Blog•Feb 17, 2026
The Housing Inflection Point
The episode examines the current U.S. housing market inflection point, highlighting softened builder confidence, persistently tight resale inventory, and the potential impact of a credible rate‑cut cycle on margins and incentives. It discusses policy initiatives aimed at streamlining permitting and supporting institutional single‑family purchases, which could improve capital efficiency and land turnover. The host identifies five XHB constituents—D.R. Horton, Lennar, PulteGroup, NVR, and Toll Brothers—as builders with strong balance sheets, land optionality, and operating leverage positioned to benefit from a demand rebound.
By The Lead‑Lag Report – Blog
Social•Feb 17, 2026
Speed, Not Scale, Drives AI Agent Advantage
OpenClaw proved that one person can out-ship billion-dollar labs on agents. What does that say about where the competitive advantage actually is?
By Ahmad Al‑Dahle
News•Feb 17, 2026
Real vs Technical Inflation: Which Should Guide Monetary Policy in Nigeria?
Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics rebased its Consumer Price Index to a 2024 base year, pulling headline inflation down from 24.48% in January 2025 to 15.15% by December 2025. Critics argue the technical decline masks persistent real inflation, with food prices still...
By BusinessDay (Nigeria)
Podcast•Feb 17, 2026•0 min
Leverage AI to 10x Your OKRs!
In this episode Ben critiques the common practice of using AI merely to draft OKRs, warning that it can bypass the crucial conversations that build clarity, ownership, and commitment. He argues that the real value of AI lies in enhancing...
By OKRs.com
Social•Feb 17, 2026
Software's Toughest Challenge: Standardizing Messy Business, Not Coding
Yes, it's true: the hardest part of software was never the technical aspect. What software does it is it takes the messy reality of business and turns it into a series of standardized flows and processes. That's the hard...
By Arianna Simpson
News•Feb 17, 2026
What’s Driving Malbon Golf’s Vietnam Strategy?
Malbon Golf opened its first standalone store in Ho Chi Minh City, marking the brand’s debut in Vietnam. Rather than chasing rapid scale, the Los Angeles‑based label partnered with The Kho Group to ensure regional continuity and cultural fit. The...
By Inside Retail Australia
News•Feb 17, 2026
What Nigeria’s Economy Optimises for — Without Admitting It
Nigeria’s economy is structured to reward navigating bureaucratic friction rather than boosting productivity, efficiency, or innovation. World Bank data shows firms spend over 40% more time on regulations than the regional average, creating a thriving informal ecosystem of brokers, fixers...
By BusinessDay (Nigeria)
News•Feb 17, 2026
Uganda’s Ports Crippled by Encroachment and Neglect
Uganda’s eight lake ports, managed by state‑owned Uganda Railways Corporation, are crippled by illegal land encroachments, military occupations, and climate‑related water level shifts. Key facilities such as Port Bell and Lambu Port face stalled redevelopment despite an African Development Bank...
By The East African
News•Feb 17, 2026
How One of Africa’s Fastest Growing AI Platforms Was Built Out of Ethiopia
Ethiopian‑born startup Gebeya has launched Dala, an AI‑powered no‑code app builder, and amassed 85,000 users within four months. The platform boasts an 8% paying‑customer rate, far above the typical 3% conversion for AI products, thanks to mobile‑first design and local...
By Techpoint Africa
News•Feb 17, 2026
How AI, Automation and Services Drive Synnex’s Value Vision
Australian IT distributor Synnex has opened a $150 million, AI‑enabled logistics centre in Melbourne, marking a shift from traditional distribution to a platform‑focused model. The new facility incorporates advanced automation, improving speed, safety and scalability while supporting a broader suite of...
By ARN (Australia)
News•Feb 17, 2026
India's Textile and Apparel Exports Down by 3.75% in January, Outlook Improves Now with India US Interim Deal
India's textile and apparel exports fell 3.75% in January 2026, dropping to $3.27 billion from $3.40 billion a year earlier, primarily due to U.S. tariffs that remained until February 7. Cotton yarn, fabrics and handloom products declined over 4%, while carpet and jute...
By The Economic Times (India) – Economy
Blog•Feb 17, 2026
U.S. Treasury Rates Weekly Update for February 13, 2026
U.S. Treasury rates slipped across the curve in the week ending February 13, 2026. The 30‑year yield fell 0.16%, while the benchmark 10‑year dropped 0.18% to 4.04%. The 3‑year note settled at 3.43%. The declines reflect modest easing in market...
By Chet Wang Blog (Municipal Bonds)
News•Feb 17, 2026
Football Australia Reprises Iconic ‘Til It’s Done’ for New CommBank Matildas Campaign via Ogilvy
Football Australia, in partnership with Ogilvy, has launched a new campaign featuring the iconic "Til it’s Done" slogan to rally support for the CommBank Matildas ahead of the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup. The film pairs the unofficial national anthem...
