Qualcomm confirmed that it will reveal two new Snapdragon 8 Elite chips on September 22 at Snapdragon Summit 2026. The company teased the pair as ‘Dual 8 Elites.’ It has also hinted at better graphics and faster connections. The chips are expected to be called Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro, although Qualcomm has not yet confirmed their final names. The announcement centers on the latest connectivity, extraordinary GPU performance, and immersive gaming. This shows that the company focuses more on graphics instead of core processing power. The new processors will likely power some of the biggest Android phones coming next year. Qualcomm’s current Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 already offers a big jump over its older chips. It brings faster CPU and graphics performance, along with stronger AI features. The new chips could take that further with more speed and better power use.Galaxy S27 Could Get the New Snapdragon ChipsSamsung could be one of the biggest names to use Qualcomm’s next flagship chips. The Galaxy S26 series already uses the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, with the chip powering the Galaxy S26 Ultra in several markets.This makes the Galaxy S27 series an obvious phone lineup to watch. Current reports suggest Samsung could use the new Snapdragon chips in some of its next flagship models. For users, the upgrade could mean smoother gaming, faster apps, and better AI tools. Better power use could also help phones last longer between charges.A Bigger Upgrade May Be ComingQualcomm’s current flagship chip is already fast enough for demanding games and apps. The next generation will have to offer more than just a small speed boost.The September 22 event should reveal what Qualcomm has really changed. If the new chips deliver stronger performance without using much more power, they could become a major upgrade for next year’s Android flagships.Join our WhatsApp Channel to get the latest news, exclusives and videos on WhatsApp

Market pricing for a Bank of Japan rate hike in September has climbed to ~80 percent, up sharply from around 65 percent in early August, after media reports pointed to government support for an early tightening move. Attention is shifting toward the pace of subsequent hikes rather than whether the BoJ moves at all in September, a dynamic that could stoke concern about a faster than expected tightening path. Should the Takaichi administration signal it now backs earlier action, that would help ease worries the BoJ has fallen behind the curve, offering some stabilisation for long and super long dated JGB yields. An October move remains possible but would be read as the more dovish outcome relative to current pricing. Analysts see the policy rate reaching 1.25 percent in September, with the central bank likely to pick up the pace of tightening as underlying inflation edges closer to its 2 percent target.--- Japan's inflation trend keeps building the case for a September BoJ move, with markets now debating how fast tightening goes from there.Summary:Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications releases July nationwide CPI, with median forecasts pointing to total CPI at 1.9% y/y, core CPI (ex fresh food) at 1.8% y/y and core-core CPI (ex fresh food and energy) at 1.9% y/yDue at 2350 GMT / 1930 US Eastern time June's readings were revised down slightly under a new base year methodology, with total CPI restated to 1.6% from 1.7%, while core and core-core figures were unrevisedTokyo CPI, seen as a leading indicator, already accelerated in July, with core inflation reaching a six month high of 1.9% and both headline and core-core measures climbing to 2.0%Rising import costs tied to Middle East tensions and a weaker yen are seen driving the broader uptrend, even as falling food prices and government caps on gasoline and utility costs partially offset the pressureMarket pricing for a BoJ rate hike in September has risen to just under 80%, up from around 65% on August 7, after reports the government supports early tighteningAnalysts expect the policy rate to reach 1.25% in September, with some seeing scope for the BoJ to accelerate its tightening pace as underlying inflation nears the 2% target Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications is due to release nationwide consumer price data for July, with economists looking for a further acceleration in the core measure that excludes fresh food, the Bank of Japan's key inflation gauge. The median forecast points to core CPI rising 1.8 percent year on year, up from 1.6 percent in June, while total CPI is seen at 1.9 percent, versus a downwardly revised 1.6 percent for June under a newly adopted base year (more on this below if you are interested). Core-core CPI, which strips out both fresh food and energy, is expected at 1.9 percent, up from 1.7 percent a month earlier.The forecasts align with Tokyo's July inflation data, released on July 31, which is treated as a leading indicator for the nationwide trend. Tokyo's core CPI accelerated to a six month high of 1.9 percent, while both the headline and core-core measures climbed to 2.0 percent. Rising import costs linked to prolonged Middle East tensions and continued yen weakness are seen as the main drivers of the broader uptrend, even as falling food prices and government measures capping gasoline and utility costs offset some of the pressure. June's nationwide figures were also affected by fuel subsidies that have been in place since mid March and free high school tuition introduced in April, both of which have weighed on measured inflation.The inflation trend carries direct implications for the Bank of Japan's policy path. Market pricing for a September rate hike has risen to just under 80 percent, up from roughly 65 percent as of August 7, after a series of media reports suggested the government now supports moving early to help sustain the effects of the coordinated Japan-US foreign exchange intervention. Reports have also indicated the central bank is weighing a hike at either its September or October meeting, with an October move likely to be read as the more dovish outcome given current pricing. Analysts expect the policy rate to reach 1.25 percent in September, with some seeing scope for the BoJ to pick up the pace of subsequent tightening as underlying inflation moves closer to its 2 percent target.The market's focus has already begun shifting from whether the BoJ hikes in September to how quickly it follows up, a dynamic that could add to investor unease about a faster tightening cycle. At the same time, growing signs that the Takaichi administration supports earlier action could help stabilise long and super long dated JGB yields by easing concerns that the central bank has fallen behind the curve. ---The next Bank of Japan meeting is mid-September:--------------The government announced on August 7 that it had updated the CPI base year, shifting it to 2025 from 2020. It revises the base year every five years, with the change taking effect from the July figures. The update resulted in a minor 0.1 percentage point downward adjustment to the total CPI for June 2026, while the core CPI, which excludes fresh food, and the core-core CPI, which excludes both fresh food and energy, were not revised.The new 2025-base CPI weights are calculated from average household expenditure in 2025, mainly drawn from the Family Income and Expenditure Survey, with items whose share of household spending has risen or fallen added to or removed from the index accordingly. The Statistics Bureau is releasing the 2025-base index retroactively from January 2025, converting earlier data to the new base for time series purposes, though published rates of change for each base period are left unmodified rather than recalculated. The old 2020-base CPI will continue to be calculated and published in parallel until December 2026, giving markets and the BoJ a transition window to compare the two series before the 2025-base figures become the sole reference point. This article was written by Eamonn Sheridan at investinglive.com.

