Markets on a Mood Swing, Tech Layoffs, and Trade Tantrums
- Market News
February 18, 2026 10:48 pm
After a week of doom-and-gloom predictions about recessions and trade wars, U.S. stocks pulled off an unexpected comeback on Friday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average flexed its muscles with a 600-point surge (1.7%), closing at 5,638.94. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq also joined the party with gains of 2.1% and 2.6%, respectively. But before you start celebrating, remember: this marks the fourth consecutive week of overall market declines. So, was this a real recovery or just an over-caffeinated trader pressing the wrong button? Stay tuned.
Big Tech is still in its “restructuring” phase—translation: more layoffs. Meta, Microsoft, and Stripe all announced another round of job cuts, proving once again that “company growth” really means growing the bank accounts of executives while employees pack their desks. With AI taking over and companies refocusing on “core business areas,” it seems like tech workers may want to start updating their LinkedIn profiles—again.
President Donald Trump’s trade policies continue to keep global markets on edge. One day it’s tariffs, the next day it’s tariff rollbacks, and by Friday, nobody knows what’s going on. The administration’s recent wave of new tariffs against both allies and rivals has left investors confused and businesses scrambling for clarity. Markets are reacting like a cat chasing a laser pointer—constantly moving but going nowhere useful.
