Baltic Dry Index. 2019 -44 Brent Crude 72.09
Spot Gold 5023 Spot Silver 78.33
US 2 Year Yield 3.47 unch.
US Federal Debt. 38.709 trillion US GDP 31.170 trillion.
“The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.”
Sun Tzu, The Art of War.
In almost irrelevant stock casino news, iffy news from Asia. But if President Trump starts a new war on Iran this weekend, it’s anyone’s guess as to how high the crude oil price rises and with it global inflation and a rising wave of global bankruptcies, led by the USA, UK and EU.
Later today, the US central bank’s favoured inflation measure, the PCI, but will anyone care come Monday?
South Korea's Kospi hits fresh record high for
second straight session amid regional declines as U.S.-Iran tensions take hold
Published Thu, Feb 19 2026 6:44 PM EST
South Korea’s Kospi touched a record high
for the second straight day on Friday, powered by a rally among insurance
stocks and defense players.
Samsung Life Insurance gained over 3.59%,
while Mirae Asset Securities was up 3.69%. Defense heavyweight Hanwha Aerospace
jumped 6.35%, while counterpart Firstec was up a whopping 16.7%.
Index heavyweight SK Hynix rose 3.36%.
However, other Asia-Pacific markets were
mostly lower on Friday, after all three major Wall Street indexes declined
overnight pressured by a drop in private credit stocks and Iran-U.S. tensions.
Prospects of a strike on Iran have risen
with U.S. President Donald Trump saying that he
would take a call to decide on military action against Tehran in the
next 10 days.
Oil prices extended gains in reaction to
that news, with U.S. crude rising
0.53%, to trade at $66.78 per barrel on Friday. Global benchmark Brent gained 0.18%, to
settle at $71.79.
Over in Asia, traders are assessing
Japan’s inflation data, with headline inflation for January dipping
below the Bank of Japan’s 2% target for the first time in 45 months.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 was down 1.29%,
dragged by utilities stocks, while the Topix was 1.3% lower.
Shares of Sumitomo Pharma, one of the
country’s largest pharmaceutical companies, were volatile in early trade,
climbing as much as 6.81% before plunging over 11%.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index was down
0.5%, dragged by tech stocks. Mainland China’s markets are still closed for the
Lunar New Year holiday.
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 slipped to
hover just below the flatline.
Overnight in the U.S., private credit and
software stocks were also under pressure, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average shedding
0.54%, and the broad-based S&P 500 slipped 0.28%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite lost 0.31%.
US Trade Deficit Widens, Capping One of Biggest Since 1960
February 19, 2026 at 1:33 PM UTC Updated
on February 19, 2026 at 1:39 PM UTC
The US trade deficit widened in December,
capping a turbulent year of erratic tariff policy.
The goods and services trade gap expanded
from the prior month to $70.3 billion, Commerce Department data showed
Thursday. The shortfall culminated in a full-year deficit of $901.5 billion,
still one of the largest in data back to 1960.
The December deficit reflected a 3.6%
increase in the value of imports. Exports of goods and services declined 1.7%.
The median estimate in a Bloomberg survey of economists called for a $55.5
billion overall shortfall.
The trade data were notably volatile in
2025 on a month-to-month basis as US importers reacted to a persistent drumbeat
of tariff announcements from President Donald Trump. Gold and pharmaceutical imports were particularly choppy as
companies raced to beat higher duties.
The increase in goods imports in December
included gains in computer accessories and motor vehicles. The decline in
exports largely reflected fewer outbound shipments of gold, according to the
trade report.
The latest trade data will help economists
firm up their estimates for fourth-quarter gross domestic product, which will
be released on Friday. Before the figures, the Federal Reserve Bank of
Atlanta’s GDPNow forecast net exports would add
about 0.6 percentage point to fourth-quarter growth, now estimated at 3.6%.
After adjusting for changes in prices,
which filters into the real GDP measurement, the merchandise trade deficit
widened to $97.1 billion in December, the most since July. Trade in gold,
unless used for industrial purposes such as in the production of jewelry, is
excluded from the government’s GDP calculation.
