What Bessent’s US Treasury Intervention Means for Stocks & Mortgages | Daybreak Europe 8/20/2026
Bloomberg Daybreak Europe is your essential morning viewing to stay ahead. Live from London, we set the agenda for your day, catching you up with overnight markets news from the US and Asia. And we’ll tell you what matters for investors in Europe, giving you insight before trading begins.
With a slew of unexpected maneuvers this year, Scott Bessent has emerged as the most interventionist Treasury secretary in financial markets in decades — putting his credibility on the line in an effort to quell a potentially damaging rise in US borrowing costs.
President Donald Trump announced plans to inflict what he called an “economic D-Day” against Iran, underscoring his frustration with the country’s refusal to capitulate despite weeks of strikes and a US blockade that’s crimped its oil exports.
And Bloomberg understands Banca Monte dei Paschi’s board of directors is set to review strategic alternatives to Intesa Sanpaolo’s takeover bid.
Chapters:
00:00:00 – Daybreak Europe
00:00:15 – Treasury Gains Extend, Lift Asian Stocks and Bonds
00:03:46 – SK Hynix May Add Another $130 Billion to Returns, JPMorgan Says
00:06:33 – Treasury Debt Buyback Plan Pushes Yields Lower
00:10:16 – Trump Says US Starting ‘Economic Warfare’ Operation Against Iran
00:13:14 – Ukraine’s Grain Exports Buckle
00:16:46 – Monte Paschi Said to Review Alternatives to Intesa Bid
00:21:22 – Hudson River Trading Posts Record $11.4 Billion Trading Revenue
00:24:38 – Gold Holds Near $4500 on Treasury Bond Buyback
00:26:55 – Lowe’s Cuts Outlook After Earnings Miss Estimates
00:30:49 – Energy, Banks & Healthcare Drove 2Q Upside
00:36:14 – Alibaba Pulls Ahead in China AI
00:40:05 – WEF Pursues Lagarde
00:42:40 – UK Greens Call for Bank Tax
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