19th February 2026 – Hawkish Fed takes heat out of early rally

In this morning's edition of the MPC Markets Morning Call, Mark Gardner discusses the current state of the stock market, the influence of the Federal Reserve, and the performance of various sectors, particularly technology and energy. He emphasizes the importance of discerning which software companies to invest in and provides insights into upcoming economic data that could impact market trends. The conversation also touches on specific company performances and investment strategies for navigating the current market environment.Takeaways• The Fed's actions have significantly influenced market dynamics.• There is a mixed performance across different sectors in the market.• Investors should focus on companies with a competitive advantage.• Oil prices have shown signs of recovery amid geopolitical tensions.• Upcoming economic data will be crucial for market direction.• Gold and silver markets are experiencing recoveries.• Bitcoin continues to face downward pressure.• Hub 24 reported exceptional financial results.• Overall market sentiment remains cautious but optimistic.• Investors are encouraged to explore educational resources for better market understanding.