Iran and US Joint Oil Investment??? Poland Wants Own Nukes—Rapid Read 16 Feb 2026
The episode examines a surge in sanctions enforcement, highlighted by the US boarding the sanctioned tanker Veronica III, and Iran’s surprising proposal for joint US investments in oil, mining and aircraft. It also covers Hungary’s request to use the Adriatic pipeline for Russian crude, Poland’s push for an independent nuclear weapons program, and Niger’s relocation of 1,000 tonnes of uranium yellowcake to seek new buyers. The host underscores how these moves expose cracks in the sanctions regime, reshape energy and security dynamics, and could trigger broader geopolitical escalations.
From Pilots to Platforms: Nairobi Sets Out Africa's Practical AI Playbook
The Nairobi AI Forum 2026 gathered 650 delegates to move African artificial intelligence from pilots to scalable, affordable solutions. Co‑hosted by Kenya, Italy and the UNDP, the event announced 1.5 million GPU hours for 130 innovators and a €50 million Harmonic Africa...
Higher Imports Push India’s Trade Deficit to $34.68 Billion in January
India's merchandise trade deficit widened to $34.68 billion in January 2026, driven by a sharp rise in imports to $71.24 billion, especially petroleum, gold and electronics. Export value fell to $36.56 billion, with shipments to the United States slipping month‑on‑month despite overall annual...
Idle Oil and Gas Projects Risk Losing Licenses, Bahlil Warns
Indonesia’s Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia warned that 301 explored oil‑and‑gas areas remain idle and could have their licences revoked if operators do not commence production. He cited the long‑stalled Masela Block, managed by Japan’s Inpex, which only...
Stocks to Buy for Short Term: Astral Among Three Shares that Axis Securities Recommends for up to 20% Upside
Axis Securities has highlighted three equities—Kirloskar Oil Engines, Blue Star and Astral—as short‑term buys, projecting up to 20% upside within the next three to four weeks. The brokerage cites a clear technical uptrend for Kirloskar Oil Engines, with higher highs...
Asian Markets Pause for Extended CNY Holiday
Asia stocks headed for long CNY break. •Those that traded today did reasonably well, incl HK which opened half day. •Volume, not surprisingly, is light. •Most mkts will close for 2 days, China whole week. HK reopens Friday. •Japan, India...
U.S. Gas Futures Hit Four‑month Low at $3/MMBtu
U.S. GAS futures prices have retreated to the lowest for almost four months after spiking during Winter Storm Fern. Front-month futures have fallen back to just $3 per million British thermal units (the lowest since mid-October). The front month has...
Broker’s Call: Ola Electric (Sell)
Emkay Global downgraded Ola Electric Mobility to Sell, slashing its target price by 60% to ₹20 from ₹50. The company posted a weak Q3, with revenue down 55% YoY and a 61% drop in unit volume to 32,000 units, pushing...
Kyodo News Digest: Feb. 16, 2026
Japan's economy posted a modest 0.2% annualized growth in Q4 2025, its first expansion in two quarters, as consumer spending rose slightly while exports fell under U.S. tariff pressure. TEPCO began trial electricity transmission from unit 6 at the Kashiwazaki‑Kariwa nuclear...
Analyst Highlights Focus of IEW Event
The International Energy Week (IEW) in London highlighted the clash between geopolitics and a projected global oil surplus for 2026. SEB commodities analyst Bjarne Schieldrop warned that OPEC+ will likely trim production by roughly three million barrels per day to...
TSI: Massive 30% Dividend Raise For This Monthly Income Fund
TCW Strategic Income Fund (TSI) announced a roughly 30% increase in its monthly dividend, pushing its distribution yield to about 6.9%. The closed‑end fund trades at a 7.62% discount to net asset value and carries a Buy rating. TSI’s portfolio...
Broker’s Call: Azad Engineering (Buy)
Azad Engineering reported a robust quarter, expanding margins and scaling top‑tier OEM relationships in high‑precision aerospace and turbine supply chains. The company’s order book now stands at roughly ₹6,500 crore, equivalent to 14.2 times FY25 revenue, providing strong visibility through FY28. With...
