Key Economic Events and Corporate Reports on Thursday, February 12, 2026. UK GDP, US Unemployment and Housing Market Data, IEA Oil Report, EIA Gas Stocks, and Reports from Major Public Companies. Analysis for Investors.
Thursday, February 12, 2026, is set to be a busy day for global markets. Investors from CIS countries should pay close attention to both the key economic events of the day and the fresh data presented in financial reports from around the world. Geopolitical meetings, macroeconomic releases, and corporate reports from major firms can significantly influence market sentiment and stock price movements. On such a day, it is crucial to maintain composure: analyze incoming analytics and forecasts while resisting the temptation to react to short-term fluctuations. Below, we will review the main events and reports of the day and provide recommendations for investors.
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NATO Defense Ministers Meeting in Brussels. On this day, defense ministers from allied countries will convene at NATO headquarters. They will discuss strengthening the Alliance's defense capabilities, increasing investments in defense and the defense industry, as well as continuing support for Ukraine in the current geopolitical situation. The results of the previous summit's decisions will be reviewed, and preparations for the next NATO summit in July will be outlined. Decisions made during this meeting could impact investor sentiment in the defense sector and the overall assessment of geopolitical risks in the markets.
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Emergency EU Summit on Strengthening the Internal Market. EU leaders will hold an informal meeting focused on strategies to reinforce the EU's single market. Key topics include measures to remove national barriers, improve conditions for investment and innovation, and consolidate companies in critical sectors (digital technology, energy, finance) to enhance Europe's competitiveness. In the current geopolitical climate, strengthening the internal market has been identified as a priority. The outcomes of this summit will set the tone for EU economic policy and could affect European stocks, particularly companies reliant on regulation and trade conditions.
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UK GDP for Q4 2025. Early in the morning, a preliminary estimate of the UK's economic growth for October-December 2025 will be released (expected around 10:00 MSK). Economists forecast moderate changes in GDP – the data will reveal whether the UK economy managed to avoid a recession amid high interest rates and inflation. Additionally, industrial production figures for December will be published. If the statistics fall short of expectations, concerns over economic slowdown may intensify, which could impact the pound's exchange rate and global investor sentiment.
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Monthly IEA Oil Report. At 12:00 MSK, the International Energy Agency will publish its latest overview of the global oil market. Investors will look for updated forecasts on supply and demand, assessments of production by OPEC+ countries, and trends in global inventories. Any signals of supply shortages or an oil glut could immediately reflect on commodity prices. For CIS countries that are major oil exporters, the tone of this report is particularly vital, as oil remains a key source of export revenue and influences inflation expectations.
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US Unemployment Data (Initial Jobless Claims). Traditionally on Thursdays, the US releases weekly figures on initial jobless claims (16:30 MSK). This timely indicator reflects trends in the labor market: whether the number of new unemployed is rising or falling. The forecast is approximately 220,000 claims, which is close to pre-crisis normal levels. A decrease in claims will bolster confidence in the labor market's resilience but may prompt the Federal Reserve to maintain a tight policy to curb inflation. Conversely, an unexpected rise in unemployment could temper the regulator's hawkish sentiment, though it would raise concerns about consumer demand in the economy.
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Existing Home Sales Data in the US. Simultaneously, the Existing Home Sales figure for January will be released, indicating sales volume in the US secondary housing market. This indicator is crucial for assessing the health of the American housing sector and is sensitive to mortgage rate fluctuations. Some recovery in transactions is expected compared to the autumn months, despite high mortgage rates continuing to restrain buyers. The state of the housing market is important for banks (mortgage lending) and construction companies. An increase in sales signals consumer confidence, while a decline indicates household caution and the pressure of high prices (including utility costs) on their budgets.
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US Natural Gas Stocks (EIA Report). At 18:30 MSK, the US Energy Information Administration will release weekly data on natural gas inventories. Although this is a routine report, traders closely monitor it during winter as a barometer of supply and demand balance for gas. A significant reduction in stocks over the week may push gas prices higher, which is positive for the stocks of energy companies. For CIS investors watching the gas market in Europe and Russia, this data is indirectly interesting: the dynamics of US stocks via price arbitrage affects global gas prices, thereby impacting export revenues in the energy sector.
Corporate Reports from Major Companies in the US: Quarterly Results from Market Leaders
Before the US Market Opens
Prior to the main trading session in the US, a series of reports from diverse companies will be released. Among them are Nebius Group (a young technology firm expected to report a loss of about $0.50 per share, although revenue is growing due to a focus on cloud services and AI), casino operator Melco Resorts (anticipated profit of around $0.10 per share on the wave of recovery in the gaming business in Macau), and investment conglomerate Brookfield. Additionally, reports will be released from aerospace component manufacturer Howmet Aerospace, iconic footwear brand Crocs, and the recently listed sandal manufacturer Birkenstock. Furthermore, the animal healthcare company Zoetis, corporate technology developer Zebra Technologies, as well as electric utility giants PG&E and American Electric Power, will disclose their financial results. These diverse reports will reflect the state of several sectors, from consumer demand (footwear sales and entertainment) to industry and energy. Investors will assess whether the company profit forecasts are met and what signals about risks or new opportunities their managements will communicate in comments.
