CAT powers up ag automation

Caterpillar has reportedly acquired Monarch Tractor, a California-based startup specializing in self-driving electric tractors, signaling a strategic push into agricultural automation and electrification. This move coincides with Monarch’s shift away from vehicle manufacturing toward technology licensing. Simultaneously, Maine has become the first U.S. state to pass a statewide data center moratorium, blocking facilities larger than 20 megawatts until 2027 to evaluate environmental and grid impacts. In the legal sector, Portuguese app store Aptoide is suing Google in federal court, alleging anti-competitive practices and a monopoly over the Android ecosystem. Market activity remains focused on geopolitical tensions with Iran, while GitLab shares rose 7% following an expanded Google Cloud partnership. Economic indicators to watch include the Empire State Manufacturing Index and the Housing Market Index, as crude oil prices climb to $92 amid broader market fluctuations.