Software Maker Dassault Systèmes Falls 8% as AI Fears Persist; Europe Markets Edge Higher
European markets edged higher after the Munich Security Conference, but software giant Dassault Systèmes slumped 8% as lingering AI skepticism dampened investor sentiment. The conference underscored Europe’s push for greater defense spending and strategic autonomy, lifting defense‑related equities. Meanwhile, NatWest kicked...
China's Russian Oil Imports to Hit New Record in February as India Cuts Back
China’s independent refiners boosted Russian oil imports to a record roughly 2.08 million barrels per day in February, overtaking the 1.7 million bpd seen in January. The surge follows India’s sharp cutback to about 1.16 million bpd, leaving China as Moscow’s top seaborne...
Abrdn Focused U.S. Small Cap Active ETF Q4 2025 Commentary
abrdn Focused U.S. Small Cap Active ETF posted gross gains in Q4 2025 but lagged the Russell 2000 benchmark. The fund sold nine positions, including Integer and Vertex, while Corcept Therapeutics dragged performance after a drug failure. Alphatec’s rally provided a...
Forex Today: Japanese GDP Data Underwhelms
Japan’s Q4 GDP expanded only 0.1% YoY, well below the 0.4% consensus, nudging the economy away from a technical recession but dampening reflation hopes. The weak data erased much of the yen’s recent 3% rally sparked by the new government’s...
Nearshoring and Logistics Upgrades Position the Caribbean as a New Regional Hub
The Caribbean is repositioning as a regional supply‑chain hub as nearshoring gains traction and governments fund logistics upgrades. High logistics costs—16 to 25 percent of GDP—have spurred port expansions in the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Guyana and Belize, backed by investors such as DP World...
A.CRE Jobs of the Week (Updated 2.16.2026)
The A.CRE Jobs of the Week roundup highlights new openings across leading commercial real‑estate firms, including Eastdil Secured, Blackstone, J.P. Morgan Asset Management, Goldman Sachs, and Heitman. Positions range from associate‑level debt placement in London to senior portfolio‑manager roles in Hong...
02.16.26 Your Relationship With Money / Self-Employed Retirement Planning
In this episode Clark Howard explores how our money mindset shapes financial outcomes, warning against both debt-driven overspending and overly frugal regret. He outlines a balanced approach that blends disciplined saving with purposeful enjoyment, and answers listener questions about practical...
EQS-CMS: Henkel AG & Co. KGaA: Release of a Capital Market Information
Henkel AG & Co. KGaA disclosed its weekly share‑buyback activity for 9‑13 February 2026, repurchasing 17,000 preferred shares and 18,000 ordinary shares on the XETR. The preferred‑share buyback cost €1.37 million at an average price of €80.56, while the ordinary‑share buyback cost €1.34 million...
Channelling the Investment Greats Drives ETF Returns for VistaShares
Former IndexIQ founder Adam Patti returns to ETFs with VistaShares, partnering with ex‑Tesla president Jon McNeill to launch thematic and income‑focused products. The firm’s first offerings include an AI infrastructure fund and a series of Target‑15 ETFs that mirror top...
Govt Aims to Revive Private Investment in Highway Construction
India’s government plans to award ₹1 lakh crore of highway projects to private developers by fiscal year 2027, aiming to raise private sector participation to 25 % of highway development next year from the current low single digits. The budget allocates ₹12.2 lakh crore to...
GE Aerospace Eyes Explosive Asia Pacific Aviation Growth
bbaviation7 had an exclusive interview with Nakul Gupta, Vice President Sales and General Manager for Asia Pacific at GE Aerospace, where he shares what’s driving the rapid growth of aviation across the region from his perspective. We talk about how his...
Oil Markets Now Price in Constant Tail‑risk
“Brent drops to $60 if Iran tension fades,” says SEB’s Bjarne Schieldrop. Sure — until the next mini-shock. That’s the point: this isn’t anomaly anymore It’s the baseline. Oil trades on recurring tail risk at the margin. https://t.co/qqfYS0QUG9 #oil #Brent #OPEC #Iran #geopolitics...
