News•Feb 18, 2026
Williams-Sonoma to Test Ads in ChatGPT
Williams‑Sonoma has joined OpenAI’s ad pilot, becoming one of the first retailers to test sponsored placements inside ChatGPT. The experiment will surface high‑end home‑goods ads to free and Go users as they ask product‑related questions, while paid subscribers remain ad‑free. The partnership stresses a "trusted and transparent" experience, aiming to blend contextual product discovery with brand safety. This move follows Williams‑Sonoma’s broader AI rollout, including workforce‑saving tools and an AI‑powered culinary companion.
By Retail Dive
Social•Feb 18, 2026
Geopolitical Tension Drives Gold Surge—Position Now
Gold is on the move🔥 As tensions in the Middle East rise and Iran escalates, markets are reacting and gold is back in focus When uncertainty rises, gold shines ✨ Big moves could be ahead. The question is… are you positioned? Trade Gold with...
By Kathy Lien
Blog•Feb 18, 2026
Folks Unveils 2026 State of HR Report
Folks, a Canadian HR software provider, has released its 2026 State of HR Report, surveying over 400 small and medium‑sized businesses across Canada. The study spotlights recruitment as a top priority while documenting a surge in artificial‑intelligence use and broader...
By HRTech Cube
News•Feb 18, 2026
Don’t Run From Scary Times. Here’s How AI Helps You Prioritize What Really Counts
Amid economic uncertainty, the article urges businesses to double down on core strengths and customer relationships, using AI as a strategic ally. It highlights how AI can surface top‑performing products, personalize marketing, and provide real‑time data to guide decisions. By...
By Entrepreneur
News•Feb 18, 2026
CMA CGM Inks Order for Six Dual-Fuel LNG Ships with India Yard
CMA CGM has placed an order with India’s Cochin Shipyard for six 1,700‑TEU dual‑fuel LNG container vessels. The deal was announced during a New Delhi visit that also included a pledge to recruit an additional 1,500 seafarers, bringing the total Indian crew...
By Journal of Commerce (JOC)
Social•Feb 18, 2026
AI Spending and Consumer Surge Mask Weak Underlying Growth
Recent top and bottom line (as well as profit margins) have been disproportionately impacted by massive AI cap spending and high end consumer spending. The former has a half life to it. The later may not be sustained if home and stock...
By Doug Kass
News•Feb 18, 2026
Frist Cressey Ventures Raises $425M Fund to Invest in AI-Native Care
Frist Cressey Ventures closed an oversubscribed $425 million Fund IV, lifting its assets under management close to $1 billion. The new fund zeroes in on early‑stage, AI‑native healthcare companies that can reshape care delivery. Strategic limited partners such as Cigna, MedStar Health and...
By HIT Consultant
News•Feb 18, 2026
Japan Accounting Group Seeks to Ease Insurer Bond Loss Rule
The Japanese Institute of Certified Public Accountants (JICPA) has proposed treating life insurers' government‑bond holdings as held‑to‑maturity, removing the need for impairment accounting when certain criteria are met. Under current rules insurers must record a loss if market value falls...
By Accounting Today
Social•Feb 18, 2026
Retail Traders Set Record Demand on Citadel Platform
Citadel on flows, via Bbrg: Retail traders spent a record amount snapping up software shares on Citadel Securities’ platform, according to Scott Rubner, head of equity and equity derivatives strategy at the firm, which began tracking the data in 2017: “Net notional...
By MacroCharts
News•Feb 18, 2026
TPG Chief Executive Jon Winkelried Says Firm Set Up AI Taskforce
TPG’s chief executive Jon Winkelried announced the creation of an AI taskforce to steer the firm’s software‑investment strategy as the sector endures a sharp sell‑off. He described the start of 2026 as a "big curveball" for markets, highlighting heightened volatility...
By Bloomberg — Business
News•Feb 18, 2026
You Can Invest in SpaceX Before Its IPO — but Should You?
Investors can now gain exposure to SpaceX through private secondary markets, specialty ETFs and pooled funds, sidestepping the wait for a public listing. The rocket company is valued at roughly $1.25 trillion, making it one of the most coveted private assets....
By MarketWatch – Top Stories
Social•Feb 18, 2026
De-Dollarization Undermines US Military Financing Power
De-Dollarization Threatens US Military Power The dollar’s role in global trade is shrinking. As it loses value, I see us losing influence and even military strength, because our military depends on financing powered by the dollar. The markets are already showing...
