Aussie Dollar Slides to US70.83¢ as Bond Yields and AI Stock Sell-Off Fuel Risk-Off Shift

The Australian dollar dropped to US70.83¢ on August 19, 2026, down roughly 1.3 cents from near four-year highs of US71.78¢ in April. Sovereign bond yields at multidecade highs and a broad AI-stock sell-off drove the risk-off move. The shift reverses earlier support from a softening US dollar and hawkish Australian policy. An ASX decline was expected at the open.