{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/692d7130635c16d6404362d8/6994edae1774b22d5aebd638?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Market Brief – 17 Feb 2026","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/692d7130635c16d6404362d8/1771366686336-c6862909-f5c6-42cb-9519-422c44f922da.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>In today’s episode of <em>Market Brief – After Hours</em>, US markets close mixed as investors rotate into financials while software stocks remain under pressure amid ongoing AI disruption concerns. The Dow edges up to 49,533, the S&amp;P 500 finishes at 6,843, and the Nasdaq closes at 22,578, extending its recent stretch of weakness in high-multiple technology names including Salesforce, ServiceNow, Oracle and Palo Alto Networks.</p><p>In Europe, the FTSE 100 hits a record high near 10,556 after UK unemployment rises to 5.2%, fuelling expectations of a Bank of England rate cut. The STOXX 600 advances 0.5%, while the DAX, CAC 40, FTSE MIB and SMI all post gains despite weaker German ZEW sentiment data.</p><p>Commodities retreat sharply with Gold falling to $4,882 and Silver dropping to $73.33, while Brent crude slides toward $67 as geopolitical tensions ease. The episode also includes detailed Forex technical analysis across EUR/USD, GBP/USD, EUR/GBP, USD/JPY and USD/CAD, highlighting key moving averages, breakout levels and trend structure. Plus, major M&amp;A headlines including ZIM Shipping, Masimo and Norwegian Cruise Line, alongside earnings reactions in General Mills and Genuine Parts.</p>","author_name":"Arshia Hadidi"}