From the Desk - Economic Commentary
Brandon Casey, Member Strategies - 3/10/2026
U.S. stocks are lower Tuesday morning as investors continue to monitor the conflict with Iran. President Trump said on Monday that major strides were being made to finish the military objective, while the Defense Secretary said today will be the most intense day of strikes. Stocks rallied on Monday to finish higher.
The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index declined to 98.8 in February from 99.3 in January, marking its second consecutive monthly decrease. According to NFIB, the index remains slightly above its long-term average of 98, with February’s reading reflecting weaker sales expectations and mixed movement across the survey’s ten components. The Uncertainty Index fell three points to 88, indicating reduced concern among small business owners compared to the prior month.
Existing home sales rose 1.7% in February to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.09 million, up from a revised 4.02 million in January. The report showed modest inventory growth to 1.29 million units. The median existing-home price reached $398,000, up 0.3% from one year ago, while the supply of unsold homes held steady at 3.8 months.
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