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Forex Signals Feb 17: Palo Alto PANW, Coca-Cola, Medtronic Earnings Preview
With a strong emphasis on cybersecurity, consumer demand, and medical technology trends, Palo Alto Networks, Inc., Coca-Cola...
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Last updated: Tuesday, February 17, 2026
Quick overview
- Palo Alto Networks, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, and Medtronic are set to report earnings, focusing on cybersecurity, consumer demand, and medical technology trends.
- Market activity was subdued due to U.S. and Canadian holidays, along with Lunar New Year celebrations in Asia, leading to limited price action.
- Geopolitical risks in energy markets remain a concern, with crude oil prices rising amid U.S.-Iran tensions.
- Gold prices have declined from record highs, while Bitcoin and Ethereum experienced volatility, with Bitcoin recently falling below $70K.
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MARKETS TREND
With a strong emphasis on cybersecurity, consumer demand, and medical technology trends, Palo Alto Networks, Inc., Coca-Cola Europacific Partners PLC, and Medtronic plc are all releasing their earnings.
Holiday Trading Keeps Markets Subdued
Market activity remained muted yesterday as a U.S. holiday, along with closures across much of Canada, kept participation light. At the same time, Lunar New Year celebrations across large parts of Asia further reduced liquidity. As expected, thinner conditions translated into limited price action across major asset classes.
Despite the subdued tone, the U.S. dollar maintained a modest but persistent bid. The euro drifted lower to 1.1845 from 1.1860 before recovering roughly half of those losses later in the session. USD/CAD edged about 20 pips higher to 1.3635 in quiet trade.
Energy Markets Eye Geopolitical Risks
In energy markets, sentiment around U.S.-Iran tensions had improved late last week and into the weekend. However, lingering geopolitical uncertainty remains. Reports that additional F-35 jets were deployed to the Middle East reinforced a sense of caution. Crude oil prices climbed steadily from $62.75 to $63.75, reflecting that underlying risk premium.
Gold finished lower on the day, though most of the downside occurred during Asian trading hours. U.S. price action was largely sideways. With the Lunar New Year period marking the end of gold’s typical November-to-February seasonal strength, traders may want to monitor the metal closely in the coming weeks.
U.S. equity futures were initially positive but faded to finish flat. With markets closed, enthusiasm was limited—though activity is likely to pick up in the next full session.
Key Market Events to Watch Today:
Today’s earnings span three defensive yet growth-sensitive sectors—cybersecurity, consumer staples, and medical devices. Palo Alto Networks will test appetite for high-growth security names, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners offers insight into global consumer resilience, and Medtronic provides a pulse check on healthcare demand and operational discipline.
🔐 Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (PANW)
- Report: Q2 2026 Earnings
- Timing: After Market Close (AMC)
- EPS Expected: $0.94
- Market Cap: ~$134.91 billion
- Cybersecurity demand remains structurally strong, particularly as enterprises expand cloud and AI-driven infrastructure.
- Investors will watch billings growth, next-generation security platform adoption, and margin trends.
- Guidance will be critical, especially amid elevated expectations following sector-wide AI spending momentum.
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP)
- Event: H2 2025 Earnings Announcement
- Timing: Before Market Open (BMO)
- Market Cap: ~$44.64B
- Focus will be on volume growth, pricing power, and margin resilience across European and Asia-Pacific markets.
- Currency movements and consumer demand trends remain key swing factors.
- Investors will assess whether premiumization strategies continue to offset cost pressures.
Medtronic (MDT)
- Event: Q3 2026 Earnings Announcement
- Timing: Before Market Open (BMO)
- EPS Estimate: $1.34
- Market Cap: ~$127.61B
- Attention centers on procedure volumes, innovation pipeline strength, and margin recovery.
- Cardiac and diabetes segments are expected to be primary growth drivers.
- Guidance updates will shape sentiment around full-year stability in the medtech sector.
- With valuations elevated in select areas, forward guidance—not just headline beats—will likely determine the market reaction.
Gold Resumes the Decline Again As Safe Havens Lose Status
Although demand for safe haven assets is still high, gold fell precipitously from record highs following the Fed’s most recent rate cut comments, as profit-taking was prompted by Powell’s cautious tone. In December, gold jumped above $4.3800 following the Federal Reserve’s announcement of a 25 basis point rate decrease. But the impetus soon waned, and prices dropped back to $4,004. The 20 daily SMA (gray) held as support last week and buyers returned and pushed XAU above the $5,000 mark for the first time during Asian hours and extended the rally in New York, printing a fresh record high near $5,111 before retreating below $5,000 late in the session. But buyers returned and XAU climbed to $5,598 but pulled back below $5,000 again.
USD/JPY Returns Back Down
Foreign exchange markets saw sharp swings. Early in the week, U.S. yield differentials and Japanese capital outflows pushed the dollar above ¥150, but disappointing U.S. jobs data triggered profit-taking, causing the USD/JPY to slide by four yen from its peak. However, the new BOJ governor the JPY has weakened and USD/JPY soared to 154 and we decided to close our buy signal for more than 80 pips as the pair found support at the 20 daily SMA (gray) and has rebounded more than 200 pips off that MA but reversed after the 25 bps rate cut from the FED. The price approached $160 but reversed after the BOJ meeting and fell 8 cents but found support at $152 at the 100 daily SMA (red) and rebounded above 156 but have reversed down again this week after the Japanese elections.
USD/JPY – Daily Chart
Cryptocurrency Update
Bitcoin Returns Under $70K
Cryptocurrencies remained highly active over the summer. Bitcoin (BTC) climbed to fresh highs of $123,000 and $124,000 in July and August, supported by institutional inflows and technical strength. However, remarks from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent ruling out U.S. increases to BTC reserves triggered a steep pullback, sending the coin down to $80K before finding support at the 100 weekly SMA (green). A rebound followed, sending BTC near $100 is the first major text for Bitcoin buyers. However BTC returned lower and fell below $80K, breaking below the but the 100 weekly SMA (green) but the decline stopped at the $60K support where the 200 weekly SM A(purpe) stands and rebounded above $70K.
BTC/USD – Weekly Chart
Ethereum Slips Below $2,000
Ethereum (ETH) has been similarly strong, surging toward $4,800, its highest since 2021 and near its all-time peak of $4,860. Despite a dip last week, ETH found support at the 20-day SMA, with retail enthusiasm and renewed institutional participation driving fresh upside momentum. Last week we saw a dive below $2,000 but buyers returned n d pushed the price above $2K again.
ETH/USD – Weekly Chart
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Skerdian Meta
Lead Analyst
Skerdian Meta Lead Analyst.
Skerdian is a professional Forex trader and a market analyst. He has been actively engaged in market analysis for the past 11 years. Before becoming our head analyst, Skerdian served as a trader and market analyst in Saxo Bank's local branch, Aksioner. Skerdian specialized in experimenting with developing models and hands-on trading. Skerdian has a masters degree in finance and investment.
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