DJIA Today Slides as Tariff Turmoil Returns to Rattle Wall Street — February 23, 2026
The Dow Jones Industrial Average opened sharply lower Monday morning as renewed uncertainty over U.S. trade policy sent investors to the exits after a brief Friday rally. The DJIA today is trading around 49,111, down more than 514 points, or roughly 1.04%, as of early Monday morning ET — a steep reversal from Friday's Supreme Court-driven surge.
DJIA Today: Live Snapshot (as of 10:05 AM ET, Feb. 23, 2026)
| Index | Price | Change | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| DJIA | 49,111.34 | -514.63 | -1.04% |
| S&P 500 | 6,869.27 | Negative | -0.58% |
| Nasdaq Composite | 22,737.58 | Negative | -0.65% |
| Russell 2000 | 2,652.00 | Negative | -0.44% |
| VIX (Fear Gauge) | 20.32 | Rising | +6.46% |
All figures in USD. Data as of 10:05 AM ET.
What's Driving the DJIA Down Today
The DJIA's Monday slide is being driven almost entirely by trade policy whiplash. On Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down President Trump's country-specific emergency tariffs, triggering a broad market rally. But over the weekend, the Trump administration responded by invoking Section 122 to impose a blanket 15% tariff on all countries — a move that immediately rattled major U.S. trading partners and caused several to suspend recently negotiated trade agreements. Markets opened Monday with that fresh uncertainty priced in.
DJIA Today's Biggest Losers and Gainers
| Top Losers | Loss | Top Gainers | Gain |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Express | -4.99% | Verizon | +2.01% |
| Nike | -4.01% | Nvidia | +1.73% |
| JPMorgan | -2.38% | McDonald's | +1.54% |
The financial and consumer discretionary sectors are bearing the brunt of Monday's selling, while Nvidia is holding gains ahead of its closely watched earnings release later this week. Eli Lilly is also climbing after rival Novo Nordisk's weight-loss pill showed underwhelming results compared to Lilly's competing drug.
Supreme Court Tariff Ruling: What It Means for the DJIA
Friday's SCOTUS decision to block the President's country-specific tariff orders had initially sent the DJIA surging. The administration's pivot to Section 122 — a broad emergency trade authority — kept the overall tariff burden near existing levels. However, trading partners reacting by pulling back from trade agreements added a new layer of uncertainty that the market is now working to price in. Congress is widely expected to resist extending the Section 122 measures, meaning the tariff picture could shift dramatically again by mid-year.
DJIA Context: Where the Index Stands in 2026
Despite Monday's pullback, the DJIA remains up about 3.25% year-to-date and has gained roughly 12.34% over the past 12 months. The index's all-time high of 50,512.79 was set on February 10, 2026 — just 13 days ago — meaning the Dow is currently trading about 1.76% below that record peak. The prior Friday close stood at 49,625.97, and today's open came in at 49,323.00 before slipping further.
What to Watch for the Rest of the Day
Nvidia earnings due later this week remain the single biggest catalyst on the horizon for both the DJIA and the broader market. Any fresh statements from the White House on tariff implementation or congressional reaction to the Section 122 move could amplify Monday's volatility further. The VIX fear index climbing past 20 signals that options markets are pricing in continued turbulence through the week.
Market data is subject to change. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
