Finance

The global government bond market witnessed a brief stabilization on Friday afternoon, offering a reprieve to equities. The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield settled around 5.17% to 5.18% after earlier spiking to 5.22%, its highest level since 2007, following a University of Michigan consumer sentiment report that flagged heightened inflation expectations. Yields remain heavily elevated for the month due to climbing U.S. government debt and ongoing energy shocks driven by Middle East conflicts.

Crude oil prices slid downwards on reports that Iranian and U.S. diplomats are actively discussing a seven-day plan to de-escalate regional conflict. Brent crude futures dropped below the critical threshold to roughly $97 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate benchmark futures fell over 2% to trade around $92.41 a barrel. Investors remain highly sensitive to oil price movements, as recent energy cost spikes have significantly pressured inflation metrics and global fixed-income markets.

Bitcoin prices hovered around the $84,000 to $85,000 range late in the week, extending a positive run despite navigating historical seasonal headwinds. The cryptocurrency has rebounded strongly from its prior August lows, putting it on pace for a third straight month of gains. The steady institutional adoption, corporate purchases, and spot ETF demand continue to insulate the digital asset from broader monetary tightening pressure following the Federal Reserve's recent rate hike.