Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on Feb. 20, 2026. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
Stocks closed the week higher on bargain hunting despite lingering concerns that artificial intelligence (AI) could shift from a market tailwind to a headwind, alongside mixed signals on the state of monetary policy and the economy.
For the week, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 0.35 percent to 49,625, remaining below its Feb. 18 high. The S&P 500 advanced by 1.12 percent to 6,909, while the Nasdaq Composite gained 1.28 percent. The Russell 2000 outperformed, climbing by 1.83 percent.
