By Caitlin McCabe

U.S. stock futures rose alongside global indexes Monday, suggesting investors are moving past recent concerns about AI disruption.

As of late morning in London, contracts tied to the S&P 500, Dow industrials and Nasdaq-100 each gained less than 0.5%. U.S. markets were closed for Presidents Day, while numerous global markets were also shut for holidays, keeping trading subdued.

In recent sessions, money managers have marked down stocks in industries as varied as software, wealth management and trucking, worried these businesses could be disrupted by artificial-intelligence tools. Both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq composite are in the red for the year.

The week ahead could see a shift of emphasis. Important data releases and earnings will likely "become the markets' focus in terms of what's going on with the consumer," said Altaf Kassam, Europe head of investment strategy and research at State Street Investment Management.

The data calendar includes a first read on U.S. growth in the last three months of 2025, due on Friday. Gross domestic product likely expanded at a 3.7% annualized rate, the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta's GDPNow model predicts -- a robust pace but slowing from the third quarter.

Reports on housing, manufacturing and services activity are also due, plus the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge and minutes from the central bank's January meeting.

Meanwhile, earnings season is entering the homestretch. As of Friday, 369 of the S&P 500 had reported earnings, with 80% beating or matching expectations, according to data provider LSEG. Companies due to report include Walmart, which recently became the first traditional retailer to attain a $1 trillion valuation, as well as Moody's, DoorDash and Carvana.

Some investors argue recently AI-linked selloffs are overblown, though few doubt that the technology will ultimately divide companies into haves and have-nots.

Kassam at State Street said he doesn't expect AI fears to abate. "What the last 18 months have told us is, keep calm and hold on," he said. "My view at the moment is that some of the sector selling is sensible and discriminate, and some of it is frankly indiscriminate."

Global stock indexes edged higher. A rally in banking stocks helped the Stoxx Europe 600 add 0.3%, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index gained 0.5%. Japan's Nikkei 225 shed 0.2%.

Markets in mainland China, South Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam were closed for Lunar New Year holidays, while exchanges are also closed Monday in Brazil and Canada.

Precious metals prices retreated, though most actively traded gold futures held above $5,000 a troy ounce. Oil prices slipped ahead of a second round of talks between the U.S. and Iran.

The WSJ Dollar Index strengthened. Bitcoin hovered just below $69,000.

Write to Caitlin McCabe at caitlin.mccabe@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

February 16, 2026 07:34 ET (12:34 GMT)

Copyright (c) 2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.