Global Bond Rout Deepens -- WSJ
Dow Jones2026/08/18 10:49By Alexander Osipovich
Government bonds are selling off worldwide as investors fret over heavy fiscal spending and inflation.
At the same time, the capital-hungry AI industry has been gobbling up debt, competing with traditional nation-state borrowers and pushing up financing costs.
The 30-year U.S. Treasury yield ticked up again today, putting it on track for its highest settle since June 2007. French and German long-dated yields are at their highest levels in more than 15 years, while Japan's 30-year yield is near an all-time high.
Stocks look set for a lower open, with Nasdaq-100 futures down over 1% amid renewed tensions in the Middle East. An unknown projectile struck a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz overnight, the British navy's marine-traffic monitoring agency said.
The attack came after a 60-day truce between the U.S. and Iran expired yesterday with few signs of progress towards a permanent deal to replace it. President Trump said he wouldn't seek an extension of the truce and threatened to bomb Oman, which has acted as a mediator between Washington and Tehran.
Brent crude oil prices are hovering around $91 a barrel. Stock markets in Europe and Asia are mostly lower.
This item is part of a Wall Street Journal live coverage event. The full stream can be found by searching P/WSJL (WSJ Live Coverage).
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
August 18, 2026 06:49 ET (10:49 GMT)
Disclaimer: The content of this article solely reflects the author's opinion and does not represent the platform in any capacity. This article is not intended to serve as a reference for making investment decisions.
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