Anthropic (ANTH) announced on February 12, 2026, the completion of a $30 billion Series G fundraising, elevating its valuation to $380 billion from $183 billion. The round, led by GIC and Coatue, with co-leads including D. E. Shaw Ventures, Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund, and MGX, attracted participation from Accel, General Catalyst, Jane Street, and the Qatar Investment Authority.

“The strong demand from entrepreneurs, startups, and enterprises underscores the criticality of Claude to modern business operations,” said Krishna Rao, Anthropic’s CFO. “We will use these funds to expand enterprise-grade products and models.”

The funding occurs amid competition with OpenAI, which is rumored to seek an additional $100 billion, potentially pushing its valuation to $830 billion if the raise is secured.

FedEx (NYSE: FDX) will acquire a 37% stake in Poland-based InPost for about $2.6 billion, part of a $9.2 billion transaction that will make InPost private. The partnership leverages InPost’s 61,000 parcel lockers and 34,000 pick-up/drop-off points to outsource lower-density B2C last-mile volumes, freeing capacity to focus higher-margin B2B services. The deal is expected to close in H2 2026, subject to shareholder and regulatory approval, and is forecast to be accretive to earnings within one year.

InPost serves over 100,000 e-commerce sellers and delivered 1.4 billion parcels in 2024, up 25% from 2024, with adjusted operating margins of 29% in the first nine months of 2025. The integration will enhance FedEx’s European operations, expand InPost’s locker network, and support the growth of out-of-home parcel delivery while aligning with FedEx’s strategy to emphasize high-value B2B and premium e-commerce.

Alphabet (GOOGL) raised $31.5 billion in debt this week through a record U.S. bond sale and sterling/Swiss franc issuances, funding aggressive AI infrastructure expansion. The offering surpassed $100 billion in orders, included a 100-year sterling bond, and added to prior $17.5 billion November issue and $25 billion by Oracle earlier this year.

The company cited $185 billion in annual capital expenditures to support AI growth, with long-term debt climbing to $46.5 billion in 2025. Q4 interest expense rose to $298 million, up from $53 million a year earlier, signaling higher financing costs. CFO Anat Ashkenazi emphasized fiscally responsible investing while maintaining a strong AA+/Aa2 credit rating.

Implications for GOOGL: The leverage is aimed at accelerating AI-driven revenue and margin expansion, but interest payments and the pace of CapEx must be weighed. With a 19% average upside implied by a $369.87 average price target among 55 analysts (46 Strong Buys), the offering reflects confidence in the growth trajectory despite near-term debt financing costs.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) issued a letter dated February 12, 2026, to Federal Reserve nominee Kevin Warsh, asking whether Trump required him to pledge loyalty or act at the president’s direction as a condition of his appointment.

The senators sought confirmation on reports Trump pressured Warsh to lower interest rates and on the extent of executive influence over monetary policy. They emphasized the importance of Fed independence, noting pending investigations into current Chair Jay Powell and Trump’s public calls for rate cuts.

Warsh, a former Fed governor from 2006–2011, has advocated for lower rates citing AI-driven productivity gains. Republican Sen. Thom Tillis (NC) has vowed to block confirmation pending resolution of the Powell probe. A response from Warsh has not been received.

Cocoa prices fell sharply on February 12, 2026. March ICE NY cocoa (CCH26) down -139 (-3.69%) and March ICE London cocoa #7 (CAH26) down -129 (-4.71%). NY cocoa hit its 2.25-year nearest-futures low and London cocoa reached a 2.5-year low as abundant supplies, weak demand, and higher West African harvests outpace tightening global supply outlooks.

Supporting context: StoneX forecast a 287,000 MT surplus in 2025/26 and 267,000 MT in 2026/27. ICCO reported global stocks up 4.2% y/y to 1.1 MMT. ICE cocoa inventories reached 1,871,034 bags, a 3.75-month high. Barry Callebaut AG saw cocoa sales volume down -22% QoQ in Nov 2025. European cocoa grindings -8.3% y/y Q4, Asian -4.8%, and North American +0.3%. Nigerian Dec cocoa exports up +17% y/y to 54,799 MT.

Positive factors: Ivory Coast deliveries to ports in the current marketing year down -3.8% y/y to 1.27 MMT. Nigerian production is expected -11% y/y to 305,000 MT in 2025/26. ICCO cut 2024/25 surplus to 49,000 MT and production to 4.69 MMT; Rabobank trimmed 2025/26 surplus to 250,000 MT.

