Finance

Energy markets remained a central driver of volatility as U.S. crude oil prices crossed above $100 per barrel. The prolonged geopolitical conflict between the United States and Iran has caused sustained upward pressure on energy costs, intensifying investor anxieties over hawkish Federal Reserve monetary policy.

Technology sector performance was mixed as Meta unveiled its new hardware and AI monetization strategies, while leading semiconductor companies faced broad selling pressure. Concurrently, high-level diplomatic meetings between the U.S. and China feature discussions centered around crucial AI competition and critical minerals.

Bitcoin demonstrated resilience by climbing above $86,000, almost entirely erasing its losses recorded throughout 2026. The asset's recent double-digit percentage gains over the past week have fueled a sharp recovery, even as nonyielding digital assets face the headwind of climbing macroeconomic interest rates.