Wade's Weekly Market Update
August 19, 2026
Good afternoon,
Interest rates on longer term Treasuries are going up despite the Fed holding the Fed Funds rate steady. This means that borrowing costs for the US government are also going up. What is the bond market telling us? Is it AI’s fault? Demand for computing power to run AI is forcing corporations to borrow money for expansion, and they are turning to the bond market for financing. These corporate bonds are competing with US Treasuries for investor’s money thus requiring higher interest rates for the Treasuries to be competitive. The massive US debt and budget deficits also contribute to the problem as investors demand higher rates to take on the risk that the government won’t be able to pay its bills. Higher rates impact consumers as mortgage and credit debt become more expensive.
Facebook and Instagram parent, Meta, is facing a legal battle in a landmark social media addiction case. Meta claims its transformational technology provides safeguards designed to protect children. But legal advocates for young people claim that the transformation brought on by technology has led to a mental health crisis and was ushered in using addictive features, like infinite scroll, autoplay, and likes. There is no question that social media has been a disruptive force in society. It remains to be seen if Meta will be held liable for the negative impacts on children. And what about adults?
President Trump has raised eyebrows (and ire) with his recent chastising of South Korea, an important US ally for many decades. He is angry that they would not join the war against Iran and now implies that the cooperative defensive exercises between the two are unnecessary – and that they create needless threats to Kim Jung Un, North Korea’s ruthless Supreme Leader. Both Republicans and Democrats have expressed concerns with favoring a communist dictatorship over a democratic ally - with whom we share significant commerce and advanced technology products. It seems to be a nod to both China and Russia while serving to frustrate Japan, Tawain, and NATO. We’re not sure what is to be gained by these actions of the President.
Please visit our website at www.canfg.com to view past updates and information about Canandaigua Financial Group.
As always, if you would like to discuss this or anything regarding current market conditions or your portfolio, feel free to contact our office any time at 585-396-2720.
Have a great week,
Wade
Wade A. Sarkis, CFP®, AIF®
Partner Emeritus
Canandaigua Financial Group
45 Ontario Street
Canandaigua, NY 14424
(585) 396-2720
Advisory Services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network®, a Registered Investment Adviser.
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