Finance

Despite chipmaker Intel posting an encouraging quarterly earnings report driven by server demand, its own stock tumbled nearly 8% alongside the broader semiconductor ecosystem. Heavy losses plagued the hardware and storage sectors, highlighted by double-digit drops in names like Sandisk and significant retreats across the iShares Semiconductor ETF. Fears regarding elevated capital expenditures for artificial intelligence infrastructure continue to dampen near-term investor enthusiasm.

Energy prices eased at the end of the week, with Brent crude futures sliding nearly 4% to settle around $96.78 per barrel after previously clearing the $100 threshold. The pullback was prompted by emerging reports that international intermediaries are exploring avenues for new talks between Iran, Pakistan, and the United States. This decline provided minor relief to sovereign bond yields, which had escalated earlier in the week on resurgent inflationary concerns.

Spot gold fluctuated near the $4,050 to $4,075 per ounce threshold, steadying after a sharp 2% drop in the prior trading session. The stabilizing price action reflects investor calibration of geopolitical risks in West Asia against prospective macroeconomic trends. Market focus remains heavily anchored to the upcoming Federal Reserve meeting, where policymakers are projected to hold rates steady while signaling trajectories for autumn.