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 Earnings from Major Public Companies. Analytics for Investors.
Thursday, February 12, 2026, promises to be a busy day for global markets. Investors from the CIS countries should pay attention to both the key economic events of the day and the fresh data that corporate financial reports worldwide will present. Geopolitical meetings, macroeconomic releases, and earnings reports from major firms are likely to significantly influence market sentiment and stock price movements. On such a day, it is crucial to maintain composure: analyze incoming analytics and forecasts without yielding to short-term fluctuations. Below, we will review the key 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 of the 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 climate. The outcomes of previous summit decisions will be evaluated, and preparation for the upcoming NATO summit in July will be outlined. Decisions from this meeting may affect 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 enhance the EU single market. The emphasis will be on measures to remove national barriers, improve conditions for investment and innovation, and consolidate companies in key sectors (digital technology, energy, finance) to enhance Europe’s competitiveness. In the current geopolitical context, strengthening the internal market has been recognized as a priority task. The results of this summit will set the direction for EU economic policy and may impact European stocks, especially those dependent on regulation and trade conditions.
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UK GDP for Q4 2025. The preliminary assessment of the UK's economic growth for October–December 2025 will be released early in the morning (expected around 10:00 Moscow time). Economists forecast moderate GDP changes, indicating whether the economy has managed to avoid recession amid high interest rates and inflation. Industrial production figures for December will be published concurrently. Should the statistics fall below expectations, fears of an economic slowdown may heighten, influencing the pound’s exchange rate and the global investor sentiment.
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Monthly IEA Oil Report. At 12:00 Moscow time, the International Energy Agency will publish its latest overview of the global oil market. Investors will look for updated forecasts on demand and supply, evaluations of production from OPEC+ countries, and trends in global reserves. Any signals of supply shortages or an oil surplus can have an immediate effect on commodity prices. For CIS countries that are major oil exporters, the tone of this report is particularly crucial, as oil remains a key source of export revenue and impacts inflationary expectations.
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US Unemployment Data (Initial Jobless Claims). As usual on Thursday, the weekly statistics on initial jobless claims will be released in the US (16:30 Moscow time). This timely indicator reflects labor market trends: whether the number of new unemployed is increasing or decreasing. The forecast is approximately 220 thousand claims, which is close to pre-crisis normal levels. A decrease in claims will strengthen confidence in labor market stability but may compel the Fed to maintain a tight policy to curb inflation. Conversely, an unexpected rise in unemployment could dampen the regulator's hawkish stance, though it would raise concerns about consumer demand in the economy.
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Existing Home Sales in the US. Concurrently, the Existing Home Sales figure for January will be published, reflecting the volume of sales in the US housing market. This indicator is crucial for assessing the health of the American housing sector and is sensitive to mortgage rate levels. A slight recovery in transactions is expected compared to the autumn months, although high mortgage rates have continued to suppress buyers. The state of the housing market is essential for banks (mortgage lending) and construction companies. An increase in sales signals consumer confidence, while a decline highlights household caution and pressure from high prices (including utilities) on their budgets.
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US Natural Gas Stocks (EIA Report). At 18:30 Moscow time, the US Energy Information Administration will release its weekly natural gas stocks data. Although it is a routine report, traders closely monitor it during winter as a barometer for supply and demand balance in the gas market. A significant reduction in stocks over the week could push gas prices upward, which would be positive for energy company stocks. For CIS investors monitoring the gas market in Europe and Russia, this data is of indirect interest: the dynamics of American stocks through price arbitrage affect global gas pricing and thus the export revenues of the energy sector.
Corporate Reports from Major American Companies: Quarterly Earnings from Market Leaders
Before the Opening of the US Market
Before the main session starts in the US, a series of reports from various companies will be released. Among them are Nebius Group (a young tech firm; it is expected to still report a loss of around $0.5 per share, although revenue is growing due to a focus on cloud services and AI), casino operator Melco Resorts (expected profit of about $0.1 per share on the wave of the recovery of the gaming business in Macau), and investment conglomerate Brookfield. Reports will also come from aerospace parts manufacturer Howmet Aerospace, iconic footwear brand Crocs, and recently publicly traded sandal manufacturer Birkenstock. Additionally, animal health pharmaceutical company Zoetis, corporate technology developer Zebra Technologies, and energy giants PG&E and American Electric Power will report their financial results. These diverse reports will reflect the state of multiple sectors, from consumer demand (footwear sales, entertainment) to industrial and energy sectors. Investors will evaluate whether the companies' profit forecasts are met and what signals regarding risks or new opportunities will be conveyed by their leadership in comments.
After the Close of the US Market
In the evening, after the US trading session ends, the peak of the earnings season will occur. Several major technology and internet companies will release quarterly results. Among them is Coinbase Global, a leading cryptocurrency exchange, expected to see a substantial drop in profit to around $1 per share (down from approximately $4.7 a year earlier) due to declining trading volumes in the crypto market. Social platform Pinterest will also report: analysts forecast a revenue growth of about 15% year-on-year, with a particular focus on user base dynamics and advertising revenues. Attention will also center on software developers – JFrog (B2B platform for DevOps) and Toast (fintech solutions for the restaurant industry). Their results will provide insights into the state of digital advertising markets, cloud services, and small business technologies.
