February 2026 Market Update: A Look at the Start of the Year and What We’re Watching Ahead
January 2026 opened with modest stock market gains and stable bond performance. Doug English of ACT Advisors reviews market activity and outlines how portfolios and financial planning are being approached in February.
Weekly Bottom Line
• President Trump has nominated former Fed governor Kevin Warsh as the next Fed Chair. The Federal Reserve elected to hold rates steady at the target range of 3.50-3.75%. The White House and Senate have reached a deal that would avert another government shutdown. The appropriations bill still needs to be confirmed by the House […]
Dueling Mandates: The Fed’s Policy Caution and Treasury’s Growing Borrowing Needs
The Federal Reserve (Fed) enters 2026 navigating potentially constrained policy conditions as resilient growth and above‑trend inflation intersect with an increasingly unsustainable fiscal trajectory. Fed Chair Jerome Powell emphasized that federal debt growth requires eventual corrective action, even if near‑term market risks remain limited. Rising primary deficits at near full employment further limit long‑run policy […]