Traders at work at the New York Stock Exchange on February 18, 2026.
new york stock exchange
Stock futures traded near the flatline Wednesday night after major averages had strong sessions. Investors were also keeping an eye on the retail giant’s quarterly results. walmartthe deadline is in the morning.
futures tied to Dow Jones Industrial Average Lost 43 points (0.09%). S&P500 futures While the decline was 0.09%, Nasdaq 100 futures It fell 0.1%.
In the regular parliament, S&P500 While it closed up nearly 0.6%, Nasdaq Composite Added 0.8%. The Dow 30 stocks rose 129 points (about 0.3%).
The index was boosted by gains across the Magnificent Seven technology stocks and strength in financials and energy stocks. Nvidia I added 1.6%, Amazon It rose 1.8%.
“A rebound in mega-cap stocks, along with a lull in the rotation and thematic expansion that has defined market performance this year, is not surprising in the coming weeks,” said Angelo Kourkafas, senior global investment strategist at Edward Jones.
“The selling has been widespread and indiscriminate, and in some cases valuations may already reflect a significant degree of disruption risk relative to current fundamentals,” he added.
Indeed, Kourkafas said that while the tech industry’s pessimism is likely exaggerated, the group’s “prospects for regaining sustainable leadership remain questionable” as the macroeconomic environment continues to favor cyclical stocks.
Oil prices rose more than 4% on Wednesday due to geopolitical changes. The move came after Vice President J.D. Vance said Iran had failed to meet core U.S. demands during this week’s nuclear talks. He said President Donald Trump maintains the right to use military force if diplomatic efforts do not thwart Iran’s nuclear program.
Investors also weighed the January Federal Reserve meeting minutes, which reflected the divergence of central bank officials on the future outlook for monetary policy.
On the earnings front, Walmart’s fourth quarter report is scheduled to be released Thursday morning. The company’s results are often seen as a bellwether for the U.S. economy and consumer spending. Walmart’s stock price rose more than 13% in 2026 before crashing. The company’s market capitalization has recently entered the $1 trillion club, meaning the stock’s reaction could set the tone for major stock averages.
Traders are also keeping an eye on weekly jobless claims numbers due Thursday, as well as pending home sales reports. The main economic event this week will be the release on Friday of the Consumer Expenditure Price Index, the Fed’s preferred inflation measure.
