Key Economic Events and Corporate Reports on Thursday, 12 February 2026: UK GDP, US Unemployment and Housing Market Data, IEA Oil Report, EIA Gas Inventory, and Earnings of Major Public Companies. Analysis for Investors.
Thursday, 12 February 2026, is set to be a busy day for global markets. Investors from the CIS countries should pay close attention to both key economic events of the day and fresh data presented by corporate earnings reports worldwide. Geopolitical meetings, macroeconomic releases, and corporate reports from leading firms can significantly influence market sentiment and stock price movements. On such a day, it is essential to remain calm: analysing incoming analytics and forecasts without succumbing to short-term fluctuations is crucial. Below we will consider the main events and reports of the day and provide recommendations for investors.
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Meeting of NATO Defence Ministers in Brussels. On this day, defence ministers from allied nations will convene at NATO headquarters. They will discuss strengthening the Alliance's defence capabilities, increasing investments in defence and the military-industrial complex, as well as continuing support for Ukraine in the current geopolitical climate. Outcomes from past summits will be reviewed, and preparations for the upcoming NATO summit in July will be discussed. Decisions made during this meeting may affect investor sentiment in the defence sector and the overall assessment of geopolitical risks in the markets.
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Emergency EU Summit on Strengthening the Internal Market. European Union leaders will hold an informal meeting focusing on strategies to enhance the EU's single market. The focus will be on measures to remove national barriers, improve conditions for investment and innovation, and consolidate companies in key sectors (digital technology, energy, finance) to enhance Europe's competitiveness. In the current geopolitical situation, strengthening the internal market has been recognised as a priority task. The outcomes of this summit will set the direction of EU economic policy and may affect European stocks, particularly those companies reliant on regulation and trade conditions.
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UK GDP for Q4 2025. A preliminary estimate of the growth of the UK economy for October–December 2025 will be released early in the morning (expected around 10:00 MSK). Economists predict a modest change in GDP—the data will reveal whether the UK economy has evaded recession amidst high interest rates and inflation. Simultaneously, industrial production figures for December will be published. If the statistics prove weaker than expectations, fears of an economic slowdown will intensify, potentially affecting the pound's value and the sentiments of global investors.
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Monthly IEA Oil Report. At 12:00 MSK, the International Energy Agency will release its latest overview of the global oil market. Investors will look for updated forecasts on demand and supply, production assessments from OPEC+ countries, and global inventory trends. Any signals of supply shortages or oil oversupply may immediately impact commodity prices. For CIS countries, major oil exporters, the tone of this report is particularly important, considering that oil remains a key source of export revenue and influences inflation expectations.
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US Unemployment Data (Initial Jobless Claims). Traditionally on Thursdays in the US, weekly statistics on initial claims for unemployment benefits will be released (16:30 MSK). This operational indicator reflects trends in the labour market: whether the number of new unemployed is rising or falling. The forecast is around 220,000 claims, which is close to the normal pre-crisis level. A decrease in claims would strengthen confidence in the stability of the labour market but may compel the Federal Reserve to maintain a tight policy to curb inflation. Conversely, an unexpected rise in unemployment would weaken the "hawkish" stance of the regulator, although it would raise concerns about consumer demand in the economy.
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Existing Home Sales in the US. Simultaneously, data on Existing Home Sales for January will be released—this figure indicates the volume of sales in the US housing market. This indicator is crucial for assessing the health of the American housing sector and is sensitive to mortgage rates. Some revival in transactions is expected compared to the autumn months, although high mortgage rates have continued to restrain buyers. The condition of the housing market is important for banks (mortgage lending) and construction companies. An increase in sales signals consumer confidence, while a decline indicates caution among households and the pressure high prices (including utilities) exert on their budgets.
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US Natural Gas Stocks (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 during winter as a barometer of the balance of supply and demand for gas. A significant reduction in stocks over the week may push gas prices upward, which is positive for shares of energy companies. For CIS investors monitoring the gas market in Europe and Russia, these data are of indirect interest: dynamics in American stocks, through price arbitrage, affect global gas quotations, and, consequently, export revenues for the energy sector.
Corporate Reports from Major Companies: US Quarterly Earnings from Market Leaders
Before the Opening of the US Market
Prior to the start of the main session in the US, a series of reports from a diverse range of companies will be released. Among them is Nebius Group (a young technology firm; forecasted to still post a loss of around $0.50 per share, despite growing revenue from investment in cloud services and AI), casino operator Melco Resorts (expected profit of around $0.10 per share due to the resurgence of the gaming industry in Macau), and investment conglomerate Brookfield. Other companies reporting include aircraft parts manufacturer Howmet Aerospace, iconic footwear brand Crocs, and recently listed sandal manufacturer Birkenstock. Additionally, pharmaceutical company for animals Zoetis, corporate technology developer Zebra Technologies, and energy giants PG&E and American Electric Power will announce their financials. These varied earnings reports will reflect the state of several sectors—from consumer demand (shoe sales, entertainment) to industry and energy. Investors will assess whether companies' profit forecasts meet expectations and what signals regarding risks or new opportunities will be expressed by their leaders in commentary.
