SAN DIEGO, Feb. 16, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The law firm of Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP announces that investors in SLM Corporation a/k/a Sallie Mae (NASDAQ: SLM; SLMBP) securities between July 25, 2025 and August 14, 2025, both dates inclusive (the “Class Period”), have until this upcoming Tuesday, February 17, 2026 to seek appointment as lead plaintiff of the SLM class action lawsuit. Captioned Zappia v. SLM Corporation a/k/a Sallie Mae, No. 25-cv-18834 (D.N.J.), the SLM class action lawsuit charges ...

Market Overview - The U.S. stock market is closed on February 16, 2026, for Presidents' Day, but global financial activity remains focused on the previous week's momentum and U.S. equity futures [1] - U.S. stock futures showed modest gains, with S&P 500 futures up 0.2% and Dow Jones futures also up 0.2%, indicating a cautiously optimistic start to the week [2] Economic Outlook - The latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) data indicates U.S. inflation cooled to 2.4% year-over-year in January, down from 2.7% in December, reviving hopes for multiple interest rate cuts in 2026 [3] - The yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury remained flat at 4.052%, suggesting stabilization after previous volatility, with analysts anticipating potential interest rate cuts if economic data continues to show easing price pressures [4] Major Stock News - Apple (AAPL) is in focus after announcing a partnership to integrate Alphabet (GOOGL)'s Gemini AI models into Siri, with shares trading between $254.98 and $264.16 [5] - Alphabet reached a historic market capitalization of $3 trillion, joining Microsoft (MSFT) and Nvidia (NVDA) [5] - Nvidia (NVDA) saw a stock decline of 2.2% amid concerns over software industry disruptions from rapid AI advancements [6] - Tesla (TSLA) continues to experience high volatility as the market evaluates its shift towards autonomous driving software [6] - Coinbase (COIN) surged 16.46% due to a rally in cryptocurrency markets, while Applied Materials (AMAT) gained 8.08% following a strong earnings report [7] Global Market Performance - International markets remain active, with India's Sensex rising 650 points to close at 83,277.15, driven by banking stocks [8] - European markets showed upward trends, with the Stoxx Europe 600 climbing 0.3% [8] - Asian markets were mixed, with Japan's Nikkei 225 declining 0.2% due to disappointing GDP data, while Chinese markets were closed for the Lunar New Year [8] Upcoming Events - The earnings calendar for the week includes high-profile releases from Walmart (WMT), Home Depot (HD), Cisco Systems (CSCO), Alibaba (BABA), and Baidu (BIDU), which will provide insights into global consumer health and enterprise technology spending [9][10]

The S&P/ASX 200 began the week on a positive note as Australian shares edged up with modest gains on Monday (February 16, 2026). Gains in technology, gold and healthcare stocks countered weakness in miners and financials, with the half-year earnings season swinging into full gear. The S&P/ASX 200 closed up Monday, gaining 19.50 points or 0.22% to 8,937.10, after last week's 2.4% rally that marked its strongest weekly performance in ten months. According to the ASX website, the top-performing stocks in the ...

Banking Industry - The European financial landscape is experiencing its most rapid consolidation in nearly two decades, highlighted by Nuveen's £9.9 billion takeover of Schroders, marking the end of the British firm's 222 years of independence [2] - Analysts at RBC Capital downgraded Schroders to Sector Perform from Outperform, raising the target price to 610p, indicating limited remaining upside as shares trade near the implied deal value [2] - EU banking M&A has surged to its highest level since the 2008 financial crisis, with February 2026 deal volume surpassing $60 billion [9] Automotive Industry - American automotive giants, including Ford and General Motors, are concerned about the rapid expansion of Chinese EV manufacturers like BYD and Geely, which are exploring joint ventures to produce cars domestically in the U.S. [4] - Ford CEO Jim Farley expressed mixed feelings about the efficiency of Chinese manufacturing, particularly after Xiaomi's EV success, warning that U.S. manufacturers must adopt similar techniques or face potential bankruptcies [5] Gold Market - The price of gold has reached unprecedented heights, recently exceeding $5,066 per ounce, driven by a "flight to safety" amid geopolitical instability [6] - The surge in gold prices has created challenges for the security industry, as the total value of bullion in vaults now exceeds the maximum limits of their insurance policies [7] Defense Industry - Germany is shifting its €108 billion defense budget towards high-tech autonomous systems and AI, responding to internal pressure to move away from traditional military investments [10] - The German government has approved a record €82.7 billion regular defense budget for 2026, with a focus on increasing funding for defense technology, including AI-powered drones [10] Legal and Regulatory Issues - The founders of Turkish delivery firm Getir have filed a $700 million lawsuit against Mubadala, alleging a breach of agreement during the restructuring of the company's assets [11] - The UK government is advancing plans to ban social media for teenagers under 16, aiming to address mental health concerns, which has drawn criticism from tech platforms [12]

