Economic Trends 12 February 2026 - 24 May 2026

CLMB edges higher after long holiday weekend
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CLMB edges higher after long holiday weekend

Climb Global Solutions Inc. climbed in late trading Tuesday, with tech stocks mostly firmer as U.S. markets got back to business after Memorial Day. Shares in the Nasdaq IT distributor last changed hands at $21.17 at 3:50 p.m. ET, up 21 cents, or 1.0%. The stock moved between $21.03 and $21.45. Timing played a role. Nasdaq had Memorial Day, May 25, marked as a market holiday, so Tuesday opened trading after the long weekend. Risk appetite was strong, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq both near all-time highs. According to Reuters, the Nasdaq was up 1.01% and the S&P 500 added 0.54% as of 2:13 p.m. EDT.
May 26, 2026
VIRC Stock Near $6: Why the Memorial Day Reopen Matters Now
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VIRC Stock Near $6: Why the Memorial Day Reopen Matters Now

Virco Manufacturing Corp. shares ended the week at $5.98, leaving the Nasdaq-listed school-furniture maker slightly lower over five sessions and down 2.0% on Friday before the U.S. holiday break. The stock’s market value was about $94 million at the latest quote. The timing matters now. Nasdaq’s holiday calendar shows U.S. equity trading closed on Monday, May 25, for Memorial Day, so VIRC will not get another regular session until Tuesday.
May 24, 2026
Winmark Shares Gain as WINA Draws Interest into Holiday
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Winmark Shares Gain as WINA Draws Interest into Holiday

Winmark Corp. shares added 0.7% to finish at $364.86 on Friday, marking a third session of gains for the small-cap resale franchisor. The stock changed hands between $360.32 and $367.40. Volume came in at 36,623 shares, according to StockAnalysis data. WINA is back on track after a bumpier spring. As of Friday's close, Winmark had a market cap around $1.31 billion and a P/E of 32.91, according to Google Finance. The average volume sits at 57,120 shares, but Friday's action came in lighter than that.
May 23, 2026
Commonwealth Bank Australia Sees 250% Fixed-Rate Search Surge Before RBA Decision
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Commonwealth Bank Australia Sees 250% Fixed-Rate Search Surge Before RBA Decision

Borrowers in Australia are scrambling for stability. Commonwealth Bank of Australia reported a surge—searches for fixed-rate loan terms soared by more than 250% in March compared with the same month last year, ahead of what’s expected to be another Reserve Bank of Australia rate hike next week. “Knowing what your repayments will be over a period of time can make it easier to plan and manage expenses,” said Marcos Meneguzzi, CBA’s executive general manager for home buying. The issue has fresh urgency: Australian mortgages remain mostly tied to variable rates, meaning repayments shift along with the RBA’s cash rate. That’s the key lever for borrowing costs. In its February policy statement, the RBA put the share of new and outstanding
May 1, 2026
Last Week on SIX Swiss Exchange: SMI Slides 6.6% as Roche, Zurich and Franc Jitters Bite
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Last Week on SIX Swiss Exchange: SMI Slides 6.6% as Roche, Zurich and Franc Jitters Bite

The Swiss Market Index slid 1.52% on Friday to finish at 13,095.55, extending its drop to about 6.6% since February’s 14,014 mark, according to SIX. It’s been a tough stretch on the SIX Swiss Exchange, with war jitters, surging oil, and investors piling into the franc all weighing down even the biggest names. This shift counts because the SMI stands as Switzerland’s top equity gauge, covering 20 heavyweight, highly traded stocks—close to three-quarters of the market by value. SIX reported that CHF 104 billion worth of shares changed hands on the exchange in February, marking a 6% increase versus last year. The reversal came right on the heels of that pickup in trading activity and prices.
March 7, 2026
ADP jobs report: U.S. private payrolls rise 63,000 in February as job-switch pay edge hits record low
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ADP jobs report: U.S. private payrolls rise 63,000 in February as job-switch pay edge hits record low

U.S. private sector payrolls climbed by 63,000 in February, marking the strongest monthly jump since July, according to Wednesday’s ADP National Employment Report. January figures, though, were revised lower—down to 11,000 from an initial 22,000. Economists surveyed by Reuters had been looking for a 50,000-job gain last month. It’s a tough spot for the Federal Reserve. The next policy meeting lands March 17-18, with rates stuck at 3.50%-3.75%. Now, officials have to contend with a new oil-driven inflation threat, just as hiring momentum has faded. “It will feed into headline inflation,” Fed Governor Stephen Miran acknowledged, but he pushed back on broader concerns: “evidence that it feeds into core inflation … is quite limited.”
March 4, 2026
Shanghai stocks reopen after Lunar New Year: Shanghai Composite faces trade jitters and a spending reality check
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Shanghai stocks reopen after Lunar New Year: Shanghai Composite faces trade jitters and a spending reality check

Shanghai, Feb 22, 2026, 14:01 CST — The market has closed. Shanghai markets will swing back into action Tuesday as mainland Chinese stocks resume trading after the week-long Lunar New Year hiatus. Investors return to an unsettled scene: new doubt over U.S. tariffs and the first hints of a pickup in holiday-driven demand.
February 22, 2026
Marks & Spencer share price hovers near 400p as UK inflation week begins
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Marks & Spencer share price hovers near 400p as UK inflation week begins

London, February 16, 2026, 10:22 GMT — Regular session Marks & Spencer Group plc shares eased 0.1% to 398.6 pence on the London Stock Exchange by 10:22 GMT on Monday, a move of about half a penny on the day. Quotes were delayed by 15 minutes, and no new Regulatory News Service statements were listed for the retailer. The stock was valued at about £8.0 billion.
February 16, 2026
US mortgage rate dips to 6.09% — a small break for buyers as spring nears
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US mortgage rate dips to 6.09% — a small break for buyers as spring nears

Mortgage rates in the U.S. dipped slightly this week. Freddie Mac reported Thursday that the average 30-year fixed loan now sits at 6.09%, down from 6.11% last week. The 15-year fixed dropped, too, easing to 5.44% from 5.50%. A year ago, the 30-year was sitting much higher at 6.87%. Borrowing costs remain stuck near their lowest point in almost three years, right as the spring homebuying window approaches. “Housing affordability continues to measurably improve,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist.
February 12, 2026