Economic Events and Corporate Reports on Wednesday, February 11, 2026: China CPI, U.S. Non-Farm Payrolls, and EIA Oil

Key Economic Events and Corporate Reports for Wednesday, February 11, 2026: China's CPI, U.S. Labor Market, EIA Oil Inventories, U.S. Federal Budget, and Financial Results from Major Public Companies Worldwide

Wednesday, February 11, 2026, promises to be eventful for CIS investors, with a focus on both key economic events of the day and substantial corporate earnings reports for the fourth quarter. On the global stage, attention is directed towards inflation data (CPI) and labor market statistics, which may influence central bank decisions, as well as the release of quarterly reports from corporations in the United States, Europe, Asia, and Russia. Below is a detailed overview of what investors can expect—from macroeconomic statistics and oil data to corporate publications—complete with timely metrics and insights for the stock market.

Macroeconomics

Among the main macroeconomic events today are:

All day, Japan: National Day holiday; financial markets are closed.
04:30 MSK, China: Consumer Price Index (CPI) for January. Inflation is expected to remain moderate—estimated at around +0.5-1.0% year-over-year, reflecting subdued domestic demand. This data is important for Asian markets: weak CPI confirms a lack of inflationary pressure, giving the People's Bank of China room for soft policy.
All day, Russia: Speech by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in the State Duma. Focus will be on foreign policy statements, sanctions, and geopolitics. Investors will be looking for signals that might affect the investment climate or asset prices, such as comments on relationships with key trading partners or new foreign economic initiatives.
16:00 MSK, Russia: Trade balance for December. Previous figures showed a significant surplus due to high commodity prices. New data will allow for assessing the dynamics of oil and gas exports and the state of Russia's external trade amidst sanctions. A strong trade balance supports the ruble and fundamentally impacts the Russian stock market, especially concerning shares in resource companies.
16:30 MSK, USA: Non-Farm Payrolls (NFP) and unemployment rate for January. Consensus forecast is for approximately +70,000 new jobs (compared to +50,000 in December), with an unemployment rate around 4.4%. These key labor market indicators could adjust expectations for the Fed's monetary policy: weaker data may confirm economic cooling and enhance expectations of policy easing, while unexpectedly strong employment growth could increase the likelihood of maintaining rates at elevated levels longer.
18:30 MSK, USA: Weekly oil inventories according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA). The oil market is closely monitoring supply and demand balances: a moderate change in inventories is expected (analysts predict a slight seasonal increase in gasoline inventories and a decrease in crude oil supplies). EIA data will influence Brent and WTI oil prices and, consequently, the shares of oil and gas companies.
19:00 MSK, Russia: Weekly consumer price index (weekly inflation in Russia). Previous weeks showed a price increase of about 0.1-0.2% per week, indicating an annual inflation trend near 5-6%. The latest figures will help assess whether inflationary pressure is accelerating as winter comes to a close, which is vital for expectations regarding the key rate of the Bank of Russia.
22:00 MSK, USA: Federal budget for January. The Treasury's budget report will reveal the size of the month's deficit/surplus. Typically, January is characterized by increased budget expenditures and may record a deficit. Significant deviations will affect the yield on U.S. Treasury bonds and investor sentiment regarding fiscal resilience: a rising deficit may intensify discussions about the need for austerity measures or implications for the debt ceiling.

Oil

The oil market today presents mixed factors. On one hand, the EIA statistics on inventories (to be released in the evening) set the tone: recent weeks have shown a mixed dynamic—declining commercial crude oil inventories against a backdrop of robust U.S. exports, but rising product inventories due to seasonally weak demand. Investors expect fresh data to confirm a relative balance: global consumption is buoyed by China's recovery, while supplies remain ample due to high U.S. exports and steady production from OPEC+.

As of this morning, Brent futures are trading around $80 per barrel, keeping prices within a narrow range. Market participants are evaluating whether today's macro news will affect prices: weak CPI data from China could raise concerns about demand for raw materials, while U.S. NFP statistics may adjust economic growth forecasts and, indirectly, energy consumption. Additionally, Russia's trade balance for December (published today) will reflect volumes of oil and gas exports; resilient exports at relatively high prices sustain Russia's current account surplus and budget revenues.

