Weekly Market Update 18/02/2026

In this week's Weekly Market Update, we analyse a turbulent week of headlines that saw significant volatility in individual stocks despite relatively modest movement at the index level.

We dive deep into the primary catalyst of the week: the launch of a new AI tool claiming to automate a substantial amount of the work traditionally performed by wealth managers and financial planners. This development sent shockwaves through the market, causing several UK investment platforms to trade significantly lower, with one name falling by double digits.

In this episode, we also discuss:

• The Expansion of the AI "Witch Hunt": How the initial sell-off in SaaS companies has spread to sectors like real estate, logistics, and consumer staples.
• Second-Order Effects: The growing investor concern that AI-related job cuts in the professional sector will flow through to industries like business travel and catering.
• Market Sentiment vs. Fundamentals: Why the market is adopting a "shoot first, ask questions later" approach regarding the terminal value of businesses perceived to be under threat.
• Macro Stability: A look at the positive backdrop of global economic growth and the lower-than-expected US inflation print.
• UK Economic Outlook: What to expect from upcoming employment data and the likelihood of Bank of England rate cuts starting as early as April.