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Treasury yields jump above 5.3% as AI-chip stocks fall

8/19/2026

23 2 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Rising U.S. Treasury yields on August 18 2026 triggered a selloff of AI-chip and memory stocks.
The 30-year Treasury yield rose above 5.3%, its highest level since 2007, pressuring chip valuations.
Micron Technology’s 7% fall to $941 and Nvidia’s 2.4% drop to $220 with Broadcom’s 2.9% slip to $381 together pulled the Nasdaq lower.
SanDisk, Western Digital, Seagate, SK Hynix and the Roundhill Memory ETF each slid 6%-7%, with SanDisk at $1,681.10.

History

Historical Context

After the 2008 crisis, the Federal Reserve cut rates to near-zero, inflating corporate bond markets; by November 2019 U.S. corporate debt hit a record 47 % of GDP. When the Fed later raised rates, long-term Treasury yields climbed, as seen in August 2026, compressing chip makers such as Intel and Nvidia and prompting earnings-re-evaluation concerns.

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Story summary

Rising U.S. Treasury yields on August 18 2026 triggered a selloff of AI-chip and memory stocks.
The 30-year Treasury yield rose above 5.3%, its highest level since 2007, pressuring chip valuations.
Micron Technology’s 7% fall to $941 and Nvidia’s 2.4% drop to $220 with Broadcom’s 2.9% slip to $381 together pulled the Nasdaq lower.
SanDisk, Western Digital, Seagate, SK Hynix and the Roundhill Memory ETF each slid 6%-7%, with SanDisk at $1,681.10.

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