Economics and International Affairs Blog

Friday, February 13, 2026

Equity Markets - Interesting Items

Crises Everywhere, but the Markets Don’t Seem to Mind
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/13/business/markets-crisis-trump.html
Stocks have prospered while the world has plunged into disorder, an economist says. “Keep calm and carry on” may be the best investors can do.

The Big Scary Myth Stalking the Stock Market
https://www.wsj.com/finance/investing/the-big-scary-myth-stalking-the-stock-market-29aedf50
Having 33% of your portfolio in seven companies is less risky than it sounds.

Crypto is Down

The Coming Crypto Apocalypse
https://www.fa-mag.com/news/the-coming-crypto-apocalypse-85833.html
The future of money and payments will feature gradual evolution, not the revolution that crypto-grifters promised. Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies’ latest plunge further underscores the highly volatile nature of this pseudo-asset class; one only hopes that policymakers will wake up to the risks before it’s too late.

Seeking Alternatives to the Dollar Standard

Could a BRICS Currency Work?
https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/brics-currency-by-jim-o-neill-2026-02
Economists have long dismissed the idea that a BRICS common currency could challenge the US dollar's role in the global economy, and for good reason. But that doesn't mean there couldn't be new common rails for settling trade between countries that want to escape the long arm of the US government.

Could the world move away from the dollar?
https://youtu.be/r_VlnirCdAE

Understanding Claude

What Is Claude? Anthropic Doesn’t Know, Either
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2026/02/16/what-is-claude-anthropic-doesnt-know-either
Researchers at the company are trying to understand their A.I. system’s mind—examining its neurons, running it through psychology experiments, and putting it on the therapy couch.

An Investment Bet Gone Wrong

Detroit Automakers Take $50 Billion Hit as EV Bubble Bursts
https://www.wsj.com/business/autos/detroit-automakers-take-50-billion-hit-as-ev-bubble-bursts-06a97414
Companies are taking big losses and making moves to reduce electric-vehicle capacity amid regulatory changes and cooling demand.