected to discuss EVs along with representatives from companies including Samsung and SK, who accompanied Moon.