Forex and financial market recap for Aug. 20, 2026: a Treasury buyback lost its grip as stocks fell, oil and bitcoin climbed, and the dollar firmed.

Standard Chartered has become the first Global Systemically Important Bank (G-SIB) and the first UK issuer to issue digitally native notes (DNNs) on Euroclear’s Digital Financial Market Infrastructure (D-FMI), the bank announced on August 20, 2026. The transaction consists of USD 200 million in three-year floating-rate notes, issued using distributed ledger technology through Euroclear’s D-FMI. The platform allows for the issuance of digital international securities within a regulated market infrastructure while retaining connectivity to existing issuance, settlement and servicing systems. Standard Chartered served as sole dealer for the offering, and an application has been made to admit the notes to trading on the International Securities Market of the London Stock Exchange. According to the bank, the deal represents a step forward in the development of digital capital markets, showing how distributed ledger technology can operate alongside established infrastructure to improve issuance efficiency. It also extends Standard Chartered’s prior experience advising clients on digital bond deals to its own funding operations. Vikash Mistry, Deputy Group Treasurer at Standard Chartered, said the transaction reflects the bank’s effort to modernise its funding capabilities while maintaining ties to trusted international infrastructure. Ankur Prakash, Head of Digital and Strategic Initiatives for Global Banking, said the issuance signals broader institutional movement toward adopting digital capital markets infrastructure. Sebastien Danloy, Chief Business Officer at Euroclear, added that the deal illustrates how digital issuance can integrate with existing liquidity channels and regulatory frameworks. Standard Chartered has previously supported similar digital bond transactions, including for Emirates NBD and Doha Bank.The post Standard Chartered Issues First G-SIB Digitally Native Notes on Euroclear’s D-FMI first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