By Peter Schiff
Social•Feb 18, 2026
Seeing Bugs in IDE Boosts Fixes From 0% to 70%
“At Facebook, they found that when security vulnerabilities were reported as issues, nearly 0% got fixed. But when these same problems appeared directly in the developer’s IDE, where the red squiggles were difficult to ignore, fix rates jumped to around...
By Sean D. Mack
News•Feb 18, 2026
Warren Targets Dimon for Help on Interest Rate Caps
Senator Elizabeth Warren wrote to JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon urging his public support for the Empowering States’ Rights to Protect Consumers Act, which would let states re‑impose credit‑card interest‑rate caps on national banks. The legislation seeks to restore the...
By Banking Dive
Social•Feb 18, 2026
Top Invoicing Vendors Capture 55% Market Share
You don't get paid unless you invoice. Accurate, timely invoices. These are the top invoicing vendors used in software companies. Plus, honorable mentions just off the chart. Survey Highlights: - 57 invoicing solutions named - Top 5 solutions own 55%...
By Ben Murray
Blog•Feb 18, 2026
Collage Integrates Payroll, Powered by Nmbr
Collage, a Canadian all‑in‑one HR, benefits and payroll platform, has launched Collage Payroll in partnership with Nmbr, the country’s first embedded payroll provider. The new feature lets businesses manage HR, benefits, time‑off and payroll from a single login, eliminating the...
By HRTech Cube
News•Feb 18, 2026
Isabel Schnabel: Fiscal Challenges Amid Geopolitical Uncertainty and Ageing Societies
Isabel Schnabel highlighted the euro area’s mounting fiscal pressures, noting that low debt levels often coincide with weak public investment. She examined Germany’s new defence and infrastructure package, showing it can lift GDP but also raise debt ratios under different...
By European Central Bank — Press/Speeches
News•Feb 18, 2026
Hashtag Orange Promotes Gaurang Menon to Managing Partner & Creative Head – West
Hashtag Orange, a fast‑growing Indian advertising agency, announced the promotion of Gaurang Menon to Managing Partner and Creative Head for its West operations. The move elevates Menon, who has driven award‑winning campaigns for major brands, to oversee both business development...
By Branding in Asia
News•Feb 18, 2026
Dataminr Report: Cyber Risk Shifted in 2025 with Increased Threat Actor Activity and Mega-Loss Events
Dataminr’s 2026 Cyber Threat Landscape Report shows a dramatic shift in cyber risk during 2025, with threat‑actor alerts soaring 225% year‑over‑year. Identity‑based intrusions now account for nearly 30% of attacks, driven by an 84% rise in infostealer malware and AI‑enhanced...
By SC Media
Blog•Feb 18, 2026
India Takes on the Shadow Fleet (Bonus Video)
India's navy has begun seizing shadow‑fleet oil tankers within its exclusive economic zone, capturing three vessels since early February. The shadow fleet, a network of roughly 1,000 de‑commissioned tankers, moves 3‑4 million barrels of sanctioned crude daily from Russia, Iran...
By Zeihan on Geopolitics (Insights)
News•Feb 18, 2026
Rates Spark: Pressures Rebuild for Long Dates
Equity volatility in the US is easing, opening the door for a near‑term rally in 10‑year euro swap rates that sit about 20 basis points below their January peak. Market participants expect a bear‑steepening move as the front end of...
By ING — THINK Economics
News•Feb 18, 2026
Caturus Energy Advances LNG Business Through $950-Million Asset Deal with SM Energy
Caturus Energy announced a $950 million purchase of SM Energy’s Galvan Ranch assets, adding about 61,000 net acres and 250 MMcfed of daily gas production in Webb County, Texas. The acquisition lifts Caturus’s pro‑forma net output to roughly 950 MMcfed across 275,000 acres,...
By Oil & Gas Journal – General Interest
News•Feb 18, 2026
ED Freezes ₹505 Cr Held Abroad In WinZO Money-Laundering Case
The Enforcement Directorate has provisionally attached ₹505 cr (≈$55.7 mn) held in WinZO’s US and Singapore shell accounts as part of a money‑laundering probe. The agency alleges the gaming platform used bots and algorithm‑driven personas to play against real users, inflating revenues...
By Inc42
News•Feb 18, 2026
France’s Very Low Inflation Rate Is a Major Challenge for Public Finances
France’s inflation fell to 0.3% year‑on‑year in January, the lowest level since 2016 and well below the euro‑area average of 1.7%. The drop, driven by falling manufactured‑goods and energy prices, leaves core inflation at just 0.7% and fuels criticism that...
