A late-week rebound in U.S. equities softened the blow, but major indexes still finished the week in the red as Treasury yields and energy costs kept investors on edge.
The S&P 500 closed Friday at 7,674.37 and the Nasdaq Composite at 26,180.46, both higher on the day, yet the broader week ended lower after a volatile stretch defined by Treasury volatility, geopolitical risk, and mixed economic signals. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 53,277.01, offering only partial comfort after a week in which cyclical and technology shares weakened.
A key pressure point remained the U.S. 10-year yield, which stayed elevated near 4.736%, reflecting skepticism about the Federal Reserve's ability to ease quickly. Longer-dated bonds sold off on concern that fiscal and supply-side dynamics could keep borrowing costs elevated, while oil prices kept the inflation debate alive.
With the Jackson Hole symposium on the horizon, traders are looking for clarification on whether the Fed sees the current rate path as restrictive enough or still needs to guard against upside inflation surprises.
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