Finance

Crude oil prices continued their upward trajectory, with Brent crude rising above $105 per barrel due to ongoing disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. The market is pricing in a significant supply risk premium as naval blockades and stalled negotiations between the U.S. and Iran keep energy markets on edge.

The yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note held steady near 4.3% as investors adjusted to a "higher-for-longer" interest rate environment. Rising energy costs and resilient economic data, including low jobless claims, have led markets to price in fewer interest rate cuts for the remainder of 2026.

Despite geopolitical volatility, roughly 81% of reporting S&P 500 firms have exceeded Wall Street earnings expectations so far. Companies with direct exposure to artificial intelligence infrastructure and defense are seeing particularly strong gains, with annual earnings growth for the index now projected to reach nearly 20%.

Bitcoin and Ethereum saw renewed strength after the announcement of an indefinite extension to the U.S.-Iran ceasefire, with Bitcoin trading above $78,000. Institutional support remains robust, evidenced by nine consecutive days of net inflows into spot Ethereum ETFs totaling over $530 million.

The annual inflation rate in the U.S. reached 3.3% in March 2026, its highest level in nearly two years, primarily due to soaring gasoline prices. Economists warn that while core inflation is rising more moderately, the continued pass-through of tariffs and high energy costs remains a significant hurdle for price stabilization.