Overall, the oil market maintains cautious optimism: investors see global inflation declining and major economies avoiding recession, which implies stable demand for oil. Nonetheless, amid geopolitical uncertainty and fluctuations in output (such as potential OPEC+ production cuts or unforeseen disruptions), price reactions to any news might be sharp. Special attention today will be on EIA inventory numbers and Lavrov's rhetoric addressing energy issues to evaluate the short-term outlook for oil prices.

American Companies

In the U.S., the peak of the quarterly earnings season continues today, with results from numerous large companies due before market open and after market close. Earnings reports for Q4 2025 will come from representatives of various sectors—from technology and telecommunications to retail and industrials. Below are key reports from American issuers, along with profit and revenue expectations and important points for investors:

Before Market Open (Pre-Market U.S.):

Shopify (SHOP): Expected to see substantial revenue growth of approximately +28% year-over-year to $3.6 billion and adjusted earnings of $0.47 per share (up from $0.44 a year ago). The Canadian e-commerce platform benefited from the holiday season—investors will assess growth in sales volumes amid competition with Amazon and other marketplaces. Focus will also be on business profitability and the company's forecast for 2026 in light of potential consumer spending slowdowns.
Vertiv (VRT): Manufacturer of data center equipment (UPS, cooling systems)—revenue forecast of approximately $2.9 billion (+double-digit growth year-over-year) and earnings of around $1.29 per share (+30% year-over-year) driven by strong demand from data centers and cloud providers. Vertiv's shares surged in 2025 on the wave of AI infrastructure investments; investors are looking for confirmation of order book resilience and comments on how long this "supercycle" in data center equipment will last.
Unity Software (U): Developer of a 3D content creation and video game platform. Consensus projects revenue of approximately $492 million (+7-8% year-over-year) and adjusted earnings of around $0.21 per share, marking a return to growth after a downturn a year earlier. In 2025, Unity curtailed expenses and focused on monetization, so market participants will assess how this has impacted profits. Key risks include competition (especially after its rival Unreal merged with Epic Games) and Unity's ability to capitalize on VR/AR trends and generative AI in media content.
Humana (HUM): One of the largest health insurers in the U.S. A rare quarterly loss of around $4.00 per share is expected for Q4, despite revenue growth to approximately $32 billion (+10% year-over-year). The reason is one-off factors: increased medical payouts and reserve recalculation in the Medicare Advantage segment. Investors are interested in how these factors will affect annual profits and dividends. Attention will also be on Humana's forecast for 2026: whether the company can maintain growth in insured numbers and cut costs in light of healthcare reform and increased competition (e.g., from UnitedHealth).
Kraft Heinz (KHC): Food conglomerate producing mass-market goods. A decline in quarterly earnings to approximately $0.61 per share (around -27% year-over-year) and a slight drop in revenue to around $6.4 billion (-3% year-over-year) are expected. High food inflation and shifts in consumer preferences (buyers switching to cheaper brands) are pressuring results. Investors are waiting for comments on whether the company managed to increase prices to offset raw material costs and forecasts on margins for 2026—especially considering efforts to reduce debt and restructure its brand portfolio.
T-Mobile US (TMUS): American telecom operator competing with AT&T and Verizon. Despite an expected revenue increase of approximately +11% (to around $24.3 billion) driven by subscriber gains and 5G network development, quarterly earnings may decrease to around $2.00 per share (-22% year-over-year). Profit pressure results from customer acquisition costs and the integration of acquired Sprint. Key metrics include post-paid subscriber growth, churn rates, and free cash flow indicators. Investors will also assess T-Mobile's plans for share buyback and infrastructure development post-major capital expenditures on 5G.
GlobalFoundries (GFS): Global semiconductor foundry (with manufacturing facilities in the U.S., Europe, and Asia). Consensus for Q4 is revenue of approximately $1.80 billion (+2% year-over-year) and earnings of around $0.47 per share. The semiconductor sector experienced a downturn in 2025 for smartphones and PCs, but GlobalFoundries partially offsets this with strong demand for specialized chips in the automotive and industrial sectors. Investors will focus on production capacity utilization, prospect of new major contracts, and management comments on cost inflation (e.g., electricity costs in Europe).
McDonald's (MCD): The world's largest fast-food restaurant chain. Analysts expect revenue of approximately $6.8 billion (+7% year-over-year) and an earnings per share of about $3.00 (+8% year-over-year), driven by increased traffic and menu pricing. The key metric is the growth of comparable store sales (LFL) by region: last quarter, McDonald's showed double-digit growth in Europe and Asia, while maintaining strong demand in the U.S. China (post-COVID restrictions) and Europe (ability to maintain demand despite inflation) are crucial now. Investors are also awaiting news on expansion plans for 2026 and the outcomes of automation and delivery initiatives affecting future costs and revenues.
Oatly (OTLY): Swedish oat milk producer, reporting in the U.S. Revenue is expected to remain approximately at last year's level (up slightly), while losses are projected to decrease—the company is nearing operational breakeven. The year 2025 was pivotal for Oatly in terms of optimization: expenses were cut, and inefficient manufacturing sites were closed. Investors will look to see if this improved margins and will assess management forecasts regarding profitability in 2026. Additionally, demand data for plant milk in various regions—whether the product’s popularity persists in main markets (U.S., Europe, China)—is important.
NetEase (NTES): Chinese internet company, one of the leaders in online gaming (ADR trades on Nasdaq). The report will be released before the U.S. market opens (evening Moscow time). Forecast: revenue around $4.0 billion for the quarter and net income of approximately $2.0 per ADS. Focus will be on gaming segments: successful releases of new games and stable revenues from major titles (e.g., Fantasy Westward Journey) could support results. However, analysts note that growth may slow due to tightening regulatory environments in China and a high base from last year. Investors are also awaiting comments on NetEase's cloud services development and other initiatives (Cloud Music service) that diversify the business.

