Key Economic Events and Corporate Reports for Wednesday, February 25, 2026: Australia’s CPI, Germany’s GDP, Eurozone Inflation, EIA Oil Stocks, and Earnings Reports from Major Public Companies in the US, Europe, and Asia. Analysis for CIS Investors.
- Inflation and Rates: Australia’s CPI and Eurozone CPI are direct triggers for interest rate expectations and the assessment of growth stocks.
- European Growth: Germany’s GDP helps gauge the resilience of the Eurozone core economy and the risk of a 'soft landing.'
- Oil and Inflation Expectations: US oil stocks (EIA) often reflect in WTI/Brent prices and inflation expectations.
- Corporate Reports: High concentration of earnings reports in the US (including S&P 500 representatives) can 'overshadow' the macro backdrop.
Markets: Areas Likely to Experience Volatility
The day primarily revolves around the reassessment of discount rates. If CPI strengthens expectations for a tighter policy, pressure is more likely in the tech segment and in 'growth stocks'; if CPI is softer, risk assets and long bonds receive support. Oil adds another channel of influence through inflation expectations and the energy sector.
- FX: AUD after Australia's CPI, EUR after the European block, USD through oil and yields.
- Indices: Focus on S&P 500 and Nasdaq due to heavy earnings reports in the evening; in Europe — Euro Stoxx 50; in Asia — Nikkei 225 reacts through global risk appetite.
- Russia: The ruble, OFZ, and stocks on MOEX are sensitive to weekly inflation and expectations for the key rate.
Economic Calendar: Events and Times (Moscow Time)
| Time (MSK) | Country/Region | Event | Key Market |
|---|---|---|---|
| 03:30 | Australia | CPI (January) | AUD, bonds, Asian indices |
| 10:00 | Germany | GDP (detailed data for Q4) | EUR, rates, European stocks |
| 13:00 | Eurozone | CPI / HICP (January, details) | EUR, yield curve, banks/insurers |
| 18:30 | USA | EIA Oil Stocks | Oil, energy, inflation expectations |
| 19:00 | Russia | Weekly CPI | RUB, OFZ, rate expectations |
Australia: CPI and RBA Policy Expectations
The publication of Australia’s CPI during the early Asian session often sets the tone for AUD and rate expectations. For global portfolios, the dynamics of 'core' inflation and the breadth of price growth are key: the wider the pressure, the harder it is for the market to price in a soft rate trajectory, and the higher the sensitivity of growth stocks to yields.
Europe: Germany’s GDP and Eurozone Inflation
In Europe, investors focus on the balance between 'growth vs inflation'. Detailed data on Germany’s GDP help assess demand dynamics and industrial resilience, while the Eurozone CPI solidifies (or alters) rate expectations and ECB rhetoric. As a result, the most sensitive assets include: EUR, yields, credit spreads, banks and insurers, as well as export-oriented companies in the Euro Stoxx 50.
USA: Oil, EIA, and Market Impact
EIA data quickly impact WTI/Brent prices and can influence inflation expectations, especially when the market concurrently assesses the rate trajectory. In such a 'global environment', this serves as an important bridge between the macro block (CPI) and corporate earnings: rising oil prices intensify the inflation channel, while declines reduce pressure on yields.
Key points to watch in the EIA report:
- Crude oil and Cushing stocks (signal for the physical market);
- Changes in refining and refinery utilization (demand from the real sector);
- Gasoline and distillates as proxies for household and logistics demand.
Corporate Reports: Who Is Reporting on This Day
Below are major public companies releasing earnings on February 25, 2026 (or conducting results/calls on this day). For convenience, tickers and sessions (pre-market/post-market) are noted. In the US, this is particularly significant: volatility often arises after market closure and impacts the following day in Asia and Europe.
If you are building a portfolio based on indices (S&P 500, Euro Stoxx 50, Nikkei 225, or MOEX), the logic is straightforward: tech reports set the risk mode, retail confirms consumer health, and banks and utilities provide signals regarding capital costs and dividends.
US and Americas: Pre-Market
- Lowe’s (LOW), The TJX Companies (TJX), Circle (CRCL), Hut 8 (HUT), Photronics (PLAB), ODDITY Tech (ODD), Valens Semiconductor (VLN), Blackstone Secured Lending Fund (BXSL), Trinity Capital (TRIN), Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS).
US and Americas: Post-Market
- NVIDIA (NVDA), Salesforce (CRM), Snowflake (SNOW), Synopsys (SNPS), The Trade Desk (TTD), Agilent (A), Pure Storage (PSTG), Nutanix (NTNX), Nu Holdings (NU), IonQ (IONQ), Array Technologies (ARRY), Paramount Skydance (PSKY).
Europe and the UK
- HSBC (HSBA), Diageo (DGE), Iberdrola (IBE), Novonesis (NVO), Eiffage (FGR), Fnac Darty (FNAC), Aston Martin Lagonda (AML).
Asia
- Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation (O39 / OVCHY), Delta Electronics (2308.TW).
Russia
- VTB (VTBR): annual IFRS reporting (as per issuer’s calendar).
Investor Focus by Day's End
- Check for 'bottlenecks' in timing: macro releases in Europe and EIA come out before the block of US reports; risk positions are best planned in advance.
- Split risk into two windows: (a) CPI and rates during the day, (b) earnings from major tech companies at night in Moscow time.
- Look at guidance: forecasts and comments from management are often more crucial than the quarterly profit figure.
- Monitor oil: an unexpected surprise from the EIA may amplify movements in inflation expectations and indices.
- For portfolios in rubles: weekly CPI and VTB’s earnings are key local catalysts for MOEX.
- Don’t forget about liquidity: during earnings releases after the US market closes, spreads and 'gaps' at the next day’s opening tend to occur more frequently than usual.
February 25, 2026, is set to be a busy day for global markets, where the economic calendar featuring CPI and GDP intersects with robust corporate earnings reports. The most likely 'points' of volatility expansion will be in the middle of the European session and the period following the US market's closure.
