Global financial markets remained on edge on Friday as investors reassessed the scale of spending on artificial intelligence, while geopolitical tensions pushed oil prices to their highest level in five months. A sharp sell-off in technology shares eased somewhat in Asia and Europe, but energy costs continued to rise.
Brent crude reached about 114 dollars a barrel amid reports of renewed security risks in the Middle East. European natural-gas prices also rose another 4%, leaving them nearly 30% higher for the month. Higher energy prices could add to cost pressures for households and businesses if the increases persist.
Technology stocks found some relief after steep losses on Wall Street, where concerns about the funding needs of AI companies had unsettled investors. The Philadelphia semiconductor index fell almost 7% in the previous session, while several major technology names recorded substantial declines.
Bond markets reflected a shift toward caution. US Treasury yields moved back below 5% as investors sought safer assets, and markets reduced some expectations for future interest-rate increases in the United States and Europe. The euro was heading for a moderate weekly loss amid continuing uncertainty over government-bond markets.
The latest moves underline how closely markets are balancing optimism about AI-driven growth against questions about financing costs, valuations and geopolitical risks. The direction of energy prices and upcoming company results are likely to remain important signals for investors.
