Tech Euphoria Fades Amid Inflation Fears and Oil Supply Woes

Asian markets faced a downward pressure on Friday, as the initial excitement over tech stocks waned amid mounting inflation fears that drove Treasury yields to one-year highs, sparking discussions of a potential U.S. rate hike. The oil market remained turbulent, with prices climbing due to continued tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, compounded by President Trump's statement on China's intent to purchase U.S. oil.

The seizures of ships near the strait have further raised concerns about energy supplies, leading Brent crude futures to rise by 5.7% this week, reaching $107 a barrel. During his state visit to China, Trump's delegation includes Tesla's Elon Musk and Nvidia's Jensen Huang, stirring optimism as Nvidia's shares jumped following U.S. clearance for the sale of its H200 chips in China, elevating major U.S. stock indexes to new highs.

Inflation worries, however, overshadowed this euphoria in Asia. MSCI's Asian shares index dropped 1.2%, while Japan's Nikkei and other Asian markets also faced setbacks. Treasury markets experienced pain with rising yields, the latest 30-year bond sale yield hitting the highest since 2007, reflecting inflation threats. The dollar stood strong on the back of solid U.S. retail data and the likelihood of a Fed rate increase.

(With inputs from agencies.)