Spotlight

Market Update | Feb 18

Jon Granston | February 25, 2026

Filtering through this weeks headlines...

Top Headlines: Delivered by Advisory | Leonard Steinberg

February 18, 2026

1. The U.S. economy added 130,000 jobs in January, it’s strongest growth in more than a year and a sign that the labor market may be shaking off its recent stagnation. Gains were concentrated in the healthcare and social assistance sector—including jobs like home health aides and residential care workers—which has been the main engine of job growth in recent months. Elsewhere, though, there were other signs of strength, with construction and manufacturing also adding workers. The transportation and warehousing, information, financial services, and government sectors all cut jobs.

(WSJ)

2."Small, consistent steps create the kind of change that feels effortless later."

3. More LUXE-flation? Revenue per available room a key measure of growth in the industry — at ultra-luxury hotels jumped 10.6% last year, more than three times the annual growth rate for the wider hotel sector and more than triple the ‘regular’ rate of inflation. The rich are richer for sure, but it costs more to live the rich lifestyle!

(FT)

4. Corporations are potentially positioned to reap massive profit gains and equally impressive tax reductions..... One example: Taxes on AMAZON incurred last year declined to $1.2 billion from $9 billion, according to a securities filing released Friday. Meanwhile, Amazon’s pretax U.S. profit increased by 44.5%, to $89.5 billion. On a cash basis, the company paid $2.8 billion in federal income taxes last year after paying more than $7 billion in each of the prior two years.

(WSJ)

5. An $85 million spec home in Miami is being marketed as ‘flood-proof’ The 16,000sf house is designed with an understory/ground-level space that raises the living areas above flood elevation. The floor of the understory is permeable: ie: water could drain effectively in the case of a flood. The space doubles as a show garage with space for 8 or more cars.

(WSJ)

6. In London more inventory is leading to prices remaining stable or lower....and the number of agreed sales is 9% higher than during the same period two years ago.

(Bloomberg)