Gold Daily Call for February 16th, 2026
In this episode Florian Grummes provides a technical outlook for gold, highlighting a sideways market with key resistance levels at 5012‑5126 and support zones from 5000 down to 4907. He notes the lack of clear directional bias due to closed...
Chamath's SPACs Crash: All Lose Over 90%
Meanwhile Chamath Palihapitiya’s SPAC track record - Chamath became the face of the SPAC boom through his Social Capital Hedosophia deals. Their performance since? • $SPCE: −95% • $OPEN: −98% • $CLOV: −90% • $SOFI: −45% • $AKLI: −95% •...
CREI Acquires Family Office Portfolio Amid Quiet Day
Another light news day. #CREI done a useful acquisition of a Family Office portfolio. Apart from that not much going on (I don't hold CREI).
Fitch, Afreximbank, and Africa's Development Sovereignty
Afreximbank terminated its credit rating relationship with Fitch after the agency reclassified the bank as high‑risk for providing debt relief to Ghana. Fitch argued the support indicated a lack of preferred‑creditor status, a claim the bank disputes, citing treaty‑based protections...
BKS's Mixed Results May Drive Valuation Lower
#BKS Update mixed really. Lots of positive stuff but Cash down and H1 Revenue light. The high p/e it used to sit on is 'normalising'. Lot to like but perhaps it can go lower. I don't hold.
Bears Dominate Oil Market Narrative After Energy Week
COLUMN: In the oil market, the bears control the narrative — at least for now. (My summary after last week's International Energy Week, the oil trading industry's annual jamboree in London) @Opinion https://t.co/Y3OHEhD4k5
What Happened on October 29 Just Won’t Go Away, PR or Not
Tanzania’s October 29, 2025 election has been condemned by all major African observer bodies as neither free nor fair, triggering international criticism and donor scrutiny. The government has hired the US‑based Ervin Graves Strategy Group at $45,000 per month to repair its...
Barging Blindly Into Singapore’s Construction Boom Could Be a Bust for some Investors
Singapore’s construction sector has transformed into a high‑growth engine, propelled by a record S$53 billion contract pipeline and flagship projects like Changi Airport Terminal 5. The rally delivered construction‑related stocks returns exceeding 200 % in 2025, dwarfing the STI’s 22.7 % gain. Soilbuild Construction...
Singapore's Bunker Sales Rise on Strong Demand in Jan
Singapore’s bunker sales jumped 17% year‑on‑year to 5.23 million tonnes in January, driven by a 12% rise in vessel arrivals and strong demand for conventional marine fuels. High‑sulphur fuel oil (HSFO) reached a post‑2020 record of 2.16 million tonnes, while very‑low‑sulphur fuel...
Japan's Economy Barely Grows in Oct-Dec Quarter as Exports Slow
Japan’s economy grew a modest 0.2 percent annualised in the October‑December quarter, just enough to avoid a technical recession after a 0.7 percent contraction in the prior quarter. Private consumption rose 0.4 percent, but a 1.1 percent drop in exports dragged overall growth. The...
Henry Hub Drops Below $3 on Warm Weather, Shale Supply
GAS MARKET: After a cold blast triggered sild price moves, US gas benchmark Henry Hub has fallen back below $3 per mBtu. Warmer temperatures and the irresistible supply force of the US shale revolution behind the pullback.
India's Wholesale Inflation Rises to 1.81% in January
India’s wholesale price index (WPI) accelerated to 1.81% year‑on‑year in January, up sharply from 0.53% in December. The rise was led by higher food prices, while falling fuel costs provided a modest offset. Although the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)...
Arqiva in Uncertainty over DTT Switch Off
Arqiva, the UK's sole national digital terrestrial TV and radio infrastructure provider, faces financial uncertainty as major shareholders reassess their stakes. Macquarie has divested its 26.5% holding, while Digital 9 Infrastructure (DGI9) is reviewing its 51.8% share and may write off...