After Market Close (Post-Market U.S.):

AppLovin (APP): Developer of a monetization platform for mobile applications and games. Strong growth in financial metrics is expected: earnings of around $3.0 per share (+~70% year-over-year) on revenue of ~$1.6 billion (+~17%). This leap is explained by AppLovin's successful mobile advertising strategy—its MAX platform attracted many developers, while advertiser demand in gaming remained high. Market attention will focus on the company’s forecast: can double-digit growth be maintained in 2026 amid possible advertising market slowing and competition (e.g., from Unity Ads and IronSource).
Albemarle (ALB): Leading global lithium producer (used in electric vehicle batteries). The consensus forecast anticipates a quarterly loss of ~$0.60 per share, although this is significantly better than last year’s loss (losses decreased by ~40% year-over-year). Revenue is estimated at approximately $1.34 billion, close to last year's level. In 2025, lithium prices sharply declined from the peaks of 2022, prompting Albemarle to cut its forecasts. Investors will seek signs of recovery in the report: mention of increasing demand from automakers, new long-term lithium supply contracts, or successes in geographic expansion (projects in Australia, Chile). Information on cost control and capital expenditures is also crucial, as the company previously stated it would optimize in light of market volatility.
Cisco Systems (CSCO): A flagship of the technology sector, producing networking equipment. It will publish results for the second financial quarter of 2026 (corresponding to calendar Q4 2025). Forecast: revenue ~$15.1 billion (+2% year-over-year) and earnings of ~$1.02 per share (+8% year-over-year). While revenue growth is modest, investor sentiment is positive due to Cisco's order backlog (~$43 billion at the end of the prior quarter) and increased demand for data center solutions. Special attention in the report will be on the AI-related infrastructure segment: buyers are investing in network upgrades (routers, switches, optics) to meet AI needs, and Cisco may benefit from this trend. Also key topics include new order dynamics (book-to-bill), supply chain comments (global chip shortages are practically resolved by the end of 2026), and margin forecasts given the increasing share of software and services in Cisco's business.
QuantumScape (QS): Silicon Valley startup developing solid-state batteries for electric vehicles. Financial results remain secondary—an additional quarterly loss of approximately $0.17 per share is expected with minimal revenues. More important is what the company says about technology progress: investors await updates on achieved energy density, charge/discharge cycles, and readiness of prototypes for automakers (Volkswagen is a strategic partner of QS). Following a tumultuous IPO a couple of years ago, QS shares have exhibited significant volatility, reacting to news regarding the initial deliveries of battery samples to clients and commercial launch prospects. Any positive shift in testing or new partnerships could trigger substantial stock movement.
HubSpot (HUBS): Provider of cloud software for marketing, sales, and customer support (CRM for small and medium businesses). Strong growth is expected: revenue ~up to $830 million (+18% year-over-year) and adjusted earnings of around $2.2 per share (compared to $1.7 a year earlier). Despite the overall cooling of the SaaS market due to client IT budget cuts, HubSpot is successfully maintaining double-digit growth thanks to expanding its product line and international expansion. Investors will focus on customer churn/retention rates and comments on competition with larger players (Salesforce, Oracle). It is also important how the company forecasts demand in 2026—will margin growth continue after investments in AI capabilities?
Comstock Resources (CRK): Independent oil and gas company specializing in natural gas extraction in the Haynesville Basin (U.S.). Q4 forecast: earnings of ~$0.11 per share (down from ~$0.16 last year) on revenue of around $500 million. The decline is linked to lower gas prices in 2025 compared to the high levels seen in 2024. However, prices have rebounded in recent months from historical lows, and investors are awaiting signals on whether Comstock plans to increase production or limit it to support prices. Additionally, hedge data is crucial: how the company has insured gas sales for 2026 amid high market volatility (particularly in light of rising U.S. LNG exports affecting domestic gas prices).
