CNBC Business News Update Market Midday: Stocks Higher, Investors Wait For Fed Meeting Minutes, Facebook And Instagram Parent Meta CEO Testifies At Social Media Trial 2/18/26
Feb 18, 2026
David Faber, CNBC reporter on sports franchise valuations, Marta Norton, market commentator on earnings and AI themes, and Julia Boorstin, tech and media reporter covering the social media trial. They discuss market movers like Goldman Sachs and NVIDIA. Conversation covers why strong earnings meet investor caution, Meta CEO testimony at a landmark trial, and possible MSG team spinoffs.
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Market Rises But Not Skyrocketing
- The market is rising today with the Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq all up, led by gains in Goldman Sachs and NVIDIA.
- Strong corporate earnings have not pushed the market to new highs due to broader themes like AI disruption.
Fed Minutes Are Market Catalyst
- Investors await the Fed meeting minutes to parse clues about future interest-rate moves today.
- Markets will comb the minutes for any signals that could shift interest-rate expectations.
Big Tobacco Trial For Social Media
- Mark Zuckerberg testified in a high-profile 'Big Tobacco' style trial about social media addiction.
- Parents attended the courtroom holding photos of children harmed after encountering predators or becoming suicidal.