Finance

Expectations for an interest rate increase at the upcoming Federal Reserve policy meeting surged significantly, with probability tracking reaching approximately 87 percent. Although headline inflation matched consensus projections at 3.4 percent annually, a slightly higher-than-expected core monthly reading reinforced expectations that policy tightening is imminent.

Brent crude and West Texas Intermediate futures retreated by nearly three percent, offering temporary relief to inflation-weary markets. The decline occurred despite ongoing geopolitical friction and physical trade blockages, including pipeline shutdowns in Saudi Arabia and militant actions near crucial maritime checkpoints.

Computer hardware and optical communication firms registered substantial gains, counteracting broader weekly market pressures. Dell shares experienced a double-digit surge after analysts highlighted the company's strong positioning to capture expanding global corporate spending on specialized infrastructure and complex computational workloads.