Trump has leaned on tariffs as part of his
strategy to reduce reliance on foreign goods, encourage domestic investment and
correct decades of declines in manufacturing employment. He and his economic
team have criticized research concluding that Americans have borne the costs of
tariffs.
US Trade Deficit Widens to $70.3 Billion in December, Topping Forecasts - Bloomberg
In upcoming Middle East war news.
Trump Weighs Initial Limited Strike to Force Iran
Into Nuclear Deal
President considers a range of military
options but has said he still prefers diplomacy
Updated Feb. 19, 2026 7:16
pm ET
WASHINGTON—President Trump is weighing an
initial limited military strike on Iran to force it to meet his demands for a
nuclear deal, a first step that would be designed to pressure Tehran into an
agreement but fall short of a full-scale attack that could inspire a major
retaliation.
The opening assault, which if authorized
could come within days, would target a few military or government sites, people
familiar with the matter said. If Iran still refused to comply with Trump’s
directive to end its nuclear enrichment, the U.S. would respond with a broad
campaign against regime facilities—potentially aimed at toppling the Tehran
regime.
The first limited-strike option, which
hasn’t been previously reported, signals Trump might be open to using military
force not only as a reprimand for Iran’s failure to make a deal, but also to
pave the way for a U.S.-friendly accord. One of the people said Trump could
ratchet up his attacks, starting small before ordering larger strikes until the
Iranian regime either dismantles its nuclear work or falls.
A limited strike would lead Iran to walk
away from negotiations, at least for a significant period, a regional official
said, especially when officials in Tehran are currently formulating their
response to U.S. demands.
It couldn’t be determined how seriously
Trump is considering the option after weeks of deliberations, though senior
aides have repeatedly presented it to him. Discussions of late have focused
more on larger-scale campaigns, officials said.
On Thursday, Trump said he would decide
his next moves on Iran within 10 days. Later he told reporters his timeline was
a maximum of about two weeks. “We’re going to make a deal or get a deal one way
or the other,” he said.
More
Exclusive
| Trump Weighs Initial Limited Strike to Force Iran Into Nuclear Deal - WSJ
U.S. says Tehran would be ‘very wise’ to make a
deal as Russia, Iran hold naval drills
Published Thu, Feb 19 2026 3:31 AM EST
The Trump administration has warned it
would be “very wise” for Iran to make a deal, amid reports the White House
is considering fresh
military action against Tehran as soon as this weekend.
It comes shortly after Vice President JD
Vance accused Iran of
failing to address core U.S. demands during nuclear talks in Switzerland this
week. Iran’s foreign minister previously reported progress in
the talks, saying the two countries had reached an understanding over the
“guiding principles” for the negotiations.
Speaking at a news briefing Wednesday,
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said there were “many reasons and
arguments that once could make for a strike against Iran,” noting that the two
countries remain “very far apart” on some issues.
The U.S. president had a “very successful”
operation last June, Leavitt said, when U.S. stealth bombers struck three
Iranian nuclear facilities as part of “Operation Midnight Hammer.”
“The president has always been very clear
though with respect to Iran or any country around the world, diplomacy is
always his first option. And Iran would be very wise to make a deal with
President Trump and this administration,” Leavitt said.
The White House has said it still hopes to
reach a diplomatic resolution over Tehran’s nuclear program, although U.S.
media has reported that the
military could be prepared to strike Iran as early as the weekend.
More
U.S. tells Iran to make a deal amid Russia, Iran naval drills
Trump prepared to strike Iran by this
weekend: Sources
Trump prepared to strike Iran by this weekend: Sources
In other news, approx. 7 minutes.
Is The Strait of Hormuz Closed? | Did Iran Close the Strait for a Military
Exercise | NO!!!
Is The Strait of Hormuz Closed? | Did Iran Close the Strait for a Military Exercise | NO!!!
Global Inflation/Stagflation/Recession
Watch.
Given
our Magic Money Tree central banksters and our spendthrift politicians,
inflation now needs an entire section of its own.
With
US official Federal Debt far exceeding US official GDP, will the new Trumpian
Fed work with the US Treasury on Japan’s favourite policy of the last few
decades, Yield Curve Control? Bet on it. This likely AI generated presentation suggests
what comes next as the USA enters its debt spiral.
