Dow Jones and S&P 500 Close Lower on Fed Policy Signal; NASDAQ Stabilizes

U.S. stock indices closed lower on February 13, 2026, as traders interpreted comments from Federal Reserve officials as a potential precursor to tighter monetary policy. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 2.3% (-1,123.5 points) to 36,450.7, while the S&P 500 declined 2.1% to 4,872.4. The NASDAQ Composite ended flat at 15,342.1 after volatile early trading. The Federal Open Market Committee is scheduled to release its latest policy statement on February 15, 2026.