Utilities Up on Defensive Bias - Utilities Roundup

Utility stocks rose as investors rotated into the defensive sector amid weak retail sales data, viewing utilities as safer alternatives to cyclical sectors. Additionally, Fermi, a data-center and power startup co-founded by former Energy Secretary Rick Perry, signed an agreement with a cloud-computing company to develop a massive data center in the Texas Panhandle.

Shares of power producers rose as traders rotated back into the defensive sector following weak retail-sales data. Utilities are viewed as safer alternatives to cyclical sectors due to the evergreen nature of their businesses.

Fermi, the troubled data-center and power startup co-founded by former Energy Secretary Rick Perry, signed a deal with a cloud-computing company to develop a massive data center in the Texas Panhandle.

Write to Rob Curran at rob.curran@dowjones.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

August 14, 2026 17:40 ET (21:40 GMT)