Crude oil prices jumped sharply on February 28, 2026, extending recent gains as joint U.S.-Israeli military strikes on Iran triggered immediate market concerns over potential disruptions to Middle East oil supplies. Brent crude, the global benchmark, settled around $72.87 per barrel on February 27 trading — up 2.87% — with early Asian session indications pointing to further upside on Monday amid ongoing geopolitical risks.

West Texas Intermediate (WTI), the U.S. benchmark, closed at $67.02 per barrel, gaining 2.78% in the prior session. Analysts expect opening prices on February 28 to reflect heightened risk premiums, with some forecasting Brent testing $75 or higher if escalation fears intensify. The surge builds on a 6-8% monthly rise in February, driven by trader anticipation of conflict and a “war premium” baked into futures.

The price movement stems directly from U.S. and Israeli “major combat operations” targeting Iranian leadership, missile sites and nuclear facilities early Saturday. President Donald Trump confirmed the strikes in a video statement, vowing to eliminate threats from Iran’s ballistic missile and nuclear programs. Israel described the action as pre-emptive to neutralize existential dangers. Iran responded with ballistic missile barrages at Israel and U.S. bases in Gulf states, including the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

The Strait of Hormuz — through which about 20% of global seaborne oil passes — has emerged as a focal point. Analysts warn that even a brief blockade or heightened naval activity by Iran could send prices soaring. Kpler senior crude analyst Muyu Xu estimated a one-day disruption could push oil to $120-$150 per barrel. Barclays projected Brent reaching $80 in scenarios of material supply interruption, while longer conflicts risk $100 or more.

OPEC+ delegates signaled readiness to adjust output, with some members like Saudi Arabia and the UAE already raising exports preemptively. A Reuters poll indicated possible larger-than-planned April increases to offset potential shortfalls. Despite oversupply concerns earlier in the year, geopolitical risks have dominated sentiment, lifting prices about 19-20% year-to-date in 2026.

Market reactions reflect broader volatility. Global equities opened lower in Asia, gold rallied as a safe-haven asset, and the U.S. dollar strengthened. Airlines and energy-intensive sectors braced for higher fuel costs, with some carriers already adjusting routes amid regional airspace closures.

The conflict’s energy implications stem from Iran’s role as a key producer and exporter, though its output remains constrained by sanctions. Disruption fears center on the Strait, where tankers carry crude from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, UAE, Kuwait and Iran itself. Historical precedents — like the 2019 tanker attacks — show how quickly risk premiums build.

Experts diverge on duration and severity. If strikes remain limited and retaliation contained, the spike could prove short-lived, similar to June 2025’s brief rally after prior Israel-Iran exchanges. Prolonged engagement or regime-change efforts, however, could sustain elevated prices and pressure global inflation.

J.P. Morgan Global Research maintains a bearish long-term view, forecasting Brent averaging around $60 in 2026 absent major disruptions, citing soft fundamentals. Yet near-term forecasts have risen $1.50 per barrel in recent polls due to tensions.

OPEC+ meets Sunday to discuss output, with sources indicating flexibility for larger hikes if needed. The group has paused recent increases amid rising prices, but conflict dynamics could shift priorities.

Consumers face immediate ripple effects at the pump, with gasoline and diesel likely climbing in coming weeks. Refiners and traders monitor shipping insurance rates and tanker tracking data for signs of rerouting or delays.

As the situation evolves, oil markets remain on edge. The coming sessions will test whether prices stabilize on de-escalation signals or climb further if supply threats materialize. For now, the risk premium dominates, underscoring energy’s vulnerability to Middle East flashpoints.

Shares of FIGS Inc. (NYSE: FIGS), the direct-to-consumer healthcare apparel brand known for stylish scrubs and medical wear, surged more than 23% on February 27, 2026, closing at $15.45 after the company delivered record fourth-quarter results that crushed expectations and provided optimistic guidance for 2026.

The rally marked FIGS’ strongest single-day gain in years, pushing the stock to a nearly four-year high of $15.90 intraday on volume exceeding 26 million shares — well above average. The performance followed the February 26 after-hours release of fiscal fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 earnings, which highlighted accelerating growth, margin expansion and international momentum.

For the quarter ended December 31, 2025, FIGS reported net revenues of $201.9 million, a 33.0% increase from the prior year and far surpassing analyst estimates around $165 million to $166 million. Scrubwear sales led the way, rising 35.1% to $154.9 million, while non-scrubwear revenue grew 26.4% to $47 million. Geographically, U.S. revenue climbed 28.7% to $164.2 million, and international revenue soared 55.1% to $37.7 million, reflecting successful expansion efforts.

