U.S. stocks erased part of their earlier gains on Feb. 18, 2026, after the Federal Reserve's minutes from its latest meeting showed renewed concerns among several officials about persistent inflation. The publication of the minutes prompted investors to reassess the outlook for monetary policy and pared some of the market’s prior advances. The minutes indicated that multiple Fed participants remain attentive to upside inflation risks, a stance that market participants read as reducing the likelihood of imminent policy easing. Traders reacted by trimming long positions that had built up earlier in the session. The development underscores ongoing sensitivity in financial markets to signals from the Fed on inflation and policy direction as investors monitor incoming data and central bank communications. #Fed #inflation #stocks #USmarkets #FiatNews

Kofola failed to meet its EBITDA target for 2025, the company reported on 18 February 2026. The shortfall was driven mainly by a newly introduced sugar tax in Slovakia and adverse weather conditions. Kofola said the sugar levy in Slovakia cost it nearly CZK 0.5 billion and prompted price increases that weighed on consumer demand. Management identified the sugar tax and weather-related effects as the largest negative influences on sales and profitability for the year. The combination of higher prices and weaker consumption translated into EBITDA coming in below the firm’s stated goal for 2025. The firm’s results underscore the immediate financial impact of the new Slovak sugar tax and the sensitivity of beverage demand to both fiscal measures and seasonal weather patterns. #Kofola #sugartax #Slovakia #EBITDA #FiatNews

China’s holdings of U.S. Treasury securities have fallen to their lowest level since 2008, extending a steady multi‑year decline, a recent report says. The drop reflects Beijing’s ongoing shift in reserve strategy amid worsening geopolitical tensions with Washington. The report states: "The volume of U.S. Treasury securities held by China has fallen to its lowest level since 2008. This continues its steady multi‑year decline as Beijing, in light of deepening geopolitical tension, diversifies its reserves, reduces exposure to rate volatility and recalibrates financial ties with Washington." Analysts note the development as part of a broader rebalancing of China’s foreign‑exchange and reserve allocations rather than an isolated event. #USChina #Treasuries #China #Geopolitics #FiatNews

David Craver of Lone Pine Capital said in an interview that new "white spaces" are emerging in markets and described AI as a super‑bullish factor, suggesting significant opportunities may arise as technology adoption accelerates. #AI #FiatNews

Apple’s limited participation in the AI infrastructure arms race has helped it decouple from recent Nasdaq volatility, positioning the company as a less AI‑exposed alternative for some investors seeking lower short‑term swings. #Apple #FiatNews

Economist Ed Yardeni told CNBC that heavy investment spending by large tech firms, together with fiscal stimulus, will materially support the US economy this year, highlighting capex as a key growth driver. #tech #FiatNews

Bayer proposed a $7.25 billion settlement to resolve long‑running Roundup litigation and has increased its legal budget as it seeks court approval for the deal. The proposal marks a major step toward resolving legacy herbicide claims. #Bayer #FiatNews

The European Commission is revisiting a proposal for a voluntary "28‑regime": a single, optional EU legal framework companies could adopt instead of navigating 27 different national rules. The plan aims to modernize and streamline the single market. #EU #FiatNews

Energy group ČEZ failed in arbitration against Bulgaria, which had been accused of harming its local operations. ČEZ sought compensation in the hundreds of millions of euros but the tribunal rejected the company’s claim for damages. #CEZ #FiatNews

Reports say ECB President Christine Lagarde plans to step down before the end of her eight‑year term to allow French President Emmanuel Macron a role in influencing her successor. The story prompted brief market volatility; the bank denied any formal decision has been made. #ECB #Lagarde #FiatNews

Mistral AI’s CEO said AI could replace more than half of enterprise software, a claim that has fed recent sell‑offs in software shares. The comment adds to investor debate over how AI will reshape corporate IT spending and which vendors may be most affected. #AI #FiatNews

Podcast: Analytický radar highlights three infrastructure investment ideas from Braňo Soták focused on AI. The episode discusses where hyperscalers are directing record capex and where analysts see practical opportunities in the evolving AI tech stack. #AI #FiatNews

Prague’s PX index followed European gains, rising 1.7%. Banking stocks led the advance: Moneta jumped about 4%. Utilities and industrials such as ČEZ and Doosan gained close to 1%, while consumer names Kofola and Philip Morris posted small declines. #PX #Moneta #CEZ #FiatNews

The euro came under modest pressure amid reports that ECB President Christine Lagarde may shorten her mandate; the central bank denied any decision but volatility rose briefly. Analysts noted the longer-term outlook for euro‑area policy is less dependent on the individual in the presidency. #EUR #ECB #FiatNews

Gold strengthened after an earlier dip below the 4,900 level as investors bought the pullback ahead of the Fed minutes. Markets are pricing the first US rate cut roughly mid‑year, keeping attention on any signals about the pace of future policy easing. #gold #Fed #FiatNews

Oil prices jumped amid renewed geopolitical tensions after US officials said Iran failed to meet key conditions, increasing the odds of a tougher US stance. The move reversed prior day declines driven by hopes for diplomatic progress, lifting energy market risk premia. #oil #FiatNews

US markets advanced led by large tech names, with the so‑called Magnificent Seven pushing gains. NVIDIA benefited from expanded use of its chips in data centers, Amazon saw support after a larger stake by Pershing Square, and Micron rallied following reported purchases by Appaloosa Management. #NVIDIA #Amazon #Micron #FiatNews

European equities traded higher as investors digested fresh UK inflation data and global sentiment. The pan‑European Stoxx 600 rose just over 1%, with FTSE 100, DAX and AEX also gaining. Agrochemical group Bayer continued to fall sharply after proposing a large Roundup settlement. #Stoxx600 #Bayer #FiatNews

Podcast: On 18 February 2026 analyst Braňo Soták outlines three investment ideas focused on AI infrastructure as massive AI-driven capital spending reshapes the technology sector. The episode frames these recommendations against growing market skepticism about whether record capex by hyperscalers will generate proportional returns. #AI #Podcast #TechInvesting Soták highlights opportunities not in headline names but in the underlying infrastructure where the money is actually flowing — areas supporting compute, data center capacity and networking that enable large-scale AI deployments. The discussion aims to guide investors looking beyond hyperscaler balance sheets to the supply chain and service layers powering AI growth. The podcast presents a practical angle for portfolio positioning amid heightened capex, offering three concrete tips for tracking and accessing AI-related infrastructure trends. #FiatNews

On 18 February 2026, an arbitration tribunal rejected claims by Czech energy group ČEZ seeking compensation from Bulgaria for alleged damage to its local operations. The company had sought damages running into the hundreds of millions of euros, but the tribunal concluded it was not entitled to payment. Arbitrators said ČEZ’s arguments were serious and merited consideration, yet found that Bulgaria’s conduct did not rise to the level required to award compensation. The ruling therefore dismissed the company’s financial claims. The decision closes this chapter of the dispute over ČEZ’s Bulgarian assets and operations; no award was made to the Czech firm. #CEZ #Bulgaria #Arbitration #FiatNews