Finance

The 10-year Treasury yield eased slightly to around 5.15% to 5.20% after flirting with multi-year highs not seen since 2007. Despite the slight Friday pullback that relieved pressure on equities, broader fixed-income markets remain deeply strained. Investors are increasingly concerned that prolonged high borrowing costs and heavy government debt will lead to a fundamental re-evaluation of market valuations.

Crude oil benchmarks fell sharply at the end of the week, with Brent dropping below $98 per barrel and West Texas Intermediate sliding over 1.6% to around $93. The sudden drop followed optimistic reports of potential diplomatic progress regarding a phased deal between Washington and Tehran. Investors are hopeful that an agreement could soon normalize energy traffic through the critical Strait of Hormuz.

The University of Michigan's final consumer sentiment index for September came in at 48.1, showing a slight improvement from the month's preliminary reading of 47.8 but still marking a drop from August. Persistent high gasoline costs, driven by geopolitical friction, continue to weigh heavily on consumer attitudes toward the economy. Federal Reserve officials are monitoring the uptick in long-term inflation expectations, which may complicate upcoming monetary policy decisions.