As gold and silver rose with the Treasury announcement and Fed minutes, global equities fell and the dollar lost value against the euro.

On Thursday, August 20, 2026, markets remained under the influence of statements from the US Treasury Department and the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting minutes. Following the statements from the Treasury, a rise was recorded in gold prices, while Scott Bessent’s surprise bond buyback step triggered a strong rally on the silver side. The US dollar, after falling to its lowest level against the euro in the last three months, recovered part of its losses with the Treasury's move. In contrast, as investors questioned the Treasury's bailout efforts, the relief in the bond market weakened and losses were seen in equities.

In the cryptocurrency market, a strong inflow of 517 million dollars into ETFs draws attention. Experts assess that the upward trend on the Bitcoin side could expand under the influence of these high-volume fund inflows.

A mixed picture stands out on the corporate and retail side. Walmart failed to recover its weak quarterly performance despite receiving a customs duty refund. In the financial technology field, the Mastercard CEO highlighted the transformation in the sector, stating that they continue their preparations for a new future where artificial intelligence agents shop.

In the energy sector, the challenging process for Western oil refineries located in North America and Europe continues. Despite the war shock, due to investors' cautious approach, closures and capacity losses are expected to continue in refineries processing gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel.

This content is for general information purposes and is not investment advice.