Aurora Innovation (AUR): Pioneer in autonomous driving technology (trucks and robotaxis). The company remains in the R&D phase—expected revenue is just ~$1.5 million (pilot projects) and a net loss of ~$0.12 per share. The main "report" for Aurora is progress in testing autonomous vehicles. Last week, Aurora announced the expansion of pilot driverless transportation in Texas, which investors received positively. Today's release will clarify whether Aurora has adequate cash reserves (around $700 million in cash at the end of September) until commercialization of the technology. Focus will be on plans for raising new capital or partnerships in 2026, as well as any details about collaborations with logistics giants (e.g., FedEx, Uber Freight) in the autonomous freight sector.
Fastly (FSLY): American provider of content delivery (CDN) and cybersecurity services. After several years of losses, Fastly is close to profitability: a small profit of ~$0.06 per share is expected, compared to a loss the previous year, on revenue of ~$161 million (+15% year-over-year). The company is successfully implementing a strategy to enhance efficiency—in 2025, Fastly updated its product line, focused on large enterprise clients, and optimized expenses. Investors will examine growth in client numbers and average revenue per client: competition with Cloudflare and Akamai remains a significant challenge, so progress in offering additional services (API protection, edge computing) is crucial. The market also awaits forecasts for 2026: will Fastly continue double-digit sales growth and be able to generate positive free cash flow consistently?
Confluent (CFLT): Developer of a streaming data processing platform based on Apache Kafka. Strong financial results are anticipated: revenue ~$308 million (+~18% year-over-year) and earnings ~$0.10 per share (compared to a small loss a year ago). Confluent's business demonstrates steady growth, although its pace has slightly slowed as the company scales. However, the key context is not merely the numbers, but a recent deal: in December 2025, an agreement was announced for Confluent to be acquired by IBM for approximately $11 billion. Thus, this report could be one of the last for Confluent as a publicly traded company. Investors will closely analyze whether the company meets quarterly targets (which is crucial for assessing deal fairness) and what comments it provides regarding integration with IBM. CFLT shares are now reacting in line with the acquisition price, but any complications (such as regulatory issues) or improvements in fundamental metrics could affect the deal spread.
Cognex (CGNX): American manufacturer of machine vision systems in demand in automotive and production automation. Forecast: revenue around $239 million (+4% year-over-year) and earnings ~$0.20 per share. After a pandemic-induced boom in automation, Cognex faced some cooling in demand in 2025 (especially from electronics), but the automotive and logistics segments are supporting sales. Investors are looking for updates on the market launch of the new Cognex One unified platform, which aims to simplify the integration of machine vision solutions at enterprises. Other focal points include the supply chain situation (sensitive for Cognex's high-tech cameras) and prospects for a return to double-digit growth should the macro situation improve.
CVS Health (CVS): Diversified company combining a pharmacy network with insurance (via Aetna). The report will be released in pre-market; analysts forecast ~ $1.00 per share of adjusted profit with revenue around $85 billion (+8% year-over-year). Key drivers are growth in the pharmaceutical segment (retail pharmacies and PBM services) and healthcare insurance. However, net income for 2025 may have decreased due to one-off write-offs and expenses related to integrating new acquisitions (in 2023, CVS acquired health companies Oak Street Health and Signify Health). Investors will assess how these new divisions (primary care and home services) are performing and how they enhance business synergy. A crucial point will be the management's confirmation of the 2026 forecast: previously, CVS indicated a target range of $7.00–$7.20 earnings per share in 2026, and it is vital for the market to hear whether these targets remain intact considering changes in healthcare markets and potential regulatory reforms on drug pricing in the U.S.

