Finance

Investor sentiment regarding the artificial intelligence sector remained cautious as recent earnings reports from major tech players highlighted massive capital expenditures and cash burn. Even with strong quarterly results that exceeded Wall Street estimates, semiconductor giants like Intel saw their stock prices slide, dragging down the broader semiconductor indices. This caution has established a tense backdrop as market participants look ahead to upcoming earnings reports from other mega-cap technology firms.

Crude oil prices fell significantly, pulling Brent crude back down below the $100 per barrel mark after a week of consistent gains. The retreat in energy commodities came amid reports that diplomatic channels, including efforts involving Pakistan, are being explored to resume stalled talks and ease the escalating conflict between the United States and Iran. The decline in oil prices provided a temporary reprieve for equity markets concerned about inflationary pressures.

The Trump administration implemented a new sweeping tariff framework, levying duties ranging from 10% to 12.5% on more than 60 trading partners. The updated plan targets nearly all U.S. imports and serves as a replacement for a previous global tariff that was struck down by the Supreme Court earlier in the year. To protect the economy from compounding energy shocks, the White House notably exempted certain energy products from the new duties.