Finance

Major stock indexes experienced consecutive negative sessions as the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 131.59 points, alongside marginal drops in the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite. Market participants are exercising extreme caution and moving defensively ahead of several crucial economic data releases scheduled for the week, including the Personal Consumption Expenditures price index.

Crude oil markets remain unstable due to ongoing geopolitical conflicts between the United States and Iran near the Strait of Hormuz. In an effort to mitigate rising fuel costs and cool inflationary worries, the U.S. administration ordered an additional release of emergency oil reserves, helping to drag Brent crude prices down below $103 per barrel.

Bitcoin prices stabilized around $83,000, recovering well from mid-month pressures triggered by the Senate's rejection of the Clarity Act regulatory framework. While macro headwinds and the failure of the market structure bill heavily impacted sentiment, structural liquidity improvements and short liquidations have kept digital assets resilient ahead of the upcoming U.S. midterm elections.