Macro Calendar: Feb 16, 2026 9:38 AM EST

Highlights:

• Pentagon reportedly nearing split with Anthropic — The Defense Department is close to severing ties with the AI company and may designate it a supply chain risk due to frustration over usage restrictions on its technology. Bloomberg

• Euro-area finance ministers push to expand the euro's global role — Officials are seeking to elevate the single currency's international standing as Trump-era policy turbulence weighs on the US dollar. Bloomberg

• France urges caution on euro internationalization — Paris is calling for an assessment of economic risks before Europe moves to bolster the euro's global footprint, tempering the broader push from eurozone peers. Bloomberg

• Austria backs standard timeline for next ECB president — Finance Minister Markus Marterbauer said he supports sticking with the normal appointment process for Christine Lagarde's successor. Bloomberg

• Nigerian inflation unexpectedly slows ahead of rate decision — January CPI came in below expectations, potentially giving the central bank room to resume rate cuts at next week's meeting. Bloomberg

• Rubio hails a "golden era" of US-Hungary relations — Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking alongside PM Viktor Orbán in Budapest, said President Trump is "deeply committed" to Hungary's success. Bloomberg

• UK's Starmer vows to rebound after Mandelson scandal — The Prime Minister said he would come out fighting following the controversy surrounding former US ambassador Peter Mandelson, which last week threatened his premiership. Bloomberg

• Bulgarian ex-President Radev leads polls ahead of snap election — A political bloc led by former President Rumen Radev could win the April parliamentary vote, according to a new opinion survey. Bloomberg

• UK Chancellor Reeves faces EU-wildlife policy tension — A rapprochement with Brussels could force a reversal of Reeves' push to loosen strict environmental protections that she has blamed for slowing homebuilding. Bloomberg