The latest Market Talks covering Equities. Published exclusively on Dow Jones Newswires throughout the day.
1003 ET - PepsiCo says it needs to cut prices in order to spur volume growth. "We've seen there is some friction with consumers, especially lower-income consumers and middle-income consumers around the world," CEO Ramon Laguarta says at the Consumer Analyst Group of New York conference. As a result, the company is adjusting its pricing strategy. The company is taking a "very surgical" approach to lowering its prices, Laguarta says, making sure to continue maximizing returns while reigniting volume growth. (connor.hart@wsj.com)
0950 ET - Oil prices gain 3% as traders closely monitor geopolitical developments in Eastern Europe and the Middle East. Brent crude rises 3.1% to $69.53 a barrel, while WTI is up 2.9% to $63.78 a barrel. U.S.-brokered talks between Russian and Ukrainian officials concluded without a breakthrough on Wednesday. Meanwhile, nuclear talks with Iran made some progress, though the U.S. has assembled a massive force just off Iran's coast and warned all options remain on the table. "Iran has leverage over the oil price via the Strait of Hormuz," says Bjarne Schieldrop, chief commodity analyst at SEB. "That is a pain-point directed towards U.S. consumers who will deliver their votes in the U.S. midterms elections later this year." (giulia.petroni@wsj.com)
0944 ET - PepsiCo is focused on restaging four of its largest brands this year: Lay's, Tostitos, Gatorade and Quaker. The company will launch new offerings across its chip brands that lean into current health and wellness trends, CEO Ramon Laguarta says at the Consumer Analyst Group of New York conference, such as reduced sodium, no artificial colors and flavors, alternative cooking methods and oils and smaller portions. PepsiCo is looking to capitalize on hydration with Gatorade, expanding the brand beyond sports to everyday occasions. And across Quaker, the company will lean into the current demand for protein and fiber. (connor.hart@wsj.com)
0943 ET - PepsiCo wants to market its snacks and beverages to consumers as healthy, on-the-go options. Consumers nowadays are giving more importance to health, wellness and functionally, prompting PepsiCo to rethink its portfolio, CEO Ramon Laguarta says at the Consumer Analyst Group of New York conference. The company is leaning into new products that carry low sodium, low sugar and/or whole grain tags, all of which are currently going over well with shoppers. Looking ahead, Laguarta says that fiber and hydration will serve as growth engines for the company's snack and beverage offerings, as it pushes more gut-healthy and refreshing new products. (connor.hart@wsj.com)
0941 ET - The U.K.'s blue-chip index moved beyond 10,600 points for the first time and is on track for its best start to a calendar year in 28 years. The index is up 1.3% in afternoon European trade, driven higher by gains for miners and banks. Climbing miners--led by Antofagasta, up 6.1%--continue a defining theme for the index this year, as soaring gold, silver and copper prices support major London-listed miners. Defense stocks also spur the index higher, with BAE Systems climbing 3.5% and extending its year-to-date gains to over 22%. If the FTSE closes Wednesday with gains of 7.42% for the year, it will have notched the best start to a year through Feb. 18 since 1998. The index is up 7.67% year-to-date in afternoon trade. (josephmichael.stonor@wsj.com)
0941 ET - The consumer and macroeconomic environments remain dynamic, PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta says at the Consumer Analyst Group of New York conference. On the consumer front, habits and preferences are shifting, he says. Nowadays, shoppers are increasingly focused on functional health and wellness, as well as flavor. "In multiple markets, we have to play to multiple cultures as we develop flavors for our products," Laguarta says. At the same time, PepsiCo remains up against a volatile macro landscape, driven by tech disruption and geopolitical risks and uncertainty. (connor.hart@wsj.com)
0935 ET - Church & Dwight has significant room to expand internationally, says Chief Executive Rick Dierker at the Consumer Analyst Group of New York conference. Compared with other multinational consumer packaged goods companies, a far lower percentage of Church & Dwight's sales are international, which gives the company "a lot of runway" to expand, Dierker says. The company is seeking to establish subsidiary markets in select Asian countries and accelerate investment in local manufacturing and local innovation. That will help the company roll out different offerings for particular local markets, Dierker says. (nicholas.miller@wsj.com)
0933 ET - Church & Dwight is aiming to take its acquisition strategy international, says Chief Executive Rick Dierker at the Consumer Analyst Group of New York conference. The company aims to use its long experience of successfully acquiring, integrating and growing brands to drive international growth, Dierker says. M&A will allow it to help scale key markets and enter newly desirable geographies. "We believe it is the right time to bolt on to our businesses internationally," Dierker says. Chief Financial Officer Lee McChesney says the company has $5.4 billion of acquisition power and is in the marketplace looking for deals. (nicholas.miller@wsj.com)
0931 ET - Gold prices extend gains as investors await the release of the Federal Reserve's January meeting minutes due later on Wednesday. Futures in New York rise 1.5% to $4,980.60 a troy ounce after sliding below the $4,900 mark earlier this week, pushing traders to buy the dip. According to the FedWatch tool, markets expect the U.S. central bank to lower interest rates in June. Attention will soon shift to PCE inflation data scheduled for Friday as investors look for clearer signals on the rates outlook. (giulia.petroni@wsj.com)
0910 ET - Canada's housing market has seen a correction of sorts, but prices remain too high to buy and not high enough to build, analysis by CIBC Capital Markets suggests. Economists Benjamin Tal and Katherine Judge note the decline in home prices since an early 2022 peak is significant, and not yet over, but they say affordability still isn't where it should be in major urban centers. At the same time, they find the economics of homebuilding, mainly high rises, is broken and without the cost falling sharply things will get worse. And this all comes with an economic cost, as the negative wealth effect dampens consumer sentiment and rising stress at the margin of the mortgage market means increased delinquency rates and reduced refinancing options. (robb.stewart@wsj.com; @RobbMStewart)
0859 ET - Moderna says that the Food and Drug Administration will now review the company's flu-shot submission, marking a pivot from last week when it had refused to review the application. Moderna says it had a meeting with the FDA and proposed a regulatory pathway based on age, seeking full approval for adults 50 to 64 years of age and accelerated approval for adults 65 and older. The FDA has accepted the application for review and set a target review date of Aug. 5. That would make the shot available for U.S. adults 50 years of age and older for the 2026/2027 flu season. Shares jump 8% premarket. (nicholas.miller@wsj.com)
0845 ET - Bayer's proposed nationwide class settlement of U.S. Roundup claims is a decisive step toward containing the long-running litigation and its financial fallout, MWB Research analyst Abed Jarad writes in a note. This step forward "materially increases the likelihood of durable closure versus a standalone litigation path," the analyst adds. Shares in the German pharmaceutical and agriculture conglomerate are down 11% at 44.02 euros. (william.gray@wsj.com)
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
February 18, 2026 10:03 ET (15:03 GMT)
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