Key Economic Events and Corporate Reports on Thursday, February 12, 2026: UK GDP, US Unemployment and Housing Market Data, IEA Oil Report, EIA Gas Inventories, and Earnings from Major Public Companies. Analytics for Investors.
Thursday, February 12, 2026, promises to be an eventful day for global markets. Investors from the CIS countries should pay close attention to both key economic events of the day and fresh data to be presented in the financial reports from companies around the world. Geopolitical meetings, macroeconomic releases, and earnings reports from major firms could significantly influence sentiment in the stock market and the movement of share prices. On such a day, it's crucial to maintain composure: analyze incoming analytics and forecasts without succumbing to short-term fluctuations. Below, we will discuss the main events and reports of the day and provide recommendations for investors.
-
NATO Defense Ministers' Meeting in Brussels. On this day, defense ministers from allied countries will gather at NATO headquarters. They will discuss strengthening the Alliance's defense capabilities, increasing investments in defense and the defense industry, as well as continuing support for Ukraine in the current geopolitical landscape. The outcomes of previous summit decisions will be reviewed, and preparations for the next NATO summit in July will be outlined. The decisions from this meeting may affect investor sentiment in the defense industry and the overall assessment of geopolitical risks in the markets.
-
Emergency EU Summit on Strengthening the Internal Market. European Union leaders will hold an informal meeting focused on strategies to enhance the EU's single market. The emphasis will be on measures to eliminate national barriers, improve conditions for investments and innovations, and consolidate companies in key sectors (digital technology, energy, finance) to enhance Europe's competitiveness. Given the current geopolitical climate, strengthening the internal market has been recognized as a priority. The outcomes of this summit will set the direction for EU economic policy and may influence European stocks, particularly for companies reliant on regulation and trade conditions.
-
UK's GDP for Q4 2025. Early in the morning, a preliminary estimate of the UK's economic growth for October to December 2025 will be released (expected around 10:00 MSK). Economists anticipate a moderate change in GDP – the data will reveal whether the British economy managed to avoid recession amid high interest rates and inflation. Simultaneously, industrial production figures for December will be published. If the statistics fall short of expectations, fears of an economic slowdown will intensify, potentially impacting the pound's exchange rate and global investor sentiment.
-
IEA Monthly Oil Report. At 12:00 MSK, the International Energy Agency will publish a fresh overview of the global oil market. Investors will look for updated forecasts on supply and demand, assessments of production by OPEC+ countries, and trends in global inventories. Any signals regarding supply deficits or oversupply could immediately impact commodity prices. For CIS countries, which are major oil exporters, the tone of this report is especially important, as oil remains a key source of export revenue and affects inflation expectations.
-
US Unemployment Data (Initial Jobless Claims). Traditionally, on Thursdays, the US will release weekly statistics on initial jobless claims (16:30 MSK). This key indicator reflects trends in the labor market: whether the number of new jobless individuals is rising or falling. The forecast is approximately 220,000 claims, which is close to the normal pre-crisis level. A decrease in claims will bolster confidence in the labor market's resilience, but it may compel the Fed to maintain tight policies to curb inflation. Conversely, an unexpected rise in unemployment would weaken the regulator's hawkish stance, although it would raise concerns about consumer demand in the economy.
-
Existing Home Sales Data in the US. Concurrently, the Existing Home Sales figure for January will be published, reflecting the volume of sales in the US secondary housing market. This indicator is crucial for assessing the health of the American housing sector and is sensitive to mortgage rate levels. Some revival in transactions is expected compared to the fall months, although high mortgage rates continue to restrain buyers. The state of the housing market is vital for banks (mortgage lending) and construction companies. A rise in sales indicates consumer confidence, while a decline reflects household caution and high prices (including utilities) pressuring their budgets.
-
US Natural Gas Inventories (EIA Report). At 18:30 MSK, the US Energy Information Administration will release weekly data on natural gas inventories. Although this is a routine report, traders closely monitor it in winter as a barometer of gas supply and demand balance. A significant drop in inventories for the week could push gas prices up, which would benefit energy company stocks. For CIS investors tracking the gas market in Europe and Russia, this data is indirectly interesting: the dynamics of American inventories through price arbitrage influence global gas quotations, and consequently, the export revenues of the energy sector.
Corporate Reports from Major Companies. USA: Quarterly Earnings Reports from Market Leaders
Before the Opening of the US Market
Before the main trading session in the US begins, a series of reports from various companies will be released. Among them are Nebius Group (a young technology firm; still expected to report a loss of about $0.5 per share, although revenue is growing due to a focus on cloud services and AI), casino operator Melco Resorts (expected profit around $0.1 per share on the wave of recovery in the gambling business in Macau), and investment conglomerate Brookfield. Additionally, aerospace parts manufacturer Howmet Aerospace, iconic footwear brand Crocs, and the recently listed sandal manufacturer Birkenstock will report. Pharmaceutical company for animals Zoetis, corporate technology developer Zebra Technologies, as well as energy giants PG&E and American Electric Power will also present their financial results. These diverse reports will reflect the state of several sectors – from consumer demand (footwear sales, entertainment) to industry and energy. Investors will assess whether companies' profit forecasts come true and what signals regarding risks or new opportunities their executives will highlight in comments.
