Finance

U.S. government bond yields reversed their recent downward trend, showing that long-term debt buyback measures introduced by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent provided only short-lived market relief. The 30-year Treasury yield rose back to approximately 5.24% as fixed-income investors remain concerned about a swelling $40 trillion national debt and persistent inflation risks.

Shares of retail giant Walmart plummeted over 9% following its latest quarterly financial results, marking its worst trading day in four years. While the company raised its full-year guidance and beat overall expectations, Wall Street was disappointed by softer-than-expected domestic comparable sales expansion and executive commentary regarding the psychological effect of high gas prices on consumer habits.

Energy commodities advanced as West Texas Intermediate futures gained nearly 3% and Brent crude climbed over 2% to touch $93.78 per barrel. The upward movement was catalyzed by President Trump vowing to enforce maximum economic pressure on Iran, raising immediate supply worries and boosting the S&P 500 energy sector ahead of other industries.