# Wall Street Slides Under Pressure from Oil Prices and Bond Yields : Tuesday, August 18, 2026

- Source: https://orderflowfutures.com/news/2026-08-18
- Site: OrderFlowFutures (https://orderflowfutures.com)
- Edited by: Tom, Trader & founder of OrderFlowFutures (https://orderflowfutures.com/a-propos#auteur)
- Published: 2026-08-17
- Updated: 2026-08-18
- Reuse: free to quote and cite, with attribution to OrderFlowFutures and a link to the source URL.

> US equity indices closed lower, weighed down by rising crude prices amid US-Iran tensions and higher bond yields. This backdrop prompts futures traders to monitor sector rotation on ES and NQ contracts closely.

## Broad Decline Across Wall Street

- **Indices pull back** : US markets started the week lower. The S&P 500 fell 0.52% to 7,745.06 points, the Nasdaq Composite slipped 0.32% to 26,644.91 points, and the Dow Jones dropped 0.51% (-272.63 points) to 53,459.78 points.
- **Tensions in oil and yields** : Selling pressure was driven primarily by rising crude oil prices amid renewed tensions between the US and Iran, alongside another uptick in Treasury yields.

## Sector Divergence: Tech Drags, Energy Outperforms

- **Pressure on tech and discretionary** : Technology and consumer discretionary sectors weighed heavily on the broader market. Within the Dow Jones, **Microsoft** dropped -3.04%, while **Nike** (-4.03%) and **Walt Disney** (-3.14%) registered the steepest declines of the session.
- **Commodity support** : Conversely, energy and materials stocks benefited from higher oil prices. **Caterpillar** led the Dow Jones higher at +2.93%, followed by **Chevron** (+1.35%) and **Goldman Sachs** (+1.14%).

## Key Drivers to Watch Today

- **Yields and geopolitics** : The trajectory of bond yields and geopolitical developments between the US and Iran remain the central catalysts to watch, driving short-term volatility on ES and NQ futures contracts.

*Brief compiled from the morning's news flow, AI-assisted and reviewed before publication. Not investment advice.*