Stocks edge higher after swinging through worries about AI and the economy

February 18, 2026

NEW YORK (AP) — A quiet finish for the U.S. stock market on Tuesday masked big swings underneath the surface as companies talked about how discouraged their customers are feeling and some tech stocks continued to feel the downside of the artificial-intelligence boom. The S&P 500 rose 0.1% after flipping earlier between a gain of 0.5% and a loss of nearly 1%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 32 points, or 0.1%, and the Nasdaq composite gained 0.1%. Paramount Skydance helped lead the market and rose 4.9% after Warner Bros. Discovery said it would allow Paramount a chance to ...

Soaring coffee prices rewrite some Americans’ daily routines

February 17, 2026

NEW YORK (AP) — For years, it was a daily McDonald’s trip for a cup of coffee with 10 sugars and five creams. Later, it was Starbucks caramel macchiatos with almond milk and two pumps of syrup. Coffee has been a morning ritual for Chandra Donelson since she was old enough to drink it. ...

TSA agents are working without pay at US airports due to another shutdown

February 17, 2026

(AP) — A shutdown of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that took effect early Saturday impacts the agency responsible for screening passengers and bags at airports across the country. Travelers with airline reservations may be nervously recalling a 43-day government shutdown that led to historic flight cancellations and long delays last year. Transportation Security Administration officers are expected to work without pay while lawmakers remain without an agreement on DHS’ annual funding. TSA officers also worked through the record shutdown that ended Nov. 12, but aviation ...

Inflation measure falls to nearly five-year low as gas prices fall and housing costs cool

February 14, 2026

WASHINGTON (AP) — A key measure of inflation fell to nearly a five-year low last month as apartment rental price growth slowed and gas prices fell, offering some relief to Americans grappling with the sharp cost increases of the past five years. Inflation dropped to 2.4% in January ...

U.S. stocks drop sharply as investors hunt for losers that will be hurt by AI

February 13, 2026

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks fell sharply Thursday as the market punished companies seen as potential losers from artificial-intelligence technology. The S&P 500 sank 1.6% for its second-worst day since Thanksgiving, though it’s still near its all-time high set late last month. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 669 points, or 1.3%, and the Nasdaq composite fell 2%. AppLovin lost nearly a fifth of its value and tumbled 19.7%, even though it reported a stronger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected. Like other software companies, it’s come under pressure from ...

U.S. stocks wobble after feeling both sides of a strong job market report

February 12, 2026

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks felt both the upside and downside Wednesday of a surprisingly strong report that said the nation’s unemployment rate improved last month. After initially rising toward an all-time high, the S&P 500 flipped between gains and losses before finishing with a minuscule dip of less than 0.1%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 66 points, or 0.1%, and the Nasdaq composite fell 0.2%. Both also erased early gains. Treasury yields, meanwhile, remained higher in the bond market after the Labor Department said U.S. employers added 130,000 jobs to their ...