Market news for August 19, 2026: Global markets slumped as bond yields hit decade highs; oil topped $90 amid Middle East volatility; tech stocks took a heavy hit, echoing Wall Street’s slide; and investors braced for persistent inflation and elusive policy guidance from Fed minutes.

Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region.

Written by: Howie Lim (howielim@sph.com.sg)

Produced and edited by: Chai Pei Chieh & Claressa Monteiro

Produced by: BT Podcasts, The Business Times, SPH Media

Produced with AI text-to-speech capabilities

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