European Central Bank officials have urged policymakers to remain cautious when adjusting interest rates, as geopolitical tensions linked to the war in Iran continue to shape the economic outlook across the euro area. The warning reflects mounting uncertainty about how rising energy costs could influence inflation and growth in the coming months. ECB Vice-President Luis de Guindos emphasized the importance…
Brazil’s Supreme Court justice Dias Toffoli said he has never received payments and has no relationship with Daniel Vorcaro, the controlling shareholder of Banco Master, after a federal police report cited references to the judge in material extracted from a seized mobile phone, according to people familiar with the document. In a statement released on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, Toffoli…
Italy’s Monte dei Paschi di Siena said it is pushing to complete a reorganisation of its enlarged group by the end of the year, as it seeks to extract the biggest possible savings from its acquisition of Mediobanca. Speaking to analysts on Tuesday, Luigi Lovaglio said the bank’s priority is to redesign the combined structure and maximise cost and revenue…
Several major South Korean insurers are holding exploratory discussions about entering India’s insurance industry, according to three sources familiar with the matter. The talks involve Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance, Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance, and Mirae Asset Financial Group, and include meetings with Indian insurers, advisers, and the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI), the sources said.…
Banco Santander said it has agreed to buy Webster Financial in a proposed $12.2 billion cash-and-stock transaction, a deal the Spanish lender is framing as a decisive step toward becoming a larger retail and commercial bank in the United States. The announcement triggered an immediate market test of that strategy: Santander shares fell after the plan was unveiled, with trading…
Deutsche Bank reported its strongest annual result since 2007, posting net profit attributable to shareholders of €6.12 billion for 2025, slightly above analyst expectations of nearly €6 billion and more than double the €2.7 billion recorded a year earlier. The lender said the performance capped a three-year financial plan in which it pledged to deliver a return on tangible equity…
U.S. businesses increased borrowing to fund equipment purchases in December 2025, with new loans, leases, and lines of credit totaling $10.6 billion on a seasonally adjusted basis, according to the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA). The trade group said the total was up from the prior month and represented the second-highest level on record, underscoring continued demand for machines,…