After the Close of the US Market
In the evening, after the US trading session closes, the peak of the earnings reporting season will arrive. Several major technology and internet companies will publish quarterly results. Among them is Coinbase Global, the leading cryptocurrency exchange, which expects a sharp drop in profit to about $1 per share (down from approximately $4.7 a year earlier) due to declining trading volumes in the crypto market. Social platform Pinterest will also report: analysts forecast revenue growth of around 15% year on year, with particular focus on the dynamics of the user base and advertising revenue. Attention will also turn to software developers – JFrog (B2B platform for DevOps) and Toast (fintech solutions for the restaurant business). Their results will provide insights into the state of digital advertising, cloud services, and small business technologies markets.
In addition to these, investors are awaiting reports from companies in the real economy sector. Arista Networks, a networking equipment manufacturer, is likely to show strong growth thanks to demand from data centers and AI infrastructure. The electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian will reveal whether it has managed to ramp up electric pickup production and reduce losses; the market is focused on whether the company will confirm plans to increase car production in 2026. In the entertainment and consumer services sector, sports betting platform DraftKings will report (key metric – increase in the number of customers and progress toward profitability) and coffee chain Dutch Bros (to help gauge how inflation impacts consumer spending on small everyday pleasures). Notable results will also come from giants in various sectors: Applied Materials (a leading chip manufacturing equipment producer, a barometer of the global semiconductor industry), as well as travel services Airbnb and Expedia Group. Their financial results will indicate how resilient demand for travel and accommodation bookings remained at the end of 2025. Such a wide array of corporate earnings reports – from high technology and crypto/fintech to industrial companies and retail – could trigger significant fluctuations in both individual stocks and entire sector indices. It is important for investors to pay attention not only to the actual profit numbers but also to management's statements regarding outlooks: the tone of forecasts for 2026 (cautious or optimistic) often provokes the strongest market reactions.
Europe: Corporate Reports from Euro Stoxx 50
In Europe, February 12 also presents a busy day in the earnings reporting season, particularly among firms from the top index Euro Stoxx 50. Financial results will be released by leaders in the consumer sector – Hermès and L’Oréal. Their reports will indicate whether high demand for luxury goods and cosmetics remains strong (particularly due to customers from Asia). Siemens and Mercedes-Benz will present data on industry and automotive sectors, acting as indicators of European manufacturing’s state amidst high energy prices.
Additionally, reports are expected from multinational giants Unilever (consumer goods) and AB InBev (the world's largest brewing company). Their figures and comments will demonstrate how inflation has affected company costs and buyer behavior. The focus will also be on Adyen (a fintech payment provider reflecting e-commerce trends) and Deutsche Börse (an exchange operator sensitive to activity on financial markets). Overall, analysts anticipate a moderate decline in collective profits for European companies in the fourth quarter, so investors will closely scrutinize any signs of improvement or deterioration in business trends reflected in these reports.
Asia: Corporate Reports from Nikkei 225
In the Asian markets, the main event will be the publication of financial results from several major Japanese corporations. Investors are primarily awaiting the report from SoftBank Group – an investment technology conglomerate, which will present data for the third quarter of its 2025 fiscal year. The results from SoftBank will reveal how its startups' portfolio and the Vision Fund have fared amidst global market volatility. It is estimated that the company may report around 8-10% growth in operating profit year on year; the market is also anticipating updates on the forecast from SoftBank's management. Additionally, quarterly reports will be released by some manufacturing giants in the Nikkei 225 index, such as automaker Toyota and electronics giant Sony. Their results will reflect demand conditions in Asia and the impact of currency fluctuations (yen rate) on profits. Overall, strong reports from Japan could support optimism in Asian exchanges, while disappointments may heighten investor caution in the region.
Russia: Operational Performance of Companies
On the Russian market, several corporate announcements are also expected on February 12, although predominantly in the form of operational metrics rather than full financial reports. For instance, the airline Aeroflot will publish its transportation statistics for January 2026, providing insights into demand trends for air travel and flight occupancy rates after the New Year holidays. Production reports from some oil, gas, and metallurgical enterprises for the first month of the year are also anticipated – investors will evaluate production volumes, exports, and the impact of raw material prices on these companies' revenues. There are few direct financial reports (IFRS) for the fourth quarter from major issuers in Russia on this day (most will publish later), but operational data will help understand how the key sectors of the economy began in 2026. Any significant deviations (e.g., sharp increases in production or declines in domestic market sales) could affect the stock quotations of these companies on Moex.
Concluding a truly eventful day uniting significant economic events and a wave of corporate releases. This combination of factors creates both opportunities and risks for market participants. Positive surprises (e.g., stronger-than-expected macro statistics or stellar corporate profits) can bolster confidence in the economy and push stocks up. However, disappointments (weak data or worse-than-expected corporate earnings) can increase volatility and lead to sell-offs in the stock market.
Investors from the CIS need to maintain a diversified portfolio and resist the urge to panic over isolated news. A sound strategy involves considering long-term trends – inflation dynamics, unemployment rates, and global demand for oil and gas – when assessing short-term market fluctuations. At the end of the day, investors should analyze whether analysts' forecasts and company projections have materialized, allowing them to adjust their investments as needed. By staying true to their chosen strategy and assessing risks wisely, investors can benefit from the information received and confidently move forward.
