Investors are dealing with a bout of Walmart (WMT) jitters. Shares of Walmart (WMT) seesawed on Thursday following below-consensus outlooks for the first quarter and full year. The company's stock dropped in early trading before reversing losses. The company checked a lot of boxes for the bulls. Operating profits grew faster than sales at all of Walmart's business segments. E-commerce sales rose by double-digit percentages at Walmart US and Sam's Club. And the retail behemoth uncorked a new $30 billion ...

Market Overview - U.S. equity markets are experiencing volatility due to disappointing corporate guidance, geopolitical tensions, and mixed economic data affecting interest rate outlooks [1][3] - Major indexes have softened after a strong performance led by technology gains, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average down 121 points (0.24%) to 49,542, S&P 500 down 13 points (0.19%) to 6,868, and Nasdaq Composite down 43 points (0.18%) to 22,712 [2] Economic Data - The Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index rose to 16.3 in February, significantly above the consensus estimate of 7.7, indicating continued expansion in regional manufacturing [4] - Initial jobless claims fell more than expected, highlighting the strength of the U.S. labor market [4] - Federal Reserve officials remain cautious about cutting interest rates too soon, with some suggesting potential rate hikes if inflation persists [5] Corporate News - Walmart reported better-than-expected quarterly earnings but issued a cautious profit forecast for 2026, leading to a more than 3% drop in shares [6] - Nvidia is in focus due to a partnership with Meta Platforms for AI chips, although its stock has moderated ahead of its earnings report [7] - Robinhood Markets shares fell 11% after revenue missed forecasts and high expense outlooks were provided [8] - Moderna's stock rose 6% following FDA review news for its flu vaccine candidate [8] - Exxon Mobil shares increased by 2.9% as crude oil prices rose amid geopolitical tensions [8] - Carvana's stock plummeted over 20% after reporting significant profitability loss in Q4 [8] - Smurfit Westrock shares surged 12% after an encouraging five-year financial forecast despite an earnings miss [8] Upcoming Events - Investors are monitoring "Fedspeak" from officials for monetary policy clues, with a primary focus on the upcoming PCE inflation data [9] - Geopolitical developments in the Middle East are influencing oil prices and the global inflation outlook [9]

Quick Read The personal savings rate collapsed from 6.2% to 4.2% over the past year. At 1.82% inflation $50K in annual retirement expenses will double to $102K over 25 years. Transfer receipts grew 9.3% year-over-year versus 4.1% wage income growth. A recent study identified one single habit that doubled Americans’ retirement savings and moved retirement from dream, to reality. Read more here. If you're in your mid-50s and haven't seriously confronted your retirement numbers, here's the uncomfor ...

Core Insights - There has been a significant increase in borrowing due to high inflation, with new personal loans rising by 24% in Q3 2025 compared to the previous year, particularly among borrowers with low credit scores [1] - Credit card accounts also saw an increase of 11.7%, with growth observed in both subprime and superprime segments [1][2] - Despite signs of cooling inflation, prices remain approximately 26% higher than pre-pandemic levels, affecting consumer sentiment negatively [3] Borrowing Trends - The Federal Reserve Bank of New York reported that 12.7% of credit card balances were 90 days or more overdue in Q4 2025, the highest level since 2011 [4] - Credit card balances increased by 4.2% at the end of last year, maintaining this growth rate for four consecutive quarters [4] - Personal loan balances reached a record high of $276 billion, remaining stable at about $8,400 per account compared to 2024 levels [5] Future Outlook - Credit card origination volumes are expected to moderate in 2026, indicating a potential stabilization in borrowing activity [5] - The overall sentiment suggests that the borrowing environment is settling down, despite the previous spikes in credit demand [5]

Minneapolis Fed president Neel Kashkari said Thursday he thinks the central bank is “pretty close” to neutral on the level of its benchmark policy rate, implying there may be little room left to cut rates. “We've cut interest rates a bunch in the last couple of years,” Kashkari said during a fireside chat at the Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber of Commerce. “My guess is we're pretty close to neutral on where our monetary policy is, but ultimately, we need to see, where does inflation go? Does it come all ...

Economic Indicators - The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) will publish the Personal Consumption Expenditure (PCE) Price Index on February 20, which is closely monitored by the Federal Reserve and could influence monetary policy for 2026 [1] - The PCE Price Index is preferred by the Fed over the Consumer Price Index (CPI) because it provides a broader measure of inflation and quickly reflects changes in consumer behavior [2] Inflation Trends - Recent CPI data showed consumer prices rose 2.4% annually in January, slightly below the expected 2.5%, with core CPI (excluding food and energy) at 2.5%, the lowest since April 2021 [3] - If the upcoming PCE Price Index confirms a moderation in inflation, it would align with the CPI report, indicating inflation is moving closer to the Fed's target [4] Monetary Policy Implications - A confirmation of moderating inflation would give the Fed room to implement additional interest rate cuts, with the futures market currently pricing in two to three quarter-percentage point cuts in 2026 [5] - Lower interest rates or the expectation of them could positively impact the stock market by reducing borrowing costs for companies and consumers, potentially boosting spending [6]

This story was originally published on CFO Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily CFO Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: Economic growth will likely be soft during the first half of this year, held back by gloomy consumer sentiments and weak new orders for manufactured goods, the Conference Board said Thursday. The Leading Economic Index fell 0.2% in December for its fifth straight monthly decline despite strength in equity markets, a rise in building permits for private housing ...

Economic Outlook - The current economic situation is not favorable, with expectations that it will worsen in the near future [2] - There is a significant concern regarding the impact of tariffs on inflation, with economists questioning their effectiveness [3][4] Tariffs and Manufacturing Jobs - The anticipated positive effects of tariffs on manufacturing jobs have not materialized, as manufacturing jobs have declined over the past year [9] - The overall trade deficit remains a concern, particularly in the context of a service-oriented economy where goods constitute less than 10% of GDP [10] Impact on Different Income Groups - Tariffs are viewed as regressive, disproportionately affecting lower-income individuals who spend a larger percentage of their income on goods [11][12] - The increase in jobs in the U.S. has primarily been in the healthcare sector, which is unrelated to tariff policies [12] Institutional Credibility - There is a noted decline in institutional credibility among economic advisors, particularly in the context of the Trump administration, which has affected the respect and trust within the economics profession [15][16] Federal Reserve and Interest Rates - Concerns have been raised about the new Fed chairman's ability to operate independently from political pressures, particularly from Trump [17] - Statements regarding AI's impact on productivity and interest rates have been met with skepticism, as there is uncertainty about the pace at which AI will influence the macro economy [19]

President Donald Trump celebrated Presidents' Day by touting a cooling economy and record-low crime, even as financial markets show a stark divide between blue-chip gains and a struggling tech sector. Inflation Hits Eight-Month Low In a social media post early Monday, Trump declared that “Prices and Inflation are Way Down,” a claim supported by the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data. The annual inflation rate slowed to 2.4% in January 2026, dropping from 2.7% in December. This reading came in below t ...

PaeGAG / Shutterstock Moneywise and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue through links in the content below. Cash is king, right? Well, not always. Sometimes you can have so much cash sitting around in your bank account that it turns into a wealth-devouring demon. On average, American families had about $62,410 in their checking accounts, according to the Federal Reserve’s 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances (1). For most people, that balance is simply higher than it should be. Top Picks In ...