Market Turmoil: Earnings Collapse, Fed Shock, and AI Bloodbath Drive 2026 Crash

Lead: The Nasdaq 100’s worst week since 2020 reveals a market in freefall.

Between the close of trading on Wall Street and the opening bell in Chicago, the Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 420 points while the Russell 2000 cratered by 7%. The immediate catalyst? A brutal earnings season that wiped out AI sector gains, leaving investors staring at red ink across their portfolios.

Key revelation: The Fed’s latest policy signals have exposed a fundamental mismatch between market expectations and economic reality, escalating the selloff into a full-blown liquidity crisis.

Sam Vardas, Empower Investment Strategist, joins Schwab Network’s panel discussion alongside Mali Caden from Dow Jones and Marta Norton from Nasdaq to dissect what went wrong and what happens next.

Press Monitor Clips: Market Reaction to Earnings and Fed Meeting; Schwab Network Branding and Market Coverage Introduction; Visa Earnings Analysis and Market Strategy Discussion