After the US Market Closes
In the evening, following the close of trading in the US, the peak of the earnings season will occur. Several large technology and internet companies will release their quarterly results. Among them is Coinbase Global, the leading cryptocurrency exchange, expected to report a sharp decrease in earnings to about $1 per share (down from around $4.70 a year earlier) due to a drop in trading volumes in the crypto market. The social platform Pinterest is also set to report: analysts predict a revenue growth of about 15% year-on-year, with particular attention to user base dynamics and advertising revenues. Software developers JFrog (B2B platform for DevOps) and Toast (fintech solutions for the restaurant industry) will also be in the spotlight. Their results will provide insights into the state of digital advertising markets, cloud services, and technology for small businesses.
In addition, investors are awaiting reports from companies in the real economy sector. Arista Networks, a producer of network equipment, is expected to show robust growth driven by demand from data centers and artificial intelligence infrastructure. Electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian will reveal whether it has increased its production of electric pickups and reduced losses; the market is focused on whether the company will confirm plans to ramp up vehicle production in 2026. In the entertainment and consumer services sector, sports betting platform DraftKings will report (key metric – increase in customer numbers and progress towards profitability), as well as coffee shop chain Dutch Bros (which will help assess how inflation is impacting consumer spending on small everyday pleasures). Special attention will be given to giants from various industries: Applied Materials (a leading manufacturer of chip equipment, a sort of barometer for the global semiconductor industry), and travel services Airbnb and Expedia Group. Their financial results will indicate how resilient demand for travel and lodging bookings remained at the end of 2025. Such a wide array of corporate reporting – from high technology and crypto/fintech to industrial companies and retail – could provoke significant fluctuations in both individual stocks and entire sector indices. Investors need to focus not only on the actual profit figures but also on management's statements about future prospects: the tone of the forecasts for 2026 (cautious or optimistic) often triggers the most substantial market reactions.
Europe: Corporate Reports from Euro Stoxx 50
Europe also has a busy day for earnings season on February 12, especially among companies from the top Euro Stoxx 50 index. Financial results will be published by consumer sector leaders – Hermès and L’Oréal. Their reports will demonstrate whether there remains strong demand for luxury goods and cosmetics (particularly from Asian buyers). Siemens and Mercedes-Benz will present data from the industrial and automotive sectors, serving as indicators of the state of European production amid high energy prices.
Additionally, reports are expected from multinational giants Unilever (consumer staples) and AB InBev (the largest brewing company in the world). Their results and comments will showcase how inflation has affected companies' costs and consumer behavior. Also in focus are Adyen (a fintech payment provider reflecting e-commerce trends) and Deutsche Börse (a stock exchange operator sensitive to financial market activity). Overall, analysts predict a moderate decrease in total profits for European companies in the fourth quarter, so investors will closely examine any signs of improvement or deterioration in business trends in these reports.
Asia: Reports from Companies in Nikkei 225
In Asian markets, the main event will be the financial results publication from several major Japanese corporations. Investors are particularly awaiting the report from SoftBank Group – an investment tech conglomerate that will present data for the third quarter of its 2025 fiscal year. SoftBank's results will reflect the health of its startup portfolio and the Vision Fund amid market volatility. It is estimated that the company may record an operational profit growth of about 8–10% year-on-year; the market is also anticipating updates on guidance from SoftBank management. Moreover, several manufacturing giants from the Nikkei 225, such as automaker Toyota and electronics giant Sony, will release quarterly reports. Their results will reflect the state of demand in Asia and the impact of currency fluctuations (specifically the yen's exchange rate) on profits. In general, strong reports from Japan could support optimism in Asian stock markets, while disappointments could heighten investor caution in the region.
Russia: Operational Indicators from Companies
In the Russian market, several corporate news items are also expected on February 12, mostly in the format of operational indicators rather than full-fledged financial reports. For example, Aeroflot will publish passenger transport statistics for January 2026, providing insights into demand dynamics for air travel and flight occupancy following the New Year holidays. Additionally, production reports from some oil and gas, as well as metallurgical companies, will be released for the first month of the year – investors will assess production volumes, exports, and the influence of commodity prices on these companies' revenues. There are few direct financial reports (IFRS) from major Russian issuers on this day (most are published later), but operational data will help gauge how 2026 has started for key economic sectors. Any significant deviations (such as a sudden increase in production or a drop in domestic sales) could impact the stock prices of these companies on the Moscow Exchange.
This truly busy day combines important economic events and corporate releases. This combination of factors creates both opportunities and risks for market participants. Positive surprises (for example, stronger-than-expected macro statistics or stellar company earnings) could strengthen confidence in the economy and push stocks higher. However, disappointments (weak data or worse-than-expected earnings reports) could instead amplify volatility and lead to sell-offs in the stock market.
For investors in CIS countries, it is crucial to maintain a diversified portfolio and not succumb to panic over isolated news items. A sound strategy involves considering long-term trends – inflation dynamics, unemployment levels, global demand for oil and gas – when evaluating short-term market fluctuations. At the end of the day, it is essential to analyze whether the analysts' forecasts and the companies’ estimates have materialized, so adjustments to investments can be made accordingly. By staying true to their chosen strategy and wisely assessing risks, investors can derive benefits from the information received and confidently move forward.
