Monday, February 16, 2026 at 6:28 PM
U.S. equity futures are down as investors prepare for a busy week of economic data following the Presidents Day holiday, with Nasdaq futures specifically falling 0.7% amid ongoing concerns about AI spending and competition.
U.S. equity and bond markets shuttered for Presidents Day, though futures tied to equities rose in Europe. The Lunar New Year closed trading floors in China and South Korea.
Stock futures were lower as a decline in big chip stocks suggested that AI jitters have further to run.
U.S. equities looked set to extend losses after a fresh round of AI competition concerns, while a U.S.-Taiwan trade deal and reports of easing trade restrictions with China raised hopes of positive catalysts to come.
Stock futures tied to U.S. blue-chip indexes rose and the dollar fell as investors look to Wednesday’s nonfarm payrolls report for clues on potential Fed rate cuts.
