Ep157: When the Floor Feels Less Solid — February 23rd, 2026

Markets opened the week on a heavier note as renewed tariff uncertainty and fresh AI-disruption fears pulled major indexes lower. The Dow fell 1.70%, the S&P 500 lost 1.04%, and the Nasdaq slipped 1.13%, with IBM plunging 13.5% and cybersecurity names tumbling sharply. Even so, selective strength emerged—Eli Lilly, Domino’s, and PayPal moved higher against the broader risk-off tide. Gold surged above $5,200, Treasury yields eased, and Bitcoin steadied after intraday volatility. A session defined less by panic than by recalibration.