Anheuser-Busch InBev (BUD) reported fourth quarter sales up 2.5% and earnings per share up 7.5%, both exceeding estimates, with 2026 operating profit guidance pinned at 4%–8% growth. Fourth-quarter volume declined 1.5% amid shifting consumer preferences toward healthier, more affordable options. CEO Michel Doukeris noted Corona Extra is the top-selling SKU at the Beijing Winter Olympics, with 50% of concession sales, and Michelob Ultra Zero and sugar-free options forming a balanced-choices platform to meet evolving demand.

Crude oil futures extended a narrow range on the New York Mercantant Exchange Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, reflecting muted expectations for supply-demand fundamentals. Brent crude CLT3 for March delivery closed 0.2% higher at $82.40 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate CLT3 settled 0.1% lower at $80.30 per barrel. Prices remain near a 12-month low amid weak global economic growth and a lack of major production changes. The EIA reported U.S. crude inventories at 483.6 million barrels, 2.1 million higher than the prior week, suggesting supply pressures could persist.

Blackmon, a registered agent with New York and Florida licenses, was awarded $5.5 million by a FINRA arbitration panel in Boca Raton on February 12, 2026. The award follows a January 26, 2025 initiation of a nine-day hearing over UBS’s handling of his Compass stock options and shares around the company’s 2021 initial public offering.

Blackmon alleged a breach of fiduciary duty and a violation of SEC rules on complex trading strategies involving his unexercised options. Compass, which went public at about $20 per share, later traded as low as $2 before rebounding as the firm delivered consecutive quarters of cash-flow positivity.

Blackmon, who joined the now-public brokerage in 2014, has a long track record in New York’s luxury real estate finance sector and was ranked 26th in The Real Deal’s top agent rankings by deal volume in 2019. An attorney for UBS did not comment, and Blackmon did not respond to requests for comment.

Global crude oil prices fell on February 12, 2026, following the International Energy Agency's (IEA) release of a revised 2026 demand forecast. The updated outlook lowered medium-term demand growth expectations, pressuring Brent crude and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) benchmarks. On the day of the report, Brent crude CLTU3 ended down 2.4% at $82.30 per barrel, and WTI CLT8 fell 1.9% to $78.40 per barrel. The IEA's revised numbers reflect revised economic growth assumptions and reduced energy efficiency gains, contributing to a more bearish medium-term outlook.

L'Oréal (LRL.PA) reported fiscal 2025 earnings growth on higher revenue, posting net income of €1.23 billion, or 0.23 euros per share, up 2% year-over-year. Revenue reached €10.1 billion, a 3.4% increase from €9.8 billion in the prior-year period. The company attributed the results to strong sales in North America and Asia-Pacific, driven by new product launches and effective marketing campaigns. The full-year guidance remains unchanged, with 2025 revenue expected to grow between 3% and 5%.

Pinterest (PINS) will hold its Q4 2025 earnings conference call at 4:30 PM ET on February 13, 2026. The call is scheduled to review fourth-quarter financial results and management commentary on the company's performance and future outlook. Results and a replay will be available on the company's investor relations website. The event follows the release of its Q3 2025 earnings on November 7, 2025, and is part of its regular earnings reporting schedule.

Roku (ROKU) will host its Q4 2025 earnings conference call at 5:00 PM Eastern Time on February 13, 2026. The call will provide an update on the company’s fourth-quarter financial results, subscriber growth, and strategic initiatives. Key participants include CEO Travis Benjamin and CFO James Breyer. The live audio will be available via a webcast, with a replay accessible on Roku’s investor relations page.

DDR4 memory prices experienced a rare and sharp sell-off, with a single-day decline approaching 20% on February 12, 2026. The month has seen continued volatility: 8GB prices fell from 260–270 RMB to 180–190 RMB, and 16GB from 800 RMB to 650 RMB. This abrupt drop signals the end of the prolonged rally that had drivenDRAM prices up 386% year-to-date, with 16GB DDR4 more than doubling in three months earlier this year.

The rapid price drop followed heightened AI compute demand that spurred major makers like Samsung and SK Hynix to reduce DDR4 output to focus on high-margin HBM. Speculative buying and hoarding amplified the price, pushing markets away from基本面供需 to capital-driven speculation. With ample supply for lower-capacity DDR4 and a shift to DDR5—now 70–80% in PCs and servers—DDR4’s market share is below 30%, concentrated in longer-cycle devices like medical equipment and industrial controls. Analysts expect DDR4’s bullish phase to end as domestic memory capacity expands and speculative enthusiasm tapers, with pricing expected to回归理性的供需 fundamentals.

