Finance

Crude oil prices surged on March 27, with Brent futures rising 4.2% to settle at $112.57 a barrel. Investors remain skeptical of a potential ceasefire in the month-old Iran war, fearing long-term disruptions to energy supplies through the Strait of Hormuz.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury note climbed as high as 4.48% on March 27, 2026, the highest level since July 2025. This rise in yields reflects growing concerns that high energy costs will drive a new wave of global inflation, prompting traders to scale back expectations for Federal Reserve interest rate cuts.

Mega-cap technology stocks like Nvidia, Meta, and Alphabet saw significant declines on March 27 as investors shifted toward defensive sectors. Beyond geopolitical risks, the tech sector is grappling with concerns over massive artificial intelligence spending and recent court rulings regarding social media impact.

Bitcoin and Ethereum have struggled through the first quarter of 2026, with Bitcoin down roughly 20% for the year as of late March. While digital assets saw a slight rebound following comments from President Trump regarding a pause in military strikes, broader market volatility and rising bond yields continue to impact risk-on assets.