Newswire: Feb 15, 2026 6:09 PM EST

Highlights:

• Macquarie-Led Group Agrees to Buy Qube Holdings for $8.3B — A consortium led by Macquarie Asset Management will acquire Australian ports and rail operator Qube Holdings in a deal valued at approximately A$11.7 billion (~US$8.3B), expanding Macquarie's infrastructure portfolio. Bloomberg Markets

• Rampant AI Demand for Memory Is Fueling a Growing Chip Crisis — Tech leaders including Elon Musk and Tim Cook are warning that a memory chip shortage driven by surging AI demand is beginning to hit profits, disrupt corporate plans, and inflate prices across consumer electronics and data centers. Bloomberg Technology

• Asian Stocks Set to Climb After US CPI Lifts Mood — Asian equities were poised to open higher after easing US selling pressure and inflation data reinforced expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts this year. Bloomberg Markets

• Earnings Beats Fuel Australian Bank Stocks' Best Week Since 2022 — Australian bank shares posted their largest weekly gain in nearly four years, driven by better-than-expected earnings results. Bloomberg Markets

• Indonesia's Prabowo Fired Financial Regulators After Market Rout — Indonesia's president ordered the dismissal of regulators after warnings about MSCI's concerns reportedly went unheeded, highlighting growing divisions within the government. Bloomberg Markets

• a2 Milk Lifts Revenue Guidance on Stronger China Sales — New Zealand-based a2 Milk raised its full-year revenue guidance after first-half earnings improved on the back of strengthening infant formula sales in China. Bloomberg Markets

• Bond Traders Eye Jobs Data and Stocks for Rally Gut Check — US bond traders are watching equity market direction and upcoming private payrolls data this week to assess whether the recent Treasury rally can be sustained. Bloomberg Markets

• Warner Bros. Weighs Reopening Sale Talks With Paramount — Warner Bros Discovery is considering resuming sale negotiations with Paramount Skydance after receiving an amended hostile offer, according to people familiar with the matter. Bloomberg Technology

• UK's Starmer Targets AI Chatbots With Online Safety Rules — UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is moving to require AI chatbots to comply with existing online safety laws designed to protect children from harmful content. Bloomberg Technology

• Family Fights to Keep Control of 157-Year-Old Japanese Firm — A founding family is battling to retain control of a drug store chain dating back to 1869 in Japan's Ishikawa prefecture, a case with broader implications for Tokyo's financial markets. Bloomberg Markets