FEAR & GREED | Business News Afternoon Report | Andrew released after arrest
Feb 20, 2026
Quick market wrap with ASX movements and notable winners and losers. Coverage of Andrew Mountbatten‑Windsor’s arrest and the royal response. Discussion of calls to keep coal plants running and shifts in energy policy. Corporate movers include a sharp fall for Guzman y Gomez shares and a strong profit lift at QBE.
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Market Calm Amid Geopolitical Jitters
- ASX barely moved intraday but posted a solid weekly gain of 1.8% despite geopolitical jitters.
- Energy stocks outperformed as oil hit its highest level since August amid Middle East tensions.
Royal Arrest Captures Global Attention
- Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested, held 11 hours on his 66th birthday, and released pending investigation.
- King Charles III urged that "the law must take its course" and the arrest produced an iconic photo of Andrew leaving custody.
Epstein-Linked Probe Intensifies Coverage
- Police are reviewing allegations tied to Jeffrey Epstein and possible sharing of confidential material in relation to Andrew.
- The probe and royal comment have amplified media coverage across the UK, US and Australia.