Finance

Crude oil futures fell over 2% on Friday following optimistic headlines regarding progress toward diplomatic resolutions between the United States and Iran. Speculation surrounding a proposed timeline to de-escalate regional hostilities and reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz immediately eased global energy supply anxieties. Brent crude slipped below $98 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate fell back down near the $92 threshold.

The aggressive selloff in the fixed-income market paused late in the week, allowing sovereign yields to retreat slightly from their intra-day peaks. However, long-term borrowing costs continue to hover near their highest levels since the global financial crisis due to underlying inflation concerns. Market participants remain highly sensitive to macroeconomic data, particularly after consumer surveys signaled rising expectations for near-term cost of living metrics.

The total market capitalization of digital assets briefly reclaimed the $3 trillion milestone as Bitcoin rebounded past the $86,000 threshold. The sector demonstrated notable resilience after absorbing consecutive mid-month headwinds from a legislative block on the Clarity Act in the US Senate alongside an interest rate hike from the Federal Reserve. Liquidations of short positions provided secondary upward momentum, encouraging a rotation of capital into alternative digital assets.