By the Investfora Research Desk — written to our editorial standards; every stated fact links to its source.
Markets today 2026-08-12: US Treasury yields, ECB exchange rates and digital assets
An overview of US Treasury yield movements, official European Central Bank reference fixings and major cryptocurrency spot prices on 12 August 2026.
US Treasury yield curve shifts
The US Treasury par yield curve showed a modest flattening bias on 12 August 2026, with the short and long ends moving in tandem. The two-year par yield fell two basis points to 4.20 per cent, while the ten-year par yield also declined by two basis points to 4.68 per cent (US Treasury). In contrast, the thirty-year par yield remained unchanged at 5.24 per cent, with no day-on-day movement (US Treasury). The parallel decline at the front and belly of the curve left the two-ten spread broadly stable, while the ten-thirty spread narrowed slightly.
Major foreign exchange reference rates
The European Central Bank's reference rates for 12 August 2026 showed the euro up 0.04% against the US dollar at 1.1545 (ECB). Sterling rose 0.19% to 1.3525 versus the dollar (ECB), while the dollar fell 0.07% to 159.09 yen (ECB). The euro-pound cross rate declined 0.15% to 0.8536 (ECB), and the dollar rose 0.12% to 0.8113 against the Swiss franc (ECB). The Australian dollar gained 0.1% to 0.7071 US dollars (ECB), while the US dollar-Canadian dollar rate fell 0.09% to 1.3926 (ECB). The New Zealand dollar declined 0.21% to 0.5868 against the US dollar (ECB).
Photo: AlphaTradeZone via Pexels.
Cross-currency pairs and emerging market fixings
The ECB's reference rates for 12 August 2026 showed mixed movements across major cross-currency pairs and emerging market fixings. The euro weakened 0.03% against the Japanese yen, with EUR/JPY fixing at 183.67 (ECB), while sterling strengthened 0.12% against the yen, with GBP/JPY rising to 215.18 (ECB). The euro advanced 0.16% to 0.9366 against the Swiss franc (ECB). In emerging markets, the US dollar declined 0.28% to 16.134 against the South African rand (ECB), and slipped 0.09% to 1.279 against the Singapore dollar (ECB). The euro gained 0.18% on the Polish zloty, with EUR/PLN at 4.3043 (ECB).
Cryptocurrency spot market performance
Bitcoin traded at $63,357, down 0.28 per cent over the preceding 24-hour period, according to CoinGecko spot price data (CoinGecko). Ether, the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalisation, was quoted at $1,874.9, down 0.18 per cent over the same timeframe (CoinGecko). Both assets showed modest negative momentum, with bitcoin's decline slightly larger in percentage terms. The spot prices reflect the most recent market levels captured by the data provider at the time of reporting. No other major cryptocurrency price movements were recorded in the source data for this period.
Photo: AlphaTradeZone via Pexels.
Frequently asked questions
What happened to US Treasury yields on 12 August 2026?
The two-year par yield fell two basis points to 4.20% and the ten-year par yield declined two basis points to 4.68%, while the thirty-year par yield remained unchanged at 5.24%.
How did major currencies move against the US dollar according to ECB rates?
The euro rose 0.04% to 1.1545, sterling gained 0.19% to 1.3525, and the dollar fell 0.07% to 159.09 yen on 12 August 2026.
What were the cryptocurrency price movements on 12 August 2026?
Bitcoin traded at $63,357, down 0.28% over 24 hours, while Ether was quoted at $1,874.9, down 0.18% over the same period.
How did cross-currency pairs and emerging market fixings perform?
The euro weakened 0.03% against the yen to 183.67, sterling strengthened 0.12% versus the yen to 215.18, and the dollar declined 0.28% to 16.134 against the South African rand.
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