Finance

Global crude oil prices slumped by roughly two percent, with West Texas Intermediate trading near $92 per barrel. The pullback was heavily driven by intensifying negotiations between U.S. and Iranian officials at the United Nations General Assembly. Traders are pricing in diminishing geopolitical risk premiums following reports that a phased agreement could soon emerge to reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz chokepoint.

The relentless global bond selloff cooled down at the end of the week, with the U.S. 10-year Treasury yield slipping slightly below its recent peak to settle near 5.18%. Easing energy costs helped pull the fixed-income sector back from its highest yields since 2007. Despite the Friday pause, yields ended the week significantly elevated, keeping long-term economic concerns and mortgage rates pinned at multi-decade highs.

Bitcoin and Ethereum booked impressive weekly gains near 10% despite pulling back slightly from their recent multi-month highs. Investors have shown renewed optimism, with Bitcoin trading comfortably above the $84,000 threshold. On-chain metrics reveal a notable capital rotation toward microcaps and utility-focused altcoins, indicating robust speculative appetite across the broader digital asset landscape.