Finance

Chipmaker stocks experienced notable downward pressure at the end of the week, with the iShares Semiconductor ETF declining by roughly 4.5%. Despite Intel reporting strong revenue figures that initially offered a positive outlook on the artificial intelligence trade, its shares plummeted nearly 8%, pulling down other major players like Micron and Sandisk. The broader sell-off reflects mounting investor anxiety regarding the massive capital expenditures hyperscalers are dedicating to AI infrastructure.

Brent crude futures settled down nearly 4% at $96.78 a barrel after spiked escalations in the Middle East had briefly pushed prices above $100 earlier in the week. The late-session retreat was sparked by reports that Pakistan and Iran are evaluating a diplomatic path toward initiating new discussions with the United States. This downward shift in energy costs alleviated parallel pressure on government bond yields, with the 10-year Treasury yield edging lower to close around 4.68%.

Digital assets maintained a mixed and largely sideways trading pattern toward the end of July, with Bitcoin hovering around the $65,000 threshold. Although a recent streak of positive net inflows into U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs provided localized support, broader market demand remains constrained by macro challenges, including geopolitical tensions and persistent interest rate pressures. Analysts note that capital continues to be drawn toward traditional equity alternatives, keeping digital currencies under near-term pressure.