Newswire: Feb 15, 2026 7:47 PM EST

Highlights:

• Jupiter's Mark Nash makes first-ever strategic long bet on Japanese government bonds, turning bullish after Takaichi's election win. Bloomberg Markets

• Indian lender merger involving $61 billion in debt expected to boost the country's credit market, fueling hopes for improved financing across energy and other key growth sectors. Bloomberg Markets

• Oil holds steady as traders watch geopolitical risk ahead of US-Iran talks expected to resume Tuesday. Bloomberg Markets

• Gold edges lower as traders lock in profits after the metal pushed back above $5,000/oz on mild US inflation data. Bloomberg Markets

• OpenAI hires Peter Steinberger, creator of open-source AI agent program OpenClaw, to bolster its product offerings. Bloomberg Technology

• Macquarie-led group agrees to acquire Australian ports and rail operator Qube Holdings for ~$8.3 billion (A$11.7B), expanding its infrastructure portfolio. Bloomberg Markets

• A 157-year-old Japanese drugstore chain's founding family fights to retain control, a battle with broader implications for Tokyo's financial markets and corporate governance trends. Bloomberg Markets

• Surging AI demand for memory chips is fueling a growing global shortage, with leaders including Elon Musk and Tim Cook warning the crunch is hammering profits and inflating prices across laptops, smartphones, autos, and data centers. Bloomberg Technology

• UK PM Starmer moves to bring AI chatbots under online safety rules, pledging to ensure they comply with laws designed to protect children from harmful content. Bloomberg Technology

• Asian equities trade mixed as benign US CPI data supports Fed rate-cut expectations, helping steady markets after recent AI-driven disruption concerns. Bloomberg Markets