5 Things to Know Before the Stock Market Opens on February 13, 2026

Markets brace for another day of legacy system volatility while digital assets quietly build foundational infrastructure.

Pre-Market Jitters Hit Traditional Portfolios

Traders scramble to interpret yesterday's closing numbers—a ritual as old as the ticker tape itself. The opening bell still dictates billions in automated flows, yet the underlying mechanics feel increasingly archaic.

Institutional Moves You Can't Ignore

Five major data points dominate the conversation. Each represents a force that will tug at traditional asset prices, creating the noise that active managers claim they can navigate—for a hefty fee, of course.

The Global Ripple Effect

Overnight action in Asia and Europe sets the tone. Currency fluctuations, commodity shocks, and geopolitical statements filter through layers of intermediaries before hitting the retail investor. It's a slow-motion game of telephone where seconds cost millions.

Earnings Reports: The Rearview Mirror Guide

Companies report on quarters already past—historical data dressed up as forward guidance. Analysts parse executive tone for clues, often missing the silent migration of value happening on-chain, in real-time.

Sentiment vs. Substance

The final number to watch is the mood itself. Fear, greed, and the relentless pursuit of a narrative. It's a system powered by human psychology, beautifully irrational and endlessly exploitable—the ultimate contrast to protocol-governed, code-is-law environments.

Meanwhile, decentralized finance doesn't 'open.' It just is. The only bell that rings is the one signaling another legacy finance firm launching a blockchain division two years too late.

Stock Futures Slip After Thursday's Tech-Fueled Sell-Off

Stock futures are losing ground this morning as investors digest a flurry of earnings reports and await key inflation data. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500 and Nasdaq were each down 0.2% recently. The major indexes closed sharply lower on Thursday—the Dow shed 670 points and the Nasdaq dropped 2%—as investors dumped tech stocks. Bitcoin, which has tumbled in recent weeks, was at $67,000 recently, up from an overnight low of $65,300. Gold futures were up 0.8% at just under $5,000 an ounce, while WTI futures, the U.S. crude oil benchmark, slipped 0.7% to $62.40 per barrel. The yield on the 10-year Treasury, which hit its lowest level since December yesterday, was holding steady this morning at 4.10%.

CPI Data Expected to Show Inflation Cooled in January

The Consumer Price index report, due to be released at 8:30 a.m. ET, is expected to show that inflation moderated in January from the month before. The CPI is expected to have risen 2.5% in January compared to the same time a year ago, down from a 2.7% bump in December. Core inflation, which excludes more-volatile food and energy costs, is also expected to have risen by 2.5%, down from 2.6% in December and the lowest mark since 2021. Tariffs stoked inflation for much of last year, keeping it well above the Federal Reserve's 2% target, but inflation has slowed recently as companies look to have finished raising prices to mitigate the impact of tariffs. However, some experts have said inflation could pick back up later this year thanks to the tax cuts passed by Congress last year and the three Fed rate cuts that came late last year. A soft inflation reading could boost expectations that the Fed will be in a position to start cutting rates again, after a strong January jobs report earlier this week tempered investor hopes for further cuts.

Applied Materials Stock Soars on Strong Earnings

Shares of Applied Materials (AMAT) are surging Friday morning, a day after the company's fiscal first-quarter results topped Wall Street estimates. The Maker of semiconductor manufacturing equipment reported $7.01 billion in revenue, a smaller decline than analysts had forecast, while adjusted earnings per share were flat year-over-year at $2.38. Applied Materials' sales and profit forecasts for the second quarter also came in well above estimates. The company recently announced the conclusion of a federal government probe launched in 2023 investigating whether it violated export restrictions to China between 2020 and 2022, and said it has agreed to pay a $252.5 million settlement to the Department of Commerce. Applied Materials shares were up more than 10% in recent premarket trading, poised to open well above a record close of $341.34 set last month.

Rivian Jumps as EV Maker Lays Out Growth Plans

Rivian (RIVN) shares are also on the move Friday after the electric vehicle maker posted a solid quarter. The electric vehicle maker narrowly topped revenue estimates at $1.29 billion, while recording a smaller adjusted loss than analysts had forecast. Rivian said its plans to start selling the R2, an SUV that will be cheaper than its current vehicles, remain on track for the second quarter, and that more details about its product lineup will be coming at a March 12 event. Rivian expects to deliver between 62,000 and 67,000 vehicles this year, up from the 42,247 it delivered last year. The company hopes software upgrades and its new model can help drive demand that has slowed in the U.S. after the TRUMP administration allowed EV tax credits to expire last September. Rivian shares were up 22% ahead of the opening bell.

Coinbase Rises Despite Surprise Quarterly Loss

Coinbase (COIN) stock is gaining premarket despite posting a surprise loss in its latest quarterly results as executives tried to reassure investors about its prospects despite crypto's recent slump. The cryptocurrency exchange recorded $1.78 billion in fourth-quarter revenue, slightly below estimates, while it posted a surprise net loss of $2.49 per share. The company said it remains bullish on the crypto market long-term, while also noting its plans to continue diversifying its offerings to include equities and other rapidly growing areas such as prediction markets. Coinbase and other crypto-related stocks have tumbled in recent weeks as bitcoin has experienced renewed volatility, earlier this month hitting its lowest point since Oct. 2024. Coinbase shares were up 5% recently, but entered the day down nearly 70% from their July 2025 record levels.