FINANCE PULSE
Friday, February 20, 2026
Market Intelligence for Finance Professionals
🎯 Today's Finance PulseUpdated 1h ago
What's happening: ESMA fines REGIS‑TR €1.374 million for EMIR and SFTR breaches
The European Securities and Markets Authority imposed a €1.374 million penalty on trade repository REGIS‑TR after finding seven breaches of the European Market Infrastructure Regulation and the Securities Financing Transactions Regulation. The sanction represents the first enforcement action involving SFTR violations and is the highest fine ever levied on a trade repository.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Novartis sells 70.68% stake in Novartis India for ₹1,446 crore
🚀 Top Finance Headlines
M&A Trends: Outlook for Healthcare, Tech, Banking, & More
Uncover the M&A trends driving strategic growth, from AI in due diligence to rising cross-border mergers and a focus on data privacy.
DealRoom – Blog
Press Release: Millions in Losses Drive Return to FX Protection in 2026
17th February 2026 – A new report from advanced FX and cash management solutions provider, MillTech, has revealed that UK corporates lost an average of £6.71m in 2025 due to unhedged FX exposure, while US firms lost $9.85m, driving a renewed focus on currency protection in 2026. The post Press release: Millions in losses drive return to FX protection in 2026 first appeared on Treasury Today.
Treasury Today
Brokers to Approach RBI as Tighter Norms Squeeze Funding for Proprietary Desks
Funding costs set to rise for proprietary desks as bank credit tightens; client-centric brokers largely shielded
The Hindu BusinessLine – Markets
E Vehicle Infrastructure Financing for High Growth
The next phase of high growth is opening a window to develop electric vehicle charging infrastructure nationwide as a bankable asset class provided financing and market frameworks evolve in step with rising demand
Vietnam Investment Review (VIR)
Japanese Market 'More Dynamic' Than London, Says Apollo CEO
Nikkei Asia – Economy
💰 Finance Fundraising
Bank of America Commits $25bn to Private Credit Lending
Bank of America announced a $25bn commitment to expand its private credit lending activities, aiming to capture more opportunities in the sector as concerns rise about its health. The move follows similar initiatives by other Wall Street institutions.
Debt FinancingBank of America
Morgan Stanley Closes $220M Consumer Loans Deal
Morgan Stanley has closed a $220 million consumer loans transaction, marking a significant financing deal in the asset-backed finance space. The deal, announced on February 19, 2026, involves the issuance of consumer loan assets and reflects ongoing demand for structured credit solutions.
Debt FinancingAtlcap
SageSure and SureChoice Underwriters Reciprocal Exchange Close Record-Breaking $670M Cat Bond
SageSure, a managing general underwriter, and SureChoice Underwriters Reciprocal Exchange (SURE) have closed the Gateway Re Ltd. Series 2026-1 catastrophe bond with an original principal amount of $670 million, the largest issuance for SageSure to date. Structured and bookrun by Swiss Re Capital Markets Corporation, the bond expands coverage to earthquakes, severe thunderstorms, winter storms, and wildfires, positioning SageSure as the third largest cat‑bond sponsor globally.
Debt FinancingSageSure
💬 Top Finance Social Posts
Tweet by @Dampedspring
There are two reasons why buybacks are falling and likely to fall more 1. CApex as a use of FCF is deemed more important than share count reduction or SBC dilution offset 2. To the extent stocks fade the ESO awards provided as SBC stay out of the money and so dilution doesn't occur. The former is just starting to happen. The latter is likely to be procyclical with further poor heavy ESO awarding companies
by Andy Constan•
Thread by @Davidchuah
1.6% is a statistical illusion for the urban middle class While headline inflation is stable, the "unprotected" service sector is aggressive: Personal Care & Misc. → 6.6% Education → 3.2% Cause→Effect: Subsidized fuel (-0.7%) masks the reality of rising service labor costs. If you aren't feeling "inflation-neutral," it's because your lifestyle basket isn't subsidized. Is the RM1,700 minimum wage driving a pre-emptive service price spike, or is this corporate margin protection? Discuss. 👇
by David Chuah•