Finance

Brent crude prices fell more than 5% to drop below the $100 per barrel threshold in early trading on Monday. This decline is directly tied to the growing optimism surrounding a peace agreement that could restore global oil flows from the Middle East, potentially ending the month-long blockade that has kept prices elevated near $117 earlier in the quarter.

Cryptocurrency markets experienced a notable rebound this morning, with Bitcoin climbing above the $77,000 level despite a lower opening earlier in the week. Ethereum also saw gains, although it has generally underperformed Bitcoin throughout May as institutional preference remains focused on larger cap assets amid ongoing macroeconomic and inflationary concerns.

The technology sector continues to be the primary engine of market growth in 2026, with the Nasdaq Composite surging over 15% in the previous month alone. Semiconductor companies like Intel and Nvidia have seen massive gains this year, driven by blowout earnings and relentless demand for data center infrastructure required for the ongoing artificial intelligence expansion.