European Companies

Europe is also witnessing a busy day of quarterly reporting from several corporate leaders. One of the main events will be the release of results from TotalEnergies (France)—one of the largest oil and gas companies in the world. The company has preemptively indicated that Q4 2025 figures will be comparable to last year's: an approximately 5% year-over-year increase in oil and gas production and record refining margins should offset decreases in raw material prices, yielding profit expected nearly at the level of Q4 2024 (consensus ~$1.8 per share). Investors will be interested in how TotalEnergies will allocate its substantial cash flows: generous dividends and continued share buybacks are likely to be announced. The company may also provide an updated outlook on capital expenditures for energy transition projects (renewable energy, hydrogen) and plans to maintain stable oil production levels.

Other European blue-chip companies reporting today include the French manufacturer of premium optics EssilorLuxottica and a leader in engineering software Dassault Systèmes. Their results will reflect consumer demand for luxury goods (Ray-Ban, Oakley eyewear) and business investments in digital solutions (3D modeling, PLM), respectively. Both companies are expected to show confident revenue growth in the 5-10% year-over-year range while maintaining high profitability.

European industrial and consumer giants are also set to report. In the Netherlands, results from the brewing conglomerate Heineken will be released: following a weak summer, the company might have increased beer sales in the autumn, although inflationary costs (grain, energy) could have impacted operating margin. Generally, investors expect moderate revenue growth from Heineken (~+5%) with stable profits, and they will wait for forecasts regarding European and Asian markets for 2026. The French tire manufacturer Michelin is likely to report stable revenue, supported by demand for premium tires for electric vehicles and trucks, although rising raw material prices (rubber, oil) could slightly reduce profitability—investors will assess how well Michelin managed to pass costs onto customers and the demand for its products in China and North America.

In Europe's banking sector, the focus will be on results from Commerzbank (Germany's second-largest bank) and ABN AMRO (a major bank in the Netherlands). Thanks to higher interest rates from the ECB in 2025, banks likely experienced increases in interest income and margin expansion. However, investors will analyze asset quality: have banks built additional reserves for potential problem loans given the economic slowdown? Commerzbank is expected to report quarterly profits at the previous year's level or slightly higher (benefiting from interest rate growth in corporate lending), while ABN AMRO, oriented towards the retail market, may see profits rise amid increasing mortgage rates. Any management statements regarding dividend payout plans or share repurchases will also influence stock prices.

Notably, the situation with Siemens Energy (Germany) deserves attention—this industrial giant is releasing a report today amid significant difficulties faced by its subsidiary Siemens Gamesa (wind energy). Siemens Energy previously warned of multi-billion losses due to defects in wind turbine blades and the costs of rectifying them; the company even received government guarantees for financial support. Therefore, a quarterly loss is expected, and possibly no dividends will be declared. Investors will closely listen to comments on the rescue plan: what results to expect in 2026, whether part of the business may be sold, or whether the offshore wind energy business will undergo restructuring. Any progress in negotiations with the government or creditors (e.g., increases in credit lines) will be crucial for restoring confidence in Siemens Energy stocks.

Asian Companies

In the Asia-Pacific region, February 11 is relatively quiet in terms of major corporate releases, partly because it is a holiday in Japan (markets are closed). Nevertheless, the macro context from Asia is important: a weak CPI in China (mentioned above) indicates the absence of economic overheating, which could encourage authorities towards stimulus measures— a positive factor for the Asian stock market. Investors are also evaluating other recently released regional data—such as trade and inflation statistics from South Korea and Taiwan—to judge the state of global electronics supply chains.

