Finance

Energy prices jumped sharply following reports of fresh military strikes in the Middle East and the end of a temporary truce. Brent crude futures rose over 5% to trade near $78 per barrel as traders assessed the increased risk to critical shipping corridors, particularly the Strait of Hormuz.

The 10-year Treasury yield climbed toward 4.60% as the spike in energy prices renewed fears of persistent inflationary pressure. Market expectations for potential interest rate hikes from the Federal Reserve have shifted upward, with traders closely parsing recent meeting minutes for guidance on future policy moves.

While major blue-chip stocks struggled, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite managed to pare early losses and finish slightly positive during recent sessions. Continued interest in artificial intelligence and corporate financings, such as Amazon's bond issuance for AI spending, helped support the sector amid a wider market downturn.