Silver Explodes 2.15% to $74.94/oz & Siemens Crashes 5.6%  

Markets Turn Constructive as Nikkei Rebounds, Silver Shines, and Investors Await Fed Signals

Asian equities rose, with the Nikkei up 1.23%, while parts of the region remained closed for holidays. European stocks gained around 0.80%. The dollar index hovered near 97, & gold rose 1%.

Today’s Snapshot

• Nikkei 225: 57,267.58 (+69 pts, +1.23% – last close)  
• DAX: 24,998.40 (+197.49 pts, +0.80% – last close)  
• FTSE 100: 10,556.17 (+82.48 pts, +0.79% – last close)  
• Gold: $4,926/oz (+1.00%)  
• Silver: $74.94/oz (+2.15%)  

Global Markets

(A) Precious Metals

Gold: $4,926/oz (+1.00%)  
Gold rose 1.00% as investors moved to safer assets due to market uncertainty, especially because AI-related stocks are seeing high volatility as tech companies are spending heavily on artificial intelligence. 

Silver: $74.94/oz (+2.15%)  
Silver increased by 2.15% mainly because investors bought precious metals for safety due to market uncertainty. Since silver usually moves in the same direction as gold, it also went up as more people started buying metals. 

(B) FX

Dollar Index (DXY): 97.22 (slightly firmer)  
The dollar stayed slightly increased, +0.10% at 97.22, as investors waited for the Fed’s January minutes. Traders want to know if rate cuts will come soon or if rates will stay high, whether inflation is cooling, and how the Fed sees growth risks. These expectations around interest rates and U.S bond yields helped keep the dollar supported. 

GBP/USD: 1.3558 (+0.02%) 
The pound edged up around 0.02% versus the dollar, supported by steady UK rate expectations, while the dollar remained firm ahead of Fed updates.  

Stock Market — What Happened Today

Japan 
 
Nikkei 225: 57,310.50 (+0.87%) 

The Nikkei moved higher as technology stocks supported the rally. 

Tokyo Electron rose around 4%. This came despite reporting Q3FY26 earnings of ¥258.6 per share, below the estimated ¥275.3 per share, and revenue of ¥552 billion, which missed forecasts of roughly ¥580–590 billion. The stronger full-year outlook and continued demand for AI-related semiconductor equipment improved investor confidence in the stock. 

Europe 
DAX: 24,998.40 (+0.80%)

European equities closed higher, with the DAX gaining 0.80%, supported by strength in healthcare and real estate stocks. Bayer rose 7.35% as investors bought defensive pharmaceutical names.

Vonovia, a realty stock, gained 3.82%. As per investing.com, it posted a net profit of €3.41 billion, compared to a loss of €592 million a year earlier. The profit improved mainly because the value of its apartments increased. The stock also gained as investors expect European Central Bank (ECB) interest rates to fall, which would reduce loan costs for property companies. 

However, Siemens fell 5.6% to €236.95 per share, down from its recent high of €275.75 per share, as investors worried that new AI tools could affect its industrial software business. There are concerns that companies may use AI-based open systems instead of Siemens’ digital twin software, which led to selling in the stock. 

UK 

FTSE 100: 10,556.17 (+0.79%)  

The FTSE 100 rose 0.79% and touched a record high after new UK job data showed the job market is slowing slightly. This increased hopes that interest rates may come down sooner, which is good for businesses and stocks.  

RELX: up about 2% as technology stocks recovered from recent volatility, helping lift sentiment across the index.  

Antofagasta: fell about 3.4% as copper and metal prices weakened, which hurts mining firms’ profits.  Lower metal prices made investors less optimistic about the future earnings of the firm. 

Volatility & Positioning

The VIX closed at 20.29, showing investors are cautious but not in panic. 

What Traders Are Watching

With liquidity thinned by regional holidays, traders are watching three key themes: 

1. Fed January minutes for confirmation on the timing and pace of rate cuts. 
2. U.S.–Iran negotiation headlines and the impact on oil’s risk premium near two-week lows.
3. AI capex/ “disruption” narratives driving sector rotation, especially in global tech and software.  

Last Available Market News— 16 February 2026 

U.S. stocks closed modestly higher, with the S&P 500 up about 0.3% as tech shares recovered late despite ongoing AI and rate uncertainty. In Europe, the STOXX 600 slipped around 0.1%, weighed down by consumer stocks, with L’Oréal falling nearly 5% after disappointing North Asia sales growth. 
 
Catch up on: Hang Seng Gains 132.87 Points as Global Markets Trade Steady Ahead of Lunar New Year Holidays

Source 

1. Reuters — Global Markets — Asia stocks rise despite lingering AI worries, oil tempers losses after US-Iran talks  
2. Reuters — US Equities — Equities close with slight gains as tech shares recover  
3. Reuters — UK Equities — London’s FTSE 100 hits new peak as soft jobs data raises rate cut bets  
4. Reuters — Europe Equities — European shares rise as banks, healthcare rally; investors weigh geopolitics, AI impact  
5. Reuters — Energy — Oil trims losses as traders weigh progress in US-Iran talks  

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