Finance

Concerns regarding massive capital expenditures in the artificial intelligence sector continue to overshadow robust performance metrics. For example, Intel shares tumbled roughly 8% despite reporting solid quarterly outcomes that beat consensus forecasts. Investors remain highly skeptical of massive corporate spending outlays on AI infrastructure without immediate, visible revenue generation.

Global energy benchmarks retreated late in the week, with Brent crude dropping nearly 4% to settle around $96.78 per barrel after briefly breaching the $100 mark. The downturn followed emerging reports that Pakistan and Iran are looking to establish a pathway for fresh talks with the United States. This easing of geopolitical friction helped lower sovereign bond yields, slightly moderating near-term inflation anxieties.

A new trade policy framework has officially been implemented to replace the temporary 10% global tariff that expired on Friday. The updated structure levies duties ranging from 10% to 12.5% on primary international trading partners. Designed to withstand legal scrutiny, this revamped tariff environment is contributing to widespread macroeconomic uncertainty and investor nervousness.