Finance

Major Wall Street indexes experienced a widespread selloff as the surge in sovereign bond yields pressured stock valuations. Futures tracking the S&P 500 and the tech-heavy Nasdaq-100 fell notably, ending recent winning streaks. Investors are increasingly cautious about exposure to risk assets as the broader market prepares for potential economic headwinds.

Crude oil benchmarks edged lower following a sharp 4% rally in the previous trading session. West Texas Intermediate dropped toward $91.56 per barrel, and Brent crude fell to roughly $102.13 after Iran signaled a willingness to engage in diplomatic talks. Despite the minor pullback, energy infrastructure expenses remain high due to ongoing friction in the Middle East and structural export considerations.

International spot gold dipped below the $4,300 per ounce level due to a strengthening U.S. dollar and escalating Treasury yields. Although bullion historically serves as a primary hedge against inflation, aggressive pricing for upcoming central bank rate increases continues to diminish the asset's relative appeal. Market participants are rotating capital away from precious metals toward higher-yielding, interest-bearing alternatives.