Real Vision: Finance & Investing Inflation Cools as AI Fears Shake Markets
9 snips
Feb 13, 2026 Cooler inflation readings meet renewed volatility from AI concerns and tech selloffs. China posts a record current account surplus while oil, gold, and the yen swing on supply and safe‑haven flows. Crypto stays stable amid notable executive stock sales and regulatory advisory moves. Markets balance easing price pressures against geopolitical and liquidity crosscurrents.
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Cooling Inflation Strengthens Fed Cut Case
- US CPI cooled to 2.4% YOY and core CPI fell to 2.5%, the weakest since March 2021.
- The print increases the case for Fed rate cuts but must be balanced against strong jobs data.
Jobs Data Keeps Policy Tightrope Intact
- A robust labour market (claims easing to 227,000) keeps policy decisions finely balanced despite cooler inflation.
- Markets remain sensitive to mixed signals, so volatility around data releases is likely to persist.
China's Exports Mask Weak Domestic Demand
- China's Q4 2025 current account surplus hit a record $242bn, signalling export resilience amid weak domestic demand.
- The divergence highlights external strength but persistent internal demand shortfalls in China.