Stocks, Bonds, Gold, Crypto: Market Update 2/18/2026
Here is a quick snapshot of how different asset classes moved yesterday, last week, and the last month.
- Equity rose 0.5% yesterday, versus -0.8% weekly and monthly shifts.
- Bonds fell 0.1% yesterday, after gaining 0.4% weekly and 0.8% monthly.
- Gold increased 2.2% in the last session, with weekly and monthly changes at -0.9% and 8.8%.
- Commodities gained 2.6% yesterday, with positive returns over the week and month too.
- Real estate dropped 1.2% yesterday, following 0.5% weekly and 1.9% monthly gains.
- Gold declined 0.3% yesterday, also posting losses for the week and month.
| ETF | 1D | 1W | 1M | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equity | SPY | 0.5% | -0.8% | -0.8% |
| Bonds | AGG | -0.1% | 0.4% | 0.8% |
| Gold | GLD | 2.2% | -0.9% | 8.8% |
| Commodities | DBC | 2.6% | 0.3% | 4.5% |
| Real Estate | VNQ | -1.2% | 0.5% | 1.9% |
| Bitcoin | BTCUSD | -0.3% | -2.2% | -29.6% |
Why does it matter?
- Stronger Bet Than GE Aerospace Stock: FTAI Delivers More
- Better Value & Growth: MU, NVDA Lead Broadcom Stock
- Stronger Bet Than Qualcomm Stock: FSLR Delivers More
- NVDA, FSLR Look Smarter Buy Than Texas Instruments Stock
- YUM, MCD Look Smarter Buy Than Starbucks Stock
- Time To Buy The Dip In Crane NXT Stock?
- See where capital is flowing: Asset class performance reveals investor sentiment, from risk-on rallies to flight-to-safety moves.
- Track shifts in correlation: Rising correlations reduce diversification benefits and increase portfolio risk during stress.
- Spot early signs of rotation: Leadership changing across stocks, bonds, or commodities often precedes macro regime shifts.
Trefis works with Empirical Asset Management—a Boston-area wealth manager—whose asset allocation strategies yielded positive returns during the 2008-09 period when the S&P lost more than 40%. Empirical has incorporated the Trefis HQ Portfolio in this asset allocation framework to provide clients better returns with less risk versus the benchmark index; less of a roller-coaster ride, as evident in HQ Portfolio performance metrics.
Capital Flow Patterns Have Governed Historical Risk-Return Profile
| ETF | Return | Volatility | Sharpe | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equity | SPY | 15.8% | 15.1% | 90.0% |
| Bonds | AGG | 1.9% | 5.1% | -12.5% |
| Gold | GLD | 15.0% | 14.4% | 88.3% |
| Commodities | DBC | 8.6% | 16.2% | 45.3% |
| Real Estate | VNQ | 6.9% | 18.1% | 34.6% |
| Bitcoin | BTCUSD | 68.0% | 76.7% | 101.6% |
Figures are on annualized basis, based on monthly return data for last 10 years
How Stable Is Correlation Between Different Asset Classes?
| Equity | Bonds | Gold | Commodities | Real Estate | Bitcoin | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equity | – | 12% | 20% | 6.3% | 6.0% | 12% | 4.1% | 34% | 24% | 34% | 73% | 68% | 64% | 26% | 39% | 42% |
| Bonds | 12% | 20% | 6.3% | – | 32% | 30% | 5.9% | -0.4% | -3.0% | -14% | 28% | 38% | 33% | 11% | 7.4% | -5.3% |
| Gold | 6.0% | 12% | 4.1% | 32% | 30% | 5.9% | – | 29% | 38% | 49% | 12% | 17% | 6.3% | 10% | 9.5% | 12% |
| Commodities | 34% | 24% | 34% | -0.4% | -3.0% | -14% | 29% | 38% | 49% | – | 23% | 15% | 23% | 10% | 11% | 20% |
| Real Estate | 73% | 68% | 64% | 28% | 38% | 33% | 12% | 17% | 6.3% | 23% | 15% | 23% | – | 18% | 25% | 21% |
| Bitcoin | 26% | 39% | 42% | 11% | 7.4% | -5.3% | 10% | 9.5% | 12% | 10% | 11% | 20% | 18% | 25% | 21% | – |
The figures above are correlations for last 10Y, 5Y and 1Y, in same order
Which Assets Have Seen Most Money Rotation During Market Crashes?
| ETF | Inflation Shock | Covid Pandemic | 2018 Correction | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equity | SPY | -23.0% | -30.4% | -19.3% |
| Bonds | AGG | -14.1% | -2.1% | 1.4% |
| Gold | GLD | -7.7% | -6.3% | 5.0% |
| Commodities | DBC | 20.5% | -23.7% | -16.5% |
| Real Estate | VNQ | -29.8% | -41.6% | -11.1% |
| Bitcoin | BTCUSD | -56.0% | -33.5% | -37.4% |
The table shows return of different asset classes during market crises – specifically during the period when S&P fell and bottomed
The Trefis High Quality (HQ) Portfolio, with a collection of 30 stocks, has a track record of comfortably outperforming its benchmark that includes all 3—S&P 500, Russell, and S&P midcap. Why is that? As a group, HQ Portfolio stocks provided better returns with less risk versus the benchmark index—less of a roller-coaster ride, as evident in HQ Portfolio performance metrics.