Wall Street Retreats as Geopolitical Tensions and Hawkish Fed Minutes Weigh on Sentiment

Market Overview: A Day of RetreatU.S. stock indexes finished lower on Thursday, February 19th, 2026, as investors grappled with a combination of hawkish signals from the Federal Reserve and escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. The market's downward trajectory was further fueled by a "good news is bad news" reaction to robust economic data, which suggested that the central bank may keep interest rates elevated for longer than previously anticipated.By the closing bell at 4:00 PM ET, the S&P 5 ...