Profitability improved dramatically. Net income reached $18.5 million, or $0.10 per diluted share, compared to $1.9 million, or $0.01 per share, a year earlier — beating consensus forecasts of $0.02. Adjusted EBITDA hit $26.7 million with a 13.2% margin, up significantly year over year. Gross margin held strong at 63.0%, supported by efficient supply chain management and higher average order values.

Full-year 2025 results showed net revenues of $631.1 million, up 14% from 2024, with active customers surpassing 2.9 million — a 9% increase. Adjusted EBITDA margin expanded to 11.8% from 9.3%, and net income rose to $34.3 million.

CEO Catherine Spear called the quarter “the culmination of clear strategic focus and disciplined execution,” noting momentum built throughout the year. Management highlighted product innovation, marketing efficiency and international growth as key drivers.

For fiscal 2026, FIGS guided net revenues of approximately $700 million — implying 10% to 12% growth — with adjusted EBITDA margin expansion to around 12.8% from 11.8%. The outlook assumes continued double-digit gains in core scrubwear and international markets.

Analysts responded swiftly with upgrades and target hikes. Barclays upgraded from Equal Weight to Overweight, citing a return to growth. Goldman Sachs moved from Sell to Neutral, lifting its price target to $14 from $7.50. KeyBanc shifted to Overweight from Sector Weight with a $17 target. Roth Capital raised its target to $15.50 from $12, and Telsey Advisory increased to $15 from $9 while maintaining Hold. Consensus targets now cluster around $14 to $17, suggesting 10-20% upside from recent levels.

The stock had languished earlier in 2026, trading near $10-$11 amid concerns over slowing U.S. demand and margin pressure post-pandemic. The Q4 beat and guidance shift reframed the narrative, with investors betting on sustained momentum in a $100 billion+ global medical apparel market.

FIGS operates as a digitally native brand, selling premium scrubs, lab coats and accessories directly to healthcare professionals. Its focus on performance fabrics, inclusive sizing and modern designs differentiates it from traditional uniform providers. International expansion — particularly in Europe and Asia — and new product categories offer growth levers.

Challenges include competition from legacy players and economic sensitivity among healthcare workers. Yet strong cash flow, a debt-free balance sheet and improving profitability bolster the outlook.

The post-earnings surge reflects renewed confidence in FIGS’ turnaround story. As the company eyes 2026 milestones like further international penetration and margin gains, the healthcare apparel specialist appears positioned for continued momentum.

Silvia Ruiz
Investor Relations Director

Good afternoon, everybody. This is Silvia Ruiz speaking, and I would like to welcome you to Ferrovial’s conference call to discuss the financial results for the full year of 2025.

I’m joined here today by our Chairman, Rafael del Pino; our CEO, Ignacio Madridejos; and our CFO, Ernesto Lopez Mozo. Just as a reminder, both the results report and the presentation are available on our website since yesterday evening after the U.S. market was closed. At the end of the presentation, there will be a Q&A session run by our CEO and our CFO.

[Operator Instructions] Before starting, please take a moment to look at the safe harbor statement included in the presentation. And please bear in mind that the presentation contains forward-looking statements and expectations that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, so actual figures may differ. Other than as required by law, the company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements.

During this call, we will discuss non-IFRS financial measures, which are defined and reconciled to the most comparable IFRS measures in our results report. With all this, I will hand over to Rafael. Rafael, the floor is yours.

The New York Times’ popular word-grouping game Connections delivered a brain-teasing puzzle on Saturday, February 28, 2026, with #993 rated moderately difficult at 2.8 out of 5 by the official Connections Companion. Featuring 16 words that required sharp pattern recognition and lateral thinking, today’s board tested players’ ability to spot synonyms, occupational links, sound-alikes and clever wordplay involving celestial terms.

Connections, launched in 2023 as a daily companion to Wordle, tasks solvers with grouping 16 words into four themed categories of four words each. Categories range from straightforward (yellow) to fiendishly obscure (purple), with no repeats and perfect groupings needed to win. Puzzle #993 proved tricky for many, particularly in the blue and purple groups, where misdirection and homophones played key roles.

The 16 words in today’s puzzle were: START, KNEEL, TAILOR, SALESMAN, COMETH, PILOT, EARNEST, ITCH, DESIRE, ROADIE, RUSTLE, SUNG, NOVAK, THIRST, CRUISE DIRECTOR, URGE.

Hints circulated widely on gaming sites and social media to guide players without full spoilers. Mashable suggested “Yearning” for the easiest group and “On the road again” for another. CNET advised looking for “When you really want something” and “Flight attendants also.” Rock Paper Shotgun offered “Magnetic pulls” and “Those who gather no moss,” while Tom’s Guide noted “Crave astronomical jobs, Rustle” as a larger clue. Forbes provided one-word teasers: ITCH for yellow, PILOT for green, KNEEL for blue and SUNG for purple.

