Finance

Escalating tensions and military exchanges between the United States and Iran have severely disrupted regional shipping logistics, particularly near the critical Strait of Hormuz. Consequently, global energy benchmarks such as Brent crude advanced significantly over the week due to mounting supply fears.

Despite staging a minor recovery at the end of the week, gold suffered its largest weekly percentage decline in six weeks, dipping beneath the key $4,000 per ounce threshold. The downward pressure was fueled by a stronger U.S. dollar and fears that soaring energy costs will trigger a broader wave of inflation, driving expectations for restrictive central bank policies.

Shares of Netflix experienced a major sell-off on Friday, falling around 7% to 11% by the market close. The downturn was triggered by management's disappointing third-quarter revenue forecast, indicating that the entertainment company faces stiffer competition in the streaming landscape.