SpaceX and xAI have been named to a narrowed Pentagon shortlist in the competition to supply drones, according to reports on 17 Feb 2026. Both companies advanced in the selection process as the Department of Defense moves to a tighter field for potential procurement. #SpaceX #xAI #Pentagon #FiatNews

BHP reported strong results on 17 Feb 2026 and said it is benefiting from rising metal prices. The mining group cited firmer commodity markets as a key factor supporting its recent performance, with higher metals prices boosting revenues, the company statement said. #BHP #metals #FiatNews

US and Iran are set to hold talks in Geneva on Iran’s nuclear program, announced on 17 Feb 2026. The diplomatic meetings are scheduled to focus on the nuclear file; organizers confirmed the Geneva venue but provided no further details on agenda or participants. #USA #Iran #Geneva #FiatNews

After a strong 2025, mortgage lending in the Czech Republic stayed robust in January 2026, with banks and building societies issuing 27.2 billion CZK of actual new mortgages, the Czech Banking Association (ČBA) reported on 17 February. The average mortgage interest rate remained essentially unchanged at 4.49%. The data indicate continued borrower demand despite stable financing costs. The commentary accompanying the figures says the residential property market is likely to remain tight through 2026, maintaining pressure on availability and transactions. The ČBA numbers underscore an active start to the year for mortgage markets and reinforce expectations of constrained supply conditions in the real estate sector in the months ahead. #mortgages #realestate #CzechRepublic #FiatNews

FX strategists ask whether upcoming US GDP data can blunt recent dollar weakness. Markets will closely watch the GDP release for signs it might lift the dollar from recent lows; the note raises the question without providing a forecast. #USGDP #USD #FiatNews

The Czech koruna strengthened back toward 24.20 EUR/CZK in early February after January inflation slowed to 1.6% year‑on‑year—matching market expectations—and following a more hawkish‑than‑anticipated Czech National Bank meeting. The CNB's tone was cited as supportive of the koruna. #EURCZK #CZK #CNB #FiatNews

Market snapshot (Feb. 16): PX +0.33% today, DAX -0.40%, STOXX 600 +0.10%, NASDAQ -0.22%, S&P 500 +0.05%, Dow Jones +0.10%. Year‑to‑date moves show mixed performance across regions. FX: CZK/EUR ~24.26, CZK/USD ~20.46, USD/EUR ~1.1855. #Markets #FX #FiatNews

Macro calendar and corporate results to watch on Feb. 17: German ZEW expectations (consensus 65.2 vs prior 59.6) at 11:00 and the US Empire State Manufacturing index (consensus 6.2, prior 7.7) at 14:30. Notable corporate reports scheduled include Coca‑Cola Europacific Partners (Q4), Medtronic, Genmab, Palo Alto Networks (after market), and Caesars Entertainment. #Earnings #Macro #FiatNews

Commodities and FX: precious metals eased slightly while oil gained about 1%. Bond markets opened with a modest drop in yields. EUR/USD traded near 1.1850, indicating a mild US dollar strengthening; the Czech koruna showed slight losses versus the dollar. #EURUSD #oil #gold #CZK #FiatNews

Goldman Sachs flagged the recent weakness in Microsoft shares as a potential buying opportunity, while Nvidia remains a leading beneficiary of the AI boom. Yet despite rising corporate AI investment, Nvidia shares have been rangebound in recent months. Analysts point to two investor concerns: AI could disrupt whole sectors and massive infrastructure spending may take time to generate returns. #Microsoft #Nvidia #AI #FiatNews

Volkswagen plans to cut costs by 20% by the end of 2028, according to Manager Magazin. The wide‑ranging savings are expected to touch all brands and could include factory closures. #Volkswagen #auto #FiatNews

Czech National Bank minutes show policymakers currently see no reason to cut interest rates. The bank's rate remains at 3.5% and the minutes noted unanimous support among the seven council members for the current setting. #CNB #CZK #FiatNews

Sweden has reopened debate on adopting the euro amid shifting geopolitics and a desire to deepen ties with the EU. The discussion comes more than two decades after Swedes rejected the common currency in a referendum and follows Sweden's NATO accession after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. #Sweden #euro #FiatNews

Traditional safe‑haven currencies — the US dollar, Swiss franc and Japanese yen — have seen unusual volatility over the past year, prompting a reappraisal of their roles as reliable refuges during global uncertainty. #USD #CHF #JPY #FiatNews

Warner Bros. is reportedly reassessing a deal with Netflix. No further details were provided in the briefing. #WarnerBros #Netflix #FiatNews

Weekly outlook: US preliminary GDP data due this week are expected to confirm continued solid growth at around a 3% annualized pace. Market attention also focuses on upcoming Nvidia results, which could shift conversations about AI-led sector impacts. #USGDP #Nvidia #FiatNews

Global trading started the week muted as Asian Lunar New Year celebrations continue and US markets observed a holiday. European markets saw modest moves (key indices up to +0.3% intraday); Germany's DAX closed down ~0.5%. Prague's PX rose ~0.3%, led by Erste, VIG and Doosan, while ČEZ and Philip Morris fell >1%. Japan's GDP surprised weaker than expected but had little impact on Western markets; euro‑area industrial production for December was slightly below forecasts. #Europe #Prague #DAX #FiatNews

Investors are debating whether the long‑term relative performance of US and non‑US equity markets will reverse, amid renewed talk of a rotation from the US to the rest of the world. The core question: can non‑US markets close the gap they have long shown versus US stocks? The commentary points to one primary explanation for the sustained US lead: technology. In one formulation, the question of why non‑US markets lagged “could be answered in a single word: ‘technology.’” That reflects the outsized role of US tech names in driving multi‑year returns. Sector composition is therefore presented as the key background to any potential reversal; whether non‑US markets can sustain a durable catch‑up depends on how sector weightings and relative performance evolve. #USmarkets #GlobalEquities #Technology #FiatNews

Goldman Sachs says now is a good time to take advantage of Microsoft’s recent share-price decline, while Nvidia remains the primary driver of the current AI boom. The bank frames Microsoft’s pullback as a tactical buying opportunity amid broader market dynamics. Microsoft shares have faced unusually strong selling pressure this year and have moved into negative territory year-to-date. Investors have been particularly concerned that generative AI could materially disrupt Microsoft’s traditional Office productivity business. Goldman contrasts Microsoft’s weakness with Nvidia’s continued outperformance, with Nvidia still seen as the key beneficiary of accelerated AI adoption and investor demand. #MSFT #NVDA #AI #FiatNews

Key macro releases this week: Japan preliminary Q4 GDP (16 Feb), eurozone industrial production (16 Feb) and February PMIs (20 Feb), US FOMC minutes (18 Feb), and US preliminary Q4 GDP and PCE figures (20 Feb). These prints will inform growth and inflation narratives ahead of policy debates. #PMI #PCE #FOMC #FiatNews