Investment 18 February 2026 - 20 February 2026

Rolls-Royce Shares Jump 10% as Ceasefire Rally Puts Buyback Back in Focus
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Rolls-Royce Shares Jump 10% as Ceasefire Rally Puts Buyback Back in Focus

Rolls-Royce Holdings shares surged 10% to 1,257.1 pence on Wednesday after a U.S.-Iran ceasefire lifted London markets and a filing showed ongoing share buybacks. Morgan Stanley purchased 736,316 shares for cancellation on April 7, bringing total repurchases to nearly 29 million. The FTSE 100 rose 2.9% by 1042 GMT as Brent crude fell 12.3% on hopes of resumed shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
April 8, 2026
Blue Owl’s Private Credit Withdrawal Clampdown Rattles Markets After $1.4B Loan Sale
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Blue Owl’s Private Credit Withdrawal Clampdown Rattles Markets After $1.4B Loan Sale

Blue Owl Capital shares fell about 4% in premarket trading Friday after the firm halted quarterly withdrawals in a retail debt fund and moved to sell $1.4 billion in loans to fund payouts. The stock is down more than 36% in 2025. Blue Owl said it would return 30% of OBDC II’s value to investors within 45 days, replacing a previous quarterly redemption process.
February 20, 2026
UnitedHealth stock edges up near $290 as Medicare Advantage shakeout returns to spotlight
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UnitedHealth stock edges up near $290 as Medicare Advantage shakeout returns to spotlight

UnitedHealth shares rose 0.5% to $289.57 Thursday, outperforming a weaker U.S. market after new research showed nearly 3 million Medicare Advantage members must switch plans in 2026. The study found rural enrollees face higher disruption rates, with UnitedHealthcare accounting for 14% of forced switches. Investors are watching upcoming Medicare Advantage payment decisions for 2027. UnitedHealth’s Change Healthcare unit remains under scrutiny after a 2024 cyberattack.
February 19, 2026
Lithium Americas stock moves on $1.6 billion Thacker Pass plan as lithium price cools — what’s next
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Lithium Americas stock moves on $1.6 billion Thacker Pass plan as lithium price cools — what’s next

Lithium Americas shares rose 0.4% after the company set a $1.3–$1.6 billion 2026 spending plan for its Thacker Pass project in Nevada, targeting late-2027 completion. China’s lithium carbonate futures traded near 145,000 yuan a tonne, down from January highs. Albemarle, SQM, and Rio Tinto shares fell in U.S. trading. Imerys halted its British Lithium project to prioritize development in France.
February 19, 2026
US economic calendar today: S&P 500 slips as jobless claims fall, Blue Owl shakes private credit
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US economic calendar today: S&P 500 slips as jobless claims fall, Blue Owl shakes private credit

The S&P 500 fell 0.4% in afternoon trading, led lower by financials and chip stocks. Blue Owl Capital’s asset sale and fund freeze triggered a drop in private-equity shares. Weekly jobless claims dropped to 206,000, while the Philly Fed’s factory index stayed positive but showed weaker employment. The U.S. trade deficit widened to $70.3 billion in December, well above forecasts.
February 19, 2026
Mortgage rates today: 30-year slips to 6.01% as inflation test nears; housing stocks fall
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Mortgage rates today: 30-year slips to 6.01% as inflation test nears; housing stocks fall

Freddie Mac reported the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate fell to 6.01%, its lowest since September 2022. Mortgage applications rose last week, driven by a jump in refinancing, according to MBA data. Homebuilder stocks and housing ETFs traded lower as investors awaited Friday’s inflation data. Pending home sales dropped in January despite improved mortgage affordability.
February 19, 2026
Exxon Mobil stock price rises as oil hits six‑month high; Guyana update keeps XOM in focus
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Exxon Mobil stock price rises as oil hits six‑month high; Guyana update keeps XOM in focus

Exxon Mobil shares rose 1.1% to $152.28 Thursday as Brent crude hit $71.48 and WTI reached $66.35 on Middle East supply fears. Exxon said its Guyana Uaru and Whiptail projects are ahead of schedule, with output targets of 1.15 million bpd and 1.4 million bpd. Parts of Stabroek Block remain under force majeure due to the Guyana-Venezuela dispute. U.S. inventory data is due later Thursday.
February 19, 2026
Deere stock jumps as John Deere lifts 2026 profit view, flags $1.2 billion tariff bill
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Deere stock jumps as John Deere lifts 2026 profit view, flags $1.2 billion tariff bill