By Campaign Brief
News•Feb 17, 2026
Why Most Workplace Training Doesn't Shift Problematic Behaviour
Most employers treat sexual‑harassment training as a compliance checkbox rather than a cultural transformation tool. Felicity Menzies of Culture Plus Consulting warns that such programs often trigger defensiveness, especially among men, and can actually reduce the likelihood of recognizing and...
By HR Daily (Australia)
News•Feb 17, 2026
Nike Ropes In Next-Gen Trail Runners With Interactive Experience
Nike has unveiled All Conditions World, a WebGL‑based interactive platform that brings its All Conditions Gear (ACG) line to life. The digital world showcases real trail routes curated by elite athletes such as Cesare Maestri and Nienke Brinkman, complete with...
By B&T (Australia)
Blog•Feb 17, 2026
Quick Take: Thermal Coal Prices Rising
In this brief episode, the host highlights a recent surge in API2 (Northwest Europe) thermal coal futures for March delivery, which have risen roughly $5 per metric tonne over five trading sessions, briefly breaching $108/mt before settling near $107.50/mt. The...
By The Coal Trader
News•Feb 17, 2026
The “Valley of Death” Isn’t a Funding Problem — It’s a Risk Design Problem
Deep‑tech startups often stumble not because the science is weak but because the risk profile between a working prototype and a scalable business is mis‑designed. Traditional venture capital timelines of five to seven years clash with the ten‑plus‑year gestation required...
By e27
News•Feb 17, 2026
Hourglass Launches DTC Channel In Australia & New Zealand
Hourglass has launched its first direct‑to‑consumer website, hourglasscosmetics.com.au, targeting Australia and New Zealand. The rollout includes free standard shipping for the first month, a 10% welcome discount, and complimentary gifts for orders over $120 and $150. The DTC channel runs alongside...
By B&T (Australia)
Podcast•Feb 17, 2026•16 min
OpenClaw Could Be 1st 1-Person $1B Company, OpenAI Buys
The episode examines OpenClaw's potential to become the first one‑person, billion‑dollar company, analyzing its AI‑driven product suite, lean operational model, and market traction. It weighs the plausibility of such rapid scaling against typical growth constraints and highlights the founder’s unique...
By AI Chat
Social•Feb 17, 2026
Founders Obsess Over OpenClaw: Why It Matters
Why are founders SO OBSESSED with OpenClaw? The creator of the AI assistant, Peter Steinberger has moved over to OpenAI, sending waves of panic and trepidation across the developer community. We’ve talked for weeks about the advantages of the OpenClaw...
By Jason Calacanis
News•Feb 17, 2026
This Company Has Built a Backpack-Style System for Robotics Data Collection
Lumos, a robotics startup founded in September 2024, unveiled FastUMI Pro, a backpack‑mounted universal manipulation interface designed to accelerate embodied AI data collection. The company aims to deploy 10,000 units across six real‑world environments by 2026, targeting one million hours...
By KrASIA
Blog•Feb 17, 2026
New Zealand’s Housing Crash Restores Affordability
New Zealand’s housing market has entered a sharp correction, with the REINZ house‑price index falling 0.6% month‑on‑month and 16.2% from its early‑2022 peak, equating to a 30% real‑terms loss since 2019. Mortgage rates have dropped to pre‑pandemic levels after the...
By MacroBusiness (Australia)
News•Feb 17, 2026
Stocks to Buy in 2026 for Long Term: IGL, Siemens Energy Among 5 Stocks that Could Give 10-40% Return
Brokerage houses have highlighted five Indian equities that could deliver 10‑40% returns by 2026. Motilal Oswal sees Indraprastha Gas (IGL) rising 41% to ₹235 and Siemens Energy up 31% to ₹3,600. Citi maintains a Buy on Lupin with a 15% upside,...
By The Economic Times – Markets
News•Feb 17, 2026
Advertising Leader Jane Callister Joins Impala Talent
Jane Callister, a 30‑year advertising veteran, has joined Impala Talent as a senior recruitment partner. Her career spans top agencies such as Publicis UK, JWT, DDB, TBWA, and M&C Saatchi, giving her deep operational insight. Callister will apply this expertise...
By Campaign Brief
News•Feb 17, 2026
Countdown to SBS Media Sustainability Challenge with $500k Free Advertising Inventory up for Grabs – Applications Close 5pm AEDT, March...
The 2026 SBS Media Sustainability Challenge invites brands and agencies to compete for $500,000 in free advertising inventory. Applications close at 5 pm AEDT on March 6, and entrants must submit a 30‑second TV script plus a 500‑word rationale. The competition focuses...
