Finance

The Dow Jones Industrial Average is trading near record highs after officially closing above the 50,000 mark for the first time on Thursday. While the blue-chip index leads recent market gains, analysts have expressed some concern regarding the narrow breadth of the rally, which remains heavily dependent on a small group of high-growth technology leaders.

The 10-year Treasury yield held steady around 4.57% following a volatile week where long-term rates reached levels not seen since early 2025. Rising yields have pressured the ongoing artificial intelligence equity rally as investors weigh the possibility of a Federal Reserve rate hike later this year if inflation remains above the target 2% range.

Crude oil benchmarks Brent and West Texas Intermediate both advanced roughly 2% on Friday due to concerns that a final peace deal remains elusive. A major sticking point in negotiations involves potential transit fees on vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a move that the US administration has strongly warned against.