US stocks wobble after feeling both the upside and downside of a strong jobs report
On February 11, 2026, U.S. stocks experienced mixed performance following a stronger-than-expected jobs report. The S&P 500 briefly approached record levels before ending slightly down by less than 0.1%, while the Dow Jones shed 66 points and the Nasdaq fell 0.2%. The Labor Department reported 130,000 new jobs in the previous month, defying expectations and easing concerns from recent weak consumer spending data. The positive job growth boosted sectors like energy and materials, with Exxon Mobil and Smurfit Westrock posting notable gains. However, the robust labor market also dampened expectations for imminent interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve, leading to higher Treasury yields. The 10-year yield slightly climbed to 4.17%, while the 2-year yield, closely tied to Fed policy, rose more significantly. Market participants now anticipate rate reductions to be delayed, awaiting inflation data due Friday. Other notable market moves included an 8.8% drop in Robinhood due to lower-than-expected revenue, despite strong profits, and declines in Moderna stock after the FDA rejected its new flu vaccine application. Kraft Heinz rose 0.4% after announcing a business strategy shift and a $600 million growth investment. European and Asian markets were mixed to positive.
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Wall Street steadies after its AI-induced sell-off
On February 13, 2026, U.S. stocks stabilized after a significant sell-off triggered by concerns over artificial intelligence (AI) disrupting industries. The S&P 500 was mostly flat, while the Dow Jones rose slightly and the Nasdaq slipped. Markets were buoyed by a report indicating that inflation had cooled more than expected in the previous month, offering hope that the Federal Reserve might have room to lower interest rates in the near future. Inflation rose 2.4% year-over-year, down from December's 2.7%, while a core inflation measure reached its lowest in nearly five years. Certain sectors hit by AI fears saw recovery. AppLovin rebounded 6.4% after heavy losses, and C.H. Robinson rose 4.9% following a dip caused by competition from AI company Algorhythm Holdings. Applied Materials surged 8.1% after beating earnings expectations, supported by increased AI investments. However, DraftKings fell 13.5% due to a weak revenue forecast, and Norwegian Cruise Line dropped 7.6% following a CEO change. Nvidia, the largest stock by market weight, fell 2.2%. In bond markets, Treasury yields declined, signaling investor optimism over potential rate cuts. Meanwhile, international markets showed mixed results, with notable declines in Hong Kong and Japan.
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Wall Street swings with worries about tech stocks and discouraged US shoppers
On February 17, 2026, Wall Street experienced volatile trading due to concerns over declining consumer confidence and uncertainties in the AI sector. The S&P 500, Dow Jones, and Nasdaq each posted slim gains of 0.1%. Major consumer brand General Mills fell 8.8% after reporting weaker profit expectations for 2026, citing cautious shoppers. Genuine Parts saw a sharp 13.8% decline after missing earnings estimates and announcing plans to split into two separate companies by 2027. AI-associated tech stocks had mixed performances, with Nvidia showing volatility and Alphabet dropping 1.2%. A Bank of America survey indicated growing concerns over potential overinvestment in AI. Warner Bros. Discovery rose 3.6% amid buyout interest from both Paramount and Netflix. In global markets, European stocks rose, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.4%, weighed down by disappointing economic data and a decline in SoftBank shares. Treasury yields held steady, with the 10-year yield slightly rising to 4.06%.
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