Feb 16 ,2026
Synopsis:
European equity markets closed mixed, well off best levels. Banks, telecom and insurance were the best performing sectors. Media, technology and chemicals lagged. Follows last week's mostly firmer levels for Europe's leading indicates, which saw new record high for Stoxx Europe 600. US markets are closed for Presidents Day.
Market dealing with a negative change in AI sentiment with disruption trade affecting more industries while Mag 7 capex plans continue to draw scrutiny, leaving Nasdaq down 4% month-to-date. Ripple effects impacting tech-focused benchmarks in Asia and Europe and several sectors, though regional markets across Europe have held up relatively well given much lower concentration of big tech names. Analysts have talked up European markets amid expectations for cyclical recovery, improvement in earnings expectations. Softer-than-expected US CPI last week reinforced expectations for Fed rate cut.
On macro data front, Eurozone industrial production data showed weak end to 2025. Update from UK's Rightmove shows subdued house price inflation data. BoE's Mann said consumers scarred by inflation. Some key macro indicators from the UK this week, with labor market update (Tuesday) and CPI (Wednesday) numbers due. Sentiment indicators from Eurozone and Germany also anticipated (Tuesday) and flash manufacturing PMIs at the end of the week.
Corporate news flow was limited with earnings/updates from Ratos (RATO.B.SS), whilst in M&A, Rosebank Industries (ROSE.LN) confirmed that it is in advanced discussions regarding potential acquisition of two private equity-owned US-based businesses for headline enterprise value of ~$3.05B. Hapag-Lloyd (HLAG.GR) to acquire ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd (ZIM) consideration is to be $35.00 per ZIM share in cash whilst Friday post close, Apax Partners said it does not intend to make firm offer for Pinewood Technologies Group (PINE.LN).
Digest:
Sectors - STOXX Europe 600:
Outperformers:
Banks +1.42%, Telecom +0.91%, Insurance +0.67%, Travel & Leisure +0.45%, Construct & Mtls +0.45%, Oil & Gas +0.34%, Financial Svcs +0.30%, Retail +0.29%, Utilities +0.25%
Underperformers:
Media (2.83%), Technology (1.05%), Chemicals (0.86%), Basic Resources (0.59%), Autos & Parts (0.54%), Persnl & HHold Goods (0.42%), Ind Goods & Svcs (0.20%), Health Care (0.12%), Real Estate (0.03%), Food & Beverage (0.01%)
Macro:
Geopolitics:
Munich Security Conference highlights fractured transatlantic alliance despite US efforts to soften rhetoric (link, Politico)
Rubio reassures Europe of enduring transatlantic partnership rooted in shared western civilization at Munich conference (FT)
EU leaders push back on NATO's approach to US relations, promoting greater European self-sufficiency (FT)
Australia and EU near breakthrough on stalled free trade deal after progress on beef, cheese, and car tax disputes (Guardian)
Starmer plans deeper UK-EU energy alignment, including net zero acceleration and single market rules (Telegraph)
Central banks:
ECB expands global euro liquidity facility to boost currency's international role and prevent funding stress (Bloomberg)
Race to succeed Lagarde at ECB gains urgency as French political risks prompt calls for early succession decisions (Bloomberg)
Lagarde favours incentives over taxes to stem European capital outflows, cites positive investor sentiment (Bloomberg)
BoE's Mann links sharp minimum wage rises to rising youth unemployment in Britain (Reuters)
UK:
UK house prices stabilize in February after post-budget surge, Rightmove reports (Reuters)
Germany:
Germany pledges shift to defence innovation and start-ups amid criticism of heavy spending on legacy systems (FT)
France:
French corporates face €7.5B profit hit from renewed surcharge on large firms, sparking competitiveness warnings (FT)
Company news:
Notable Gainers
