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Feb 18, 2026 4:11 PM

Tech Stocks Rebound, Crude Rallies Above $64 On Iran Tensions: What's Moving Markets Wednesday?

Tech stocks recovered on Wednesday, led by a rally in battered software names, as the Nasdaq 100 jumped 1.4% past 25,000, outpacing the S&P 500's 1% gain and the Dow's 0.7% advance.

Cadence Design Systems Inc. (NASDAQ:CDNS) led the tech advance, jumping nearly 10% after the chip-design software provider topped fourth-quarter revenue estimates and projected strong growth for 2026, supported by share buybacks and AI-driven demand.

The iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF (NYSE:IGV) climbed 1.8%, while AI darling Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:PLTR) surged 4.5%.

Not all tech stocks experienced an upswing. Cybersecurity firm Palo Alto Networks Inc. (NASDAQ:PANW) fell 6% after trimming its annual profit outlook, even though the company delivered quarterly results that beat expectations. Shares slid to levels last seen on April 8, 2025, during the peak of the Trump tariff shock.

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