Aug 19 — Bond rout, tariff deadline and US consumer stress

The QuantAlpha Briefing · Aug 18, 2026 · 3m

• 30-year Treasury yields hit 5.33%, the highest since 2007, as a global bond rout deepens — multi-decade highs in long-end rates threaten equity valuations, housing and corporate borrowing costs worldwide. • The US and Canada face a midnight deadline before 50% tariffs on Canadian goods take effect — a levy of that scale on America's largest trading partner would disrupt North American supply chains and stoke inflation. • July retail sales fell 0.6% and consumer sentiment dropped to 51.0 from 55.2 — sharp simultaneous declines in spending and confidence raise recession risk and complicate…