Hi there,

Yesterday, Thursday, February 19, 2026, Wall Street’s recent momentum stalled as a cautious outlook from Walmart and hawkish signals from the Fed minutes dampened investor sentiment. Geopolitical tensions also weighed on the tape, leading to a broad "risk-off" session across all three major indices.

📉 Active Option Trade Tracker

We have some fantastic news to share regarding our active trades. On Wednesday, we took advantage of the price action to lock in gains on our primary index positions.

• US 500 (IG Index): Closed on Wednesday for a realised profit of 2.98% in just 15 days.
• XSP (IBKR): Closed on Wednesday for a realised gain of 1.58% in 15 days.
• TLT Short $86 Put: This option expires tonight in the IBKR account. It will realise a gain of 0.85%. There is nothing to do here; the option will expire worthless and disappear from the account, with the full gain realised in our cash balance.

Performance Note: Our US 500 portfolio is now up 5.44% for the year. Considering the S&P 500 is only up 0.25% over the same period, this significantly demonstrates our outperformance through disciplined, high-probability trading.

📋 Long-Term Buy Watchlist Update

We continue to stay patient as the market undergoes this healthy rotation.

• DELL, NVDA & AMD: We are watching these closely for an entry. DELL closed yesterday at $118.04, showing some resilience, while NVDA slipped slightly to $187.90.
• New Additions to Watchlist: We have officially added MSFT, NFLX, AMZN, and MA (Mastercard) to the list. We are looking for these quality compounders to reach our technical "buy zones" in the coming days.
• Wait & See: For CRM, PYPL, and ORCL, we are waiting for a definitive end to the pattern of lower lows before we commit capital.

📅 Market Review for Thursday, February 19, 2026

Overview: The market’s three-day winning streak was snapped yesterday. Investors digested Fed minutes that suggested "higher for longer" rates might still be on the table, while a spike in crude oil prices due to US-Iran tensions added a layer of geopolitical risk to the mix.

🏛️ FX & Crypto Review

• Bitcoin (BTC): Gained +1.31% to finish near $67,088, snapping a two-day losing streak despite the general "risk-off" mood in equities.
• EUR/USD: Slipped as the Dollar found some support from the hawkish tone in the FOMC minutes.

📈 Major Indices & Commodities

• S&P 500: Fell -0.28%, closing at 6,861.89.
• Nasdaq Composite: Slipped -0.31%, finishing at 22,682.73.
• Dow Jones Industrial Average: Dropped -0.54% (-267 points), closing at 49,395.16.
• Gold: Edged higher as a safe-haven asset, trading near $4,950 per ounce.
• WTI Crude Oil: Spiked on geopolitical uncertainty, settling higher at $63.50 per barrel.

📊 Specific Stock Performance

• WMT (Walmart): Down -1.38% ($124.87). Rattled the retail sector with a cautious 2026 guidance.
• NVDA (Nvidia): Down -0.04% ($187.90). Remained remarkably flat despite the tech-sector pressure
• DELL (Dell Technologies): Up +1.08% ($118.04). Showing relative strength ahead of its earnings next week.
• MSFT (Microsoft): Down -0.30% ($398.41). Watchlist: Consolidating just below the $400 psychological level.
• META (Meta Platforms): Up +0.24% ($644.78). One of the few mega-cap tech names to finish in the green.

📞 Strategy Call Assistance

If you require assistance with trade setup, risk management, or strategy review, please schedule a strategy call.

• PREMIUM Plan Members: Strategy calls are included in your plan.
• All Other Members: Strategy calls can be scheduled at a rate of €100 per half hour.

Happy Investing

Share Navigator Support

www.sharenavigator.ie