Finance

Despite ongoing conflict in the Middle East and a near-standstill in Strait of Hormuz shipping, crude oil prices eased on Thursday. West Texas Intermediate fell 2.0% to settle around $72 per barrel as traders shifted focus toward potential demand softening and economic headwinds.

A 30-year Treasury bond auction on July 9 reached a yield of 5.058%, the highest level in nearly two decades. While the benchmark 10-year yield saw a slight intraday decline to 4.53%, the persistent high rates across the curve reflect investor reaction to expanding government debt supply and inflation risks.

Initial unemployment claims for the week ending July 4 fell to 215,000, signaling that U.S. employers are largely maintaining current headcounts. Although June nonfarm payroll growth of 57,000 was lower than analysts expected, the low volume of weekly layoffs suggests continued underlying resilience in the workforce.