US equity futures slipped as rising bond yields and a spike in oil unsettled investors. Nasdaq 100 futures were down about 0.7% intraday, S&P 500 futures fell 0.4%. Growth names were sold amid concern over the long end of the Treasury market, while B

2026-08-18

US equity futures slipped as rising bond yields and a spike in oil unsettled investors. Nasdaq 100 futures were down about 0.7% intraday, S&P 500 futures fell 0.4%. Growth names were sold amid concern over the long end of the Treasury market, while Brent crude extended Monday's gains. Stocks had rallied earlier this month on renewed AI optimism and lower Fed rate-hike expectations but have since retraced. A BofA fund manager survey showed global equity allocations at their highest since Nov 2021, with 56% of users overweight stocks. Nasdaq 100 has largely recovered last month's pullback and the S&P 500 is near record highs. Florian Ielpo, head of macro at Swiss Longao Asset Management, said: "The hurdle rate for investment returns has risen again. This time it is a function of oil, fiscal supply and the term premium, not a renewed acceleration in short-rate expectations.