📊 US Stock Market Closing Report

US equity markets posted a mixed close on February 13, 2026, as investors digested fresh inflation data released earlier in the week and assessed the rebound from the previous day's AI-driven selloff. The three major indices displayed divergent performance, with the Dow Jones and S&P 500 posting modest gains while the NASDAQ Composite faced continued pressure from technology and artificial intelligence stocks.

The S&P 500 remained essentially flat, gaining just 3.41 points for a negligible 0.05% gain, reflecting uncertainty among broad-market investors. The Dow Jones showed relative strength, advancing 48.95 points (+0.10%), as investors rotated toward economically-sensitive industrials and financials. However, the NASDAQ Composite declined 50.48 points (-0.22%), indicating that weakness in mega-cap technology stocks continues to weigh on the index despite recovery hopes after the previous day's AI selloff.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics released January 2026 Consumer Price Index (CPI) data on February 11, 2026, which continued to influence market sentiment on February 13. The data showed:

• CPI-U Monthly (Seasonally Adjusted): +0.2% increase
• Year-over-Year Inflation: +2.4% (down from 2.5% in December)
• Core CPI (ex-Food & Energy): +0.3% increase
• Notable Declines: Energy index fell 1.5% as crude prices eased

This moderately higher-than-expected inflation reinforced concerns about sticky price pressures, particularly in shelter and services, limiting upside for growth stocks and dampening enthusiasm for additional Federal Reserve rate cuts.

The market witnessed a clear rotation away from technology and toward defensive and yield-generating assets.

Top Performers:

• Utilities (XLU): +2.76% — Flight to safety on inflation concerns
• Real Estate (XLRE): +1.47% — Rate-sensitive assets benefiting from inflation moderation timeline
• Healthcare (XLV): +1.07% — Defensive positioning amid volatility

Laggards:

• Technology (XLK): +0.25% — AI euphoria faded, mega-caps under pressure
• Communication (XLC): -0.05% — Meta and other big tech faces headwinds
• Financials (XLF): -0.08% — Initial rate-sensitive rally losing steam

Artificial intelligence leaders continue to face headwinds on February 13, as investors reassess valuations in light of persistent inflation pressures. NVIDIA (-2.21%) and Apple (-2.27%) led declines among mega-caps, while Meta (-1.55%) and Alphabet (-1.06%) also retreated. This represents an incomplete recovery from the previous day's AI selloff, suggesting that the market is not yet confident in the narrative that US inflation will cool sharply and support lower rates in 2026.

Tesla (+0.09%) was an outlier, posting a marginal gain despite broader tech weakness, though gains remain minimal as investors await clarity on near-term catalysts.

The week ahead will be critical for market direction. Key data points include employment indicators and any Fed policy commentary that could reinforce or challenge the current inflation narrative. Investors should monitor whether the modest gains in defensive sectors prove durable or if there's a renewed attempt at a broad-based risk-on recovery. For now, the message from the February 13 close is clear: uncertainty reigns, and the AI rally remains fragile until inflation pressures show more convincing signs of easing.