Among individual companies, the already mentioned Chinese NetEase deserves attention, as its report (see the "American Companies" section) will be an indicator for the entire Chinese tech sector. Additionally, a number of smaller Asian firms will publish results today: for instance, real estate developer Sunac China will report from Hong Kong, while chipmaker SK Hynix presented a detailed forecast for 2026 in Seoul (expecting a recovery in memory demand in the second half of the year). Although February 11 is not rich in notable reports in Asia, the backdrop for the market is shaped by expectations of further government actions: investors are anticipating stimulus measures in China ahead of the annual session of the National People's Congress in spring. Therefore, any signals in Lavrov's speech regarding Russia-China relations or China's plans to stimulate domestic demand could be perceived very keenly by regional markets.

Russian Companies

The Russian corporate calendar for February 11 does not include the publication of financial results from the largest public companies. The quarterly earnings season for Q4 2025 for Russian issuers will commence later—major state-owned banks and resource companies will present their annual results only closer to March. Consequently, local investors' attention is focused on macro events and external backgrounds. Minister Lavrov's speech in the State Duma may shed light on potential changes in foreign economic policy or sanctions risks, which indirectly affect Russian assets. Data on the trade balance and weekly inflation will provide benchmarks for the ruble exchange rate and the monetary policy of the Bank of Russia: a stable trade surplus and moderate inflation support the idea of maintaining the key rate unchanged.

Although there are no key corporate releases today, news regarding individual companies may still emerge. Investors should keep an eye on operational updates: it is common for companies to publish productivity reports or provide preliminary data in February. For instance, oil and gas giants may report on January extraction volumes, metallurgical companies may cover production output, and retailers may disclose festive sales trends. Any unexpected information could trigger movements in corresponding stocks on the Moscow Exchange. Overall, the external backdrop (global data on inflation and unemployment, sentiment on international markets) will serve as the main guideline for the Russian stock market.

What Investors Should Pay Attention To

Today’s complex of events combines factors that could either bolster or shake global risk appetite. It is important for investors to analyze incoming information carefully and align it with their own strategies. Below are brief recommendations on where to focus:

Macrostats and Central Bank Policies: CPI (inflation) and Non-Farm Payrolls data directly impact expectations for the Fed’s rates and those of the central banks of China and others. A significant deviation from forecasts could trigger reevaluations among investors—for example, a weak labor market would intensify discussions regarding lowering Fed rates in March. While the Central Bank of Russia operates autonomously, it is crucial for Russian investors to consider this global dynamic, as it affects capital flows to emerging markets and commodity prices.
Corporate Forecasts and Comments: During the peak of the quarterly earnings season, not only profits/revenues figures are significant but also what company management says about the future. Pay attention to companies lowering their forecasts for 2026 or warning of risks—this could indicate an impending slowdown in the sector. For example, comments from Cisco regarding demand for equipment, or Kraft Heinz on consumer behavior, or TotalEnergies on oil prices—all of these are signals extending beyond individual stocks and impacting entire sectors and markets.
Stock Market Reaction and Sector Rotation: In such news-heavy days, higher volatility is possible. Investors should be prepared for sharp price movements in stocks, particularly among companies whose reports significantly deviate from expectations. Sector rotation may occur: for instance, if tech firms' earnings disappoint, capital could shift into more defensive sectors (telecoms, healthcare). Similar global trends also reflect on the Russian market—through changing commodity prices and foreign investors’ sentiments regarding risk assets.

February 11, 2026, is a day when investors need to keep their finger on the pulse across multiple fronts. Inflation and employment statistics will set the tone for the macroeconomic landscape, while comprehensive corporate earnings in the U.S., Europe, and Asia will provide fresh benchmarks on corporate profits and business cycles. In such a situation, we recommend investors to adhere to a diversified approach: monitor both global indicators (CPI, unemployment, oil prices) and specific news regarding portfolio companies. Careful reading of press releases and participation in conference calls after earnings reports can yield valuable insights into trends that precede overall market data. Finally, heightened volatility on such a day is not a cause for panic, but an opportunity for long-term investors to identify undervalued stocks or, conversely, to timely take profits on overheated securities. The key is to maintain composure and an analytical approach to correctly prioritize and make thoughtful investment decisions amidst today’s information flow.