In addition to them, investors are awaiting reports from real economy companies. Arista Networks, a network equipment manufacturer, is likely to show strong growth driven by demand from data centers and AI infrastructure. Electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian will reveal whether it has managed to increase production of electric pickups and reduce losses; the market will focus on whether the company confirms its plans for increased vehicle production in 2026. In the entertainment and consumer services sector, sports betting platform DraftKings will report (a key metric being the increase in customer numbers and progress towards profitability) and coffee chain Dutch Bros (which will help assess how inflation is impacting consumer spending on small daily pleasures). Giants from various industries will attract special attention: Applied Materials (leading chip manufacturing equipment producer, a sort of barometer for the global semiconductor industry) and travel services providers Airbnb and Expedia Group. Their financial results will indicate how resilient demand for travel and accommodation bookings remained towards the end of 2025. Such a wide range of corporate reports – from high technology and crypto/fintech to industrial companies and retail – may provoke significant fluctuations in individual stocks as well as entire sector indices. Investors must pay attention not only to the actual profit numbers but also to management comments regarding outlooks: the tone of forecasts for 2026 (cautious or optimistic) often elicits the strongest market reactions.
Europe: Reports from Euro Stoxx 50 Corporations
Europe also has a busy day on February 12 for the earnings season, especially among companies from the top Euro Stoxx 50 index. Financial results will be released by consumer sector leaders – Hermès and L’Oréal. Their reports will show whether high demand for luxury goods and cosmetics (particularly from buyers in Asia) continues. Siemens and Mercedes-Benz will present data on the industrial and automotive sectors, serving as indicators of the state of European manufacturing amidst high energy prices.
Additionally, reports from multinational giants Unilever (everyday consumer goods) and AB InBev (the world’s largest brewing company) are anticipated. Their figures and comments will demonstrate how inflation has affected companies' costs and consumer behavior. Focus will also be on Adyen (a fintech payment provider reflecting e-commerce trends) and Deutsche Börse (an exchange operator sensitive to activity in financial markets). Overall, analysts predict a moderate decline in the aggregate profits of European companies for the fourth quarter, so investors will carefully examine any signs of improvement or deterioration in business trends in these reports.
Asia: Reports from Nikkei 225 Companies
In Asian markets, the main event will be the publication of financial results from several major Japanese corporations. Primarily, investors are awaiting the report from SoftBank Group, an investment tech conglomerate, which will present data for the third quarter of its 2025 fiscal year. SoftBank's results will indicate how its startup portfolio and Vision Fund are performing amidst global market volatility. It is projected that the company could record about 8-10% growth in operating profit year-on-year; the market also awaits updates to forecasts from SoftBank's management. Additionally, several manufacturing giants from the Nikkei 225 index, such as automaker Toyota and electronics giant Sony, will publish their quarterly reports. Their results will reflect demand conditions in Asia and the impact of currency fluctuations (the yen's exchange rate) on profits. Overall, strong reports from Japan could buoy optimism in Asian markets, while disappointments could heighten investor caution in the region.
Russia: Operational Indicators of Companies
In the Russian market, February 12 is also expected to bring a series of corporate news, primarily in the form of operational indicators rather than complete financial reports. For example, Aeroflot will release passenger traffic statistics for January 2026, providing insight into demand dynamics for air travel and flight occupancy after the New Year holidays. Production reports from some oil, gas, and metallurgical enterprises for the first month of the year are also anticipated – investors will assess volumes of production, exports, and the impact of commodity prices on these companies' revenues. Direct financial reports (IFRS) for Q4 from major issuers in Russia will be limited on this day (most are released later); however, the operational data will help understand how 2026 has started for key economic sectors. Any significant deviations (e.g., a sharp increase in production or a decline in domestic market sales) could impact the stock prices of these companies on the Moscow Exchange.
This marks the conclusion of a truly eventful day, combining significant economic events and a wave of corporate releases. Such a combination of factors creates both opportunities and risks for market participants. Positive surprises (e.g., stronger than expected macroeconomic statistics or stellar corporate profits) can bolster confidence in the economy and drive stocks higher. Conversely, disappointments (weak data or worse-than-expected corporate earnings) can increase volatility and lead to sell-offs in the stock market.
For CIS investors, it is vital to maintain a diversified portfolio and avoid panicking over isolated news events. A sound strategy involves considering long-term trends – inflation dynamics, unemployment levels, and global oil and gas demand – when evaluating short-term market fluctuations. At the end of the day, it is important to analyze whether analysts’ forecasts and the companies’ own predictions were met to adjust investments as necessary. By staying true to their chosen strategy and wisely assessing risks, investors will be able to benefit from the information received and confidently move forward.
