Aussie Dollar Falls to US70.83¢ as Bond Yields and AI Stock Sell-Off Trigger Risk-Off Move

The Australian dollar slipped to US70.83¢ on August 19, 2026, down about 1.3 cents from April's near four-year highs of US71.78¢. Bond yields at multidecade highs (meaning governments pay more to borrow) and a broad AI-stock sell-off drove investors toward safer assets. The move erased gains from a weaker US dollar and Australia's tighter monetary policy. ASX losses were expected at the open.