Finance

WTI crude oil futures settled below $70 a barrel for the first time since February 2026, driven by an easing of supply concerns following a 60-day ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran. This reversal has removed much of the geopolitical risk premium from the market, with international Brent crude also pacing for its largest monthly decline since the start of the 2020 pandemic.

The technology landscape saw sharp divisions as hardware giants like Apple and Microsoft raised product prices to offset surging memory chip expenses, leading to significant stock declines. Conversely, memory providers such as Micron and SanDisk saw shares soar after reporting quarterly results that exceeded Wall Street estimates, highlighting the massive demand shift fueled by AI data center needs.

The 10-year Treasury yield dropped to approximately 4.38% as falling energy costs and updated consumer sentiment data suggested a softening of near-term inflation pressures. While analysts still anticipate potential Federal Reserve interest rate hikes later in 2026, the recent decline in yields provided some relief to smaller-cap stocks and broader fixed-income assets.