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Hapag-Lloyd to acquire ZIM for $4.2B in major shipping consolidation

Global container shipping is set for another round of consolidation as Hapag-Lloyd agreed to buy Israel’s ZIM Integrated Shipping for $4.2 billion, a 58% premium. The deal aims to boost route density and pricing power across key lanes, though investors will watch regulatory approvals and integration risks closely in a still-volatile freight market.

Source: MarketWatch


Danaher nears $10B purchase of Masimo to deepen medical tech portfolio

Danaher is reportedly close to a $10 billion acquisition of Masimo, the patient-monitoring and medical device maker, in a move that would strengthen its diagnostics and life-sciences footprint. A tie-up could unlock scale, cross-selling, and R&D synergies amid rising demand for hospital-at-home and perioperative monitoring solutions.

Source: Seeking Alpha


Germany opens doors to foreign market makers on Eurex without local entity

Germany scrapped the physical-presence requirement for third‑country Regulatory Market Makers, allowing overseas firms to provide liquidity on regulated exchanges like Eurex without setting up a local subsidiary. The reform should deepen euro‑denominated derivatives liquidity, tighten spreads, and sharpen Frankfurt’s competitive edge for global order flow.

Source: FinanceFeeds


RBA turns hawkish again; minutes flag cash rate lift to 3.85% as inflation reaccelerates

Australia’s central bank signaled a renewed tightening bias, with February minutes showing a cash rate increase to 3.85% as price pressures re‑emerged. The move underscores widening global policy divergence and could buoy the AUD while pressuring rate‑sensitive pockets of housing and consumer demand.

Source: Seeking Alpha


UK unemployment rises more than expected, clouding growth outlook

Britain’s unemployment rate climbed more than forecast in Q4, raising questions about the durability of the UK’s recovery as higher rates bite. The softer labor backdrop could restrain wage growth and consumption, while giving the Bank of England room to shift gradually toward a less restrictive stance later in 2026.

Source: Seeking Alpha


BVNK secures Malta MiCA licence to scale stablecoin settlement across the EU

Payments infrastructure firm BVNK obtained a Crypto‑Asset Services Provider licence from Malta’s MFSA, enabling MiCA‑compliant services that can be passported across the EEA. With euro EMI permissions and SEPA access already in place, BVNK is positioning as a regulated bridge between bank rails and stablecoin settlement for enterprises and PSPs.

Source: FinanceFeeds


Wintermute launches OTC trading in tokenized gold (PAXG, XAUT) as RWA momentum builds

Market maker Wintermute opened institutional OTC liquidity in PAXG and XAUT, citing surging on‑chain bullion volumes and 24/7 settlement advantages over ETFs. The move highlights tokenized real‑world assets’ march into institutional workflows, with on‑chain gold seen as a gateway to broader collateral and treasury use cases.

Source: FinanceFeeds


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Apple adds integrated video podcasts, challenging Spotify and YouTube

Business — February 17, 2026 | Briefing24