Finance

Crude oil prices climbed more than 2% as uncertainty regarding the war in Iran and the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz weighed on global supply. Despite some hopes for peace negotiations, a U.S. naval blockade remains in place, keeping Brent crude trading near $106 per barrel and elevating broader inflation risks.

The 10-year Treasury yield rose to approximately 4.33% as the market anticipates interest rate announcements from the Federal Reserve and other major central banks this week. Yields have been pushed higher by persistent energy-driven inflation risks and a general reduction in risk appetite among bond traders.

Chipmakers like Intel and Nvidia saw significant gains as investors continue to bet on AI infrastructure as a primary driver of market growth. Intel shares notably surpassed their dot-com era peak following a strong revenue forecast and positive developments in its foundry business, highlighting the massive concentration of capital in AI-related themes.

The cryptocurrency market saw Bitcoin pull back from the $79,000 level as it met a 'seller wall' amid broader geopolitical concerns and a strengthening U.S. dollar. While some analysts view the retreat as temporary, low trading volumes have left the current rally vulnerable to potential macroeconomic shocks from this week’s Fed meeting.

The National Retail Federation projected a 4.4% growth in retail sales for 2026, signaling continued consumer resilience despite high energy costs and international conflict. Although recent earnings for some individual companies like Domino’s Pizza disappointed, the broader retail outlook suggests that shoppers are adjusting their spending habits rather than cutting them entirely.