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Key takeaways Gold surges: XAU/USD jumped 4.35% on 19 August, its biggest one-day gain since February, lifting its August gain to 10.7%.USD debasement drives gold: Treasury bond buybacks have fuelled fiscal-dominance concerns, shifting focus from yields to US dollar purchasing-power risk.$4,405 is pivotal: Holding above $4,434/$4,405 keeps the bullish sequence intact, with a break above $4,504 exposing $4,580 and $4,640. Gold (XAU/US) has been on a tear to the upside since the start of August 2026. The precious yellow metal has staged a 10% rally from the potential major swing low of $3,942, printed on 30 June 2026, to Tuesday, 18 August 2026’s closing level of $4,335.On Wednesday, 19 August 2026, it added a daily gain of 4.35% to close at US$4,523, its largest single-day rally since February 2026.Overall, spot gold (quoted by the London Bullion Market Association) has now transitioned from a prior underperformer (in July 2026) to the top performer, month-to-date, as of 19 August 2026, with a stellar gain of 10.7% among major cross-asset classes, followed by spot silver (+9.3%), and Bitcoin/USD (+9.1%) (see Fig. 1). Fig. 1: Month-to-date major cross assets performance as of 19 Aug 2026 (Source: MacroMicro). The information presented is historical information, and past performance is not indicative of future performance. US Treasury buybacks, fiscal dominance & USD debasement The rally in gold (XAU/USD), as reported by most media outlets, has been catalyzed by a sudden announcement of the US Treasury’s doubling of the buyback program for long-dated US Treasury bonds (10-year to 30-year) from $2 billon per operation to $4 billionb operation in a bid to rein in long-term borrowing costs as the 30-year US Treasury yield rocketed to a 19-year high of 5.31% at the start of this week.Yesterday’s larger US Treasury bond buyback program sent the 30-year yield down by 10 basis points, closing at 5.19% (still an elevated level, a 19-year high) on Wednesday, 19 August 2026.These media outlets’ reports connected the dots through the lens of interest rates: lower long-term US Treasury yields reduce the opportunity cost of holding gold, a non-income-bearing asset, which, in turn, triggered a positive feedback loop into gold.On the contrary, the rally in gold (XAU/USD) since the end of June 2026 has come in the backdrop of a rising 30-year US Treasury yield (+44 bps) over the same period.Thus, gold traders are not really pricing in a bullish movement triggered by the pure interest rate conduit, but rather through a currency purchasing power perspective; the US dollar debasement narrative.Wednesday’s aggressive bullish price action in gold, which saw the US Dollar Index tumble to a three-month low, is being interpreted as a “panic intervention” by the US Treasury and as a sign of fiscal dominance, in which fiscal debt management takes precedence over monetary discipline.When government bodies step in to cushion sovereign bond markets amid persistent deficit spending, market participants rapidly reprice the risk of long-term USD debasement. Non-yielding bullion directly benefits as a store of value, free from counterparty and inflation risk.Let’s now unpack the latest short-term technicals of gold (XAU/USD). Potential start of a new medium-term bullish impulsive up move sequence Fig. 2: Gold (XAU/USD) long-term secular trend as of 20 Aug 2026 (Source: TradingView). The information presented is historical information, and past performance is not indicative of future performance. Fig. 3: Gold (XAU/USD) minor trend as of 20 Aug 2026 (Source: TradingView). The information presented is historical information, and past performance is not indicative of future performance. The 6-month corrective decline of 30% from its current all-time intraday high of $5,602 on 29 January 2026 is likely to have ended on 29 January 2026 where its weekly price actions have staged a rebound from the lower boundary of a major ascending channel running from October 2023 low, cleared above the 50-day moving average with a weekly bullish reversal candlestick pattern follow-through on the week of 3 August 2026 (see Fig. 2).In the short to medium-term horizon, gold (XAU/USD) is now oscillating within an ascending channel in place since the 3 August 2026 low of $4,019.Watch the $4,434/4,405 key short-term pivotal support to maintain the multi-day bullish impulsive up move sequence. A clearance above the $4,504 near-term resistance (also close to the key 200-day moving average) is likely to reinforce the bullish potential towards the next intermediate resistances at $4,580 and $4,640 in the first step (see Fig. 3).On the other hand, failure to hold and an hourly close below $4,405 negates the bullish tone for another set of minor corrective pull-back towards the next intermediate support at $4,320 (also the lower boundary of the ascending channel). Opinions are the authors'; not necessarily that of OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc. or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers or directors. The provided publication is for informational and educational purposes only.If you would like to reproduce or redistribute any of the content found on MarketPulse, an award winning forex, commodities and global indices analysis and news site service produced by OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc., please refer to the MarketPulse Terms of Use.Visit https://www.marketpulse.com/ to find out more about the beat of the global markets.© 2026 OANDA Business Information & Services Inc.

USDJPY is down this week after the bulls failed to break the 160.00 resistance area. Is their next attempt likely to be successful or should we brace for more weakness? Read in our latest Elliott Wave update. To access this article you need to have an active subscription The post Elliott Wave Update of USDJPY – August 19th, 2026 appeared first on EWM Interactive.

