New York, Feb 22, 2026, 14:08 EST — Market closed.
- Bank of America finished Friday at $53.06, gaining 0.6% as U.S. stocks broadly rallied.
- The bank is doubling down on private credit, committing $25 billion from its balance sheet—a sizable wager on what’s become a hot spot in corporate lending.
- U.S. economic data and policy news are set to hit this week, with the potential to shift rate bets and risk sentiment as equities kick off trading Monday.
Bank of America Corp shares wrapped up Friday’s session with gains, joining a rally across U.S. equities after the Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump’s global tariffs. The move sets the stage as the new week begins.
The setup is key here: BAC usually trades in sync with growth and rate outlooks, but lately, those have been buffeted by political shifts as much as the data itself. There’s also a test underway—traders are weighing if the bank’s deeper dive into private credit can really boost earnings, or just piles on another layer of credit risk.
Bank of America ended Friday at $53.06, a gain of 0.55%. Wells Fargo added 1.29%, while JPMorgan Chase posted a 0.89% increase. Big U.S. banks moved higher across the board in the session.
Wall Street took the court decision as a welcome break from recent uncertainty, though it left room for new White House policy steps. “Today is a removal of some uncertainty, and we’re on to the next phase,” said Mike Dickson, who leads research and quantitative strategies at Horizon Investments. Reuters
Bank of America’s investor relations page put Friday’s regular trading volume near 33.6 million shares. In after-hours moves, the stock was last seen at roughly $53.00—that’s a drop of about 0.1%.
Bank of America is stepping up its bet on private credit, according to American Banker, committing $25 billion from its own balance sheet for private-credit transactions — these loans usually bypass public markets and go to borrowers with higher risk profiles. The report also flagged JPMorgan’s intentions to earmark $50 billion for private credit, with major banks piling into the sector.
Here’s the play: banks want to hang on to client-driven business, and with it, retain fees and lending income that private lenders are starting to scoop up. But the moment isn’t straightforward. The report also pointed out fresh nerves for companies tied to private credit—tension made sharper after Blue Owl Capital clamped down on withdrawals from one of its funds. That episode drove home how fast liquidity dries up if trust falters.
This week, attention turns to whether incoming macro data will tip the scales toward easier policy, or if investors need to brace again for higher-for-longer rates. The January Producer Price Index is now slated for release on Feb. 27—pushed back due to the government shutdown, according to the Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Consumer confidence numbers and housing stats are due at the start of the week, followed by durable goods data. All of these could move bond yields and influence how investors price bank stocks.
There’s a visible risk: if policymakers quickly shift gears toward fresh tariffs or ramp up trade tensions, growth forecasts could take a hit, loan demand might slacken, and concerns over credit quality could resurface—right when banks are moving deeper into higher-risk lending.
U.S. equities will trade as usual on Monday; the New York Stock Exchange’s calendar indicates no holiday break. BAC’s performance could move with Treasury yields, as traders keep an eye out for any new tariff news. The postponed PPI report, now set for Feb. 27, remains a critical event for rate watchers.
