US stocks hit fresh records as oil stabilises on rising supplies

On Tuesday, U.S. stock markets reached fresh highs, with the Nasdaq and S&P 500 hitting record levels. The Nasdaq index rose 0.5%, while the S&P 500 climbed 0.6%. The surge in trading activity on Wall Street bolstered European stock markets, as well as Asian equity markets. Oil prices stabilized as Gulf exports approached pre-war levels, with Brent North Sea crude closing just above US$100 a barrel.

This decline in oil prices positively impacted interest-rate sensitive stocks, such as real estate and consumer cyclicals. In the UK, diesel prices at the pump reached a record high. Uncertainty surrounding the Middle East crisis continues to pressure central banks to raise interest rates to combat energy-fuelled inflation. This situation, combined with other factors, has pushed government bond yields to levels not seen in decades, raising concerns about mounting debt.

The race to build AI infrastructure has also contributed to this problem, as tech giants like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft have borrowed around US$500 billion in the past nine months. Analysts warn that the excessive focus on AI could lead to a market correction, affecting the entire tech sector.