17/08/2026 U.S. equities pulled back slightly from record highs on Friday, as weaker-than-expected retail sales and rising shipping risks in the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea weighed on risk sentiment. Meanwhile, the AI theme remains intact, but the market is shifting its focus from “Is there enough demand?” to “How will massive AI infrastructure be financed, powered and delivered?” S&P 500 fell 0.17% to 7,785.76 Dow Jones fell 0.20% to 53,732.41 Nasdaq fell 0.28% to 26,729.16 U.S. 2-Year Treasury yield fell ~5 bps to ~4.15% U.S. 10-Year Treasury yield fell ~5 bps to ~4.63% ⸻ News 1) Strait of Hormuz tensions escalate: U.S. and Iran clash over “control” as shipping nears a standstill * Trump said the U.S. could declare the Strait of Hormuz “U.S. territory” after defeating Iran, esca