International markets update:
Global markets present a nuanced landscape as U.S. equities defy surging yields to reach new record highs, while European bond markets face significant pressure amid rising interest rate concerns.
- President Trump issued an executive order permitting wider use of “red diesel” on U.S. highways, aiming to alleviate fuel price pressures for American consumers ahead of the midterm elections.
- Despite U.S. Treasury yields soaring to multi-year peaks, including a 2002 high for the 10-year and a 24-year high for the 30-year, major U.S. stock indices, led by the Nasdaq, continued their upward trajectory to record levels, buoyed by strong performance in tech giants.
- European bond markets are on edge due to contagion concerns, prompted by the French central bank governor’s warning that the country risks being “strangled by interest rates” and calls for the European Central Bank to halt its quantitative tightening program.
- Russian gold imports into Hong Kong have surged to record levels, with 112.7 tonnes in the first seven months of 2026, demonstrating how Western sanctions have significantly redirected global bullion trade flows towards Asian markets.
Stock Market News summarised for the Wall Street Investors Club community.