US stocks traded higher through midday, with the S&P 500 up +0.69% and the Nasdaq gaining +0.73%, as risk appetite firmed ahead of Nvidia's earnings. Gold jumped on bond-market jitters, and Bitcoin extended a sharp weekly advance.
Read moreAUGUST 21ST, 2026
Stocks Climb at Midday as Gold Jumps on Debt Jitters; Bitcoin Extends Rally Geopolitical Tensions Drive Inflation Premium, Fiscal Supply Concerns Geopolitical tensions and uncertainty in the Strait of Hormuz are contributing to an inflation premium in financial markets. The 5-year, 5-year US inflation swap forward is currently near its May peak. This rise occurs despite a recent decline in headline inflation figures.
Read moreUS S&P August Preliminary PMI Report Released The US S&P Manufacturing and Services PMI preliminary report for August has been released. This data offers an early look at economic activity across both the manufacturing and services sectors. The report provides key information on inflation and economic growth trends.
Read moreUS S&P Global August Flash PMI Rises to 56.0, Services PMI at 56.8 The U.S. S&P Global August Flash Composite PMI rose to 56.0, an increase from 54.5 in July. The Services PMI also climbed to 56.8, surpassing the forecasted 54.0. However, the Manufacturing PMI registered 53.2, which was slightly below the 53.9 forecast.
Read moreGold and Bitcoin Surge as Dollar Slips; Futures Firm After Wall Street Pullback Gold and Bitcoin jumped overnight as a softer dollar and Treasury Secretary Bessent's bond-market intervention drove haven and crypto demand. US stock futures pointed modestly higher into the open after the prior session left the S&P 500 and Nasdaq lower, while European shares edged up.
Read moreGold and Bitcoin Rally on Debasement Concerns Gold and Bitcoin are rallying as investor concerns about currency debasement increase. This sentiment is driving capital into perceived safe-haven assets. Gold has seen a 0.03% move since publication, while Bitcoin is also gaining, reflecting a shift in investor preference towards alternative stores of value.
Read moreECB Lowers 1-Year CPI Expectation to 2.9%, 3-Year to 2.7% The European Central Bank (ECB) has lowered its one-year Consumer Price Index (CPI) expectation for July to 2.9% from 3.0%. The three-year CPI expectation also decreased, falling to 2.7% from a previous 2.8%. This new three-year projection is below the estimated 2.8%.
Read moreEurozone August Composite PMI Rises to 52.1, Exceeding Forecasts The Eurozone's Composite Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) rose to 52.1 in August. This figure surpassed the forecast of 51.7, indicating stronger economic performance than anticipated.
Read moreUK Retail Sales Growth Slows to 1.6% Year-Over-Year UK retail sales grew 1.6% year-over-year, missing the forecast of 2.2%. This represents a notable deceleration from the prior year's 4.2% growth. The weaker sales figures suggest a cooling in consumer spending.
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