Markets are off to a volatile and unstable start in 2026 —but why?

In today’s Markets with Megan, Megan Horneman walks through the six key forces driving market volatility, explaining how economic data, policy uncertainty, and shifting investor behavior are colliding across asset classes.

What 6 forces are shaking the markets?

1️⃣ A weakening labor market
Job openings have fallen to their lowest level since 2020, while January layoffs surged nearly 120% year over year, raising concerns that labor market cracks are widening.

2️⃣ Rising AI capital expenditures pressuring big tech
Heavy investment in AI by major hyperscalers has increased scrutiny around returns on capital, creating volatility in once-dominant tech stocks.

3️⃣ A rotation away from mega-cap leadership
Investors are moving toward small- and mid-cap stocks, with the equal-weighted S&P 500 outperforming the market-cap-weighted index — contributing to choppy market action.

4️⃣ Seasonality and midterm election uncertainty
February is historically one of the weakest months for the S&P 500, and midterm election years tend to bring deeper drawdowns and heightened volatility.

5️⃣ Federal Reserve leadership and balance-sheet concerns
Markets are reacting to uncertainty around the Fed’s future direction, particularly fears of aggressive balance-sheet reduction and its impact on liquidity and credit markets.

6️⃣ A slowing, debt-strained consumer
Disappointing December retail sales, slowing discretionary spending, and rising delinquencies across credit cards, auto loans, and student debt are signaling pressure on consumer-driven growth.

📉 With volatility hitting equities, commodities, and Bitcoin, Megan explains what these forces mean for economic growth, market leadership, and investor positioning in the months ahead.

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https://youtu.be/KpX4CniuOJE

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