+10.7% EOLU.B.SS (Eolus Aktiebolag SEK37.35, +3.60) -- completes sale of the Roccasecca stand-alone battery energy storage project
+6.5% ALCOX.FP (Nicox €0.41, +0.03) -- positive feedback from pre-NDA meeting with US FDA for NCX 470
+6.4% NCAB.SS (NCAB Group SEK47.66, +2.88) -- DNB Carnegie upgrade
+4.8% NWG.LN (NatWest Group £6.08, +0.28) -- commences already communicated buyback
+4.7% ACS.SM (ACS SA €102.90, +4.60) -- Jefferies upgrade
+4.5% ORSTED.DC (Ørsted DKK153.35, +6.60) -- Kepler Cheuvreux upgrade
+3.4% FCT.IM (Fincantieri €16.75, +0.55) -- acquisition of a significant order from Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. for the construction of three next-generation cruise ships
+2.0% AKSO.NO (Aker Solutions NOK37.98, +0.74) -- awarded major five-year MMO frame agreement by Aker BP
+1.8% RCO.FP (Remy Cointreau €45.26, +0.78) -- latest Cognac shipment data from BNIC
+1.0% NORAM.NO (NorAm Drilling NOK33.95, +0.35) -- contracts with two E&Ps with significant activity in the Permian basin for its two idle rigs
Notable Decliners
-32.6% PINE.LN (Pinewood Technologies Group £2.94, -1.43) -- Apax Partners now says it does not intend to make firm offer for Pinewood
-8.7% RATO.B.SS (Ratos SEK34.94, -3.32) -- Q4 earnings; to divest Elektrosignal Infra and Ratatek
-8.1% PANR.LN (Pantheon Resources £0.07, -0.01) -- AGM board and corporate updates
-6.9% FTK.GR (flatexDEGIRO €32.82, -2.42) -- BNP Paribas Exane downgrade
-6.5% ASPO.FH (Aspo €7.48, -0.52) -- Q4 earnings
-5.8% TTALO.FH (Terveystalo €9.13, -0.56) -- SEB downgrade
-5.6% TTR1.GR (technotrans €30.60, -1.80) -- prelim FY earnings
-4.7% OPT.LN (Optima Health Plc (Great Britain) £2.03, -0.10) -- acquires PAM Healthcare Limited for ~£100M
-4.4% BKS.LN (Beeks Financial Cloud Group £2.18, -0.10) -- H1 revenue
-3.9% BTRW.LN (Barratt Redrow £3.74, -0.15) -- Peel Hunt downgrade
-2.8% FAE.SM (FAES Farma €5.19, -0.15) -- JB Capital Markets downgrade
-2.2% DSFIR.NA (DSM-Firmenich €61.46, -1.36) -- Berenberg downgrade
-2.1% SAAB.B.SS (Saab SEK625.00, -13.70) -- Dagens Industri out with sell recommendation
-1.8% CINT.SS (Cint Group SEK2.32, -0.04) -- interim CFO
-1.6% NHY.NO (Norsk Hydro NOK84.44, -1.38) -- Pareto, Goldman Sachs, RBC Capital Markets and Kepler Cheuvreux downgrades
EU companies reporting tomorrow:
Earnings:
Benelux: Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP.NA)
DACHs: DKSH Holding (DKSH.SW), ALSO Holding (ALSN.SW), Basilea Pharmaceutica (BSLN.SW), Moberg Pharma (MB8.GR), Norma (NOEJ.GR)
Finland: SSH Communications Security (SSH1V.FH)
France: Carrefour (CA.FP), Icade (ICAD.FP), M6-Metropole (MMT.FP)
Norway: NRC Group (NRC.NO), Otello Corp. (OTEC.NO)
Other: Kerry Group (KRZ.ID)
Southern Europe: Enagas (ENG.SM)
Sweden: Sinch (SINCH.SS), Hacksaw (HACK.SS), engcon (ENGCON.B.SS), Sveafastigheter (SVEAF.SS), Fagerhult Group (FAG.SS), Coinshares International (CS.SS), Truecaller (TRUE.B.SS), Bahnhof (BAHN.B.SS), Traction (TRAC.B.SS), Smart Eye (SEYE.SS), Catella (CAT.B.SS), Enad Global 7 (EG7.SS), Embellence Group (EMBELL.SS), G5 Entertainment (G5EN.SS), SinterCast (SINT.SS)
UK: Antofagasta (ANTO.LN), BHP Group (BHP.LN), InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG.LN), Springfield Properties (SPR.LN)
Trading Update:
DACHs: Ottobock SE & Co. KGaA (OBCK.GR)
Data:
Economics:
Switzerland Q4 preliminary GDP +0.2% q/q vs consensus +0.2%, prior (0.5%)
Sweden Jan unemployment rate 8.6% vs prior 8.3%
Norway Jan trade balance NOK75.9B vs consensus NOK36.0B, prior NOK42.9B
Eurozone Dec industrial production +1.2% y/y vs consensus +1.2%, prior revised +2.2% from +2.5%
Markets:
WTI Crude (Mar 26): +$0.75 or +1.19% to $63.64
€-$ (0.0018) or (0.15%) to 1.1855
£-$ (0.0017) or (0.12%) to 1.3631
€-£ (0.0003) to 0.8698
S&P 500 +0.00%
Performance year-to-date
FTSE 100: +5.46%
DAX: +1.27%
CAC: +2.05%
MIB: +1.06%
Stoxx 600: +4.45%
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