India Can Lead Globally in AI: Ahead of Delhi Summit, CEA Nageswaran Explains How
Chief Economic Advisor V. Anantha Nageswaran told the AI Impact Summit 2026 that India’s ascent to a global AI leadership position will not happen by accident. He emphasized that sustained political will, robust state capacity, and a national commitment are...
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization in the Middle East: A Conversation with Eva Seiwert
In this episode, host Jonathan Fulton talks with Dr. Eva Seiwert about the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s expanding role in the Middle East, noting Iran’s recent full membership and the region’s growing list of dialogue partners. Seiwert explains the SCO’s dual nature—as...
Non-Tariff Measures Costing Industry Billions: GA
Grains Australia’s new report quantifies non‑tariff measures (NTMs) as a 20.4% tariff‑equivalent on Australian grain exports, costing the sector about $4.6 billion in forgone revenue each year. The analysis, built on ABARES research and ANU‑led econometric modelling, is the most detailed...
Singapore Stocks End Almost Flat Before Chinese New Year; STI Inches up 0.02%
Singapore’s market closed almost flat on Monday ahead of the Chinese New Year break, with the Straits Times Index edging up 0.02% to 4,938.58 points. Export data showed non‑oil domestic exports rose 9.3% year‑on‑year in January, missing Bloomberg’s 12% forecast...
When Juntas Rise, Court Poets Bloom
The column warns that West Africa’s recent military coups, initially welcomed as a break from corrupt civilian rule, are evolving into authoritarian regimes. While street protests celebrated the juntas’ promises, African intellectuals have become “court poets,” praising the new leaders...
Commodity Market Movers Report - Portfolio Update 15.02.2026
In this episode, Lukas Kuemmerle reviews his commodity portfolio, highlighting a 50% profit take on a short coffee position after hitting the first target and the initiation of a short trend‑continuation trade in cocoa, capitalizing on a brief consolidation. He...
WA Grain Feeds Into Aurizon’s Record HY26 Bulk Earnings
Aurizon announced record bulk earnings for the half ending 31 December, driven primarily by a surge in Western Australian grain volumes. Bulk EBITDA reached $117 million, a 39 percent increase year‑on‑year, while total bulk rail volumes rose 4 percent to 28.4 Mt. The company also...
Saskatchewan’s Rook I Mine Could Make Canada the World’s Largest Uranium Exporter
Canada is on the brink of becoming the world’s largest uranium exporter as NexGen Energy’s Rook I mine in Saskatchewan moves toward final approval by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission. The project, located in the Athabasca Basin, is designed to...
Australian Firms Raise Gasoil Stocks to Meet Obligation
Australian fuel companies have boosted their gasoil inventories to satisfy the government‑mandated Minimum Stockholding Obligation (MSO). The MSO now requires importers to hold 32 days of gasoil and refiners 20 days, tightening the previous rules. All ten gasoil‑reporting firms met...
The End of the Boozy Chinese Banquet Hits Australia’s Largest Winemaker
Treasury Wine Estates’ push back into China has been derailed by a government crackdown on extravagant banquets and tighter grey‑market controls. The winemaker announced it will pull 400,000 cases from China and 500,000 from the United States to regain pricing...
Australia Exports 2.29Mt Wheat in Dec in New-Crop Surge
Australia’s wheat exports jumped to 2,288,487 tonnes in December 2025, more than double November’s volume and slightly above the 2.13 Mt shipped a year earlier. The surge reflects the arrival of new‑crop wheat from southern ports, marking the start of the...
Myanmar Junta Expels Timor-Leste’s Top Diplomat Over War Crimes Case
Myanmar's military junta expelled Timor‑Leste's top diplomat after Dili opened war‑crimes proceedings. The case, filed by the Chin Human Rights Organization, accuses senior general Min Aung Hlaing of rape, murder and attacks in Chin State. The junta called the move a breach...
Amova Bets on ‘New Singapore Sectors’ as MAS Expands EQDP
Amova Asset Management has been selected as one of six managers under Singapore’s expanded Equity Market Development Programme (EQDP), which grew to S$6.5 billion in the 2026 budget. The firm will roll out two new funds – the Singapore All Share...