Finance

Energy prices surged as investors reacted to heightening geopolitical tensions and military strikes on Iranian infrastructure. Brent crude climbed past $112 per barrel while U.S. oil futures topped $100, fueling concerns that a prolonged disruption in the Strait of Hormuz will trigger a global wave of inflation.

Recent economic reports show February's annual inflation holding at 2.4%, while the PCE price index, the Fed's preferred metric, rose a stronger-than-expected 2.3%. Central bank officials indicate that stalling progress on inflation, exacerbated by the recent spike in energy costs, makes near-term interest rate cuts increasingly unlikely.

Megacap technology stocks faced intense pressure, with NVIDIA falling 4.2% and Amazon dropping 4% in a single session. Investors are increasingly skeptical of the massive capital expenditures required for artificial intelligence infrastructure, questioning when these multi-billion dollar investments will yield significant revenue growth.

The cryptocurrency market followed equities lower on March 27, 2026, as Bitcoin fell approximately $2,860 to trade around $66,587. The decline was attributed to a broader shift away from risky assets and rising 10-year Treasury yields, which neared a one-year high of 4.5%.