NuScale Shares Rise 14.7% on UK SMR Funding Boost

NuScale Power Corporation's shares surged 14.7 percent on Wednesday, closing at 11.76 after reaching an intraday high of 12.02, as enthusiasm for small modular reactor technology rippled through the nuclear energy sector following a United Kingdom government funding announcement. The stock, which trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker SMR, saw trading volume exceed 57 million shares, more than double the average, before adding another 5 percent in after-hours activity. The rally occurred amid broader market optimism for clean energy solutions to meet rising power demands from artificial intelligence data centers and grid stabilization efforts.

The primary catalyst was the U.K.'s National Wealth Fund committing 805 million pounds to support Rolls-Royce's small modular reactor program, including plans to deploy three units on the island of Anglesey in North Wales. Although NuScale, based in Portland, Oregon, stands to receive no direct funding, investors viewed the move as a strong signal of governmental commitment to advanced nuclear infrastructure worldwide. This sentiment extended to U.S.-listed nuclear firms, with NuScale benefiting from sector-wide gains and...