Wall Street Stumbles Tuesday as AI Concerns Shake Investor Confidence

Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at 10:17 AM

Major stock indexes dropped at Tuesday's opening bell following the long weekend, with artificial intelligence disruption worries weighing on market sentiment. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq both declined while the Dow managed a slight gain.

Wall Street experienced a mixed start to Tuesday’s trading session after the extended weekend, with major technology-heavy indexes declining as concerns about artificial intelligence-related market disruptions weighed on investor sentiment.

At the opening bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average managed a modest gain of 24.4 points, representing a 0.05% increase to reach 49,525.37. However, broader market indexes faced downward pressure, with the S&P 500 declining 16.3 points or 0.24% to open at 6,819.86. The technology-focused Nasdaq Composite experienced the steepest decline, falling 151.9 points or 0.67% to start trading at 22,394.756.

Market analysts pointed to growing anxiety about AI-driven disruptions as a key factor dampening trading sentiment, while investors also monitored ongoing nuclear negotiations between the United States and Iran for potential geopolitical implications.

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