Canephora coffee, including conilon and robusta, is expanding beyond traditional belts in Brazil, with production rising in Mato Grosso, Minas Gerais, and Ceara states. Since 2020, output has surged: Mato Grosso is forecast at 298,700 bags in 2026 (up from 158,400 in 2020); Minas Gerais at 602,200 bags in 2026 (a 94% increase); and Ceara's total for 2026 is expected at 118,700 bags, roughly triple 2020 levels.

The shift follows elevated prices—robusta hit $5,849 per metric ton in late 2024—driving planting and productivity improvements. Rondonia’s 50 bags/ha average benchmarks for Mato Grosso, which aims to reach that level. Ceara plans to plant up to 5,000 hectares of conilon, targeting about 1,000 hectares in 2026, leveraging its port and transport infrastructure to boost exports.

McDonald's is targeting higher-income consumers with premium menu innovation to offset softness among lower-income diners, amid inflation and a weakening labor market. CEO Chris Kempczinski highlighted mid-single-digit growth in traffic among upper-income consumers in 2026, with new beverage and chicken items expected to lift average check and margins. Beverage add-ons drove higher average check in over 500 test locations last quarter, with a new line planned for rollout later this year. The company is expanding its chicken offerings, including McCrispy strips and chicken-filled Snack Wraps, aiming to grow its share of the chicken category by one percentage point by year-end 2026.

ETHZILLA (ETHZ) is leveraging its wholly owned subsidiary, ETHZILLA AEROSPACE, to tokenize equity in leased jet engines via the Eurus Aero Token I on the Arbitrum layer-2 network. The offering, backed by two CFM56 engines leased to a major U.S. airline, targets accredited investors through Liquidity.io with a projected 11% annualized return (subject to material variance). Each month, lease-generated cash flows will be distributed on-chain. The token is offered at $100 per unit, with 30,000 total tokens available and a minimum investment of 10 tokens ($1,000). The company is also expanding into manufactured home loans and car loans tokenization.

As of February 12, 2026, ETH is down nearly 40% to about $1,919. ETHZ shares closed at $3.40, up roughly 5% for the day, reflecting a broader decline in the digital asset treasury sector amid reduced enthusiasm for Ethereum-based treasuries.

Walt Disney Co. (DISCA) will pay $2.75 million to settle allegations of California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) violations, including failing to fully honor opt-out requests for data sharing across its streaming services. The state attorney general's office alleges the company restricted opt-outs by processing data only on the originating device or within its own platforms, not fully respecting cross-device and third-party ad-tech sharing.

The settlement, pending court approval, requires Disney to implement a simple, consumer-friendly opt-out process. It is the largest CCPA-related fine to date, arising from a 2024 AG investigation into streaming services. Attorney Gen. Rob Bonta emphasized the need for uncomplicated privacy controls, while a Disney spokesperson reiterated ongoing commitment to responsible data practices.

Aramco and Microsoft have signed a memorandum of understanding to accelerate industrial AI deployment on Azure, integrating AI into core operations to enhance efficiency and resilience across the oil giant's upstream, downstream, and chemicals businesses.

The agreement prioritizes digital sovereignty and data residency, aligning with Saudi Arabia's requirements for sovereign cloud frameworks. It also envisions co-development of AI IP, a potential global marketplace for energy-sector operational systems, and expanded workforce training in AI engineering, cybersecurity, and data governance.

The MoU establishes a collaboration framework without binding financial commitments but signals Aramco's commitment to digital transformation and Microsoft's strengthening position in a strategically critical energy market. The news was released on February 12, 2026 (UTC).

Gold futures fall 2.3% on February 12, 2026, as traders take profits following a 1.5% rise in the preceding session. U.S. jobless claims for week ending February 12 rose to 255,000, slightly above the 250,000-year moving average, heightening expectations of continued Fed tightening. The increase in claims suggests some labor market slack, but not enough to negate ongoing inflationary pressures. The dollar rose 0.4% against the euro and 0.3% against the yen, typically putting downward pressure on gold prices.

The IRS outlines federal home office deduction rules, which generally apply only to self-employed workers and those receiving 1099s, not W-2 employees or typical remote/hybrid workers. Pennsylvania and other states may allow W-2 employees to claim limited work-related home expenses.

Deductions are available for mortgage interest, property taxes, insurance, and utilities under two methods: the $5/sq ft simplified limit (up to $1,500 or 300 sq ft) or a regular method prorating expenses based on square footage used for work. Office furniture and equipment used exclusively for work can be deducted, as can a proportion of car expenses and business meals (50% of the cost since 2023), provided personal use is accounted for.

As of 2023, entertainment is not deductible; food can be separated from entertainment. About 72.9 million Americans self-employed last year may benefit, but eligibility and calculation require careful documentation.