London, Feb 13, 2026, 08:38 GMT — Regular session
Rio Tinto (RIO.L) slipped 0.2% to 7,199 pence in early London hours Friday, with the opening move following a Thursday finish at 7,211. Shares have traded between 7,173 and 7,241 since the open, leaving the stock roughly 3% short of its 52-week high. (Investing)
It’s a minor adjustment, but timing could make all the difference. Rio Tinto is staring down a loaded period for scheduled news. Meanwhile, traders in mining stocks are already on edge—there’s been a string of sharp moves in industrial metals lately.
Rio, hovering near its recent peaks, often sees quick selling when uncertainty creeps in. Here, even a routine trim by portfolio managers before a big results week is enough to spark the move.
Rio announced Thursday that Isabelle Deschamps, its Chief Legal, Governance & Corporate Affairs Officer, will depart in 2026 after five years at the company. CEO Simon Trott credited Deschamps with helping to build “the foundations for a stronger Rio Tinto.” Deschamps, for her part, highlighted her pride in progress on governance and partnerships. (Riotinto)
The real focus lands on Rio’s 2025 annual results, set for release next week. According to the company’s timetable, they’ll drop the announcement around 05:30 GMT on Thursday, then Trott and Chief Financial Officer Peter Cunningham will be on deck for a presentation at 08:30 GMT. (Riotinto)
Friday saw commodity signals pulling in different directions. Shanghai copper dropped 2% as traders eased back on risk before the Lunar New Year, but London copper pushed up 0.6% to $12,957 a ton. The “spot premium” switched to a discount instead — a shift that typically hints at softer near-term demand. ING analysts pointed to weakening appetite for nickel, noting China’s tilt toward “nickel-free LFP batteries.” (Reuters)
Iron ore, the main profit driver for Rio, felt the squeeze heading into the holiday. Reuters data put the most-active May contract in Dalian down 1.5% to 752.5 yuan per ton. Over in Singapore, benchmark March iron ore slipped 1.2%, settling at $98.35 a ton. (Business Recorder)
London shares were under pressure, too. The FTSE 100 lost 0.7% on Thursday, retreating from a record high earlier in the session. Investors pointed to a wave of tech selling and renewed worries about growth, dragging the index lower as risk appetite faded. (Reuters)
Rio isn’t the only one under scrutiny. According to Reuters, Europe’s top-listed miners—Rio Tinto, Glencore, Anglo American, and Antofagasta—are all set to post earnings over the next week. Metals prices remain close to recent highs. (Reuters)
This kind of set-up isn’t all upside. Should China demand lose momentum after the holiday, or if copper and iron ore keep losing steam, miners that surged could just as quickly retreat. Even with solid headline results, guidance may underwhelm.
Rio Tinto’s next key event is its annual results on Feb. 19. Investors will be watching for new information on costs, production figures, and any updates on cash returns. (Riotinto)
