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By Jennifer Nash

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) has released its latest Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), providing forecasts for energy markets. This article presents the annual production outlooks for crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids (NGLs), comparing the February 2026 projections

Even a cooler-than-exected inflation reading couldn’t keep stocks from posting their worst week since November. 

Stocks initially rose after the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that consumer-price growth slowed to an annual pace of 2.4% in January. Easing price pressures, coupled with this week’s robust labor data, reassured some investors that there is a path for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates without an economic downturn. 

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Gold loan financier Manappuram Finance on Saturday said it has received final approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for the proposed acquisition up to 41.66 per cent of the company’s paid-up equity capital / convertible instruments by affiliates of Bain Capital– BC Asia Investments XXV Ltd and BC Asia Investments XIV Ltd.

The RBI approval, communicated on February 13, 2026, is in connection with the definitive agreements executed on March 20, 2025, under which Bain Capital committed to invest approximately Rs 4,385 crore to acquire an 18 per cent stake on a fully diluted basis through preferential allotment of equity shares and warrants at a price of Rs 236 per share, Manappuram Finance said in a statement.

The transaction also triggers a mandatory open offer for the purchase of an additional 26 per cent stake from public shareholders at Rs 236 per share, in accordance with the SEBI (Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers) Regulations, 2011, it said.

With this approval, Bain Capital will be classified as a promoter of the Company and will jointly control Manappuram Finance along with the existing promoters, it said.

The board will be reconstituted and will include nominee directors of Bain Capital, in line with the transaction agreements, it said.

Based on the open offer subscription, Bain Capital’s stake post-investment will vary between 18 per cent and 41.7 per cent on a fully diluted basis (including shares to be issued pursuant to exercise of warrants), it said.
The existing promoters will hold 28.9 per cent post-investment on a fully diluted basis, it said.

“With Bain Capital coming on board as a joint controlling shareholder, we are well-positioned to accelerate growth in our core segments, invest further in technology and risk management capabilities, and build a professionally managed, future-ready financial services company. It will also help us enhance and expand our branch network pan India,” Manappuram Finance MD and CEO V P Nandakumar said.