Core Viewpoint - Western Digital is set to sell a stake worth $3.17 billion in Sandisk, indicating a strategic move in the flash memory market [1]. Group 1: Transaction Details - Western Digital will sell over 5.8 million shares of Sandisk at a price of $545 each [1]. - The offering price represents a discount of approximately 7.7% compared to Sandisk's last closing price of $590.59 [1].

Welcome to February 2026, where the primary driver of global equity valuation isn’t the Federal Reserve’s dot plot or quarterly earnings reports, but rather the notification bell on a specific social media platform. As of February 18, 2026, the “Trump Trade” has evolved from a speculative bet into a full-contact sport, leaving analysts at Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley to spend their mornings deciphering the macroeconomic implications of 3:00 AM posts written in all-caps. It is a truly efficient market, p ...

Core Insights - Berkshire Hathaway Inc. significantly reduced its stake in Amazon.com Inc. by over 75% in Q4, while acquiring a new stake in the New York Times Co. valued at $351.7 million [1][2] Investment Changes - Berkshire Hathaway's current holdings in Amazon now stand at approximately 2.3 million shares after the reduction [2] - The company also decreased its stakes in Bank of America Corp. and Apple Inc. to 7.1% and 1.5%, respectively, starting in 2024 [2] New Investments - During the same period, Berkshire Hathaway increased its stakes in Chevron Corp. to 6.5% and Chubb Ltd to 8.7% [3] - The initial investment in Chubb was revealed in May 2024, following a secret accumulation of shares the previous year [3] Strategic Acquisitions - Buffett has been actively pursuing new acquisitions, including a $9.7 billion deal for Occidental Petroleum Corp.'s petrochemical business and a $5.6 billion stake in Alphabet Inc. [4] - Following the announcement of the New York Times Co. investment, its shares rose over 10% in post-market trading [4]

Group 1 - Berkshire Hathaway reduced its stake in Amazon by over 75% in Q4, while investing $351.7 million in the New York Times Company [1][3] - The company acquired 5.1 million shares of the New York Times Company, valued at $351.7 million at year-end [3] - Berkshire continued to trim its stakes in Bank of America and Apple, reducing them to 7.1% and 1.5%, respectively [4] Group 2 - Berkshire increased its stakes in Chevron and Chubb to 6.5% and 8.7%, respectively, during the same period [5] - Chubb's shares rose approximately 11% in Q4 after reports of an informal approach to acquire American International Group Inc. [5] - Warren Buffett has been active in making purchases, including a $9.7 billion deal for Occidental Petroleum Corp.'s petrochemical business and a $5.6 billion stake in Alphabet Inc. [6]

US FTC finalizes consent order in Boeing acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems | ReutersSkip to main content[Exclusive news, data and analytics for financial market professionalsLearn more aboutRefinitiv]The logo of Boeing is seen at the 55th International Paris Airshow at Le Bourget Airport near Paris, France, June 20, 2025. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/Pool [Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab]- Companies[Boeing Co]FollowWASHINGTON, Feb 17 (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Trade Commission on Tuesday said it finali ...

Core Insights - In Warren Buffett's final quarter as CEO, the company reduced its stake in the iPhone manufacturer [1] Group 1 - The company further trimmed its holdings in the iPhone maker during this period [1]

Authorised banks and standalone primary dealers access the foreign exchange market for market making, balance sheet management and hedging of risks.Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/ReutersKey PointsAn authorised dealer may also undertake transactions on ETPs outside IndiaThey can borrow and lend in foreign currencyAuthorised dealer may undertake NDDCsThe Reserve Bank on Tuesday proposed greater flexibility to authorised persons to undertake foreign exchange transactions for hedging their exposures, balance s ...

First Northern Bank Acquires Beacon Wealth StrategiesFeb 17, 2026 12:53 PM Eastern Standard Time# First Northern Bank Acquires Beacon Wealth StrategiesShare---DIXON, Calif.--([BUSINESS WIRE])--First Northern Advisors, a division of First Northern Bank, is pleased to announce the acquisition of Beacon Wealth Strategies, a well-respected independent financial advisory firm owned and operated by Tom Cicchini. This acquisition ensures the continued delivery of personalized wealth management services to Beacon W ...

Market Overview - Investor sentiment is currently weighed down by concerns over AI's potential impact on various industries, leading to continued selling pressure in the markets, particularly in technology and software sectors [3][4][9] - The Dow is down 180 points, and the S&P 500 has decreased by 0.75% year-to-date, while the NASDAQ is down 4% [3][5] - Despite the negative sentiment, the S&P 500 remains near record levels, indicating that the market is not far off from its highs [4] Company Earnings and Performance - Walmart is set to report its fourth-quarter earnings, with expectations of strong performance following a successful holiday season, projecting same-store sales growth of around 4.5% [90][93] - Concerns exist regarding future guidance, particularly in light of weak consumer sentiment affecting purchasing patterns, as noted by General Mills [95][98] - Dutch Bros plans to aggressively expand, aiming to open at least 181 stores by 2026 and reach 2,029 shops by 2029, despite shares falling over 30% in the past year due to concerns about demand and costs [33][34] Technology Sector Insights - The software sector is experiencing significant selling pressure, with many stocks underperforming, although some companies, particularly those with usage-based models, may thrive in an AI-driven environment [26][31] - Companies like Micron are facing pressure despite ongoing demand for memory chips, indicating a disconnect between market sentiment and actual business fundamentals [6][7] - The private credit market is showing signs of distress, with over 15% of US leveraged technology loans marked at distressed levels, raising concerns about the overall health of the credit market [9][12] Analyst Ratings and Market Predictions - Morgan Stanley has named Citigroup as a top pick among large US lenders, raising its price target to $152, indicating confidence in the bank's performance [72] - Deutsche Bank has lowered its price target for DraftKings to $26, citing pressures from increased promotions and slowing growth [73] - True Securities upgraded Shopify to a buy rating, highlighting its recent growth and long-term drivers, raising the price target to $150 [75]

Treasury Yields Snapshot: February 13, 2026The yield on the 10-year note finished February 13, 2026 at 4.04%, its lowest level since November. Meanwhile, the 2-year note ended at 3.40%, its lowest level since 2022.The chart below overlays the daily performance of several Treasury bonds, starting from the pre-recession equity market peaks, along with the Federal Funds Rate (FFR) since 2007.This next table shows the highs and lows of yields and the Federal Funds Rate (FFR) since 2007.## A Long-Term Look at th ...