Archive: February 2026
76 articles published this month
Alphabet bond sale hits $31.5B as demand shrugs off volatility
Alphabet bond sale: Google’s parent raised about $31.5B in multi-currency bonds in early February 2026, with outsized demand for investment-grade tech debt even as markets stayed volatile.
Russia rate cut to 15.5% signals more easing ahead
Russia rate cut: The Bank of Russia lowered its key rate 50bp to 15.5% on February 13, 2026, and said further cuts are possible, shifting the outlook for borrowing costs and inflation risks.
January CPI cools; yields fall as rate-cut bets firm
January CPI came in cooler than expected, pushing Treasury yields lower and reinforcing rate-cut expectations as U.S. stocks finished mixed in Friday trading.
Arundhati Roy Berlinale withdrawal ignites politics row
Arundhati Roy Berlinale withdrawal followed jury remarks urging filmmakers to “stay out of politics.” Berlinale leaders defended context and artist freedom as Gaza-linked cultural tensions in Europe spill into major festivals.
Iran nuclear talks: Tehran offers US “carrots” as pressure grows
Iran nuclear talks are resuming in Geneva as Tehran floats energy, mining, and aircraft opportunities tied to sanctions relief. Canada is hardening its stance with expanded sanctions and explicit calls for government change, raising diplomatic and market stakes.
Odido breach exposes data tied to ~6M Dutch accounts
The Odido breach exposed personal data tied to 6+ million accounts in the Netherlands, including contact details and, in some systems, bank and ID/passport-related fields, according to Reuters and Odido’s notice.
Bangladesh swearing-in: Dhaka invites 13 countries
Bangladesh swearing-in plans for a BNP-led government include invitations to 13 countries and an Indian delegation led by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. The guest list signals Dhaka’s early regional balancing after Reuters reported BNP won a two-thirds majority in a landmark post-Hasina vote.
Umm Arak Plateau rock art site found in South Sinai
Umm Arak Plateau rock art in South Sinai—newly documented by Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities—includes drawings, carvings, and traces of repeated use spanning millennia.
Oldest cave-art hand stencil dated to 67,800 years
The oldest cave-art hand stencil yet reported was dated to at least 67,800 years ago in Liang Metanduno cave on Indonesia’s Muna Island, strengthening evidence of early symbolic culture in Ice Age Wallacea along routes toward Sahul.
Bangladesh election 2026: what voters need to know
Bangladesh election 2026 is on Feb 12 with two ballots per voter: a 300-seat parliamentary vote and a national referendum. Here’s how polling works, what’s on the ballot, who is running, and how security is being managed at thousands of polling centres.
Vlkolínec UNESCO delisting push spotlights overtourism
Vlkolínec UNESCO delisting calls are growing as residents say overtourism and strict preservation rules disrupt daily life, while officials argue World Heritage status funds restoration.
Sudan drone strikes in Kordofan kill civilians, UN warns
Sudan drone strikes are intensifying in Kordofan, with the UN saying 90+ civilians have been killed and 142 injured since late January as attacks hit markets, homes and even aid convoys.
SEMICON Korea 2026 opens amid AI chip supply squeeze
SEMICON Korea 2026 opens Feb 11–13 in Seoul as AI-driven chip demand collides with supply constraints, putting HBM, advanced packaging, and capex signals in focus.
CyberArk shares suspension set for Feb 12 PANW merger
CyberArk shares suspension is expected Feb 12, 2026, after Nasdaq flagged Feb 10 as the last trading date ahead of Palo Alto Networks’ cash-and-stock takeover.
BoE holds Bank Rate 3.75% after tight 5–4 vote
Bank Rate 3.75% remains unchanged after a surprise 5–4 BoE vote. The split keeps the cut-timing debate live and can quickly reprice sterling, gilts, and UK borrowing costs.
Oil prices rebound on Iran risk premium, Tengiz hit
Oil prices rebounded on February 6, 2026 as U.S.–Iran tensions lifted risk premiums while Kazakhstan’s Tengiz outage kept supply tight. Brent settled near $68 and WTI near $63.6, underscoring how geopolitics and unplanned outages can swing crude.
Gulf equities rise on U.S.–Iran talks; Egypt hits record
Gulf equities gained as early optimism around Oman-mediated U.S.–Iran talks lifted risk appetite, while Egypt’s EGX30 closed at a record after a $3.5B, 410-MHz mobile spectrum deal.
ECB moves to broaden euro repo lines for global funding
Euro repo lines could expand beyond a handful of neighbors as the ECB works to open access and make euro liquidity cheaper for more central banks, Reuters reports—an incremental shift in global funding backstops.
Brookfield Peakstone deal: $1.2B buyout at $21/share
The Brookfield Peakstone deal values Peakstone Realty Trust at about $1.2B, with Brookfield paying $21 per share in cash and allowing a 30-day go-shop for rival bids.
Bangladesh Bank MFS restrictions ahead of Feb 12 vote
Bangladesh Bank MFS restrictions will cap election-week P2P transfers at Tk 1,000 per transaction for 96 hours, with tighter daily limits and some bank-to-bank rails paused. The controls aim to curb misuse ahead of Feb 12 polls, but they may disrupt retail liquidity and operations.