Finance

U.S. government bond yields retreated after reaching some of their highest levels in over twenty years, helping to soothe equity market anxieties. The 10-year Treasury yield, which had touched an intraday high of roughly 5.34% earlier in the week, eased back toward 5.18% following the soft labor market figures. This drop in borrowing costs offered immediate relief to rate-sensitive sectors and growth stocks.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite outperformed other broad indexes at the end of the week, moving close to an all-time high behind strength in semiconductor and artificial intelligence firms. Nvidia briefly touched an intraday record, while Micron Technology boosted the broader chip sector after posting exceptional quarterly results driven by robust pricing and data center storage demand. While the Nasdaq posted weekly gains, the Dow and S&P 500 finished the week lower due to earlier losses.

Crude oil futures experienced upward pressure as market participants monitored escalating military and economic tensions between the United States and Iran in the Middle East. Brent crude fluctuated near the $100 per barrel mark, driven by reports of increased U.S. troop deployments to the region. Supply considerations were further complicated by a temporary suspension of non-regional fuel exports from China due to a week-long national holiday.