Finance

The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield remained flat near 4.57% on Thursday morning following a recent spike triggered by geopolitical risks and inflation concerns. Meanwhile, the 30-year bond yield held above the critical 5% threshold as traders awaited new domestic economic data, including weekly jobless claims and existing home sales.

Analysts expect second-quarter earnings for S&P 500 companies to rise by more than 23%, driven largely by a 65% surge in technology sector profits. Full-year earnings estimates for 2026 have been revised upward to over 26%, which would represent the strongest annual profit performance for U.S. companies since 2021.

Oil prices eased on Thursday after an initial jump, with West Texas Intermediate futures pulling back as signals emerged that both the U.S. and Iran might seek to de-escalate recent hostilities. Despite the retreat, the energy sector remains volatile, supported by record domestic natural gas production and ongoing concerns regarding shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.