market momentum. Here’s the breakdown of this week’s trending stocks:
Albemarle ($ALB) Sells Majority Stake in Catalyst Unit to KPS
Albemarle ($ALB) announced it will sell a 51% stake in its Ketjen refining catalyst business to KPS Capital Partners, while also divesting its 50% interest in the Eurecat joint venture to Axens SA. The moves are part of Albemarle’s broader strategy to refocus on core operations, improve its balance sheet, and strengthen financial flexibility.
The two transactions are expected to close in the first half of 2026, pending regulatory approvals. In total, Albemarle expects to receive approximately $660 million in pre-tax cash proceeds, which it plans to use for debt reduction and general corporate purposes.
After the deal closes, KPS will take operational control of Ketjen, holding a majority of the board seats, while Albemarle will retain a 49% minority stake, signaling its continued confidence in the unit’s long-term growth. Albemarle will also maintain full ownership of its Performance Catalyst Solutions business, including its Pasadena, Texas plant.
CEO Kent Masters said the transactions align with Albemarle’s long-term plan to focus on its core businesses in lithium and other essential materials, while KPS Managing Partner Raquel Vargas Palmer said the firm plans to support Ketjen’s next phase of growth with new capital and operational expertise.
Stock Price Reaction
$ALB shares dropped 9% after the announcement.
Intellia ($NTLA) Pauses Gene-Editing Treatment in Key Trials After Safety Issue
Intellia Therapeutics ($NTLA), a biotech company developing CRISPR-based genetic medicines, said it has paused treatment in two major studies for its experimental drug nex-z after a patient developed a serious liver problem.
The temporary halt affects Intellia’s MAGNITUDE and MAGNITUDE-2 Phase 3 trials, which test nex-z as a potential one-time cure for transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR), a rare disease that damages the heart and nerves. One patient in the study showed severe liver inflammation, prompting the company to stop new treatments while investigating the cause. The patient is currently being treated and monitored.
Intellia said it is working with health regulators and medical experts to ensure safety before restarting the trials. More than 650 patients are enrolled across the two studies, with about 450 already treated with nex-z.
The company described the pause as a precautionary step, emphasizing that patient safety comes first. Nex-z has been considered one of the most promising CRISPR-based treatments in development, aimed at permanently switching off the gene that causes ATTR.
Stock Price Reaction
$NTLA shares fell 42% after the announcement as investors worried about possible delays and safety concerns surrounding the company’s leading gene-editing program.
Nokia ($NOK) Teams Up With NVIDIA to Build AI-Powered 6G Networks
Nokia ($NOK) announced a major partnership with NVIDIA ($NVDA), including a $1 billion investment from NVIDIA to help develop next-generation AI-driven 6G networks.
The collaboration will see Nokia integrate NVIDIA’s new Aerial RAN Computer (ARC-Pro) — a 6G-ready platform — into its network products, marking the start of what both companies call the AI-native wireless era. The goal is to make mobile networks faster, more efficient, and capable of handling the growing wave of AI-powered applications.
T-Mobile U.S. will work with Nokia and NVIDIA to test the new system in 2026, while Dell Technologies will supply PowerEdge servers to run the platform. The companies believe this will enable smoother connections for future AI devices such as drones and AR or VR glasses.
Nokia CEO Justin Hotard said the partnership will “put an AI data center into everyone’s pocket,” while NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang described it as a step toward restoring America’s leadership in telecommunications.
Stock Price Reaction
$NOK shares climbed 23% after the announcement.
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