Finance

Bond markets experienced significant volatility as the 30-year Treasury yield surpassed 5.1%, a level not seen in nearly two decades. Rising oil prices and firming inflation signals have led traders to price in higher-for-longer interest rates, with some anticipating potential Federal Reserve hikes late in the year or by early 2027.

Brent Crude surged above $109 per barrel as renewed instability in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz raised supply fears. While the 2026 outlook for U.S. crude and natural gas production has been revised upward, the immediate energy shock is increasingly bleeding into broader economic inflation metrics.

Artificial intelligence leaders including Nvidia, AMD, and Intel saw notable declines as the tech-heavy Nasdaq-100 reversed course just before hitting the 30,000 milestone. Despite the pullback, the tech sector remains the primary driver of corporate earnings growth for 2026, with investors now focused on upcoming first-quarter results for signs of sustained momentum.