Market Analysis 17 February 2026 - 19 February 2026

Bitcoin price slips near $66,000 as Fed minutes and ETF outflows keep traders cautious
···

Bitcoin price slips near $66,000 as Fed minutes and ETF outflows keep traders cautious

Bitcoin dropped 1% to $66,459 Thursday amid continued outflows from U.S. spot bitcoin ETFs and uncertainty over Federal Reserve rate policy. The dollar strengthened after jobless claims fell, while ether slid 2.6% to $1,923. Fed minutes showed officials open to possible rate hikes if inflation persists. Traders await Friday’s U.S. PCE inflation report.
February 19, 2026
XRP price slides 5% despite SocGen stablecoin move on XRP Ledger — traders eye inflation data
···

XRP price slides 5% despite SocGen stablecoin move on XRP Ledger — traders eye inflation data

XRP dropped 4.8% to $1.39 Thursday, tracking declines in bitcoin and ether as traders weighed mixed signals from the Federal Reserve. Societe Generale’s SG-FORGE launched its euro stablecoin on the XRP Ledger with Ripple’s custody support. U.S. jobless claims fell to 206,000, below forecasts. EUR CoinVertible has 69.8 million euros in circulation, backed 1:1 by cash.
February 19, 2026
Natural gas price slips after EIA storage report as traders eye late-winter weather risk
···

Natural gas price slips after EIA storage report as traders eye late-winter weather risk

U.S. natural gas futures slipped 0.5% midday Thursday after the EIA reported a 144 billion cubic feet storage withdrawal last week, in line with expectations. The March Henry Hub contract traded at $3.016 per mmBtu, down 1.5 cents. Storage now stands at 2,070 Bcf, 123 Bcf below the five-year average. Traders are watching weather forecasts, output, and LNG demand ahead of the next EIA report on Feb. 26.
February 19, 2026
Exxon stock price jumps 3% as oil rallies and big projects hit fresh milestones
···

Exxon stock price jumps 3% as oil rallies and big projects hit fresh milestones

Exxon Mobil shares rose 3.07% to $150.68, outperforming Chevron and ConocoPhillips as oil prices jumped over 4% on supply concerns. The Golden Pass LNG project neared first production, and Exxon reported Guyana’s Uaru and Whiptail oil projects are ahead of schedule. Traders await U.S. inventory data Thursday. Exxon also filed a shelf registration for potential future debt issuance.
February 19, 2026
Gasoline prices jump as oil spikes on Iran risk — RBOB futures, UGA ETF climb
···

Gasoline prices jump as oil spikes on Iran risk — RBOB futures, UGA ETF climb

NYMEX RBOB gasoline futures rose about 2.5% to $1.96 a gallon Wednesday as oil prices jumped over 3% on renewed geopolitical supply risks. Brent crude climbed $2.38 to $69.80 a barrel, while U.S. WTI gained $2.39 to $64.72. Traders await U.S. inventory data from the API later Wednesday and the EIA on Thursday. AAA reported the national average for regular gasoline at $2.923 a gallon.
February 18, 2026
Heating oil price jumps nearly 5% as Hormuz jitters ripple through diesel market
···

Heating oil price jumps nearly 5% as Hormuz jitters ripple through diesel market

Front-month NYMEX heating oil futures jumped 11.4 cents to $2.5049 per gallon Wednesday, tracking a sharp rebound in crude as Middle East tensions resurfaced. Traders cited renewed risk around Iran and the Strait of Hormuz. The move followed a drop Tuesday on signs of progress in U.S.-Iran talks. Market focus now shifts to U.S. fuel inventory data due Thursday.
February 18, 2026
Oil prices jump over 3% as Strait of Hormuz jitters flare again; Brent nears $70
···

Oil prices jump over 3% as Strait of Hormuz jitters flare again; Brent nears $70

Brent crude jumped 3.5% to $69.80 a barrel and WTI rose 3.8% to $64.72 Wednesday as U.S.-Iran tensions and a brief Strait of Hormuz closure stoked supply fears. Iran said it shut parts of the strait for military drills during nuclear talks with the U.S., but did not confirm a full reopening. Joint Iran-Russia naval exercises are set for Thursday. OPEC+ is considering resuming output hikes in April, sources said.
February 18, 2026
XRP price today: token slips to $1.46 as SocGen FORGE’s euro stablecoin hits XRP Ledger
···

XRP price today: token slips to $1.46 as SocGen FORGE’s euro stablecoin hits XRP Ledger

