Tech Weakness and AI Fears, WBD-Paramount Talks, Ford's China EV Message 2/17/26

Squawk on the Street

CNBC

News, Business, Investing

4.1 • 567 Ratings

🗓️ 17 February 2026

⏱️ 42 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Carl Quintanilla, David Faber and Michael Santoli led off the show with continuing weakness in tech, software and other sectors in wake of fears about AI. Warner Bros. Discovery says it will restart deal talks with Paramount Skydance despite urging shareholders to back Netflix's takeover offer. Ford refutes reports that it has asked the Trump Administration to allow Chinese EV technology into the U.S. — hear what Ford executives told CNBC about what the automaker is doing when it comes to joint ventures. Also in focus: Amazon's nine-session losing streak, Apple's podcast push, the stocks rising on activism moves, Danaher to buy Masimo in a $10 billion deal, why "The Late Show" host Stephen Colbert is slamming CBS. Squawk on the Street Disclaimer

Transcript

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0:00.0	It's Jim Kramer here. You're listening to the opening bell of CBC's Squawk on the Street.
0:04.7	Don't miss a minute of the action. Good Tuesday morning. Welcome to Squawk on the Street. I'm Carl Kington-Aid with David Faber, Mike Santoli at post-9 of the New York Stock Exchange. Kramer has the morning off. Holiday shortened week, but it does look like the selling will resume at the open with the NASDAQ down. About 3% for the year so far.
0:22.3	Busy few days ahead with Walmart earnings on Thursday. Ten year hits 402, almost a three-month low.
0:28.2	Our roadmap begins with the tech and software slide rolling on. The latest on the AI disruption fear trades as the S&P comes off two straight weekly losses.
0:36.8	Plus we have a new twist in that bidding war for Warner Brothers Discovery.
0:40.6	Netflix grants a seven-day waiver allowing Warner Brothers to engage with Paramount Skydance
0:46.2	for what all parties believe will be a best and final offer.
0:51.8	We're also keeping an eye on EVs.
0:56.3	Ford reportedly discussing with the Trump administration a potential framework in which Chinese automakers could build cars right here in America.
1:03.1	Let's begin with the markets and tech on track for a rough start, one of the sectors that's down
1:08.1	along with consumer discretionary over the last three months or so. Financials will throw in there two. A lot of the sectors that's down, along with consumer discretionary over the last three months
1:10.8	or so. Financials will throw in there too. A lot of the weekend commentary suggests that maybe at least
1:16.3	the software weakness could be persistent for a while. I would say weakness, or at least it's no
1:21.6	longer part of the leadership story, is pretty much acknowledged at this point. Now, it's also
1:26.2	looking at that as if it's washed out.
1:28.0	It's tried to get some support.
1:29.3	Everyone thinks we get a reflex bounce, but maybe you sell into it.
1:32.3	So I think that kind of tactical understanding is in there.
1:35.5	The weakness has mostly been about the unwind of tech leadership over the multiple months.
1:42.0	And last week's action was also, I think, the broader market having a harder time
1:47.4	kind of rotating away from that and having this internal volatility stay sequestered in
1:53.3	growth tech, in mega cap.
	...

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