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World shares mostly advance and Japan falls ahead of Lunar New Year holidays

World shares mostly advance and Japan falls ahead of Lunar New Year holidays

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By CHAN HO-HIM, AP Business Writer

HONG KONG (AP) — World shares mostly advanced on Monday and gold declined. Japanese stocks dipped and several stock markets in Asia were closed or trading for a half-day ahead of Lunar New Year celebrations.

In early European trading, Germany’s DAX was up 0.2% to 24,958.01. Britain’s FTSE gained 0.3% to 10,479.47, while the CAC 40 in Paris also rose 0.3% to 8,333.81.

In Asia, Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 was down 0.2% to 56,806.41, after the government reported that Japan’s economy grew more slowly than economists had expected in the latest October-December quarter, at an annualized 0.2%.

A person walks in front of an electronic stock board showing Japan's Nikkei index. A person walks in front of an electronic stock board showing Japan’s Nikkei index at a securities firm Monday, Feb. 16, 2026, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko) A person walks in front of an electronic stock board showing Japan's Nikkei index. A person walks in front of an electronic stock board showing Japan’s Nikkei index at a securities firm Monday, Feb. 16, 2026, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko) A person walks in front of an electronic stock board showing Japan's Nikkei index. A person walks in front of an electronic stock board showing Japan’s Nikkei index at a securities firm Monday, Feb. 16, 2026, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko) A person walks in front of an electronic stock board showing Japan's Nikkei index. A person stands in front of an electronic stock board showing Japan’s Nikkei index at a securities firm Monday, Feb. 16, 2026, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

1 of 4 A person walks in front of an electronic stock board showing Japan’s Nikkei index at a securities firm Monday, Feb. 16, 2026, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

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The sluggish rate of growth increases the likelihood that Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will press ahead with plans to revive the economy by raising government spending and cutting taxes, Marcel Thieliant, head of Asia Pacific at Capital Economics, wrote in a note.

Trading was thin as stock markets in China, South Korea and Taiwan were closed. The first day of the Lunar New Year this year falls on Tuesday. read more

With electricity bills rising, some states consider new data center laws

With electricity bills rising, some states consider new data center laws

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By Kevin Hardy, Stateline.org

As Americans grow increasingly frustrated over their electricity bills, states are trying to keep the nation’s growing number of data centers from causing higher energy costs for consumers.

For years, many states competed aggressively to land data centers, sprawling campuses full of the computer servers that store and transmit the data behind apps and websites. But many officials are now scrutinizing how those power-hungry projects might affect the electric bills of households, small businesses and other industries.

Oregon last year became one of the first states to enact a law requiring utilities to charge data centers different electric prices than other industries because of how they drive up the cost of energy production and transmission.

“We are now making data centers pay a higher rate commensurate with the amount of energy they’re sucking out of the system,” said Oregon state Rep. Tom Andersen, a Democrat.

Republican and Democratic leaders in at least a dozen states have targeted data centers with separate, higher electric rates to protect other customers. States also are requiring long-term commitments and financial guarantees through collateral before greenlighting infrastructure investments for new data center projects. But lawmakers acknowledge that numerous factors affect energy prices, so targeting data center-specific costs can be complicated. read more

Some Valentine’s Day tips for anyone seeking the perfect match on four wheels

Some Valentine’s Day tips for anyone seeking the perfect match on four wheels

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By BRADLEY IGER, Edmunds

Valentine’s Day isn’t just about roses and candlelight — it’s about chemistry. The kind you feel instantly, irrationally, and sometimes against your better judgment. People have chemistry with cars too. Some lure you in with their rogue spirit and self-assurance, others charm you with confidence and poise, and a few will leave you wondering why you can’t stop thinking about them days later. The car experts at Edmunds have identified five vehicles with distinct personality traits. With a bit of matchmaking luck, perhaps one of them will be the next automotive love of your life. All of the following prices include destination fees.

Emotional availability: Subaru BRZ and Toyota GR86

This photo provided by Toyota shows the 2026 GR86, a rear-wheel-drive coupe that's low on practicality but high on driving excitement. (Courtesy of Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. via AP)
This photo provided by Toyota shows the 2026 GR86, a rear-wheel-drive coupe that’s low on practicality but high on driving excitement. (Courtesy of Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. via AP)

Developed in a joint venture between Subaru and Toyota, the BRZ and GR86 are corporate siblings that deliver genuine driving excitement at a price that remains accessible. Simplicity, balance, and the ability to create a genuine connection with the driver are hallmarks of a great driver’s car, and these two rear-wheel-drive coupes nail the assignment. The two cars are very similar, so we wouldn’t blame you for choosing one over the other based on looks or brand preference. They might be light on cargo capacity and backseat space, but you’ll have a hard time finding a better fun-per-dollar proposition elsewhere. read more

Survey: More than 2 in 5 Americans believe financial secrets are at least as bad as cheating

Survey: More than 2 in 5 Americans believe financial secrets are at least as bad as cheating

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By Ana Staples, Bankrate.com

Money is an uncomfortable topic for many, yet it’s an important ongoing conversation to have in a relationship. Financial secrets undermine trust. And for many, it may even feel like betrayal.

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More than 2 in 5 U.S. adults (43%) believe keeping financial secrets is at least as bad as physical infidelity. At the same time, almost half of Americans (45%) in committed relationships (defined in this survey as married, living together or in a civil partnership) admit they don’t know everything about their spouse’s or partner’s finances. read more

Party on: Orlando’s LGBTQ gatherings still on tap for June

Party on: Orlando’s LGBTQ gatherings still on tap for June

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The first weekend of June again will feature red T-shirts and multiple festivities for the LGBTQ community despite the absence of the GayDays Orlando group, longtime event organizers say.

GayDays recently announced that plans for its parties are “on pause” for 2026. Some people may confuse GayDays Inc., an event promoter, with the more generic “gay days” terminology that casually and collectively refers to all planned activities for the weekend, including the traditional gathering at Magic Kingdom theme park. All those events are still planned for this year.

“We’ve been trying to communicate what’s going on for 20-plus years — that we are not the same party,” said Ethan Suarez, producer of One Magical Weekend. “We are a different party, and we’re a separate event. … I’m very used to the confusion all the time.”

His One Magical Weekend presents gatherings such as pool parties, DJ-driven dance parties, a drag brunch, a vendors expo and a nighttime outing to Typhoon Lagoon, a Walt Disney World water park. Last year, it drew about 10,000 participants, Suarez said, and ticket sales for the 2026 event are ahead of last year’s pace. read more