Updated Aug 21, 2026 – 4.34am, first published at 4.33amKey Posts27 mins ago — 4.34AMAnthropic expects to at least match SpaceX’s record IPO30 mins ago — 4.30AMBefore the Bell: ASX to slip, Walmart tumbles31 mins ago — 4.30AMBessent flags bigger buyback potential31 mins ago — 4.30AMAlibaba profit dives as AI spending surges31 mins ago — 4.30AMGood morningGo to latestPinned post – 4.30AMBefore the Bell: ASX to slip, Walmart tumblesTimothy MooreAustralian shares are set to open lower amid broad weakness in New York as oil pushed through $US93 a barrel and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s effort to steady the bond market proved fleeting.ASX 200 futures were down 23 points or 0.3 per cent to 8996 near 4.20am AEST. The S&P 500 fell 0.7 per cent near 2.30pm in New York with consumer discretionary pacing eight of its 11 industry sectors lower.The yield on the US 10-year note rose 5 basis points to 4.70 per cent. Bitcoin surged through $US72,000.Sentiment was dented by disappointing sales at Walmart. Its shares tumbled more than 9 per cent.Market highlightsASX 200 futures are pointing down 23 points or 0.3 per cent to 8996.All US prices near 2.30pm New York time.AUD -0.3% to US71.07¢Bitcoin +6.5% to $US72,675On Wall St: Dow -1.2% S&P -0.7% Nasdaq -1%VIX +1.07 to 15.96Gold +0.01% to $US4515.94 an ounceBrent oil +1.9% to $US93.33 a barrelIron ore -0.2% to $US95.75 a tonne10-year yield: US 4.70% Australia 5.00%Today’s agendaFollow the August reporting season, with dates for all the major ASX companies on the schedule and links to our coverage. Click here.Reporting on Friday: DigiCo Infrastructure (DGT) | Guzman y Gomez (GYG) | Inghams (ING) | Lifestyle Communities (LIC) | TPG Telecom (TPG)What we learnt on Thursday: How Rebel Sport won the World Cup (and a $441m prize) | Super Retail’s Rebel soars, Fortescue faces tough questions, Goodman Group goes slow to win, and IDP Education plunges almost 27 per cent.Top storiesAlphabet’s $5.5b bond debut lures more than 200 investors | Australian funds snagged 60 per cent of the high-profile kangaroo bond, while Asia took 20 per cent. Fund managers expect tech rivals to follow suit.Canberra Observed: Reining in debt and deficit requires fortitude, not platitudes | Without self-imposed discipline, the red numbers will continue, especially as Labor continues to seek and spend money it does not have. And boasting about it.Emergency services levy reform would mean ‘obscene’ 990pc tax increase | An insurance levy that now costs Kennards $221,000 could change to a land tax costing $2.4 million, but insurers say most will win under the reform.Australian billionaire faces storm over Palestine ‘war chest’ | Peregrine Corporation executive chairman Yasser Shahin has found himself the target of a New York tabloid, but denies his charity is giving to a banned group.Fetching latest articles