Finance

The yield on the 10-year Treasury note climbed to 4.995%, flirting with a decisive 5% threshold and maintaining levels not seen in nearly two decades. Concurrently, the policy-sensitive 2-year Treasury yield advanced to 4.741%, marking its highest settlement since July 2024. The upward momentum reflects persistent investor anxiety regarding structural inflation and the potential for a prolonged hawkish stance from the central bank.

Oil prices experienced downward pressure late in the week, with Brent crude dipping to approximately $103 a barrel and West Texas Intermediate tracking near $101. Despite the slight relief from multi-day declines, energy markets remain highly elevated around the $100 mark. Geopolitical disruptions in the Middle East and structural supply concerns continue to maintain a firm floor under global energy benchmarks.

Spot gold and December futures broke past resistance levels to trade above $4,350 and $4,400 per troy ounce respectively, locking in a weekly high. The precious metal found renewed support as cooling crude oil prices and stabilizing bond yields alleviated immediate concerns over runaway inflation. Despite ongoing pressure from a stronger U.S. dollar, bullion secured its first weekly gain in four weeks.