Finance

Chipmaker stocks experienced steep declines to end the week, dragging down the broader technology sector. Shares of Intel plummeted nearly 8% despite the company reporting an encouraging quarterly report backed by high artificial intelligence demand. Other key memory and hardware components like Sandisk and Micron Technology sank up to 11%, leaving the iShares Semiconductor ETF sharply lower.

Crude oil futures pulled back after experiencing significant upward spikes earlier in the week. Brent crude futures fell nearly 4% to settle around $96.78 per barrel following reports that international channels are seeking to renew peace talks between the United States and Iran. The decline in energy prices eased near-term inflation anxieties and brought down benchmark government bond yields.

Cryptocurrency valuations pulled back as rising Treasury yields and shifting macroeconomic conditions dampened investor appetite for risk assets. Bitcoin fell to roughly $64,300, breaking a consecutive streak of positive inflows into U.S. spot exchange-traded funds. Market participants continue to weigh broader industry factors, including pending federal legislative updates and shifting expectations for central bank policies.