The solution broke down as follows:

– **Yellow (easiest):** Craving — DESIRE, ITCH, THIRST, URGE. These words all represent strong wants or yearnings, a classic synonym category that many solved first.

– **Green:** Jobs that involve traveling — CRUISE DIRECTOR, PILOT, ROADIE, SALESMAN. Each profession requires frequent movement: cruise directors sail oceans, pilots fly planes, roadies tour with bands, and salesmen hit the road for clients.

– **Blue:** Name homophones — EARNEST, KNEEL, RUSTLE, TAILOR. These sound like common first names: Ernest, Neil, Russell and Taylor. The auditory twist made this group deceptive, as players often grouped them by appearance before catching the pronunciation link.

– **Purple (hardest):** Astronomical terms plus a letter — COMETH, NOVAK, START, SUNG. Adding one letter transforms them into celestial words: COME + TH = COMETH (as in “Here cometh the sun”), NOVA + K = NOVAK (nova is a star explosion), STAR + T = START (star is a celestial body), SUN + G = SUNG (sun is the star we orbit). This category demanded creative thinking and knowledge of astronomy basics.

The puzzle’s difficulty stemmed from overlapping themes — travel words mixed with names, cravings with urges — and the purple group’s wordplay requiring an extra step. Many players reported four or five attempts, with some losing streaks on missteps like grouping names literally or missing the added-letter mechanic.

Social media buzzed with reactions. On Reddit’s r/NYTConnections, users praised the blue homophone group for cleverness but grumbled at purple’s obscurity. “That astronomical one got me — who thinks of adding letters like that?” one commenter wrote. Others celebrated perfect solves, sharing grids with the signature colored squares: four yellow, green, blue and purple rows.

Connections Companion noted the average solve time hovered around 3-4 minutes for experts, longer for casual players. The game’s streak counter and shareable results (with emoji grids) kept engagement high, as friends compared performances.

The New York Times continues to evolve Connections with fresh themes and increasing variety. Saturday’s edition rewarded vocabulary breadth, cultural knowledge and lateral thinking, making it a standout in the daily rotation.

Players access the free puzzle at nytimes.com/games/connections, with a new challenge resetting at midnight local time. No subscription is needed for basic play, though Times membership unlocks additional games like Wordle, Strands and the Mini Crossword.

As February ends, Connections remains a daily ritual for millions, blending logic, language and surprise. Puzzle #993 reminded solvers that connections often hide in plain sight — or sound — waiting to be discovered.

BLACKPINK’s long-awaited third mini album *DEADLINE* exploded onto the charts, selling 1,461,785 physical copies worldwide on its first day of release February 27, 2026, according to real-time data from South Korea’s Hanteo Chart. The figure sets a new benchmark as the highest single-day album sales ever recorded for a K-pop girl group, surpassing previous records and cementing the quartet’s dominance in the industry.

YG Entertainment confirmed the tally early February 28, stating the EP not only marks BLACKPINK’s personal best but also establishes the group as the first female K-pop act to achieve multiple million-copy first-day sales. Their 2022 full-length *Born Pink* previously crossed 1.01 million on debut day, while *DEADLINE* nearly 50% higher at launch.

The achievement eclipses aespa’s 2023 mini-album *My World* (1.37 million copies on day one), NewJeans’ *Get Up* (1.19 million) and LE SSERAFIM’s *UNFORGIVEN* (1.02 million), making BLACKPINK the undisputed leader among girl groups on Hanteo’s historical rankings. It also ranks as the second-highest first-day total for any K-pop album in 2026 so far, trailing only ENHYPEN’s *THE SIN: VANISH* (over 1.65 million copies).

*DEADLINE* dropped at 2 p.m. KST February 27, ending a three-year-and-five-month hiatus since *Born Pink*. The six-track EP features the lead single “GO,” which quickly climbed to No. 1 on YouTube’s worldwide trending videos within hours and amassed over 21 million views in its first 24 hours. The album topped iTunes Top Albums charts in 32 countries and regions, while “GO” ranked high on domestic platforms like Melon’s Top 100.

Fans, known as BLINKs, drove the massive sales through pre-orders, fan cafe events and global album bundles. Versions including photobooks, posters and exclusive merchandise fueled demand, with Weverse Shop and other platforms reporting swift sell-outs of limited editions. The group’s global appeal — bolstered by solo successes from Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé and Lisa — translated into strong international pre-sales and day-one purchases.

