A U.S. federal court approved Google’s $700 million antitrust settlement to resolve a multistate lawsuit alleging the company monopolized Android app distribution and in-app payments. Washington state consumers are expected to receive about $13 million, with around 2.4 million residents potentially eligible. Nationwide, eligible users will be compensated based on their Google Play spending between August 2016 and September 2023.

Circle (NYSE: CRCL) shares fell 3.83% on Aug. 19, closing at $71, even as its euro stablecoin EURC supply rose 100% year over year to €400 million. USDC posted $849 billion in transaction volume in July, accounting for 62% of total stablecoin volume that month. Since Aug. 3, CRCL is still up 22% amid continued buying by ARK Invest.

SOL Strategies disclosed in an SEC filing that it held C$1.87 million in cash as of June 30 and about C$22 million of unencumbered digital assets available for conversion into fiat. The company also reported C$37.33 million of current liabilities, including a C$13.90 million DeFi loan and C$10.73 million of current convertible debentures. Over the same period, it recorded a C$7.80 million net cash outflow from operating activities.

The PHLX Semiconductor Index fell exactly 4.98% to 11,992.46 points on August 18, 2026 as higher Treasury yields cut demand for AI chip shares. Read the daily analysis of the semiconductor sector's AI spending outlook, momentum risk and key technical levels.

Roundhill Memory ETF (DRAM) fell exactly 8.76% to $55.10 on August 18, 2026 as rising bond yields pressured chip shares and investors unwound crowded AI-memory positions. Read the daily analysis of DRAM's memory-cycle outlook, momentum risk and key technical levels.

Copper prices have pulled back after hitting a six-month high near $14,310 a tonne in August, with LME three-month copper settling 1.2% lower on Tuesday at $13,986.50 a tonne as the spot premium narrowed sharply. The pullback followed a jump in metal delivered into LME warehouses, lifting readily available inventories and reducing the market’s willingness to pay for immediate supply. Longer term, S&P Global forecasts global copper demand could rise about 50% to roughly 42 million tonnes by 2040, potentially leaving a 10 million-tonne supply shortfall. Construction, industrial uses and infrastructure remain the largest demand drivers.

Applied Optoelectronics (AAOI) fell 15.16% to $131.41 on August 18, 2026 as a sector reset in AI optics coincided with pressure from rising yields. Read the daily analysis of Applied Optoelectronics' optical-demand outlook, momentum risk and key technical levels.

ASE Technology Holding (ASX) fell 8.77% to $36.41 on Aug. 18 as chip stocks retreated. Read for momentum risk and key technical levels.