By Campaign Brief
News•Feb 17, 2026
Retail Expansion Drives Record Earnings for Baby Bunting
Baby Bunting posted record half‑year sales of $271.4 million, a 4.9% increase year‑on‑year, driven by a mix of new large‑format stores, small‑format openings, and six "store of the future" refurbishments. Online sales climbed to 24.8% of total revenue, up 18%, reflecting...
By Inside Retail Australia
News•Feb 17, 2026
Drive’s Latest Campaign Shows Car-Buying As Easy As Ordering From Drive-Thru
Drive has launched a multi‑million‑dollar "Drive‑thru" campaign during Nine’s broadcast of the 2026 Olympic Winter Games, positioning car buying as simple as ordering food at a drive‑thru. Created by the Not Bad Pretty Good studio, the ads use a relatable...
By B&T (Australia)
Social•Feb 17, 2026
Low Builder Turnout Threatens Startup Weekend Women Event
I’m sad - I’ve been working so hard on startup weekend women here in columbus Ohio and because we have such a low amount of builders we might have to reschedule or cancel. I’ve never experienced this with an event...
By Nomiki Petrolla
News•Feb 17, 2026
Bajaj Broking Makes Investing Simple for Indians with ‘Seedhi Simple Investing’ Campaign
Bajaj Broking rolled out the "Seedhi Simple Investing" campaign during the T20 World Cup, positioning its platform as an easy‑to‑use solution for Indian investors. The ads use everyday confusion—like unclear washroom signs or lift buttons—to illustrate how the Bajaj app...
By Campaign Brief Asia
News•Feb 17, 2026
Stop Loving Your Product and Start Hating the Problem
The article argues that founders who fall in love with their product become blind to market signals and risk costly sunk‑cost fallacies. It contrasts the "Solution Developer" with the "Problem Solver," insisting that true entrepreneurial fuel is an obsessive focus...
By e27
News•Feb 17, 2026
US Dollar Positioning Hits Record Underweight in Bank of America Survey
Bank of America’s FX sentiment survey shows net US dollar exposure at a record underweight, the most negative level since the survey began in January 2012. Short positions have surged to extreme levels, surpassing the lows recorded in April 2023....
By ForexLive — Feed
News•Feb 17, 2026
Beforepay Celebrates The Year Of The Fire Horse With Fortune Cookie Activation
Beforepay is inserting branded fortune cookies into Melbourne restaurants to celebrate the Lunar New Year and the Year of the Fire Horse. Each cookie carries a supportive message and a QR code that directs diners to a dedicated landing page...
By B&T (Australia)
News•Feb 17, 2026
Market Quote of the Day by Sir John Templeton | “The Time of Maximum Pessimism Is the Best Time to...
Sir John Templeton’s adage that the best buying opportunities arise at peak pessimism is highlighted as a timeless investing principle. The article notes that widespread fear compresses valuations, allowing strong companies to be bought at discounts, while emphasizing the need...
By The Economic Times – Markets
News•Feb 17, 2026
Ogilvy Malaysia + Scentify Launch Xiaohongshu CNY Drama ‘Fabric Scented, Fortune Granted’
Ogilvy Malaysia partnered with home fragrance brand Scentify to launch a Chinese New Year drama series on Xiaohongshu called “Fabric Scented, Fortune Granted.” The episodic social drama promotes Scentify’s new Golden Breeze scent as the “lucky scent of the year,”...
By Campaign Brief Asia
News•Feb 17, 2026
ITC Infotech Opens APAC HQ, Digital and AI Hub in Melbourne
ITC Infotech opened its Asia‑Pacific headquarters and digital‑AI hub in Melbourne, the fourth such centre globally. The hub targets sectors including consumer‑packaged goods, retail, manufacturing, banking and especially agriculture, aligning with Victoria’s $20 billion agri‑economy. ITC plans to hire about 150...
By ARN (Australia)
News•Feb 17, 2026
A RM11 Billion Takeover Battle Is Testing Malay Economic Clout. Malaysia PM Anwar Now Holds All the Cards
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, also finance minister, controls the state‑owned stakes that own nearly half of IJM Corporation, putting him at the centre of Sunway Group’s RM11 billion (S$3.5 billion) takeover bid. The offer, seen as hostile, combines RM1 billion in cash with...
By The Business Times (Singapore) – Companies & Markets
News•Feb 17, 2026
BOJ Likely to Raise Rates 25bp April, Former Board Member Says. Gradual Move Toward 1.25%
Former Bank of Japan board member Seiji Adachi says the central bank is most likely to raise rates in April rather than March, waiting for clearer wage and inflation data. The BOJ’s December hike to 0.75% marked the first move...
By ForexLive — Feed
Social•Feb 17, 2026
Europe Still Buys Russian LNG and Uranium, Despite Criticism
🧐This is nonsense hype from the Center for the Study of Democracy. Yet CNN did not bother to check the validity of their claims or ask other researchers. Here's why: 💥Many European countries, including France, buy LNG from Russia. 💥The US and...