Corporate Earnings - Treasury Wine Estates (TWE) reported a statutory net loss of AUD 649.4 million for the first half of fiscal 2026, primarily due to a non-cash writedown of its U.S. business and a settlement with a major distributor, but achieved an adjusted net income of AUD 128.5 million on revenue of AUD 1,297.7 million, with management optimistic about the second half of the year [2][8] - JB Hi-Fi Ltd (JBH) demonstrated resilience in the retail sector, reporting a net income of AUD 305.8 million on total sales of AUD 6,085.3 million, and declared an interim dividend of 210 AU cents per share [3][8] - Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Ltd (BEN) outperformed analyst expectations with an adjusted net income of AUD 256.4 million and revenue of AUD 1,021.1 million, supported by a net interest margin of 1.9% and a CET1 capital ratio of 11.4%, declaring a 30 AU cent interim dividend [4][8] Global Markets - Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL) successfully closed a $20 billion bond offering to fund its expansion into generative AI, including a landmark £1 billion "century bond" maturing in 2126, indicating long-term investor confidence [5][8] - Chinese authorities are tightening regulations on influencer marketing to mitigate speculative behavior in the stock market, with new rules prohibiting unlicensed financial advice and leading to the suspension of accounts spreading misinformation [6][8]

Core Insights - The net profits of listed companies grew 14.7% year-on-year in Q3FY26, marking the fastest growth in the last eight quarters [1] Financial Performance - Adjusted net profits of the 3,353 companies in the Business Standard sample increased to approximately ₹3.97 trillion in Q3FY26 from ₹3.47 trillion in Q3FY25 and ₹3.67 trillion in Q2FY26, reflecting a growth of 14.7% year-on-year [2] - Reported net profits showed a slower growth of 9.5% year-on-year in Q3FY26, down from 11.9% in Q3FY25 and 33.4% in Q2FY26 [5] Sector Contributions - Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) was the largest contributor to earnings growth in Q3FY26, accounting for 22.4% of incremental earnings growth, with net profits rising nearly eightfold to ₹13,007 crore from ₹1,630 crore a year earlier [6][7] - The State Bank of India reported a 24.5% year-on-year increase in net profits, contributing 8.1% to corporate earnings growth [8] - Other significant contributors included Bharat Petroleum Corporation (6.8%), Tata Steel (4.8%), and HDFC Bank (3.8%), with these five companies together accounting for nearly 46% of incremental earnings growth [9][10] Sector Performance - Cyclical sectors accounted for 56.2% of corporate profits in Q3FY26, up from 53.3% a year earlier and 55.8% in Q2FY26 [12] - Traditional earnings leaders like Reliance Industries, Tata Consultancy Services, and Infosys underperformed with below-par earnings growth [13] Revenue and Cost Analysis - Net sales of all companies increased by 8.9% in Q3FY26, reaching around ₹41.17 trillion, the fastest growth in the last 11 quarters [16] - Non-cyclical sectors saw net sales growth of 10.9% year-on-year in Q3FY26, slightly up from 9.2% in Q3FY25 [17] - The Ebitda margin for companies outside the BFSI sector decreased by 20 basis points year-on-year to 17.9% of revenues [19] - Interest expenses as a percentage of revenues fell to 2.7% in Q3FY26 from 2.9% in Q3FY25, indicating a decline in interest burden [21]

Key TakeawaysEmerging market (EM) assets have seen a historic start to 2026, with the MSCI EM Index surging 8.9% in January alone, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 (SPY)'s 1.5% gain.The U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) fell to a four-year low near 97.0, extending a 9.4% decline from 2025 and providing a massive tailwind for developing nation currencies.Record-breaking capital inflows hit the sector in early 2026, with MSCI emerging market ETFs attracting over $20.6 billion in January, the largest monthly inta ...

(Bloomberg) — Emerging-market currencies are proving more stable than those in developed nations, a streak some investors say could become the longest in more than two decades. JPMorgan volatility indexes show developing nations’ currencies have swung less than their Group of Seven peers for nearly 200 straight days — the longest stretch since 2008. If it passes 208 days, it would mark a record going back to 2000. Most Read from Bloomberg The unusual calm in the cohort usually regarded as riskier is be ...

Core Insights - The importance of credit scores is expected to increase significantly by 2026 due to rising household prices and high interest rates, making loan approvals critical for consumers [1] Group 1: Credit Score Overview - A credit score is a three-digit number ranging from approximately 300 to 850, indicating the likelihood of repaying borrowed money [2] - Scores in the "good" range (around 670-739 for FICO models) are viewed as less risky by lenders, leading to various financial benefits [2] Group 2: Loan and Credit Approvals - Higher credit scores facilitate easier approvals for loans and credit cards, signaling reliability to lenders [3] - A good credit score allows consumers to have more options when selecting loans, as lenders compete for lower-risk borrowers [3] Group 3: Interest Rates and Loan Terms - Strong credit scores provide access to lower interest rates, as lenders prefer working with lower-risk customers [4] - Even a small difference in mortgage rates can result in significant savings over the life of a loan, potentially saving tens of thousands of dollars [5] Group 4: Credit Cards - A good credit score increases the likelihood of approval for credit cards with the best introductory offers and lowest interest rates [6] Group 5: Insurance Costs - Higher credit scores can lead to lower insurance premiums, as many insurers use credit-based scores to assess risk [7] - Consumers with strong credit typically file fewer claims, resulting in lower premiums for auto and homeowners insurance [7]

The total U.S. national debt is currently over $38 trillion — a level many experts consider unsustainable (4).“The bigger problem is the national debt of the USA,” Kiyosaki stated in a different post on X (3).Here’s what his prediction means for you and your pocketbook, if and when it comes to pass.“This crash the world is going through now, possibly the worst crash in history was started back in 1913 , 112 years ago, when the Marxist US Federal Reserve Bank….took over America’s monetary system,” Kiyosaki w ...