Finance

Crude oil futures and government bond yields retreated late in the week following reports of diplomatic advancements between Washington and Tehran. Optimism regarding a phased deal to reopen the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz sent Brent crude dropping back below the $100 per barrel threshold. This drop offered immediate relief to the bond market, allowing the 10-year Treasury yield to pull back slightly from its multi-year peaks near 5.22%.

Resilient corporate updates provided a major buffer for equity markets against broader macroeconomic anxieties. Akamai Technologies saw its stock climb following the announcement of an $11.6 billion, multiyear artificial intelligence partnership with Anthropic. Additionally, Costco Wholesale advanced on stronger-than-expected quarterly profits, reinforcing investor confidence in corporate stability amid persistent inflationary trends.

The digital asset landscape navigated notable price swings as massive options expirations and leverage flush-outs rattled derivatives trading. Roughly $400 million in leveraged positions were liquidated within a 24-hour window, largely impacting bullish traders as Bitcoin pulled back from its local high toward the $84,000 range. Despite the short-term volatility, institutional engagement remained visible with consistent net inflows into spot Bitcoin ETFs.