The Bulls Took A Breather, But Gold And Bitcoin Kept Running

Ulli Market Commentary Contact

[Chart courtesy of MarketWatch.com]

  1. Moving the market

Stocks spent most of the day on the defensive as bond yields resumed their climb and oil prices pushed higher.

Yesterday’s Treasury buyback announcement briefly calmed the bond market, but that optimism faded quickly, with long-term yields giving back those gains and reminding investors that deficits and borrowing needs remain front and center.

Adding to the pressure, renewed U.S.-Iran tensions helped lift crude prices, while Walmart’s disappointing outlook weighed on sentiment. The result was another red close for the major indexes.

The brighter story was outside of equities.

Gold extended its breakout above its 200-day moving average and climbed past $4,500, silver added a solid 2.75%, and Bitcoin stole the show with a jump of more than 6% toward $73,000.

Markets may be starting to price in the possibility that more debt, more spending, and eventually more inflation are still ahead.

As for yesterday’s much-hyped Treasury buyback boost, it appears the bond market’s verdict was short and sweet: “Nice try, what’s next?“

So, are gold and Bitcoin simply enjoying a good week, or are they sending us an early warning about the inflation story still to come?

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The Treasury Blinked. Gold And Bitcoin Noticed Immediately

Ulli Market Commentary Contact

[Chart courtesy of MarketWatch.com]

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Today’s market move came down to one thing: the Treasury’s decision to significantly expand its buyback program for longer-term debt. That helped push long-term yields lower, and stocks responded with modest gains, led by small caps.

The bigger story, though, was the message the market seemed to take from it.

As the Treasury steps more aggressively into the bond market while federal debt approaches $40 trillion and foreign demand remains softer, investors quickly gravitated toward traditional inflation hedges.

Gold and silver surged more than 3%, and Bitcoin stole the show with a nearly 6% rally.

A weaker dollar added fuel to the fire, helping gold approach the $4,500 level while Bitcoin enjoyed its strongest session in months.

As BlackRock has noted, Bitcoin’s investment case increasingly resembles gold’s: a potential hedge against inflation, monetary uncertainty, and eroding confidence in fiat currencies.

For now, markets are celebrating lower yields and easier financial conditions. The bigger question is whether today’s rally marks the start of a new bullish cycle, or just the opening act of a much larger inflation story?

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The Bond Market Sends A Warning, And Wall Street Listens

Ulli Market Commentary Contact

[Chart courtesy of MarketWatch.com]

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Today was a reminder that interest rates still matter, even in a market that’s been happily distracted by AI for much of the year.

Global bond yields pushed to levels not seen in years, with the U.S. 30-year Treasury hovering around 5.3% and long-term rates climbing across Japan and Europe. That’s the kind of move that eventually gets traders’ attention.

Stocks finally took notice. The S&P 500 slipped, pressured by higher yields, firmer oil prices, and weakness in semiconductor shares.

The AI crowd, which has largely ignored the rate story, led much of the retreat.

Meanwhile, gold lost its shine, the dollar was little changed, and Bitcoin somehow found its way back toward $65,000, apparently following its well-known strategy of doing the unexpected.

The bigger issue is that markets are still focused on where rates may end up, not where they’re starting from. If bond yields keep climbing, that could become a much stronger headwind for both stocks and bonds.

The “soft landing” narrative remains alive, but it’s looking a little less comfortable in the aisle seat.

Is the market finally waking up to the reality of higher-for-longer rates?

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A Mixed Market Menu: AI Gains, Middle East Pains

Ulli Market Commentary Contact

[Chart courtesy of MarketWatch.com]

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Today’s market felt like a tug-of-war with no clear winner. Early optimism around AI helped keep the S&P 500 on steady footing, while chip names such as Micron, Nvidia, and Broadcom benefited from continued enthusiasm for the AI story.

But as the day wore on, rising oil prices and renewed U.S.-Iran tensions grabbed traders’ attention. Higher oil prices nudged bond yields higher, and that was enough to take some of the wind out of the market’s sails by the close.

The bigger picture remains a bit of a mixed bag. Softer retail sales and tame inflation have eased fears of near-term Fed tightening, but geopolitical headlines are keeping traders on their toes.

Gold climbed back above $4,400, the dollar slipped slightly, and Bitcoin decided to throw its own party, jumping above $64,500 for reasons known only to Bitcoin.

With Fed minutes due Wednesday and retail earnings on deck, investors may not get many major catalysts this week, but they certainly won’t be lacking for headlines.

The question is: will AI enthusiasm keep outweighing geopolitical worries, or are we in for a few more choppy sessions before the market finds its footing?

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ETFs On The Cutline – Updated Through 08/14/2026

Ulli ETFs on the Cutline Contact

Do you want to know which ETFs are hot and which ones are not? Then you need my High-Volume ETF Cutline report. It tells you how close or far each of the 311 ETFs I follow is from its long-term trend line (39-week SMA). These are the ETFs that trade more than $5 million a day, so they are not some obscure funds that nobody cares about.

The report is split into two parts: The winners that are above their trend line (%M/A), and the losers that are below it. The yellow line is the line of shame that separates them. You can see how many ETFs are in each group and how they have changed since the last report (229 vs. 223 current).

Take a peek:

The HV ETF Master Cutline Report

If you are confused by some of the terms we use, don’t panic. I have a helpful Glossary of Terms for you.

If you want to learn more about the Cutline method and how it can make you rich (or at least less poor), read my original post here.

ETF Tracker Newsletter For August 14, 2026

Ulli ETF Tracker Contact

ETF Tracker StatSheet          

You can view the latest version here.

RECORD HIGHS MEET RISING YIELDS: A MARKET AT ODDS WITH ITSELF

[Chart courtesy of MarketWatch.com]

  1. Moving the market

Over coffee this morning, I’d say the market’s most impressive feat was its ability to ignore almost everything thrown at it.

Retail sales came in softer than expected, Applied Materials stumbled more than 4%, oil continued climbing on Middle East tensions, and long-term Treasury yields pushed to levels not seen in decades.

Yet stocks largely held their ground, with the S&P 500 coming off a week filled with fresh record highs.

The real story remains the tug-of-war between stocks and bonds. Equity investors are celebrating easing inflation, a friendlier Fed outlook, and exceptionally strong earnings growth, while the bond market seems far less convinced that inflation and deficits are yesterday’s problems.

Gold is acting strong, the dollar weakened, and Bitcoin is still pacing back and forth inside its well-worn trading range.

I must admire the resilience of U.S. stocks, but when record-high equity prices are sharing the stage with multi-year high bond yields, I can’t help but wonder: which market is eventually going to blink first?

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