Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq Up on Strong Jobs; CPI Outlook Looming (02-12-26)

U.S. stocks opened higher on February 12, 2026, as investors weighed earnings and prepared for Friday’s CPI to assess rate-cut prospects. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) rose about 0.5% after ending a three-day losing streak; the S&P 500 (^GSPC) and Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) gained roughly 0.3% after a choppy session. Earnings highlighted sectoral risks from AI-driven spending: Cisco Systems (CSCO) fell over 7% at open as a profit outlook harmed by memory cost squeezes outweighed sales gains. McDonald’s (MCD) shares rose slightly after earnings beat, while Coinbase (COIN), Applied Materials (AMAT), and Rivian (RIVN) are scheduled for after-hours reports. The mixed session follows stronger-than-expected January nonfarm payrolls and a smaller-than-expected decline in jobless claims. A resilient labor market with sticky inflation is seen reducing the odds of near-term interest-rate cuts, keeping pressure on rate-cut bets ahead of Friday’s CPI reading.