US Inflation Remains Above Target Amid New Price Pressures USA: US inflation remains above target and may be accelerating, reducing the likelihood of near-term Federal Reserve rate cuts. The Fed’s preferred measure, core PCE inflation, is estimated to have reached 3% in December, its fastest pace in over two years and well above the 2% target. Early 2026 data also point to renewed price pressures. Adobe’s Digital Price Index recorded its sharpest January rise in 12 years, wit

EU Launches ETS2 to Curb CO₂ from Buildings, Transport, and Small Industry EUROPE: The EU’s new Emissions Trading System (ETS2), created under the 2023 ETS Directive revision, will target CO₂ emissions from buildings, road transport and small industry not covered by the existing EU ETS. Starting fully in 2027, it will regulate fuel suppliers upstream, requiring them to buy allowances at auction under a cap-and-trade model aimed at cutting emissions 42% by 2030 versus 2005. Re

RMB Secures US$ 0.28 billion (R4.45bn) Funding to Back Reatile Group’s Energy Growth SOUTH AFRICA: Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) has finalised a US$ 0.28 billion (R4.45 billion) funding package to support South Africa-based Reatile Group’s expansion across the energy sector, including gas, petrochemicals, fuel storage and renewables. The financing, announced on 5 February 2026, includes a US$ 0.21 billion (R3.35 billion) holding company facility and a US$ 0.07 billion (R1.1 billio

UK: DRU has increased production and expanded distribution of its balanced flue gas wall heaters following the withdrawal of a key competitor from the UK market, leading to higher demand for replacement units. The company is also inviting applications from new stockists within the UK heating and ventilating industry to support wider availability of its heater models. Demand growth in 2025 was described as significant, as customers sought alternatives after older models were d

Germany Germany: The rate of energy efficient renovations in the residential building stock declined to 0.67% in 2025, marking a new low compared to 0.69% in 2024 and 0.70% in 2023, while around 2% annually is required to meet climate targets. Renovation activity in non residential buildings also fell to 0.92%. In total, about 260000 residential units were renovated in 2025, below the estimated requirement of 460000 units. Industry representatives highlighted a growing renova

Ikea India: IKEA India reported a slight decline in revenue for the fiscal year ending March 2025, with revenue from operations at US$ 193 million, down about 3.3% from the prior year. The company’s total losses widened to US$146 million, reflecting continued investment in expansion and infrastructure. Total income, including other sources, also fell nearly 4% for the year. IKEA India increased its spending on advertising and promotional activities, and its total borrowings r

India: Cera Sanitaryware reported an 11.1% year-on-year increase in Q3 FY26 revenue to US$55 million, while profitability declined due to higher input costs. EBITDA fell 14.0% to US$5.6 million, and margins contracted to 10.2% from 13.2%. Profits after tax dropped 48.4% to US$2.6 million, affected by rising brass prices and exceptional provisions linked to new labour codes. For the first nine months of FY26, revenue rose 5.2% to US$155 million, while profit declined 21.2%. Ma

Ukraine Ukraine: The country received its first shipment of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States in 2026, delivered through Poland, totaling nearly 100 million cubic meters, enough to supply around 700 000 households with gas for one winter month. The delivery comes amid cold winter conditions and ongoing disruptions to energy infrastructure during the war, with further US LNG shipments already contracted for February-March. Total US LNG supplies to Ukraine this

Groupe Samse France: Groupe Samse reported consolidated revenue of US$ 546.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2025, down 4.5% compared with the same period in 2024 amid weak new housing construction and a stable renovation market. The trading business saw a 5.6% drop in revenue for the quarter, while the DIY segment remained broadly stable at US$108.5 million. For the full year, the group’s consolidated revenue reached US$2.271 billion, slightly below the prior year. The ann

Hassan Allam Properties Egypt: Hassan Allam Properties plans to execute new projects worth US$ 296 million in 2026 and will introduce a hospitality brand to manage its expanding hotel portfolio. The company is diversifying beyond residential developments into hospitality, sports, and education through partnerships with local and international entities. Four hotels with a combined capacity of around 700 rooms are under development in New Cairo, 6th of October City, and the Nor

