Finance

U.S. stock benchmarks pulled back notably after initial intraday gains evaporated following the central bank's policy updates. The Dow Jones Industrial Average tumbled by 1.2%, or over 630 points, while the S&P 500 dipped 0.4%. Investors experienced heightened volatility as fears over higher-for-longer borrowing costs dampened broader equity sentiment.

Digital assets faced downward momentum as investors adjusted to increasing interest rate projections. Bitcoin experienced a decline, trading beneath the $77,000 threshold as market participants moved away from non-yielding assets. The broader crypto environment remains constrained by macro economic variables and global liquidity pressures.

Crude oil futures fell, pulling back from multi-month highs reached during the week. Brent crude declined 1.2% to roughly $104.59 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate hovered near $101.29. Prices eased after reports surfaced that Saudi Arabia is utilizing alternative logistics, offering ship-to-ship transfers off Oman to bypass damaged transport corridors.