By ING — THINK Economics
News•Feb 18, 2026
Dow Jones Industrial Average Gains 200 Points as Fed Minutes Loom and Nvidia Rallies on Meta Deal
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose about 300 points, or 0.65%, as investors returned to equities ahead of the Federal Reserve’s January minutes. Nvidia surged over 2% after Meta announced an expanded AI‑chip partnership worth tens of billions, reinforcing Nvidia’s...
By FXStreet — News
News•Feb 18, 2026
Stock Movers: Palo Alto, MSG Sports, Wingstop (Podcast)
Palo Alto Networks warned that adjusted earnings per share will fall between $3.65 and $3.70 for the full year and $0.78 to $0.80 for the third quarter, sending its stock to a two‑year low. MSG Sports announced that its board...
By Bloomberg — Business
Blog•Feb 18, 2026
Apple in Europe: How Many iPhone Switchers Are Addressable in the Near Term?
Apple’s Q4 2025 results reveal Europe generated $38.1 billion in net sales, a 12.7 % year‑over‑year rise that now makes the continent a larger revenue source than Greater China. The growth stems largely from the iPhone 17 lineup, yet Apple’s earnings calls continue to...
By Asymco
News•Feb 18, 2026
The Hidden Cost of AI: Why Data Debt Is Actually a Human Problem
At the Digital Lounge in Davos, IT leaders highlighted a hidden crisis: data debt is draining human capacity more than technology. Legacy SAP systems and fragmented data require teams to spend countless hours cleaning and governing information, leading to transformation...
By ERP Today
News•Feb 18, 2026
Sibanye-Stillwater to Recognise R5.3bn in Impairments
Sibanye‑Stillwater will record R5.3 bn of impairments in the second half of its 2025 financial year, bringing total FY2025 impairments to R14 bn. The write‑downs stem from a R3.8 bn reduction at the Kloof gold mine and a R138 m impairment on the Keliber...
By Miningmx
News•Feb 18, 2026
Kraft Heinz Replaces North American President with Kellanova Exec
Kraft Heinz announced that former Kellanova leader Nicolas Amaya will replace Pedro Navio as president of its North American business, effective Feb. 22. The move follows CEO Steve Cahillane’s decision to pause a planned corporate break‑up and signals a renewed focus...
By Food Dive (Industry Dive)
News•Feb 18, 2026
Snapchat+ Tops 25M Subscribers, Driving Company’s Direct Revenue ARR to $1B
Snap announced its direct‑revenue business reached a $1 billion annualized run rate. The milestone is driven by Snapchat+, which now has more than 25 million paying subscribers. The service, launched in 2022 at $3.99 per month, has expanded with higher‑priced tiers such...
By TechCrunch Apps
News•Feb 18, 2026
Global Payments Builds Salesforce
Global Payments announced a 300‑agent salesforce expansion in 2026, following its recent acquisition of Worldpay. The company will invest $1 billion this year to accelerate growth of its Genius processing brand and AI capabilities. Adjusted net revenue rose 1% to $2.32 billion...
By Payments Dive
News•Feb 18, 2026
Apply Now: $102.7‑million Grant to Help Employers Retain Workers While They Train
The Canadian government has launched a $102.7 million Worker Retention Grant for employers already participating in the Work‑Sharing program. The grant subsidises up to 70 percent of an employee’s full‑time wage while they upskill during reduced‑hour periods. It targets sectors that account...
By Canadian HR Reporter
News•Feb 18, 2026
Global Payments Looks Forward to a Post-Issuing Era
Global Payments completed a $24.25 billion acquisition of Worldpay and sold its card‑issuing unit for $12 billion, positioning the company as a pure‑play merchant acquirer. The firm highlighted strong early performance of its Genius point‑of‑sale platform, now covering restaurants, retail, drive‑throughs and...
By Digital Transactions
News•Feb 18, 2026
Finpace Introduces Halcyon AI Layer to Its Core Banking Stack
Finpace unveiled Halcyon, an AI‑driven layer integrated with its core banking platform, aimed at accelerating change management for African financial institutions. The solution interprets business intent, orchestrates actions across data and workflow systems, and embeds governance to ensure compliant, auditable...
By IT News Africa
Social•Feb 18, 2026
VCs Compelled to Request Founders' Identity Forms in California
Woke California is NUTS. VCs now have to ask founders to fill out this form about how they "identify". We're not even based in Ca but because we have 2 LPs & two portcos with offices in the PRC (People's...
