Finance

Oil prices have climbed for five consecutive days with Brent crude reaching over $105 per barrel as the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed. Analysts warn that the continued supply disruption is fueling global inflation concerns and weighing heavily on energy-dependent European equity markets.

Intel shares surged nearly 28% in premarket trading following a strong quarterly report and optimistic AI-driven guidance, contrasting with sharp declines in other major firms. Salesforce and ServiceNow faced significant losses after their latest updates, underscoring a growing performance gap within the technology and software sectors.

The yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note has risen toward 4.33% as investors react to rising energy costs and elevated inflation expectations. Policymakers are widely anticipated to maintain current interest rates as they evaluate the long-term economic impact of ongoing regional conflicts.

Bitcoin is trading near the $78,000 level as institutional demand remains resilient despite broader market consolidation. While some digital assets like Ethereum have seen pullbacks due to profit-taking, investors are increasingly viewing Bitcoin as a relative safe haven during the current period of macroeconomic instability.

Preliminary surveys for April 2026 show an 11% decline in consumer assessments of personal finances as inflation expectations surge to 4.8%. Many households attribute the deteriorating economic outlook to the Iran conflict and its direct impact on gasoline and durable goods pricing.