Daily Brief - February 12, 2026 (EOD)

 ## Market Recap U.S. stock indices experienced a significant decline today, with the S&P 500 falling by 2.4%, the Nasdaq composite sliding 2.8%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropping 1.9%. The Russell 2000 also faced pressure, losing 1.6% as investor sentiment turned bearish amidst fears of a potential recession fueled by rising interest rates and concerns over earnings reports from major tech companies. The trading session was characterized by high volatility, with many stocks swinging dramatically before settling lower by the close. Market breadth was negative, with declining stocks outnumbering advancing ones by a notable margin. The overall trading volume was above average, indicating heightened investor activity as traders reacted to the unfolding earnings reports and macroeconomic data. Concerns over artificial intelligence's impact on the tech sector also weighed heavily on investor sentiment, contributing to the sell-off in tech stocks. ## Top Stories That Moved Markets - **AI Jitters Impact Major Stocks**: Concerns about the implications of artificial intelligence on various sectors led to a sharp decline in tech stocks, notably **$AAPL**, **$MSFT**, and **$NFLX**. The market reacted negatively, with **$AAPL** seeing a significant drop of nearly 6% amid fears of a slowdown in iPhone sales linked to AI competition. - **Earnings Reports Trigger Sell-offs**: Major earnings reports from companies such as **$CSCO** and **$APP** disappointed investors, leading to sharp declines in their stock prices. **$CSCO** fell 8% after a weak outlook was provided, while **$APP** dropped 10% despite beating earnings expectations, as guidance remained cautious. - **Nuveen to Acquire Schroders**: The announcement of **Nuveen** acquiring **Schroders** for approximately £10 billion created ripples in the market, reflecting investor interest in asset management consolidation. However, the overall market sentiment remained cautious, impacting broader indices negatively. ## Biggest Winners - **$HASI** - +5% - The stock surged as investors reacted positively to its strong earnings report and optimistic guidance for 2026. - **$RIVN** - +4% - Gained traction due to optimistic forecasts regarding delivery increases linked to their new R2 SUV model. - **$AMAT** - +3% - Rose after announcing robust demand forecasts for semiconductor manufacturing equipment amid the AI boom. - **$QCOM** - +2.5% - Benefited from positive analyst coverage and strong demand outlook for 5G infrastructure. - **$VTR** - +2% - The stock advanced after reporting solid Q4 earnings and reaffirming its dividend yield. ## Biggest Losers - **$AAPL** - -6% - Shares plummeted due to AI concerns and fears of lower iPhone sales amid increased competition. - **$CSCO** - -8% - The company’s stock fell sharply after providing a disappointing earnings forecast that spooked investors. - **$APP** - -10% - Despite beating earnings expectations, the stock declined sharply due to cautious guidance and profit-taking. - **$NFLX** - -5% - Faced pressure from broader tech sell-offs and concerns over subscriber growth amid competitive threats. - **$NOW** - -4.5% - Declined following speculation over a potential slowdown in cloud spending as companies reassess budgets. ## Sector Scorecard - **Leaders:** - Energy - Benefited from rising oil prices and stable demand outlooks, with stocks like **$XOM** and **$CVX** performing well. - Utilities - Seen as a safe haven, utilities showed resilience with steady gains throughout the session. - **Laggards:** - Technology - Overall sector was hit hard due to concerns over AI impacts and disappointing earnings reports, leading to significant losses for major players. - Consumer Discretionary - Stocks in this sector struggled as retail sales data disappointed and inflation concerns loomed large. ## After-Hours Movers - **$DOCU** - -7% - Shares dropped after the company announced a disappointing earnings report and provided weak guidance for the upcoming quarter. ## Crypto & Commodities - Bitcoin fell sharply, closing at around $65,000, as fears of broader market instability weighed on investor sentiment. Gold prices saw a minor decline, closing at $1,850 per ounce, influenced by a stronger dollar and rising interest rates. ## Tomorrow Setup - Key economic reports, including inflation data and retail sales figures, are scheduled for release, which may influence market sentiment moving forward. - Investors should watch for earnings reports from companies like **$AMZN** and **$GOOGL** that could sway tech sector performance. - Risk factors include continued volatility in the tech space, potential geopolitical developments, and the ongoing narrative surrounding inflation and interest rates that could impact overall market stability.