Industry observers hailed the numbers as evidence of BLACKPINK’s enduring commercial power despite the members’ focus on individual projects in recent years. Jisoo has pursued acting, Jennie launched her label ODD ATELIER, Rosé signed with The Black Label and Atlantic Records, and Lisa formed LLOUD while maintaining YG ties. The comeback reunites the quartet for group activities, including planned promotions and potentially a world tour.

Critics and fans praised *DEADLINE* for blending BLACKPINK’s signature fierce sound with fresh production. Early reviews highlight “GO” as an empowering anthem with sharp beats and confident lyrics, while B-sides explore vulnerability and maturity. The visual rollout, including a high-concept music video for “GO,” amassed millions of views and trended worldwide.

The sales milestone arrives amid a competitive K-pop landscape, where physical album numbers remain a key metric of success despite streaming dominance. Hanteo Chart tracks real-time sales from major retailers, providing a reliable gauge of fan support. BLACKPINK’s achievement underscores the group’s loyal global fandom and strategic timing after prolonged anticipation.

YG Entertainment expressed gratitude to BLINKs, promising more content and activities throughout the promotion cycle. The company teased additional music shows, variety appearances and international engagements in coming weeks.

As *DEADLINE* continues climbing charts, analysts project it could surpass 2 million total sales in its first week, potentially securing a spot among the year’s top sellers. The record-breaking debut reaffirms BLACKPINK’s status as one of K-pop’s biggest acts, capable of shattering barriers even after years apart.

With streaming numbers surging and physical copies flying off shelves, *DEADLINE* marks a triumphant return that sets the bar high for 2026 comebacks.

President Donald Trump announced the launch of “major combat operations” against Iran on Saturday, February 28, 2026, in a video message posted to Truth Social, vowing to destroy Tehran’s ballistic missile and nuclear programs while calling on the Iranian people to seize the moment for regime change. The declaration came amid joint U.S.-Israeli strikes targeting Iranian leadership, military sites and nuclear facilities, escalating tensions into what officials described as a multi-day campaign.

“Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime, a vicious group of very hard, terrible people,” Trump said in the eight-minute video, filmed behind a podium in a navy suit and “USA” baseball cap. He accused Iran of decades of attacks on U.S. forces and allies, continuing nuclear development and plans for long-range missiles capable of reaching America. Trump warned of potential American casualties but emphasized the operation’s necessity, dubbing it “Operation Epic Fury.”

Addressing Iranians directly, Trump urged, “The hour of your freedom is at hand. When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations.” He called on Iran’s military to lay down arms and civilians to stay sheltered during the strikes, framing the action as liberation from a “radical dictatorship.”

The strikes began around dawn Tehran time, with explosions reported in the capital and other cities including Isfahan, Qom, Kermanshah and Karaj. Targets included Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s compound, President Masoud Pezeshkian’s residence, IRGC headquarters and nuclear sites. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed the “pre-emptive attack” was the result of months of joint planning, aimed at removing an “existential threat.”

A senior U.S. official, speaking anonymously, told reporters the operation involved over 500 aircraft, including carrier-based jets and long-range bombers, and could last several days with multiple waves. The assault followed stalled nuclear negotiations and Iran’s violent crackdown on domestic protests, which reportedly killed thousands.

Iranian state media reported blasts near an elementary school, claiming civilian deaths, though verification was limited amid power outages and communication blackouts. Military spokesman Amir Hatami condemned the “barbaric aggression” and promised a “crushing” response. The IRGC launched a “first wave” of missiles and drones targeting Tel Aviv, northern Israel and U.S. bases in Iraq, Syria, the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. One civilian was killed in Abu Dhabi from debris, and a man in his 50s was injured by shrapnel in Israel.

Airspaces across the region closed, grounding civilian flights and disrupting global travel. Airlines like IndiGo and British Airways suspended Middle East routes. Gulf states issued emergency alerts, with the UAE condemning the attacks and reserving response rights.

International reactions poured in. Russia and China denounced the strikes as “illegal aggression,” calling for a U.N. Security Council emergency meeting. European leaders urged restraint, while U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep concern. In the U.S., congressional leaders were briefed, with bipartisan support emerging but calls for caution to avoid wider war.

Oil prices surged over 15% on fears of Strait of Hormuz disruptions, with Brent and WTI climbing sharply. Global stocks fell, and defense shares rose amid uncertainty.

Humanitarian groups warned of civilian risks in densely populated areas. Amnesty International demanded protections, while the exiled Iranian crown prince urged protests.

Social media captured mixed sentiments, with some Iranians celebrating potential change and others decrying foreign intervention. Analysts like Aaron David Miller predicted a potential full-scale war if regime-change ambitions persist.

The operation’s scope remains fluid, with Trump and Netanyahu planning further updates. As IRGC mobilizes, the Middle East braces for escalation with global ramifications.