XRP fell 1.5% to $1.46 on Wednesday but remained up 8% from a week earlier. Société Générale-FORGE launched its euro-pegged stablecoin on the XRP Ledger, with Ripple providing custody infrastructure. Digital-asset products saw $173 million in outflows last week, though XRP-linked funds drew $33.4 million in inflows. Bitcoin traded near $67,090 and ether at $1,976.
February 18, 2026
Bitcoin price stuck near $67,000 as Fed minutes and ETF outflows keep traders cautious
···

Bitcoin price stuck near $67,000 as Fed minutes and ETF outflows keep traders cautious

Bitcoin slipped 0.2% to $67,062 in volatile U.S. trading Wednesday, while ether rose 0.6% to $1,974.90. U.S.-listed spot bitcoin ETFs have seen $8.5 billion in outflows since Oct. 10, Bloomberg reported. Riot Platforms jumped 9.4% after Starboard Value pressed for a faster move into AI data-center deals. The Federal Reserve releases meeting minutes at 2 p.m. ET.
February 18, 2026
Exxon Mobil stock climbs as oil jumps on geopolitics — here’s what traders watch next
···

Exxon Mobil stock climbs as oil jumps on geopolitics — here’s what traders watch next

Exxon Mobil shares climbed 2.5% to $149.83 by late morning Wednesday as crude prices rebounded. Brent rose 2.9% to $69.38 a barrel after Russia-Ukraine talks broke down and U.S.-Iran tensions persisted. Exxon said its Guyana gas pipeline is ready but needs more local demand; parts of the Stabroek Block remain under force majeure due to a border dispute. Mobil Oil Australia was fined A$16 million for misleading fuel claims.
February 18, 2026
Apple stock price edges up in premarket as Wedbush’s Ives calls selloff “unwarranted”
···

Apple stock price edges up in premarket as Wedbush’s Ives calls selloff “unwarranted”

Apple shares rose 0.16% to $264.29 in premarket trading Wednesday after a 3.17% jump Tuesday. Wedbush reiterated its $350 price target, dismissing AI-delay concerns. Berkshire Hathaway disclosed it cut its Apple stake by 4% last quarter but kept it as its largest holding. Investors await Apple’s March 4 event and Feb. 24 annual meeting for updates.
February 18, 2026
Oil prices slide on U.S.-Iran talk progress; Brent hits two-week low before inventory data
···

Oil prices slide on U.S.-Iran talk progress; Brent hits two-week low before inventory data

Brent crude fell 2.1% to $67.24 a barrel Tuesday after Iran signaled progress in nuclear talks with the U.S. The Strait of Hormuz saw temporary closures for Iranian military drills, while a drone attack caused a fire at Russia’s Ilsky refinery. Oil from Kazakhstan’s Tengiz field is gradually returning after an outage. Many Asian markets were closed for Lunar New Year, limiting early trading activity.
February 17, 2026
Gasoline prices today: UGA ETF ticks up even as RBOB slips on U.S.-Iran talk hopes
···

Gasoline prices today: UGA ETF ticks up even as RBOB slips on U.S.-Iran talk hopes

NYMEX March RBOB gasoline slipped 0.1% to $1.9080 per gallon Tuesday, while U.S. average pump prices held at $2.917, AAA reported. Refiners Valero, Marathon, and Phillips 66 dropped 1%-2% as crude oil hit a two-week low on U.S.-Iran nuclear talks. California faces higher costs as it imports more gasoline amid refinery closures. A drone attack set fire to Russia’s Ilsky refinery, Russian officials said.
February 17, 2026
1 … 6 7 8 9 10 11

Stock Market Today

  • Australian Job Mobility Hits Record Low Amid Rising Economic Uncertainty
    May 24, 2026, 3:48 PM EDT. Australian job mobility has declined sharply, with only 7.7% of workers changing jobs in the year to February 2025, down from nearly 20% in 1989. Economic indicators reveal Australians are increasingly risk-averse, hesitant to move jobs, start businesses, or relocate between states. Factors include housing costs, the burden of large mortgages averaging $700,000, and a tightening labor market. Research from the e61 Institute highlights a fall in self-employment to a 20-year low of 14%, as more workers opt for wage jobs offering greater security through benefits like superannuation and paid leave. Business strategist Kate McCready attributes this shift to fears over job retention amid technological advances like AI and global uncertainties. The trend suggests Australians are 'stuck' in current roles, limiting labor market dynamism.