NEW YORK, Feb 18, 2026 (V7N) - Stock markets showed mixed movements on Tuesday, and oil prices experienced a pullback after Iranian officials gave a cautiously optimistic response during ongoing nuclear talks with the United States in Geneva, following President Donald Trump's escalating rhetoric over the past few days.

Oil prices had initially spiked due to concerns about potential tensions between the US and Iran, a major oil producer, but the market cooled after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi suggested that "a new window of opportunity has opened" for negotiations. Araghchi expressed hope that talks would lead to a "sustainable and negotiated solution," though he added that Iran was prepared to defend itself against any aggression.

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell 0.9 percent to $62.33 per barrel, after rising 1.5 percent earlier. Brent North Sea Crude dropped 1.8 percent to $67.42. Analysts speculated that Iran might agree to dilute its most highly enriched uranium in exchange for the full lifting of financial sanctions, though the details of any potential deal remained unclear.

The US stock market showed volatility earlier in the session but ended marginally higher. Analysts also observed that sectors such as insurance brokers, wealth advisors, real estate services, and logistics had been under scrutiny, with investors awaiting further developments related to the growing influence of artificial intelligence (AI) on market dynamics.

In Europe, stocks closed in the green, with London's FTSE 100 up by 0.8 percent, Paris's CAC 40 rising 0.5 percent, and Frankfurt's DAX gaining 0.8 percent. However, markets in Japan and China saw mixed reactions. Tokyo's Nikkei 225 retreated 0.4 percent, while Chinese markets were closed for the Lunar New Year holidays.

In the UK, official data revealed that unemployment had risen to a five-year high of 5.2 percent in the final quarter of 2025, signaling potential challenges ahead. Analysts now foresee a possible interest rate cut by the Bank of England next month.

On the corporate front, shares of German agrochemical giant Bayer rose nearly 8 percent after the company announced that its subsidiary Monsanto had proposed a class settlement of up to $7.25 billion to settle claims related to the carcinogenic risks of its Roundup weedkiller.

New York (Dow Jones): +0.1% at 49,533.19

New York (S&P 500): +0.1% at 6,843.22

New York (Nasdaq): -0.1% at 22,578.38

London (FTSE 100): +0.8% at 10,556.17

Paris (CAC 40): +0.5% at 8,361.46

Frankfurt (DAX): +0.8% at 24,998.40

Tokyo (Nikkei 225): -0.4% at 56,566.49

West Texas Intermediate: -0.9% at $62.33 per barrel

Brent North Sea Crude: -1.8% at $67.42 per barrel

END/BUS/RH/