By Anas Alhajji
News•Feb 17, 2026
HomeRun Raises Rs 60 Cr in Series A Led by Sorin Investments
HomeRun, a Bengaluru‑based on‑demand platform for construction and interior materials, announced a Rs 60 crore ($6.6 million) Series A funding round. The round was led by Sorin Investments, which contributed Rs 40 crore, with participation from Titan Capital Winners Fund, Sparrow Capital, Consumer Collective by Atrium...
By Entrackr
News•Feb 17, 2026
XL and SALVO Launch Ramadan Film Showing How Ultra 5G+ Reduces Digital Disruptions
XL and advertising agency SALVO unveiled a Ramadan‑themed film in Indonesia to showcase XL’s Ultra 5G+ service. The commercial follows a young woman returning home for the holy month whose urgent work request is resolved in seconds thanks to ultra‑fast, reliable...
By Campaign Brief Asia
News•Feb 17, 2026
Enhancing Customer Experience in Store: Four Strategies From Kaisercraft
Kaisercraft, an Australian gift‑store chain with 110 locations, is using four tactics to sharpen its in‑store customer experience. It standardises promotions across all outlets, leverages real‑time sales and inventory data to react swiftly to shifting demand, deploys an offline‑capable point‑of‑sale...
By Inside Retail Australia
News•Feb 17, 2026
Lundin Bags More Credit for Copper Project
Lundin Mining secured an additional credit facility to fund its flagship copper development, expanding the financing previously arranged for the project. The new credit line, sourced from a syndicate of international banks, adds $500 million to the existing $1.2 billion pool,...
By LatinFinance
News•Feb 17, 2026
From Buffett to Next‑Gen: How CEO Turnover and Younger Chiefs Are Reshaping the S&P 1500
CEO turnover among the S&P 1500 accelerated to roughly 12‑13% in 2025, the highest rate since 2010, with 168 new chiefs appointed. The incoming cohort is markedly younger, averaging 54 years, and 80% are first‑time CEOs lacking prior public‑company leadership...
By CEOWORLD magazine
News•Feb 17, 2026
UNSW Puts $35 Million Into Uni Startup Spinouts
UNSW Sydney is allocating $35 million to boost research commercialisation, including a $25 million pre‑seed fund and a $10 million investment in VC High Street Ventures, with the goal of launching 50 spinout companies by 2030. The pre‑seed fund will provide up to...
By Startup Daily (ANZ)
Social•Feb 17, 2026
Multiple Bidders Boost Leverage, Valuation, and Deal Success
A competitive sales process includes multiple buyers bidding against each other, each investing considerable time and resources to win the bid. This competition increases: * Your negotiating leverage * Your valuation * Your probability of a closed deal #founders #pathtoexit
By Michael Lyon
Social•Feb 17, 2026
China's Hidden Bank Interventions Hit $800B Annual Record
The annualized measures of Chinese intervention over the last 3ms that capture backdoor intervention by the state banks are at all time highs in dollar terms -- over $200b a quarter/ over $800b annualized https://t.co/7vlh3tf4CX
By Brad Setser
Social•Feb 17, 2026
Sinokor's 120‑tanker Dominance Spikes Freight, Rattles Oil Markets
South Korean Sinokor now controls 120 oil tankers When one buyer controls the tradable fleet, charterers panic-book, freight spikes, and shocks bleeds into physical oil prices and spreads. https://t.co/Z2GsMyfbtl #oil #tankers #VLCC #shipping #freight #supplychain #sanctions #geopolitics #markets #energy
By Art Berman Blog
Social•Feb 17, 2026
Falling Rates Could Quickly Revive Builder Margins
Sales are weak. Inventory is tight. Builder sentiment is soft. If rates fall, incentives drop — and margins can snap back fast. The setup in homebuilders isn’t getting enough attention. Read more: https://t.co/AJREG4myee
By Michael A. Gayed, CFA (Lead-Lag Report)
Social•Feb 17, 2026
Iranian Rial Plummets, Becomes World's Second Worst Currency
On this week's Hanke's #CurrencyWatchlist, the Iranian rial ranks as the WORLD'S 2ND WORST currency. The rial has depreciated by 44% against the USD over the past year. RIAL = THE GREAT DESTABILIZER. https://t.co/06OiclsaSq
By Steve Hanke
Social•Feb 17, 2026
2026 Macro Outlook: Resilient Momentum Amid Inflation Leaks
New episode 🎙️ Rob Haworth (U.S. Bank Asset Management) joins me to break down 2026 macro: resilient momentum, inflation + earnings “leaking” through the system, tariffs, geopolitics, Fed uncertainty, and what to watch if rates spike. https://t.co/OPTdLbcGgJ
By David Keller, CMT