Finance

Major U.S. stock indices posted back-to-back losses as persistent pressure from soaring bond yields outweighed mid-day recovery efforts. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped roughly 131 points, while the S&P 500 and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite recorded fractional declines. Financial institutions led the downward trend, with banking giants like JPMorgan Chase and Morgan Stanley pacing the retreat.

Crude oil prices fluctuated sharply but remained historically high due to ongoing conflicts and diplomatic gridlock between the United States and Iran over the Strait of Hormuz. International benchmark Brent crude hovered above $102 a barrel, even as the White House ordered an additional release of emergency reserves. The geopolitical stalemate continues to fuel broader economic volatility and inflation anxieties across global financial markets.

The tech sector experienced a mixed trading session amid major headlines surrounding artificial intelligence infrastructure and developments. Investor attention centered on a leaked initial public offering prospectus for Anthropic, alongside OpenAI's decision to pause a next-generation model release due to safety compliance concerns. Despite these disruptions, structural AI data center demand continues to draw long-term focus from market participants.