Real-time News

February 20th - A PMI survey shows that the recovery momentum of UK businesses since the beginning of 2026 has continued for the second month, but service sector companies are still laying off large numbers of workers, partly due to higher taxes imposed by the Labour government. The UK's preliminary composite PMI rose to 53.9 in February from 53.7 in January, the highest level since April 2024. Chris Williamson, chief global business economist at S&P Global, said: "The preliminary purchasing managers' index data for February further suggests that the UK economy is showing an encouraging trend at the start of the year." "Bank of England policymakers will be encouraged by increasingly strong signs of economic growth. However, the relatively mild upward pressure on prices and the persistent, worrying weakness in the labor market are likely to prompt calls for further interest rate cuts."

The UK's preliminary composite PMI for February was 53.9, below the expected 53.3 and the previous reading of 53.7.

On February 20th, Iranian Oil Minister Mahmoud Paknejhad stated regarding the ongoing negotiations between Iran and the United States that "anything is possible" for cooperation between the two countries in the oil and gas sector. However, he pointed out that it remains unclear whether oil and gas cooperation between Tehran and Washington will officially commence. Previously, Iranian Foreign Ministry officials had revealed that the negotiations with the United States included shared interests in the oil and gas sector, joint ventures in oil fields, mineral investments, and aircraft purchases.

Italy's FTSE MIB index rose 1.00% on the day.

New York silver futures rose above $80 per ounce, up 3.05% on the day.

The Eurozone's preliminary services PMI for February was 51.8, below the expected 51.9 and the previous reading of 51.6.

The Eurozone's preliminary composite PMI for February was 51.9, below the expected 51.5 and the previous reading of 51.3.

On February 20th, U.S. prosecutors announced that a federal grand jury indicted three Silicon Valley engineers on charges of stealing trade secrets from Google and other technology companies and transferring sensitive data to Iran. Samane Gandali, 41; Soroul Gandali (Samane's sister), 32; and Mohammad Javad Khosrawi (Soroul's husband), 40, were arrested on Thursday and appeared in federal district court that day. All three are residents of San Jose. The indictment states that all defendants are Iranian citizens. Soroul held a nonimmigrant student visa and remained in the United States. Samane later became a U.S. citizen, while Khosrawi became a lawful permanent resident of the United States. Prosecutors stated that Khosrawi had served in the Iranian military. Prosecutors allege that the three defendants used their positions at a leading technology company developing mobile computer processors to obtain hundreds of confidential documents, including materials related to processor security and cryptography.

Hong Kong's three-month unemployment rate in January was 3.9%, compared to an expected 3.80% and a previous reading of 3.80%.

Germany's preliminary composite PMI for February was 53.1, below the expected 52.3 and the previous reading of 52.1.

Germany's preliminary services PMI for February was 53.4, below the expected 52.3 and the previous reading of 52.4.

February 20th - The China Earthquake Networks Center officially measured a magnitude 4.0 earthquake in Yangxi County, Yangjiang City, Guangdong Province (21.75°N, 111.77°E) at 14:28 on February 20, 2026, with a focal depth of 11 kilometers. Following the earthquake, the China Earthquake Administration quickly activated a Level IV emergency response, coordinating with the China Earthquake Networks Center and the Guangdong Provincial Earthquake Administration to carry out emergency response work. Relevant units were instructed to conduct joint consultations, strengthen seismic monitoring and post-earthquake trend analysis, and promptly report relevant information. Currently, the Guangdong Provincial Earthquake Administration has dispatched a field team to the affected area to assist the local government in emergency response efforts.