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Stocks Slide as Oil Jumps on Rising US-Iran Tensions | The Close 2/19/2026

The Close highlighted a sharp equity sell‑off on Feb 19, 2026 as Brent crude surged to its highest level since July amid escalating U.S.–Iran tensions. The S&P 500 slipped about 0.6% and the Nasdaq 100 fell roughly 0.7%, while the VIX nudged back above the 20‑point mark. The slide was amplified by a brief rise in 10‑year Treasury yields to 4.07% before they steadied, and by news that asset manager Blue Owl would restrict withdrawals from a private‑credit fund, dragging down peers such as Apollo, Blackstone and KKR. Investors also braced for a key GDP report and a pending Supreme Court decision on Trump‑era tariffs, which have yet to narrow the trade deficit or boost domestic manufacturing. BlackRock’s chief strategist Gargi Chowdhury stressed that underlying economic fundamentals remain solid—strong industrial production, resilient labor market and easing inflation—but the market’s “skittish” tone reflects positioning and AI‑related rotation. She urged diversification within the AI value chain, exposure to emerging‑market equities and defensive semiconductor holdings. Meanwhile, CRH CEO Jim Mintern highlighted a multi‑year pipeline of over 100 U.S. data‑center projects, ongoing infrastructure funding optimism, and a $40 billion investment plan that includes aggressive M&A and a review of its London listing. For investors, the confluence of geopolitical risk, rising energy prices and sector‑specific stress underscores the need for broader diversification, defensive positioning in AI‑related hardware, and alternative safe‑haven assets such as gold or liquid alternatives. Monitoring bond‑equity correlation, inflation pressures on construction inputs, and policy developments will be critical to navigating the heightened volatility.