Finance

The latest core consumer price index data for August showed prices rising faster than anticipated, adding immense pressure onto the upcoming Federal Reserve policy meeting. Traders have sharply increased the implied probability of a 25-basis-point interest rate hike next week to roughly 87%, prompting an evaluation of a "higher-for-longer" borrowing landscape.

International energy markets remain highly volatile as ongoing conflict involving the U.S. and Iran continues to squeeze supply. Despite pulling back slightly late in the week to finish around $104 per barrel, Brent crude futures remain near multi-month highs following a temporary shutdown of Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline after it sustained localized strikes.

Digital assets are confronting headwinds as structural inflation points toward more aggressive central bank policies. Bitcoin hovered below the $77,000 threshold and Ethereum faced negative pressure as rising Treasury yields reduced investor appetite for non-yielding assets, leaving the broader crypto sector with notable year-to-date losses.