Kludi Germany: Sanitary manufacturer Kludi is restructuring its international production network, resulting in job cuts at its headquarters in Menden, although the company did not disclose the number of positions affected. Employees have been informed and discussions with the works council and union have started. Management cited increased economic and political cost pressures as the reason for the move, following earlier restructuring measures announced in late 2024, when th

Daikin Japan: Daikin Industries, Ltd, reported consolidated financial results for the nine months ended December 31, 2025. Net sales increased by 2.0% to US$23.3 billion, while operating profit decreased 3.4% to US$1.9 billion compared with the prior year period. Ordinary profit rose 4.5% to US$1.94 billion, and profit attributable to owners of the parent increased 4.6% to US$1.2 billion. Total assets and net assets also grew to US$36.1 billion and US$20.5 billion, respective

US US: A new master-planned community in Denton, North Texas is set to be developed on a 2,500-acre site with an estimated investment of about US$5.1 billion. The project will include over 9,200 homes, comprising 7,091 single family units, 584 townhomes and 1,515 multifamily residences, along with 1.2 million square feet of commercial space and a central park of more than 300 acres. Plans also include three new schools to serve future residents, with initial construction of 8

France France: Sales of thermal and HVAC equipment in 2025 remained low, according to figures released by industry association Uniclima, marking a second consecutive year of subdued demand. Total unit sales for key technologies such as individual gas and oil boilers, heat pumps and solar water heaters declined compared with 2024, although some segments showed marginal improvements. The cumulative market for boilers and heat pump systems remained significantly below levels see

Kajaria Ceramics Reports Q3 FY26 Results With Flat Revenue and Strong Margin Gains India: Kajaria Ceramics reported flat consolidated revenue of USD 127.4 million for Q3 FY26 compared with the year-ago quarter, with tile volumes showing no growth and no contribution from discontinued plywood sales. The company delivered an improved EBITDA margin of 17.20% (up 442 bps YoY) and profit before tax of USD 18.0 million, while net profit rose to USD 9.6 million in the quarter. Seque

France to Introduce European Preference Criteria for Heat Pump Installation Aid From September France: From September, the French government will apply a European production preference for heat pump installation aid under energy saving certificates (CEE), limiting eligibility to approved, efficient air-to-water or water-to-air models manufactured in Europe. To qualify, the refrigeration circuit must be assembled in Europe, and consumers selecting these models will continue to

Aldar to Add 3,000 Homes to Abu Dhabi Market Amid Strong Demand UAE: Aldar Properties will begin construction of nearly 3,000 new homes in Abu Dhabi this year, responding to rising residential demand. The developments, with a combined gross development value of AED 23 billion (USD 6.26 billion), will be built on 2.3 million square metres of newly acquired land across Saadiyat Island and Yas Island, Aldar said in a filing to the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange.   Saadiyat plots

EU Backs Recovery Payment for Czechia After Reform Progress CZECH REPUBLIC: The European Commission has given a positive assessment of Czechia’s fifth payment request worth US$ 725.2 million (€614 million) under the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility. The approval follows Czechia’s satisfactory completion of 29 milestones and targets linked to reforms and investments in affordable housing, sustainable transport, energy efficiency, rail infrastructure, environmental research

Reused Collider Heat Helps Warm French Homes FRANCE: CERN has begun using waste heat from the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) to warm french homes and businesses in Ferney-Voltaire, a town near its facilities on the French border. A new heat-exchange system captures hot water from the LHC’s cooling process and transfers its thermal energy to a local district heating network. Two 5-MW heat exchangers are installed, currently supplying up to 5 MW, with potential to double when oper

Bosch Home Comfort Group Reports Stable Sales and Strategic Gains in 2025 GERMANY: Bosch Home Comfort Group maintained stable performance in 2025 despite a challenging global HVAC market marked by weaker demand in North America and uncertainty in Europe. Preliminary sales reached around US$5.20 billion (€4.4 billion), broadly in line with the previous year, while nominal growth edged up 0.3%. The company gained notable market share in European heat pumps and air conditioning,