Finance

Financial markets shifted focus to Washington's implementation of severe economic sanctions against Iran, termed an "economic D-Day" by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Anticipation of the policy details prompted defensive positioning, with defense and energy stocks gaining traction. In contrast, crude oil futures paused their recent rally, with Brent and WTI crude both sliding as the market digested the potential fallout of the sanctions campaign.

Semiconductor equities started the week under distinct pressure, weighing heavily on technology benchmarks. The selloff was accelerated by reports that artificial intelligence leader Nvidia plans to hike server system prices by more than 15% starting in early 2027. Investors are exhibiting caution and avoiding major bets on chipmakers ahead of Nvidia’s highly anticipated quarterly earnings report scheduled for Wednesday.

Cryptocurrency markets sustained a strong weekly rally, with Bitcoin trading near a three-month high around the $79,000 threshold. Digital assets have benefited from a liquidity-driven breakout alongside renewed regulatory optimism after political calls for clearer federal guidelines. The broader sector also drew support from prominent corporate actions, including a massive capital allocation by Strategy Inc. intended for treasury operations and asset purchases.