Finance

The prospect of elevated borrowing costs has raised concerns over the financing required to sustain rapid data center and artificial intelligence infrastructure buildouts. Major semiconductor giants tumbled on the news, with Advanced Micro Devices falling over 5% and Nvidia sliding 3.4%, fueling the broader technology rout.

Crude oil prices ticked upward as renewed Middle East supply risks unsettled energy markets. Brent crude advanced toward $106.58 per barrel and West Texas Intermediate rose near $94.94 per barrel following an attack on Saudi Aramco infrastructure and escalating shipping tensions near the Strait of Hormuz.

Third-quarter earnings continue to dictate mixed performances across major financial firms. Bank of America slid after reporting lower-than-anticipated profits, which compounded investor anxiety alongside a massive $1.2 billion regulatory fine announced by the U.S. Treasury over anti-money laundering and sanctions violations.