Market Summary - February 13, 2026
The market showed signs of recovery as major U.S. indices ended the week higher, with an average increase of about 0.5%. Notably, the Russell 2000 index saw a significant rise of nearly 2%, driven by macroeconomic data that has sparked optimism for potential interest rate cuts. Despite this positive session, the indices concluded the week below their opening levels from Monday.
Inflation Data
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released January inflation figures, which were slightly better than expected. The annual inflation rate was reported at 2.4%, marginally below the anticipated 2.5%. On a monthly basis, prices increased by 0.2%, compared to the expected 0.3%. Core inflation, which excludes volatile items, met expectations at 2.5% year-over-year and 0.3% month-over-month.
Tech Earnings Season
The ongoing tech earnings season has yielded positive surprises, with companies like Arista Networks and Applied Materials reporting better-than-expected results, leading to stock price increases of over 5% and 8%, respectively.
European Market Overview
In Europe, the market experienced a mixed session. Major indices such as the DAX, Switzerland’s SMI, and the FTSE 100 posted moderate gains capped at 0.5%. However, Italy’s FTSE MIB, Poland’s WIG20, and Spain’s IBEX 35 faced declines exceeding 1.5%. The CAC 40 index performed relatively better, with losses limited to 0.4%.
EU Economic Growth
Eurostat released preliminary data indicating that the European Union's GDP grew by 1.3% year-over-year, aligning with expectations, while quarterly growth was reported at 0.3%. Additionally, employment in the EU increased by 0.7%, and the trade surplus widened to EUR 12.6 billion, exceeding forecasts.
Company Highlights
German industrial and construction firm Ingersoll significantly outperformed investor expectations, resulting in a valuation increase of over 6%.
Precious Metals and FX Market
Precious metals are showing signs of recovery, with silver prices up by 3.5% and gold gaining more than 2%. In the foreign exchange market, the British pound and New Zealand dollar strengthened by approximately 0.2–0.3%, while some Central and Eastern European currencies experienced limited depreciation.
Cryptocurrency Market
In the cryptocurrency sector, strong results from Coinbase have positively impacted the market. The company reported earnings that exceeded expectations and highlighted substantial cash reserves, leading to a valuation increase of over 15%. Bitcoin rose by 4.5%, stabilizing around USD 69,000, while Ethereum gained more than 6%, moving back above USD 2,000.