Deere shares surged 12% to $664.61 after the company raised its 2026 profit outlook and beat quarterly estimates. First-quarter net income dropped to $656 million, but sales climbed 13% to $9.61 billion, led by gains in construction and small-ag segments. The company held its annual tariff cost estimate at $1.2 billion. Deere expects large-ag sales to fall up to 10% this year.
February 19, 2026
Walmart stock jumps on $30 billion buyback, but cautious outlook keeps traders on edge
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Walmart stock jumps on $30 billion buyback, but cautious outlook keeps traders on edge

Walmart shares rose 2.1% to $129.24 after announcing a $30 billion share buyback and reporting holiday-quarter revenue of $190.7 billion with adjusted EPS of $0.74. The company forecast fiscal 2027 adjusted EPS of $2.75–$2.85 and net sales growth of 3.5%–4.5%. Walmart’s board approved a $0.99 annual dividend for fiscal 2027, payable in four installments starting April 6, 2026.
February 19, 2026
Walmart (WMT) earnings: New CEO Furner turns cautious — and rolls out a $30 billion buyback
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Walmart (WMT) earnings: New CEO Furner turns cautious — and rolls out a $30 billion buyback

Walmart reported Q4 revenue up 5.6% to $190.7 billion and adjusted EPS of $0.74, beating holiday-quarter estimates. The company forecast FY27 net sales growth of 3.5%-4.5% and adjusted EPS of $2.75-$2.85, both below Wall Street expectations. Global e-commerce sales jumped 24%. Walmart approved a new $30 billion share buyback and raised its annual dividend to 99 cents.
February 19, 2026
Liberty Global stock price holds near $13 after VodafoneZiggo buyout plan sparks 17% jump
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Liberty Global stock price holds near $13 after VodafoneZiggo buyout plan sparks 17% jump

Liberty Global agreed to buy Vodafone’s 50% stake in VodafoneZiggo for €1 billion cash plus equity, giving Liberty full control of the Dutch joint venture. Liberty’s shares were little changed premarket Thursday after a 17% jump Wednesday. The deal includes plans for a 2027 Amsterdam listing and spin-off, pending regulatory approval. Vodafone will receive €1 billion and a 10% stake in the new Ziggo Group.
February 19, 2026
EMAT stock jumps again premarket as Clear Street starts coverage with $30 target and ownership filing hits
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EMAT stock jumps again premarket as Clear Street starts coverage with $30 target and ownership filing hits

Evolution Metals & Technologies shares jumped 11.9% to $14.68 in premarket trading after a Clear Street analyst initiated coverage with a Buy rating and a $30 target. Executive Chairman David Wilcox and The Zeus Trust disclosed a 70.18% stake, subject to a lock-up. Premarket volume reached 41,270 shares. The company will hold an investor webinar at 10 a.m. ET Thursday.
February 19, 2026
Block stock price today: XYZ steadies before open after 5.5% jump as Cantor cuts target
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Block stock price today: XYZ steadies before open after 5.5% jump as Cantor cuts target

Block shares slipped 0.02% to $53.59 in premarket trading Thursday after a 5.5% gain Wednesday. Cantor Fitzgerald cut its price target to $70 from $87, citing lower payment sector valuations, but kept an Overweight rating. Block reports fourth-quarter results after market close on Feb. 26. Investors await updates on Square payment volume and Cash App trends.
February 19, 2026
Amazon stock price rises after hours as Berkshire cuts AMZN stake and tech steadies
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Amazon stock price rises after hours as Berkshire cuts AMZN stake and tech steadies

Amazon shares rose 1.8% to $204.79 in after-hours trading Wednesday, tracking gains in tech after Nvidia announced a major AI chip deal with Meta. Berkshire Hathaway cut its Amazon stake to 2.276 million shares at 2025’s end, down from 10 million the prior quarter. Director Keith B. Alexander sold 900 shares on Feb. 12. Investors remain focused on Amazon’s planned $200 billion in 2026 capital spending.
February 18, 2026
Bitcoin price slides near $66,000 after Fed minutes; ETF outflows and inflation data in focus
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Bitcoin price slides near $66,000 after Fed minutes; ETF outflows and inflation data in focus

Bitcoin dropped 2% to $66,301 in late New York trade Wednesday, while Ether fell 2.6% to $1,943. Minutes from the Federal Reserve’s January meeting showed officials divided on future rate hikes, keeping the benchmark rate at 3.50%-3.75%. U.S.-listed spot bitcoin ETFs saw $8.5 billion in outflows since October, according to Bloomberg. Crypto-related U.S. stocks were mixed after hours.
February 18, 2026
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