Market Review: February 18, 2026

Closing Recap

Index	Up/Down	% Change	Last
DJ Industrials	129.84	0.26%	49,663
S&P 500	38.10	0.56%	6,881
Nasdaq	175.25	0.78%	22,753
Russell 2000	12.02	0.45%	2,658

Market Overview

U.S. stocks opened slightly positive and rallied throughout the morning and early afternoon. However, gains were pared after the release of the FOMC Minutes from the January meeting, which indicated a consensus to keep interest rates on hold, but with some officials expressing concerns about potential future hikes if inflation remains high. This led to a slight pullback in stocks.

Economic Data

Housing starts rose by 6.2% month-over-month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.404 million in December. Building permits also increased by 4.3% month-over-month. However, new orders for manufactured durable goods fell by 1.4% month-over-month, missing consensus expectations.

Commodities

Silver and gold prices saw significant increases, with March silver rising by 5.2% and April gold increasing by 2%. Oil prices also surged due to geopolitical tensions, with WTI crude oil settling at $65.19 per barrel, up 4.59%.

Sector News Breakdown

Retail, Consumer Staples & Restaurants

Walmart (WMT) pulled back ahead of earnings, while Crocs (CROX) was downgraded due to declining demand. In the restaurant sector, Wingstop (WING) reported mixed Q4 results.

Homebuilders

Toll Brothers (TOL) reported better-than-expected Q1 results, indicating increased traffic and sales activity.

Energy

Coal stocks were active following reports of the EPA's intention to loosen regulations on coal-burning power plants.

Financials

Bitcoin prices continued to decline, falling below $67,000. In the payments sector, Global Payments (GPN) announced a $2.5 billion share repurchase authorization.

Biotech & Pharma

ACIU reported a temporary pause in enrollment for a trial, while Amgen (AMGN) filed for a senior notes offering.

Conclusion

Overall, the market experienced a solid bounce despite geopolitical tensions and mixed economic data. Investors are closely watching upcoming inflation data and earnings reports, particularly from major retailers like Walmart.