Finance

Energy markets fluctuated heavily following an announcement from Iran that the strategic Strait of Hormuz will remain shut until specific national conditions are met. Hopes for a maritime de-escalation deal faded after new demands from both Washington and Tehran, pushing international benchmark Brent crude futures up to nearly $90 a barrel. This regional gridlock has increased broader macroeconomic anxiety surrounding persistent inflation and interest rates.

Wall Street activity was noticeably muted as market participants prepared for the impending release of the July Consumer Price Index report. The economic reading is being heavily scrutinized by traders to determine the trajectory of the Federal Reserve's monetary policy, specifically whether a September interest rate hike remains on the table. A hotter-than-expected reading could push government Treasury yields higher, whereas cooler data might support the central bank maintaining its current pause.

Intel saw its shares lose ground after amending its capital-raising plans to sell $20 billion of its stock at $95 per share. This figure represents an increase from the previously announced $15 billion offering intended to fund working capital and future development. The company intends to deploy the fresh capital into aggressive infrastructure and manufacturing upgrades designed to capitalize on growing global demand for artificial intelligence technologies.