China’s economy lost momentum in July, with weak retail sales, declining investment and a deepening property market downturn weighing on domestic demand.Strong exports are increasingly supporting growth, but they are also putting upward pressure on the yuan, prompting authorities to manage the pace of currency appreciation.Weaker economic data and rising deflationary risks are increasing expectations of further government stimulus to help China meet its 2026 growth target. China’s economy lost noticeable momentum at the beginning of the second half of 2026. July data showed weaker industrial activity and consumption, while falling investment and the prolonged property market crisis remain increasingly serious problems. At the same time, China is relying more heavily on exports to support economic growth, increasing the importance of exchange-rate policy and government efforts to prevent an excessive appreciation of the yuan.In July, industrial production rose by 4.5% year on year, while retail sales increased by just 0.6%. Both figures came in below market expectations and confirmed that domestic demand remains one of the weakest parts of the Chinese economy. The labour market also deteriorated. The urban unemployment rate increased from 5% to 5.2%, which could further limit households’ willingness to increase spending. Industrial production and retail sales in China, source: Bloomberg Investment and the property market deepen the problemsInvestment data look even more concerning. Fixed-asset investment fell by 6.7% year on year in the January–July period, following a 5.7% decline in the first half of the year. The situation remains particularly difficult in the property market, which has been one of the main sources of weakness in the Chinese economy for several years. China property investment (YoY in %), source: TradingEconomics Investment in the sector fell by as much as 19.2%, marking a new record decline. At the same time, the pace of falling new-home prices accelerated again, making it harder to restore confidence among both developers and households. The prolonged weakness of the property market is reducing companies’ willingness to invest and is also weighing on household wealth and consumer sentiment.Consumption remains a weak point of the economyConsumption also remains subdued. The passenger car market provides a clear example, with sales falling by 21% in July. This is important for the broader economy because the automotive sector accounts for around 8% of total retail sales of goods.Car manufacturers are also facing high raw-material costs and intense price competition, which are putting pressure on profitability and limiting their ability to increase investment. Weak car sales are another sign that households remain cautious and are reluctant to increase spending significantly.Economic activity in July was also negatively affected by unusually severe weather conditions. Heavy rainfall, strong winds and flooding led to temporary closures of factories and ports, power supply disruptions and evacuations. The impact of these factors should be temporary, but much of the weakness in the Chinese economy is more persistent in nature. The property crisis, households’ low propensity to consume and subdued investment activity cannot be explained by adverse weather alone.Exports are becoming an increasingly important engine of growthOne consequence of weak domestic demand is China’s growing dependence on exports as a source of economic growth. Overseas sales remain one of the main drivers of activity at a time when consumption and investment are not strong enough to generate more balanced growth.However, such a growth structure also makes China more vulnerable to changes in external demand, trade tensions and exchange-rate fluctuations. The more important exports become, the greater the significance of the authorities’ policy towards the yuan.Deflationary pressure increases the risk of further slowdownPrices are another source of concern. In July, both consumer and producer inflation slowed more sharply than the market had expected. This once again increased concerns about mounting deflationary pressure.Persistently weak price growth can become a problem in itself. If households expect prices to fall further, they may postpone purchases, while companies may delay investment in anticipation of weaker demand and lower prices. As a result, subdued price dynamics could further reinforce the weakness of domestic demand.Strong exports support the yuan and increase foreign-exchange reservesThe growing importance of exports is also reflected in developments in the foreign-exchange market. China’s foreign-exchange reserves, measured in the balance of payments, increased by USD 74.7 billion in the second quarter of 2026. This was the largest quarterly increase since the first quarter of 2014. China foreign reserves quarterly changes under balance of payments, source: Bloomberg At the same time, the yuan appreciated for a sixth consecutive quarter, while the onshore exchange rate moved close to its strongest level since 2023. Strong exports were one of the main sources of foreign-currency inflows, generating a substantial supply of dollars in the Chinese market. USDCNH, weekly timeframe, source:TradingView The People’s Bank of China is slowing the pace of yuan appreciationChinese authorities absorbed part of the foreign-currency inflows, limiting the pace of the yuan’s appreciation. The People’s Bank of China continued to set the official reference rate at a weaker level than the market had expected, although the fixing itself reached its strongest level in more than three years. This suggests that the authorities are not trying to stop the yuan from strengthening altogether, but rather to control the pace of its appreciation.This is particularly important for the authorities at a time when exports remain one of the main engines of growth. An excessively rapid appreciation of the yuan could weaken the price competitiveness of Chinese goods in international markets and further weigh on the economy while domestic demand remains subdued.Weak domestic demand remains China’s biggest challengeChina’s biggest challenge remains the imbalance between a relatively resilient export sector and weak domestic demand. Consumption, investment and the property market are still not strong enough to provide a solid foundation for more balanced growth.While the deterioration in activity caused by adverse weather may fade relatively quickly, addressing the economy’s structural problems will require more decisive action. Without a clear rebound in consumption and investment, China’s economy will remain dependent on exports and state support, while achieving this year’s growth target will become increasingly difficult. Opinions are the authors'; not necessarily that of OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc. or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers or directors. The provided publication is for informational and educational purposes only.If you would like to reproduce or redistribute any of the content found on MarketPulse, an award winning forex, commodities and global indices analysis and news site service produced by OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc., please refer to the MarketPulse Terms of Use.Visit https://www.marketpulse.com/ to find out more about the beat of the global markets.© 2026 OANDA Business Information & Services Inc.

Key offshore rates likely to fall in new regime’s scope, potentially pushing them out of bounds

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