Stay
long gold and silver but expect expropriation if held in the USA. Approx 20
minutes.
The
Warsh Blueprint: How the New "Accord" Will Liquify National
Debt #whatchanges
The Warsh Blueprint: How
the New "Accord" Will Liquify National Debt #whatchanges
Technology
Update.
With events happening fast in the
development of solar power and graphene, among other things, I’ve added this
section Updates as they get reported.
New sodium ion
battery stores twice the energy and desalinates seawater
Date:February 19, 2026
Source:University of Surrey
Summary:A surprising breakthrough could help sodium-ion
batteries rival lithium—and even turn seawater into drinking water. Scientists
discovered that keeping water inside a key battery material, instead of
removing it as traditionally done, dramatically boosts performance. The “wet”
version stores nearly twice as much charge, charges faster, and remains stable
for hundreds of cycles, placing it among the top-performing sodium battery
materials ever reported.
Sodium-ion batteries are emerging as a
promising option for cleaner, more sustainable energy storage. Researchers at
the University of Surrey have identified a surprisingly simple way to improve
their performance by keeping water inside a critical battery material instead
of removing it.
Lithium-ion batteries currently dominate
the market, but they depend on costly materials that can harm the environment.
Sodium, by contrast, is abundant and widely accessible. Even so, matching the
performance of lithium-ion technology has been a major hurdle for sodium-ion
systems.
Water Boosts Sodium Vanadium Oxide Performance
In research published in the Journal
of Materials Chemistry A, scientists examined sodium vanadium oxide, a
well-known sodium-based compound. They discovered that allowing the material to
retain its natural water content significantly enhances how it functions inside
a battery.
The compound, called nanostructured
sodium vanadate hydrate (NVOH), delivered far stronger results when used in its
hydrated form. It stored substantially more energy, charged at a faster rate,
and maintained stability for more than 400 charge cycles.
During testing, the hydrated version
held nearly twice as much charge as standard sodium-ion cathode materials. This
performance places it among the top cathodes reported so far for sodium-ion
batteries.
Dr. Daniel Commandeur, Research Fellow
at the University of Surrey School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, and
lead author of the paper, said:
"Our results were completely
unexpected. Sodium vanadium oxide has been around for years, and people usually
heat-treat it to remove the water because it's thought to cause problems. We
decided to challenge that assumption, and the outcome was far better than we
anticipated. The material showed much stronger performance and stability than
expected and could even create exciting new possibilities for how these
batteries are used in the future."
Seawater Operation and Electrochemical Desalination
The team also explored how the material
performed in salt water, an especially demanding environment for battery
systems. Not only did it continue operating effectively, it also removed sodium
ions from the saltwater solution. At the same time, a graphite electrode
extracted chloride ions in a process known as electrochemical desalination.
Dr. Commandeur added:
"Being able to use sodium vanadate
hydrate in salt water is a really exciting discovery, as it shows sodium-ion
batteries could do more than just store energy -- they could also help remove
salt from water. In the long term, that means we might be able to design
systems that use seawater as a completely safe, free and abundant electrolyte,
while also producing fresh water as part of the process."
Toward Safer, Low Cost Alternatives to Lithium
This advance could speed up the adoption
of sodium-ion batteries as a practical alternative to lithium-based technology.
Because sodium is inexpensive and plentiful, these batteries have the potential
to be safer, more affordable, and more environmentally friendly.
Possible uses include large-scale
renewable energy storage for power grids as well as applications in electric
vehicles. By simplifying the production of high-performance sodium-ion
batteries, the Surrey team's findings move commercially viable, sustainable
energy storage one step closer to reality.
New sodium ion battery stores twice the energy and desalinates seawater |
ScienceDaily
Next, the
world global debt clock. Nations debts to GDP compared.
World Debt Clocks
(usdebtclock.org)
Another weekend and so far, there’s only one nation that’s nuked another. But for how long? Let’s hope sanity and humanity prevail. Have a great weekend everyone.
“It is forbidden to kill; therefore all murderers are punished
unless they kill in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets.”
Voltaire
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