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U.S. Tech Futures Down Ahead of Shortened Trading Week

By WSJ February 17, 2026 Bearish
U.S. Tech Futures Down Ahead of Shortened Trading Week
Anxiety around both AI spending and competition lingered in the U.S., while Lunar New Year celebrations closed markets in China and thinned trading elsewhere.

AI Analysis

Market uncertainty creates potential entry points for sophisticated precious metals investors. Short-term volatility may mask longer-term fundamental strengths in silver and gold markets.

U.S. equity markets face a subdued start to a shortened trading week, with technology sector anxieties continuing to weigh on investor sentiment. As Lunar New Year celebrations disrupt trading across Asia, tech futures demonstrate notable weakness, signaling potential volatility ahead for precious metals investors.

Global technology stock futures trading dashboard with market volatility indicators - Silver Intel

The tech-dominated Nasdaq futures fell 0.7% in early European trading, reflecting ongoing concerns about artificial intelligence spending and competitive dynamics. Nasdaq contracts are leading market losses, with futures for the Magnificent 7 tech stocks predominantly trading in negative territory.

Notably, gold prices remain under pressure, holding below the critical $5,000 per troy ounce mark. The holiday-thinned trading environment in China and broader Asian markets creates additional market uncertainty, potentially impacting precious metals trading volumes and price discovery.

Investors should closely monitor upcoming economic indicators, including U.S. ADP employment figures and inflation readings from the United States and Japan. Treasury yield movements will provide critical signals about potential market shifts.

The current market landscape suggests a cautious approach for precious metals investors. While short-term volatility appears likely, the underlying fundamentals of silver and gold remain supported by ongoing technological demand and global economic uncertainties.

Key Takeaways

Topics: tech futuresprecious metalsmarket volatilityLunar New Yeargold prices