Stocks Slip; Attention Shifts to Bonds – Weekly Update
August 24, 2026 | By Steven DiGregorio
Stocks declined last week as global investors fretted about oil-supply-induced inflation.
The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index declined 1.43 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index slid 2.05 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.85 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, lost 0.40 percent.1,2
Bond Yields Up, Stocks Under Pressure
Bond yields spiked at the start of the week, putting a squeeze on stock prices. The yield on the 30-year Treasury bond hit a 19-year high.
Markets continued their slide on Tuesday as investors fretted over inflation. Yields on bonds around the world rose to multi-decade highs.3,4
Stocks steadied, and bond yields fell midweek as investors responded to the Treasury Department’s announcement that it would buy back long-term debt to help stabilize interest rates. However, the Wednesday morning rally petered out as the session progressed into the afternoon.5,6
Stocks rebounded to finish a tough week on a positive note despite rising oil prices.7
Source: YCharts.com, August 22, 2026. Weekly performance is measured from Monday, August 17 to Friday, August 21. TR = total return for the index, which includes any dividends as well as any other cash distributions during the period. Treasury note yield is expressed in basis points.
A Bee in the Bonnet
Last week, yields on bonds issued by sovereign governments around the world rose to multi-year highs, including in Japan and throughout Europe.
Investors in these bonds decided they needed higher yields to compensate for ongoing global issues. As a result, the cost to borrow money went up. And because bond prices and yields move in opposite directions, the value of these bonds fell.
The Treasury Department stepped in on Wednesday to say that it would double the size of its current repurchases of longer-term (10- to 30-year) Treasury debt. It’s uncertain how the move could influence markets.8
This Week: Key Economic Data
Tuesday: S&P Cotality Case-Shiller Home Price Index. New Home Sales. Consumer Confidence (Conference Board).
Wednesday: Durable Goods. Gross Domestic Product (GDP), 2nd estimate. Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Index.
Thursday: Weekly Jobless Claims. Trade Balance in Goods. Wholesale Inventories. Retail Inventories.
Friday: Consumer Sentiment (U. Michigan).
Source: Investor’s Business Daily – Econoday economic calendar: August 21, 2026. The Econoday economic calendar lists upcoming U.S. economic data releases (including key economic indicators), Federal Reserve policy meetings, and speaking engagements of Federal Reserve officials. The content is developed from sources believed to provide accurate information. The forecasts or forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and may not materialize. The forecasts are also subject to revision.
This Week: Companies Reporting Earnings
Tuesday: Intuit Inc. (INTU)
Wednesday: Nvidia Corporation (NVDA), CrowdStrike (CRWD), Salesforce, Inc. (CRM), Synopsys, Inc. (SNPS)
Thursday: Marvell Technology, Inc. (MRVL), Autodesk, Inc. (ADSK)
Source: Zacks, August 21, 2026. Companies mentioned are for informational purposes only. It should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of the securities. Investing involves risks, and investment decisions should be based on your goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance. The return and principal value of investments will fluctuate as market conditions change. When sold, investments may be worth more or less than their original cost. Companies may reschedule their earnings reports without notice.
Share the Wealth of Knowledge!
Please share this market update with family, friends, or colleagues.
We love being introduced!
The content of this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as an offer of investment advice, investment strategy or to buy, transfer or sell any security or other investment vehicle. Information contained herein has been obtained from sources deemed reliable but Spire Wealth Management LLC, Spire Securities LLC and their affiliates, including Compass Asset Management Group LLC, do not guarantee its accuracy. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Spire Wealth Management LLC, Spire Securities LLC or its affiliates.
Compass Asset Management Group does not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, tax, legal or accounting advice. Please consult your own tax, legal and accounting advisors before engaging in any transaction.
Spire Wealth Management LLC is a federally Registered Investment Advisor. Securities offered through an affiliate, Spire Securities LLC. Member FINRA/SIPC
By accessing any links contained in this article you will be leaving Spire Wealth Management LLC & its affiliates and Compass Asset Management Group LLC websites and entering a website hosted by another party. Although Spire Wealth Management LLC & its affiliates and Compass Asset Management Group LLC have approved these as reliable partner sites, please be advised that you will no longer be subject to, or under the protection of, the privacy and security policies of Spire Wealth Management LLC & its affiliates Compass Asset Management Group LLC websites. The other parties are solely responsible for the content of their websites. We encourage you to read and evaluate the privacy and security policies on the sites you are entering, which may be different than those of Spire Wealth Management LLC & its affiliates Compass Asset Management Group LLC.
Diversification does not guarantee profit nor is it guaranteed to protect assets.
International investing involves special risks such as currency fluctuation and political instability and may not be suitable for all investors.
The Standard & Poor’s 500 (S&P 500) is an unmanaged group of securities considered to be representative of the stock market in general.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average is a price-weighted average of 30 significant stocks traded on the New York Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ. The DJIA was invented by Charles Dow back in 1896.
The Nasdaq Composite is an index of the common stocks and similar securities listed on the NASDAQ stock market and is considered a broad indicator of the performance of stocks of technology companies and growth companies.
The MSCI EAFE Index was created by Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) that serves as a benchmark of the performance in major international equity markets as represented by 21 major MSCI indices from Europe, Australia, and Southeast Asia.
The 10-year Treasury Note represents debt owed by the United States Treasury to the public. Since the U.S. Government is seen as a risk-free borrower, investors use the 10-year Treasury Note as a benchmark for the long-term bond market.
Opinions expressed are subject to change without notice and are not intended as investment advice or to predict future performance.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
You cannot invest directly in an index.
Consult your financial professional before making any investment decision.
Fixed income investments are subject to various risks including changes in interest rates, credit quality, inflation risk, market valuations, prepayments, corporate events, tax ramifications and other factors.
By clicking on these links, you will leave our server, as the links are located on another server. We have not independently verified the information available through this link. The link is provided to you as a matter of interest.
Tags: DJIA, Interest Rates, NASDAQ, Oil, S&P 500
