Finance

Concerns over massive infrastructure spending without immediate profitability timelines triggered heavy losses across megacap tech names, collectively wiping out billions in market value. Major hardware firms like Sandisk and Micron experienced significant single-day drops. Even companies that surpassed quarterly earnings estimates, such as Intel, watched their share prices sink as investors re-evaluate near-term returns on artificial intelligence investments.

The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield hovered near 4.70% this week, marking some of the highest borrowing costs observed since early 2025. Yields have been steadily driven upward by new global tariff policies enacted by the administration and geopolitical conflicts threatening the energy sector. This climb has triggered a corresponding rise in consumer borrowing costs, pushing the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate up to 6.58%.

Global energy markets saw notable relief as Brent crude prices tumbled nearly 4% to settle around $96.78 a barrel after briefly crossing the $102 threshold. The sudden price retreat followed reports that regional intermediaries are attempting to orchestrate fresh diplomatic negotiations between the United States and Iran. However, despite the single-day decline, U.S. crude benchmarks finished the week up overall due to persistent Red Sea supply threats.