By Michael Eisenberg
Social•Feb 18, 2026
Gold Rallies 13% as Tech Stocks Stumble
While the Magnificent Seven tech stocks have SUFFERED in 2026, GOLD IS UP over 13%. It's time to turn away from SILLY VALLEY. BUY GOLD, WEAR DIAMONDS. https://t.co/PZTIJFhPOp
By Steve Hanke
News•Feb 18, 2026
J.B. Hunt ‘a Little Bit More Positive’
J.B. Hunt’s CFO said demand is slightly stronger than early‑January expectations as truck capacity tightens, reflected in rising tender rejections and spot rates. Regulatory pressures on the driver pool and recent winter storms have limited supply, creating a modest but...
By FreightWaves
Social•Feb 18, 2026
Sector Rotation Timing Yields Asset‑rich Returns
The Great Rotation: From Growth to Asset Rich Value My job is timing sector rotation & picking the best stocks long/short within it. That & sizing up macro event risk & market structure support. That's how I could time the...
By Samantha LaDuc
Social•Feb 18, 2026
Collapse AppStack Into AppOS to Boost Developer Velocity
At #ZohoDay26, @Zoho CEO Mani Vembu makes the case to collapse AppStack layers into an AppOS. The goal is the same - #EntepriseAcceleration through higher developer velocity. https://t.co/e7JTmo1bS8
By Holger Müller
Social•Feb 18, 2026
Markets Mirror Trump’s Shifting Policy Narratives
You just have to respect markets and the games they play Trump first term: Public is all about long Energy, short Solar.... Solar stocks go on an epic run Trump 2nd term: Tariffs going to crush International economies.... International stocks just thrashing...
By Joe Kunkle
Social•Feb 18, 2026
Zoho CEO Highlights Overwhelming System Complexity
Next up - @Zoho CEO Mani Vembu on the challenges of #ensw. In short. Too many systems. #ZohoDay26 https://t.co/VncJBRx1pr
By Holger Müller
Social•Feb 18, 2026
CIOs Overrun SAP Migration; ERP Must Accelerate for AI
The 7 biggest S/4HANA migration hurdles — and how to overcome them https://t.co/6u9sHnY6rG My take: Many CIOs I speak w/ are accumulating SAP instances faster than they can combine/rationalize them. ERP industry needs to adapt to AI speed if it doesn’t want to...
By Dion Hinchcliffe
Social•Feb 18, 2026
UK Inflation Hits 2025 Low, Strengthening BoE Rate‑Cut Case
UK inflation slowed to its weakest level since March 2025, bolstering the case for an interest rate cut when the Bank of England meets next month https://t.co/yJqzpiJ61p via @irinaanghel12 @PhilAldrick https://t.co/a5Mov7Jkhv
By Zöe Schneeweiss
Social•Feb 18, 2026
Turnover Costs: Direct + Indirect Impacts Revealed
Cost of Turnover: Direct and Indirect #EmployeeTurnover Costs @perceptyx https://t.co/DN32GkyPrz #HCM #HRM #HumanResources #HRTech #CHRO #CPO #Hiring #Recruitment #PeopleManagement #Culture #Change #FutureofHR #HRCurator
By Dave Millner
Social•Feb 18, 2026
How Many VCs Should You Pitch for Seed?
Hey founders, when you raised your seed round, how many unique VC firms did you send your pitch?
By Mike Maples Jr.
Social•Feb 18, 2026
ECB Study Finds Tariffs Sparked Minor China Trade Diversion
Tariffs caused just a small China trade diversion, ECB study shows https://t.co/2xTwmZXdG6 via @weberalexander https://t.co/NfggkusEyQ
By Zöe Schneeweiss
Social•Feb 18, 2026
Modern Treasury: Stripe‑style API for Corporate Cash Flows
This is a big deal. It's like Stripe but for moving money in and out of companies. You just call the API and Modern Treasury does the rest.
By Paul Graham
Social•Feb 18, 2026
Equal‑Weighted S&P Nears Cap‑Weighted Levels Amid Broadening Market
The market has been broadening out nicely as of late, and since the April 2025 Tariff tantrum low, the equal-weighted S&P 500 index has almost caught up to the cap-weighted index (34% vs 38%). It has been good to see....
By Jurrien Timmer
Social•Feb 18, 2026
Successor Must Be Independent, Pro‑Europe After Surprise Resignation
Bank of France Governor Francois Villeroy de Galhau says his successor must be independent and committed to Europe after his early resignation gave President Emmanuel Macron a surprise opportunity to pick the next central bank chief https://t.co/VVGP1D9Dj6 via @WHorobin https://t.co/rmqeTU4qJ7
By Zöe Schneeweiss