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Google: The new Deep Thinking is now available to Google AI Ultra subscribers through the Gemini app and to select researchers through the Gemini API.

Google today announced a major upgrade to Gemini 3 Deep Thinking. Working closely with scientists and researchers, the upgraded Gemini 3 Deep Thinking model addresses research challenges.

Gail Slater, the U.S. Department of Justice's antitrust chief, announced her resignation.

Shopify (SHOP.N) shares fell to a more than seven-month low, down 10.4%.

The Stoxx Europe 600 index erased its gains.

On February 12th, Bank of America economists pointed out that investor speculation about a potential "coordinated agreement" between the Federal Reserve and the U.S. Treasury is raising questions. The bank believes such an agreement is "undefined" and the possibility has likely already been priced into the market. "Unless the agreement goes beyond the scope of current market discussion, any new agreement is unlikely to trigger substantial price volatility," Bank of America stated, noting that the agreement would primarily revolve around the Fed's balance sheet reduction and U.S. Treasury issuance. Economists predict a greater impact on the market if monetary policy is affected (which the bank considers highly unlikely) or if the Treasury restricts long-term debt issuance (which Bank of America considers possible).

U.S. Senate Democrat Cantwell: El Paso airport exposes real problems in coordination between the U.S. Department of Defense and the Federal Aviation Administration.

The chairman of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a warning letter to Apple (AAPL.O) CEO Tim Cook.

According to the Financial Times, the BBC plans to cut hundreds of millions of pounds in costs in its latest restructuring plan.

February 12th - Data released Thursday by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) showed that U.S. pending home sales fell to an annualized rate of 3.91 million units in January, a decrease of 8.4% month-over-month, marking the largest monthly drop since April 2022 and far below the market median expectation. The blizzards and snow that swept across much of the country in late January likely delayed a large number of contract settlements. In the hardest-hit South—the largest home sales market in the U.S.—sales plummeted 9% to an annualized rate of 1.81 million units; sales in other parts of the country also declined significantly. "Lower-than-usual temperatures and higher-than-usual precipitation in January made it more difficult than usual to determine the underlying drivers of the sales decline and whether this month's data is an outlier," said Lawrence Yin, chief economist at the NAR, in a statement. With mortgage rates recently falling and home price increases slowing, signs of improved affordability are becoming a bright spot in the housing market. The NAR Housing Affordability Index climbed to its highest level since 2022 last month, but remains well below pre-pandemic levels. Without sustained improvements in affordability, the housing market recovery may be a long and arduous process.

Japanese digital financial platform PayPay has filed for an IPO in the United States.

U.S. Central Command: Our forces are prepared to respond to any threat from the extremist group ISIS.

NATO Secretary General Rutte: There is a need to improve the burden-sharing of aid to Ukraine.

NATO Secretary General Rutte: Support for Ukraine must be more sustainable and coherent.

The Central Bank of Egypt cut its benchmark interest rate to 19%, in line with expectations.

Ukraine's Defense Minister: Stopping "every Russian oil tanker" is the fastest way to contain its war machine.

On February 12th, BlackRock's ETF heavily invested in South Korean chipmakers saw a record $281 million in inflow on Wednesday, marking the fund's largest single-day inflow in over 25 years, indicating investors are doubling down on a rally in Asian semiconductors. The $13 billion iShares MSCI Korea ETF's two largest holdings are Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix—these two chip giants have driven the South Korean KOSPI up over 30% this year, reaching a record high. Data shows that the ETF has seen inflows exceeding $3 billion in the past three months. Despite concerns about overvalued artificial intelligence causing volatility in broader tech stocks, investors are rotating towards memory manufacturers with clearer profit prospects. "As AI disruption anxiety sweeps across many industries, the safe haven is clearly in memory stocks," said Dave Lutz, equity sales trader and macro strategist at Jones Trader. "Samsung and Hynix are continuing to drive the South Korean market higher."