According to Yonhapinfomax, the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield fell 5.40 basis points to 4.514% on July 17 (U.S. Eastern time, 9:37 a.m.), as risk-averse sentiment intensified amid escalating U.S.-Iran military conflict. The 2-year yield declined 3.40bp to 4.122%.
U.S. equity markets plunged, with the Nasdaq Composite down 2.34% and the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index falling 5.17%, as investors fled to bonds for safety. The military escalation—including expanded U.S. airstrikes on Iranian infrastructure and Iranian missile strikes on U.S. bases across the Gulf region—heightened recession concerns. WTI crude futures rose 3.43% to $81.66 per barrel, raising inflation and stagflation worries.