After the US Market Closes
In the evening, after the US trading day ends, the peak of the earnings season will arrive. Several major technology and internet companies will publish their quarterly results. Notably, Coinbase Global, the leading cryptocurrency exchange, is expected to see a sharp decline in profits to about $1 per share (compared to around $4.70 a year earlier) due to a slump in trading volumes in the crypto market. Social media platform Pinterest will also report: analysts predict a revenue increase of about 15% year on year, with particular attention paid to the dynamics of the user base and advertising revenues. Focus will also be on software developers—JFrog (a B2B platform for DevOps) and Toast (fintech solutions for the restaurant industry). Their results will provide insights into the state of digital advertising markets, cloud services, and technology for small businesses.
In addition to these, investors are awaiting reports from companies in the real economy sector. Arista Networks, a network equipment manufacturer, is likely to show solid growth due to demand from data centres and AI infrastructure. Electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian will reveal whether it has managed to increase electric pickup production and reduce losses; the market will focus on whether the company can confirm its plans to ramp up vehicle production in 2026. In the entertainment and consumer services sector, sports betting platform DraftKings will report (key metric—growth in customer numbers and progress towards profitability), as will coffeehouse chain Dutch Bros (helping assess how inflation affects consumer spending on small daily pleasures). Significant attention will also be given to industry giants: Applied Materials (leading chip-making equipment manufacturer, acting as a barometer for 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 in late 2025. This wide range of corporate earnings—from high-tech and crypto/fintech to industrial companies and retail—can provoke significant fluctuations in both individual stocks and entire sector indices. Investors must pay attention not only to actual profit numbers but also to management statements on outlooks; the tone of forecasts for 2026 (cautious or optimistic) often elicits the strongest market reactions.
Europe: Corporate Reports from Euro Stoxx 50
Europe will also have a busy earnings season day on 12 February, particularly among companies from the Euro Stoxx 50 index. The financial results of leading consumer sector companies—Hermès and L’Oréal—will be released. Their reports will show whether high demand for luxury goods and cosmetics remains, particularly due to purchasers from Asia. Siemens and Mercedes-Benz will present data relating to industry and automotive sectors, acting as indicators of the state of European manufacturing amidst high energy prices.
Additionally, reports from multinational giants Unilever (consumer goods) and AB InBev (the world's largest brewery) are anticipated. Their figures and comments will demonstrate how inflation has impacted company costs and consumer behaviour. Attention will also be on Adyen (a fintech payment provider reflecting e-commerce trends) and Deutsche Börse (an exchange operator sensitive to financial market activity). Overall, analysts predict a moderate decline in the aggregate profit of European companies in the fourth quarter, so investors will carefully study any signs of improvement or deterioration in business trends in these reports.
Asia: Reports from Companies in Nikkei 225
In Asian markets, a key event will be the publication of financial results from several large Japanese corporations. Primarily, investors are awaiting the report from SoftBank Group—a tech investment conglomerate that will present data for the third quarter of its 2025 financial year. The results from SoftBank will reflect the performance of its startup portfolio and the Vision Fund amidst global market volatility. Estimates suggest the company could record around 8-10% growth in operating profit year on year; the market is also anticipating updated guidance from SoftBank management. Furthermore, several manufacturing giants from the Nikkei 225 index, such as automotive firm Toyota and electronics giant Sony, will release quarterly earnings. Their results will indicate the state of demand in Asia and the impact of currency fluctuations (the yen's exchange rate) on profitability. Overall, strong reports from Japan could bolster optimism in Asian exchanges, while disappointments may intensify investor caution in the region.
Russia: Operational Indicators of Companies
In the Russian market, a range of corporate news is also expected on 12 February, primarily in the format of operational indicators rather than full financial reports. For example, Aeroflot will publish transportation statistics for January 2026, providing insight into demand dynamics for air travel and flight occupancy following the New Year holidays. Additionally, production reports from some oil, gas, and metallurgical companies are anticipated for the first month of the year—investors will evaluate production volumes, exports, and the influence of raw material prices on these companies' revenues. Direct financial reports (IFRS) from major Russian issuers will be limited on that day (most will publish later), but operational data will help understand how 2026 commenced for key sectors of the economy. Any significant deviations (such as a sharp increase in production or a decline in domestic market sales) may affect the share prices of these companies on the Moscow Exchange.
The day concludes—a truly eventful day combining significant economic happenings and a wave of corporate releases. This combination of factors creates both opportunities and risks for market participants. Positive surprises (such as more robust-than-expected macro statistics or stellar company profits) can bolster confidence in the economy and drive stock prices higher. Conversely, disappointments (weak data or results that fall short of forecasts) tend to amplify volatility and could result in sell-offs in the stock market.
For CIS investors, it is crucial to maintain a diversified portfolio and resist succumbing to panic from individual news items. A sound strategy involves accounting for long-term trends—such as inflation dynamics, unemployment rates, and global demand for oil and gas—when assessing short-term market fluctuations. At the end of the day, it is advisable to analyse whether analysts’ forecasts and the companies’ own projections proved to be accurate to adjust investments when necessary. By adhering to a chosen strategy and wisely evaluating risks, investors will be able to benefit from the information available and move forward with confidence.
