Newswire: Feb 15, 2026 6:57 PM EST

Highlights:

• Oil steady ahead of US-Iran talks — Oil prices were little changed to start the week as traders assessed geopolitical risk before US-Iran negotiations resume on Tuesday. Bloomberg Markets

• Gold slips as traders take profits above $5,000/oz — The metal edged lower after mild US inflation data had pushed prices back above the $5,000-per-ounce level. Bloomberg Markets

• OpenAI hires OpenClaw creator Peter Steinberg — The ChatGPT developer brought on the creator of the popular open-source AI agent program to strengthen its product lineup. Bloomberg Technology

• Macquarie-led group to acquire Qube Holdings for ~$8.3B — Macquarie Asset Management is leading a consortium to buy the Australian ports and rail operator in a deal valued at roughly A$11.7 billion. Bloomberg Markets

• Surging AI memory demand fueling a global chip crisis — Tech leaders including Elon Musk and Tim Cook are warning that a memory-chip shortage is hammering profits and inflating costs across laptops, smartphones, autos, and data centers — with the crunch expected to worsen. Bloomberg Technology

• UK's Starmer targets AI chatbots with online safety rules — Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged to ensure AI chatbots comply with laws designed to protect children from harmful content online. Bloomberg Technology

• Asian stocks set to climb after US CPI eases pressure — Asian equities were poised to open higher Monday after softer US inflation data bolstered expectations for Fed rate cuts this year. Bloomberg Markets

• Australian bank stocks post best week since 2022 — Better-than-expected earnings updates drove the sector's biggest weekly gain in nearly four years. Bloomberg Markets

• Indonesia's Prabowo fires regulators after market rout — President Prabowo ordered the dismissal of financial regulators after warnings about MSCI's concerns reportedly went unheeded, highlighting growing divisions within the government. Bloomberg Markets

• Japanese family battles to retain control of 157-year-old firm — A drug store chain rooted in Ishikawa prefecture since 1869 faces a control fight with broader implications for Tokyo's financial markets. Bloomberg Markets